Just pulled the trigger. Just need a little more help

Easto · Post by **Easto** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 1:54 pm

I just purchased...

WD 74 gig Raptor
Pc P&C Silencer 750 Quad
WinXPpro (yes, I'm still using W2K)
Core 2 Duo E6850 3.0GHz
EVGA 8800GTS SSC 640mb

I've got a burner and case already.

I just need suggestions on the Mobo and Ram (please be specific on Ram since I know I have to match voltage values with Mobo)

I hope to have this one last me several years. I don't really update that frequently anymore. I really just want to be able to play a few of the new games.

Shinobi · Post by **Shinobi** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 2:17 pm

Well.. for a motherboard.. I would have to say Asus.
Always had good luck with Asus.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 3:48 pm

where did you get everything and how much so far?

Easto · Post by **Easto** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 4:36 pm

Sava700 wrote:where did you get everything and how much so far?

Newegg.

I have several cases, burners and a additional 250 gig hard drive from my current box. As far as the Vid Card... the company I work for deals with EVGA and I'm seeing if they can give me a good deal on the card. If not, Newegg.

PSU $169
Cpu $279
HDD $149
XP $139

I'll also take suggestions on a CPU cooler upgrade.

I'm leaning towards the ASUS P5K WS and Crucial 2gb DDR2 667 (possibly 2 sticks)

Rivas · Post by **Rivas** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 4:40 pm

gawd why you didnt tell us earlyer, ncix got 1tb hitachi drives 3 years man war for 260 bucks ...even with shipping it to you its kick ass deal imo

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php? ... omoid=1051

edit:

btw nice upgrade, enjoy it

Easto · Post by **Easto** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 4:43 pm

Rivas wrote:1tb hitachi drives 3 years man war for 260 bucks ...even with shipping it to you its kick ass deal imo

It may be a great deal but I don't think I've ever put more than 20 gig of info on one of my hard drive. Hell, I really don't even need the 74 gig of space from the Raptor. I bought the WD 250 some time ago as a backup for my music.

vinnie · Post by **vinnie** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:47 am

Easto wrote:
I'll also take suggestions on a CPU cooler upgrade.

Thermalright ultra 120 extreme. http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main ... xtreme.htm

Once you get past the name, it comes quite highly recommended. Pop a quite 12cm fan on it for the pinnacle of air cooling. My quad core is struggling to hit much about 40C.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:11 am

Easto wrote:It may be a great deal but I don't think I've ever put more than 20 gig of info on one of my hard drive. Hell, I really don't even need the 74 gig of space from the Raptor. I bought the WD 250 some time ago as a backup for my music.

Besides size the hitachi offers faster speed. How can you not fill up 74 gigs?

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 8:51 am

YARDofSTUF wrote:Besides size the hitachi offers faster speed. How can you not fill up 74 gigs?

its easy not to fill up a drive lol I've been on a 120gig drive for 7years now and it might have 30gigs fill on it. I got a 74gig raptor too in my gaming machine but thats all I use it for so it hardly goes over 12gigs if that at any givin time...which it is due for a format next month.

Easto · Post by **Easto** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 12:23 pm

vinnie wrote:Thermalright ultra 120 extreme. http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main ... xtreme.htm

Once you get past the name, it comes quite highly recommended. Pop a quite 12cm fan on it for the pinnacle of air cooling. My quad core is struggling to hit much about 40C.

Thanks, I've installed a couple of Thermalrights and have always enjoyed their performance. I look into that one.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:36 am

YARDofSTUF wrote:Besides size the hitachi offers faster speed. How can you not fill up 74 gigs?

A Raptor still runs circles around it...beats it in read, write, and a huge whomping in access times. There's just no substitute for RPM.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:13 am

YeOldeStonecat wrote:A Raptor still runs circles around it...beats it in read, write, and a huge whomping in access times. There's just no substitute for RPM.

Runs circles around it?

The Raptor 150 gig can beat it by 1.5 or 2 megs a second, and with AAM off random access times are pretty close.

Without a major improvement the raptors are dead.

Easto · Post by **Easto** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:49 am

Regardless....

I very happy with my choices. This is a HUGE jump from my current rig. One half of the order will be here today and the other half tomorrow (I get next day service from NewEgg since they are so close to me). My server case is prepped and ready for the install. All I have to do over the next couple of days is backup and transfer data from my old box.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 6:36 am

YARDofSTUF wrote:Runs circles around it?

The Raptor 150 gig can beat it by 1.5 or 2 megs a second, and with AAM off random access times are pretty close.

Without a major improvement the raptors are dead.

I see a little more than 1-2 megs...
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1 ... 555,00.asp

And I focus more on access times...that's the biggest impact on overall "feel" of speed with a drive, real world use doing daily stuff on the PC.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:17 am

YeOldeStonecat wrote:I see a little more than 1-2 megs...
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1 ... 555,00.asp

And I focus more on access times...that's the biggest impact on overall "feel" of speed with a drive, real world use doing daily stuff on the PC.

Anand shows different results, and that one doesnt mention if AAM is on or off.

Access times help but it depends on what people do as to how much it can help increase the feel of speed.

Easto · Post by **Easto** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:54 pm

Since I'm now using a WD IDE Drive (7200rpm) and then moving to the Raptor I'm sure I'll feel it. And as for use... I really want to try Crysis and Bioshock asap. That's one reason for the build.

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:04 pm

Easto wrote:Since I'm now using a WD IDE Drive (7200rpm) and then moving to the Raptor I'm sure I'll feel it. And as for use... I really want to try Crysis and Bioshock asap. That's one reason for the build.

Great games.

If you haven't already purchased your video card I suggest you look into an 8800GT instead of an 8800GTS. AFAIK they're a bit faster and cheaper.