If Cost is not a consideration...

For an overkill media server + personal use computer:

a) Which P5Q is best, and;

b) Over the next 5+ years, is DDR3 important enough to buy into it?


Finally, do I care about 8/16 phase power if I'm not a hardcore OC'er?


Bear in mind that the issue is not: "What do I NEED?" but rather; "What do I WANT?"


I am torn between the P5Q Premium with 1600mhz FSB but 1200Mhz DDR2 and the P5Q3 Deluxe with 1600mHZ FSB *and* Memory; and a second PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot.

What P5Q is the best? Well the most expensive one then. It's not like there are a ton of P5Qs to choose from.

DDR3 is important (In the next 5 years, I'm sure it'll make the same history line as DDR2), but I'm not sure about DDR2/DDR3 combo mobos.

And about 16 phase power, I recall reading around here that it's pretty much irrelevant in any kind of OCing right now.

Over the next 5+ years, is DDR3 important enough to buy into it

Click to expand...

in 5 years DDR3 will probably be like PC133.

We can only hope so. As for RAM I recommend http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145210

Or take your pick here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...233&name=240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM&SpeTabStoreType=0

Btw, do get a good fast HDD/SDD. They affect start up etc which, IMO, is important. Good luck with your built!

well do you want to run CF? if not then stick with a P5Q/DDR2.

i love this link for reasons of DDR2 vs DDR3
http://www.thetechrepository.com/showthread.php?t=160
from a stand point of just latency, i would get some DDR3-1600 cas7 over any DDR2 setup.

i look at ram prices differently then others. i find it hard to compare DDR3 prices to current DDR2, unless you are really limited money wise. if your not then no reason to really consider DDR2 at all IMO. for what i paid for some DDR2-800cas4 last year you can get a good set of DDR3-1600 cas7 in 4gig kit for the same price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231167
then just look at DDR3-1600 in 2gig kits, alot cheaper then it use to be.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231142 <- is $100 less then the DDR2 kit im talking about. FYI i paid over $250 for the 2gig DDR2-800 kit, last summer.

if you really go DDR3 and plan on a CF setup then i would get this board instead.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128068

Given how close we are though, i would suggest possibly waiting for neha to hit. boards will be roughly the same price now as DDR3 boards are. the cheapest neha cpu will be $250-$280, DDR3 will continue to drop in price.

Btw, do get Rampage extreme

Actually, due in large part to the information I've gotten in these various forums here at OCF, I've chose my basic building blocks:

• ASUS P5Q3 DELUXE with the ICH10R SouthBridge.
• Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650
• CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
• CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX

I'm also going use two SSD's to do a RAID-1 array for the OS and Apps, and a half dozen 1tb WD's in a RAID-5 array for storage. I'm just not sure which brand and model of SSD I'm going to use.

And I still need to figure out what to do for a video card or cards.

And I'm still choosing a case.

I might BUILD one out of fine woods and mount the whole rig on the wall next to the TV like a piece of Modern Art.


But seriously....
Thanks for your help.

Narrowing things down when you haven't built a computer in 6 years is a PITA.
(What do you mean I can't use my AIW 9800 Pro AGP?!?)