New System Build

[Dragonb4llz]

Well after 3 years of stretched out upgrading, I am done with it. I'm a bit out of touch with the current tech but here's what I want to buy. I'm pretty confused with which mobo/chipset to get as I want a 8800gts. Any comments are appreciated .


Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro

2 x 80 Gb Samsung SpinPoint P80 (RAID0)

320 Gb Seagate Barracuda 7200.10, 16MB Cache

2GB (2x1GB) CorsairTwinX XMS2 Dominator,DDR2 PC2-6400,240 Pins, NonECC Unbuffered, CAS 4-4-4-12, EPP

Abit AB9 Pro i965

500W Silverstone SST-ST50EF+ SLi Dual +12V, ATX12V 2.2, 80%+ Eff'

640MB Leadtek 8800GTS PCI-E (x16), Mem 1600 MHz, GPU 500 MHz, 96 Streams, 2 x Dual Link DVI HDTV

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600, Socket 775, 2.4 GHz, 1066MHz FSB, Conroe Core, 4MB Cache

[Flewis]

That mobo is a good choice, the 965 chipset is the best value for the features it provides at the moment and the AB9 Pro has proven to be a good overclocker (translates directly to good overall stability at stock). Overclocking that system would be advised and 3GHz is an easily achievable target.

The brand of 8800GTS makes absolutely no difference to performance as all companies are still using reference designs. Go with the cheapest or one that has most added extras (games, software etc.).

With 4 HD's that powersupply (although quality) may not have enough watts, it may be just about sufficient and in a years time when it has aged it may be insufficient. I would recommend 600W from a good manufacturer.

[aidanjt]

Looks all good.

[charleski]

2 Spinpoint P80s in RAID0? Why?
If you want speed, get a 75Gb Raptor for the OS drive.

[Flewis]

I've heard that 2 drives in raid 0 will be faster than a single raptor. (dont have any sources to back that up at the moment tho)

[Flewis]

However 2 250GB drives in RAID 0 will be cheaper and give you the same capacity.

[charleski]

Here's a comparison of actual Windows performance between a RAID0 array using 7800rpm Seagate drives (blue dotted line) and a variety of single drives, including a Raptor. The fast single drives win easily.

RAID0 is faster on sequential reads and writes, and might make sense for things like video editing, but the usage pattern most people experience is very different. RAID0 is also far more vulnerable to drive failure. If either drive develops a fault, your array is hosed, and since most people run "soft" raid that needs the right drivers it's a lot harder to use recovery tools if something goes wrong.

I run a RAID0 myself, as I wanted to try it out when I built my latest machine, but TBH I know I'd have been better without it.

[CrazyMonkey]

Im not saying the AB9-Pro is rubbish but hell ive got the board now and it is just an never ending nightmare. Id avise going for that little more and getting a Abit AW9D-Max you could also get crossfire in that ( i know ur going 8800...)

The Seagate isnt a quiet drive but performace wise its a beast.
The spinpoints are incredibly quiet drives and give good performance. If noise isnt an issue swap the 2 80gb's out for Barracuda's and maybe switch the 320gb for a spinpoint.

Well thats what i would do.

Oh and i would get a 620W Corsair PSU (so good) rest of system looks ace.

[Marcvs]

get some OCZ ram

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=MY-072-OC

its cheap and almost as good as you arent doing huge OC's and use the extra cash to get a decent PSU

[Dragonb4llz]

Cheers for the quick replies. Looks like I still have an idea about PCs then . Erm, so yea, I've heard about some problems with the ab9 Pro so maybe I will go for the aw9d max... but will that be fine with a 8800gts? With regard to the larger HD it's gonna be for storage so just a plain drive will do.

[Dragonb4llz]

Forgot to add:

I'll get a 74gb raptor instead of the raid0 spinpoints,
change to a XClio GreatPower X12S4P4-650W PSU and
get the ASUS P5B Deluxe instead?

[CrazyMonkey]

The 8800GTS will work fine on the AW9D-Max, i wish i went for the MAX first aswell. But thats what you get for skimping.

[Dragonb4llz]

Cool, cheers for clearing that up.

So the system I'll be choking my wallet with will be:

Xclio GreatPower 650W
Abit AW9Dmax
Scythe Infinity Quiet HSF
E6600 Core 2 Duo
Corsair Dominator 6400 (2x1GB)
Geforce 8800GTS
74GB Raptor HD
320GB 'cuda HD

Any issues here?

[DratUK]

Hi
I have the Max with a 8800GTX and 2 Gb Dominator 6400.

The Max once you have it running is a good board but the bios is not quite mature. There was and still is an issue with bios 1.2 and DDR 2 800 it wouldnt run it or rather would but with some stability issues ie mine kept crashing. The tRFC needed a setting of 40 and the default is 35, however bios 1.2 did not give the option to change. BIOS 1.3 does. Thre have been a fair number of problems flashing to 1.3 hopefully 1.2 bios stock will be cleared and retail boards will be 1.3 now. The simplest way round was to install MemSet 3.0 which allows you to alter all your memory settings in windows and save them for the next reboot in windows. i did this and all my stability options went away.
One other issue if you disconnect the PSU it will reload default bios settings, bit of a pain, but you can save bios profiles and reload those. Also if you go for the Dominator set the voltage to 2.1 not 2.2 as you may get crashes occuring, it happened to me.

A new beta bios is being tested for the 1333 strap.
I would suggest having a look at the Abit USA forums in the Max section http://forum.abit-usa.com/forumdisplay.php?f=3

It has many useful threads and some very very helpful forum members much like here. You can login under your Hexus forum id.
Like any board there are always problems. Since I have used MemSet the system is stable easily overclocked and fun to work on. If you dont mind a bit of a challenge, lets face its sometimes the fun bit, then go for the Max.
ATM I wouldnt advise the AB9 Pro, if you want a 965 probably Asus is your best bet.

PSU No problem there its a good solid psu, dont be surprised if the fan doesnt start up it's thermally controlled so will be case and load dependent. It will also continue to operate after you power down to cool the components.
What case is this going into? Just out of interest especially if your going for the Scythe.

Wish you the best of luck.
Sorry for the long post just wanted to pass my own experiences along.

[EtheAv8r]

I also recommend you check out the new ASUS Commando. This board is going to be wonderful - mine is on it's way!

[Dragonb4llz]

Thanks for the reply DratUK. I'm on a good ol NF7S v2 atm (3yo), was hoping ABIT were still as reliable but I guess they've had some trouble recently.

I've got a CoolerMaster ATC-201B but the Antec Solo looks small, nice and quiet.

If there's nothing wrong with this build then looks like I'll be buying it later this week .

Xclio GreatPower 650W
ASUS P5B Deluxe
Scythe Infinity Quiet HSF
E6600 Core 2 Duo
Corsair Dominator 6400 (2x1GB)
Geforce 8800 GTS
74GB Raptor HD
320GB 'cuda HD