Hows this Q6600 PC look?

[Aucix]

Hey everyone,

Just wanting to move back into pc gaming from the world of console gaming (not just gaming, I will be running quite a few apps etc).

The spec I have in mind is this: (Ignore the total shopping list layout :P)

Week 1 - Umart
Antec P182 - $200 - Bought

Week 2 - Umart
Corsair HX620 - $178.5 - Bought

Week 3 - $312.6 - Bought - PC Case Gear
4 x 120mm Nexus Fan - $29 EA
1 X Thermalright HR-03 Plus - $68
1 x Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme Heatsink - $86
1 x Arctic Silver Thermal Adhesive - $16.50
1 x Arctic Silver ArctiClean (60ml Kit) - $9.90
1 x Arctic Silver 5 - Already aquired.
Shipping - $16.20

Week 4 - $2,299
Intel Q6600 G0 - $371 - Umart
Asus P5K Premium - $396 - Umart
OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Reaper 2GB - $225 - PC Case Gear
eVGA GeForce 8800Ultra 768MB - $930 - Umart
Sony AWG170SB2 - $56 - Umart
Samsung HD501LJ 500 GB - $155 - Umart
Samsung HD080HJ 80 GB - $56 - Umart
2 x Scythe Quiet Drive - $55 EA - PC Case Gear

As you can see, I am now up to week 4 and it is time to get the guts of the machine. Time for the questions now. What would the best OC I could hope for stable on that? Pretending I won the CPU lottery and got a good chip. I don't want any higher than 3.6 (in fact that's my ideal speed but I probably won’t get there). I am also wanting the best ratio for my RAM:FSB so would I be better of upgrading to the 1066MHZ memory? I am also willing to change to the E6850 if that will better suit my needs.

Any other suggestions for that list and I will gladly take them on board, still have some wiggle room in my budget. Oh and in case it isn't overly obvious with that list, I am also after a fairly quiet machine.

Thanks!

[dethzero]

Since you're using air and depending on the insides of your case, you should be able to hit anywhere from 3.2 to 3.4ghz without any issues =]

I was about to tell you that you're overpaying on everything here, but this is australian dollars right? Not sure what the currency exchange is for those =]

[Aucix]

Just a quick update, that list is in Australian dollars and I'm now going for 4 gigs of ram instead of 2.

Edit: Scratch that, I don't want 64bit Vista just yet so I will be sticking with 2 gigs.

[tranceaddict]

Looks like a killer rig, I would have probably thrown in a Raptor HD for my OS. BTW, Vista is crap stick with Xp for now, save on RAM and get better gaming performance. DX 10 is overrated and so far it's only marginally better than DX9. Crysis might change that though, only time will tell.

[diaz]

:drool:Cryyyysssiiiisssss.......:drool: :beer:

[Vento1]

I would go with 1066mhz memory every thing else looks good to me.

[Brolloks]

I would go for the 2 x 1 Gigs PC2-8000 Ballistix, cheaper as well, best OC's out there

[Aucix]

I can't find any other decent ram. Only choices are Corsair and OCZ. And why exactly would I be going for the 1066MMz? Even if I managed to get amazingly lucky and hit 3.6GHz on air, that would only be 400x9 giving me a 1:1 divider if I understand all this properly? Chances are I'll leave it at 333x9 so 667MMz is all I really need right? So the 800 gives m a bit of breathing room.

I decided I want the Asus PG221 for the monitor and if I up the ram to 1066MHz I'll be pretty tight for money.

[jason4207]

Get the DDR2-800 Ballistix. $70 AR! Best bang-for-your buck right now.

Should OC very well if you want to drop the multi or use a mem multiplier.

[Brolloks]

Get the DDR2-800 Ballistix. $70 AR! Best bang-for-your buck right now.

Should OC very well if you want to drop the multi or use a mem multiplier.


Agree, in terms of value for money they are the best...newegg or try Tigerdirect, they have a 2 x 512 MB for $29 with MIR

[oscrogo]

Looks like a killer rig, I would have probably thrown in a Raptor HD for my OS. BTW, Vista is crap stick with Xp for now, save on RAM and get better gaming performance. DX 10 is overrated and so far it's only marginally better than DX9. Crysis might change that though, only time will tell.

Crysis is said to run best on a quadcore with 4gb, 64bit processing, and a 8800, running DX10 at highest IQ settings. Go with the extra 2gb and 64bit vista. The rest of your hardware seems to be going in that direction, why limit it at this point? You'll be happier in the end :)

[Aucix]

I'm in Australia though so Newegg won't ship to me. Apart from that, isnt 64bit still pretty crappy in terms of compatibility with most things? Im using 32 bit now and liking Vista so it's not a concern about that, it's more the driver problems and application problems with a few things.
If not, I'll drop the monitor and get 4 gigs of the 1066MHz Reapers (can't find the crucials here)

Edit: Found some Ballistix. Wich would be better for me? The 1066MHz or the 800MHz. There's only $30 AUD difference between the 2 so I'm thinking the 1066MHz, but if I am better off witht he 800MHz then please let me know.

[oscrogo]

64bit Vista support is getting pretty decent now. Nvidia is releasing 64bit drivers with their 32 versions on every release. Also, I've even found that almost all of the big assed Canon imageRunner copier/printers/scanner/fax all have 64bit vista drivers, which didn't happen when 64bit XP came out.

It looks like the support is there and the support issues from even a few months ago are non-existent.

[Aucix]

Ok, so it's 4GB 64bit Vista now. Final question before I commit the order. 1066 or 800 and Ballistix or Reapers?

[Brolloks]

Ok, so it's 4GB 64bit Vista now. Final question before I commit the order. 1066 or 800 and Ballistix or Reapers?

Depending on the price would go for the 1066 Ballistix, they are D9's, otherwise the 800 Balistix, great overclockers, you can get 1000 Mhz without too much overvoltage

[Aucix]

Just an update. The only place I found to sell me the Ballistix is out of stock for way longer then I want to wait. Is there any major downside to me getting the OCZ Reapers also clocked at 1066MHz? I can get them now but have to wait a month for the Ballistix. :mad: