Recommendations: Processor and Motherboard

[utdarkviper]

agreed. a future upgrade is inevitable, so you may as well hold off on the ddr3 until then, since the ddr2 will be used for a good while longer

[darkdestroyer6]

Oh right i see, well i dont upgrade often, every few years.

[darkdestroyer6]

This may seem like a stupid question..... but is there a motherboard that is compatible with both ddr2 and 3? or is that not possible? Just i was thinking seeing as most people say ddr2 is better now, but in the future ddr3 will be better i thought that if there was such a board i could get it with ddr2 and then all id have to do in the future is upgrade the memory.

[gwai lo]

Yes there are, but again don't bother. You won't see chips utilizing DDR3 very well on this socket.

[darkdestroyer6]

Yes there are, but again don't bother. You won't see chips utilizing DDR3 very well on this socket.

Thanks. After reading what many have said about ddr3, ive decided to go for either the P5K PREMIUM/WIFI-AP or the P5K-E/WiFi-AP.

Edited May 7, 2008 by darkdestroyer6

[CrashG]

I'd wait for the next-gen chips from Intel (Nehalem) before going to DDR3. Because of the several changes (on-die memory controller, new socket) hopefully then DDR3 will really begin to shine.

[darkdestroyer6]

I'd wait for the next-gen chips from Intel (Nehalem) before going to DDR3. Because of the several changes (on-die memory controller, new socket) hopefully then DDR3 will really begin to shine.

Thanks, i defiantly think il hold back and go with ddr2. :) Now just have to decide:

Asus P5K Premium WiFi-AP Black Pearl Special Edition

Asus P5K-E WiFi-AP

Is the P5K Premium only for water cooling?

Thanks for all your help.

Edited May 7, 2008 by darkdestroyer6

[CrashG]

Is the P5K Premium only for water cooling?

Nope.

Asus P5K Premium WiFi-AP Black Pearl Special Edition or Asus P5K-E WiFi-AP

The main features are the same. Only difference is the addition of a heatsink on the VRM's at the top of the board. Dual Gigabit ports, extra RAID modes. That's pretty much it. Either one will be a fine board for your system. :)

[darkdestroyer6]

Nope.

The main features are the same. Only difference is the addition of a heatsink on the VRM's at the top of the board. Dual Gigabit ports, extra RAID modes. That's pretty much it. Either one will be a fine board for your system. :)

Thanks, still dont know which to pick lol, flip a coin? :p

[CrashG]

Thanks, still dont know which to pick lol, flip a coin? :p

:laugh: that'd work. Both are solid boards, just figure out if you need the extra features for the difference in price. If it's only a few bucks difference go for the Asus P5K Premium WiFi-AP.

[darkdestroyer6]

:laugh: that'd work. Both are solid boards, just figure out if you need the extra features for the difference in price. If it's only a few bucks difference go for the Asus P5K Premium WiFi-AP.

Well i probably wont use the Dual Gigabit ports or the extra RAID modes but ive just compared prices:

Asus P5K Premium WiFi-AP Black Pearl Special Edition = 100.06

Asus P5K-E WiFi-AP = ?86.68

But as i was comparing prices i found the Asus P5K Pro Motherboard - Skt 775 - DDR2 - Intel P35 chipset foronly ?87.35, but it doesnt have the esata ports etc.

Edited May 7, 2008 by darkdestroyer6

[CrashG]

I'd probably just go with the Asus P5K-E WiFi-AP and the Asus P5K Pro Motherboard doesn't have the WiFi if thats something you're wanting.

[darkdestroyer6]

I'd probably just go with the Asus P5K-E WiFi-AP and the Asus P5K Pro Motherboard doesn't have the WiFi if thats something you're wanting.

I think il go with the P5K-E WiFi-AP unless i can find the Asus P5K Premium WiFi-AP Black Pearl Special Edition cheaper :p

[darkdestroyer6]

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 Stepping (2.4GHz 1066MHz) Socket 775 L2 8MB Cache (2x4MB (4MB per core pair) Retail Boxed Processor

ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP AiLifestyle Series P35 Socket 775 Socket eSATA 8 channel Audio ATX Motherboard

Corsair 4GB Kit (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5(5-5-5-18) DHX Technology Heat Sink Lifetime Warranty

Maxtor STM3320820AS 320GB 7200RPM SATAII 8MB Cache - OEM

Plexus DVI-D Dual Link Flat Panel Replacement Cable (Black) 2m

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium -SP1- Licence and media - 1 PC - OEM - DVD - 32-bit - English

LiteOn DH-20A1S 20X DVD?RW/DLRAM Black Bare Drive - OEM

XFX 8600GT 512MB GDDR2 Dual DVI HDCP HDTV out PCI-E Graphics Card

Total: ?476.70

OR if i can afford:

XFX GeForce 8800 GS 384MB DDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI 580 Mhz

Missing (undecided):

Case + PSU

What do you think?

[+shift. MVC]

Case: Antec P182 if you can afford.

PSU: 500W Seasonic M12II if you can.

Another option would be to grab an Antec Sonata III case, which has decent reviews. It comes with an Antec Earthwatts 500W.

http://jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDRe...ory&reid=35

Here's a review by JonnyGURU of the Earthwatts PSU.

[gummyz]

Not to contradict myself, listen to what gwai lo said. DDR3 is here, but performance really isn't here versus a system with DDR2, as I pointed out. No one can really tell where everything is headed with DDR3 vs DDR2. Will we find phasing out of DDR2 this year, and your next upgrade time, DDR2 prices are more than DDR3? It is hard to tell at this point. I would still go DDR2 at this point, and just think about getting DDR3 :) Since you are on a limited budget, stick with DDR2 and save the extra cash for an upgrade that will provide better performance, as futureproofing really is a legend at this point :)

PSU, agreed to what Shift said. Case I like the P182 also and plan to get this or the P190 if it comes w/o the PSUs. The Sonata III has always been a great value for a good case and a good PSU. If you want to go cheaper, the Solution series from Antec are fairly good also.

[darkdestroyer6]

Thanks, i know the PSU is one of the most important things to get right, but aren't some of the cheaper makes/models ok?

I think im going to go with DDR2, even though things with DDR3 may change in the near future, i still think DDR2 will be fine to suit my needs for a good while.

Im not really on a budget, just thought what i was pay would be a good price range to stick around.

[gummyz]

Most cheap/generic PSUs will be fine, but the question is how long. If you buy a 700W generic PSU and a 700W PC Power & Cooling, but you're only running a basic system, you won't notice any difference. Both PSUs will probably last about the same lifetime along with the computer. Once you add in a power hungry video card (or even overclock), they will definately not be the same in lifetime. The other thing to keep in mind is that if the PSU does blow or does not provide "clean" power to components, you are running a high risk of frying your other hardware. This also goes for the same on buying at least a good surge suppressor/protector. Rather than get too much into detail about PSUs (and put you to sleep lol), just buy one that is of a known good brand.

Again I would dump the 8600GT/GTS and at least bump it to a 9600GT or 8800 based card :)

[Amano]

Q9300 + Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4 + 9600GT (Y)

[+shift. MVC]

8600GT/GTS I can't really justify getting since for ~$140 you can get a 9600GT with double the performance.

[darkdestroyer6]

Thanks all for your help.

I just feel that ?100 odd for the 9600GT is too much to spend on a graphics card, when i wont be playing many games etc, i would only need it for everyday use.

[utdarkviper]

@scan.co.uk

8800gts320 ?74.99 (best deal for money imo)

8600gt/8600gts ?49 and up

[darkdestroyer6]

Thanks, i thought about it and to be honest i don't really play games on my pc (maybe once every now and then), so therefore i would only need a graphics card for day to day use, videos etc. Im thinking that i wouldn't really need a top of the range card like that as i wouldn't really be making use of it all that much.

[+PeterUK MVC]

Much of your stuff is in http://www.scan.co.uk/todayonly/

If your not interested in a 8800GS theirs a 256MB Gigabyte 8600GT Silent Pipe II (no fan) that look good.

[CrashG]

Thanks, i thought about it and to be honest i don't really play games on my pc (maybe once every now and then), so therefore i would only need a graphics card for day to day use, videos etc. Im thinking that i wouldn't really need a top of the range card like that as i wouldn't really be making use of it all that much.

For what your use is going to be, an 8600GT will be fine. It will also do hardware decoding of HD Video.

Save the cash, or put it toward some other part that you will use.