Hi all Im coming into some money soon and want to build myself the ultimate pc.... well something thats future proof and SLI... at the moment Ive got a croosfire Asus 5 dh deluxe with two radeon xt1900 and 2 gb DDR2 800mhx etc.... anyways want to build something using the fastest Intel processor and two SLI cards... but im stuck between two mainboards ASUS/ABIT ..either asus Striker Extreme or abit IN9 32X-MAX Wi-Fi..... Is there anyone out ther that can advise what the top spec pc could be ...I want to do it myself as its def cheaper....
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- Thread starter delpy8
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izzy007
Big Geek
well you can never really build the best pc becoz right after you get the best parts and build it, a better model of the products is released weeks later. Any good spec'ed vista compatible dx10 pc is actually ideal. unless you're a gamer which by looking at your current specs, u are.
U should aim for a core 2 duo xtreme and ive heard a lot about ASUS making the best intel boards so i would go with that, seeing as you are gettin gth ebest board, it would be really good. get plenty of ram, at least 4 gb 2x2gb or 4x1gb in dual channel.
U should aim for a core 2 duo xtreme and ive heard a lot about ASUS making the best intel boards so i would go with that, seeing as you are gettin gth ebest board, it would be really good. get plenty of ram, at least 4 gb 2x2gb or 4x1gb in dual channel.
Big B
HWF Godfather
Why not wait for R600? True, it's been pushed back, but given the driver issues under Vista that nVidia's run into (but, then again, they've had barely any time to work with the final version of Vista before it's release).
The P5W-DH can still run the fastest Core 2 Duo's out there, so I don't see the motherboard as being an issue. ATi has very good hardware, and with AMD cracking the whip, I'd expect the drivers to be stronger and more timely than before the acquisition.
As far as motherboards go, the reference design 680i boards are the same thing with the company slapping it's name on the motherboard and selling it. Asus and Abit are the only companies I've seen with a different design on it, and they've had a few problems...well the Asus model. I just don't see why you'd pay more for a motherboard that's got a few extra frills and costs at least $100 (sometimes $200) more than the competition.
However, in this case I agree with Izzy: you've got a very solid system as it is, and really, I'm perplexed as why you'd want to get rid of something that good so soon. Next year, nVidia and AMD (ATi) will have something else out that's bigger and better. If Intel changes the VRM spec for Penryn (Conroe successor), you'll probably need a new motherboard then. If you still want to upgrade, keep the motherboard that you have unless you're into extreme overclocking...and even then, I'd have second thoughts. The Core 2 X6800 is the fastest processor available right now.
If you do go ahead with the upgrade, make sure you have a solid power supply. I don't know what R600 will be like, but the 8800GTX's require about 300W apiece, so take that into account.
The P5W-DH can still run the fastest Core 2 Duo's out there, so I don't see the motherboard as being an issue. ATi has very good hardware, and with AMD cracking the whip, I'd expect the drivers to be stronger and more timely than before the acquisition.
As far as motherboards go, the reference design 680i boards are the same thing with the company slapping it's name on the motherboard and selling it. Asus and Abit are the only companies I've seen with a different design on it, and they've had a few problems...well the Asus model. I just don't see why you'd pay more for a motherboard that's got a few extra frills and costs at least $100 (sometimes $200) more than the competition.
However, in this case I agree with Izzy: you've got a very solid system as it is, and really, I'm perplexed as why you'd want to get rid of something that good so soon. Next year, nVidia and AMD (ATi) will have something else out that's bigger and better. If Intel changes the VRM spec for Penryn (Conroe successor), you'll probably need a new motherboard then. If you still want to upgrade, keep the motherboard that you have unless you're into extreme overclocking...and even then, I'd have second thoughts. The Core 2 X6800 is the fastest processor available right now.
If you do go ahead with the upgrade, make sure you have a solid power supply. I don't know what R600 will be like, but the 8800GTX's require about 300W apiece, so take that into account.
Hi im going to get the new intel CPU the Core 2 X6800 or Q6700 whats the fastest for gaming i went ahead and got the ASUS striker extreme and two SLI BFG Tech 320MB 8800 GTS OC2 GDDR3, and corsiar dominator pc2-6400 x 2gb .......Which is better the quad or duo 2 extreme??? thx
case, Mozart Ve1000 bws
hiper 600 watt psu
150GB Western Digital Raptor
case, Mozart Ve1000 bws
hiper 600 watt psu
150GB Western Digital Raptor
Big B
HWF Godfather
Unless you're a heavy multitasker, going into quad-core territory won't help you. The Extreme's usually don't offer the performance jump their price commands, so unless you're dead set on the QX6800 or actually do need that type of processing power, I really can't give you a good reason to purchase it. If you want to, well, that's a different story. The Striker Extreme is discouraged for a couple of reasons: costs nearly twice what most 680i boards do, and doesn't overclock as well.
I'm also not entirely sure that Hiper 600W is up to the task of this beast. The 8800GTX's demand 150-180W each under load, and the 8800GTS's require something similar. If your PSU doesn't have close to 40A between the 12V rails, then you could be asking for trouble.
I'm also not entirely sure that Hiper 600W is up to the task of this beast. The 8800GTX's demand 150-180W each under load, and the 8800GTS's require something similar. If your PSU doesn't have close to 40A between the 12V rails, then you could be asking for trouble.
Big B
HWF Godfather
No problem.
I've been hearing very, very good things about Corsair HX-620 PSU in regards to running 8800 SLI boxes. Other considerations would be OCZ or FSP 700W units. (OCZ is rebadging FSP units, and FSP kicks all sorts of ass). Those are about the cheapest PSU's I can think of that I'd even try with an 8800 SLI setup.
I've been hearing very, very good things about Corsair HX-620 PSU in regards to running 8800 SLI boxes. Other considerations would be OCZ or FSP 700W units. (OCZ is rebadging FSP units, and FSP kicks all sorts of ass). Those are about the cheapest PSU's I can think of that I'd even try with an 8800 SLI setup.
Big B
HWF Godfather
Actually, even a low-end Core 2 Duo competes well with a more expensive Athlon64, so his system is faster sticking with Intel. Core 2 Duo is also dual core and has a dynamic 4MB or 2MB L2 cache. The nForce 680 is newer, more widely used, and an amazing performer.
He's already going with a pair of 8800GTS 320MB cards in SLI, which inevitably blows any single card out of the water.
He's got 2GB of RAM already...so 1GB would be a downgrade.
He's already going with a pair of 8800GTS 320MB cards in SLI, which inevitably blows any single card out of the water.
He's got 2GB of RAM already...so 1GB would be a downgrade.