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Core2Duo build advice needed

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Audioaficionado

Sparkomatic Moderator
Joined
Apr 29, 2002
I'm trying to build a killer C2D system for my daughter that will be a good bang for the buck for non combat gaming and some Photoshop. She's got a 19" LCD so a super card would be a waste.

We are planning to overclock it eventually so I'll need a better CPU heatsink than the one that comes in the Intel retail box.

I don't want the total cost to grow very much as she is maxed out at the current ~$850 after shipping and MIRs. But if it's a really good improvement/deal, we could squeeze in an extra $50 for a total of $900.
I need help before I finalize this purchase.

Where are the weaknesses? Incompatible components?

Here's the proposed component list:


LIAN LI PC-7A plus II Silver Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811112068


GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128012

SAPPHIRE 100199L Radeon X1950GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814102034

Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E4300
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115013

G.SKILL 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL4D-1GBPK
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231094

Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822135106


SAMSUNG 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black E-IDE/ATAPI Model SH-S182D
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827151133

Thanx in advance :thup:
 
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Nice. I believe I'd favor the E4300 as a cost saver and a way to fit in 2x1GB memory for nearly the same cost. Particularly if photochop is in the future. I'm not super crazy about your HD choice either, but it is a reasonable buy at that price.
 
Another concern is that disclaimer from Gigabyte:

Notice: Only DDR2-800 memory supporting JEDEC approved 1.8V operation with timings of 5-5-5 or 6-6-6 is supported on Intel Desktop Boards based on Intel 965 Express Chipsets.

Does the CAS 4 1.9-2.0v RAM work OK?

BTW thanx for that Allendale tip TimoneX
It seems it will just boot up to 2.4GHz fairly easily when you run it at 1066 instead of 800fsb.

If I wasn't going for the E6600 on my system, I would have gotten it for myself too except it doesn't do VT.
 
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I agree, the E4300 is the low budget CPU of choice right now. Running 266 FSB (1066 system bus speed same as the E6600) is a no brainer on default voltages and stock cooling. Add a quiet cooler like the Zalman 7700 and 3 gig is easy.

For only $11 more, you can step up to a bigger and better HDD.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148161

Might save a few bucks by dropping down to the Gigabyte S3 or Abit AB9.
 
batboy, is my 4-4-4-12 / 1.9V-2.0V memory choice going to work with the DS3 motherboard?

Thanx for that Segate drive link.
 
well audio for a really good bang to dollar this is what i would do for you.

cpu
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=E4...9de81566fe70bf0f2d285708805070600eb266295348c
mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127018
ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231098
video
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814134003
hs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835207001


with some of the savings there i would say go slightly bigger HD, my thoughts would be a seagate perp.250gig or deskstar 250 for $79.

the hs i posted to is excactly the same as the artic freezer pro7 but cheaper. thought sidewindercomputers has some deals as well for hs's.

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/thmsforinso7.html
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/sidewindercomputers_1931_1942841
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/sidewindercomputers_1931_1919433

The E4300 i have runs much cooler then the E6400. Both oced at 3ghz but the E4300 is running 1.45v vs stock-v for the e6400.
 
The GSkill PK's you picked out will work fine with any 965P motherboard.
I like the looks of the core components in your original build selection.
 
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