[tinymouse2]

OK so I'm going to be running an XFX 780i motherboard with a q9550 at stock with DDR2 at 333mhz (dual channel so up to 667mhz).

I'm going to be using a gtx 260 216 "core" for the graphics card.
An antec modular quadro 850w power supply
a HAF 922 case with 2 extra fans

Is there anything wrong with this in any way? I've put the order in but I have a few hours to cancel it if I want.
Ignoring all ATI/AMD fanboys saying "oh go for AMD instead" and ignoring price is there anything that clashes here? Like if the motherboard doesn't support the ram or if the cpu won't work well with the RAM...


I'm kinda freaking out because i've never spent so much money on a computer before and I've been working for about 4 years to pay for this (all the rest of my money has been going towards driving insurance and the rent)

Thanks in advanced

Dave.

[Aynjell]

Originally Posted by tinymouse2

OK so I'm going to be running an XFX 780i motherboard with a q9550 at stock with DDR2 at 333mhz (dual channel so up to 667mhz).

I'm going to be using a gtx 260 216 "core" for the graphics card.
An antec modular quadro 850w power supply
a HAF 922 case with 2 extra fans

Is there anything wrong with this in any way? I've put the order in but I have a few hours to cancel it if I want.
Ignoring all ATI/AMD fanboys saying "oh go for AMD instead" and ignoring price is there anything that clashes here? Like if the motherboard doesn't support the ram or if the cpu won't work well with the RAM...


I'm kinda freaking out because i've never spent so much money on a computer before and I've been working for about 4 years to pay for this (all the rest of my money has been going towards driving insurance and the rent)

Thanks in advanced

Dave.

Where's the second 216?

[tinymouse2]

Originally Posted by Aynjell

Where's the second 216?

I'm going to buy one next June when this one can't give enough oomph in games. But apart from that is it all ok? Like do all the timings match up?

Thanks for the quick response also =)

[Aynjell]

Originally Posted by tinymouse2

I'm going to buy one next June when this one can't give enough oomph in games. But apart from that is it all ok? Like do all the timings match up?

Thanks for the quick response also =)

Get some faster memory, DDR2-800 or 1066. You're wasting it on 667. OCZ gold DDR2-1066 is so cheap that you should have 8GB to be honest.

[tinymouse2]

Originally Posted by Aynjell

Get some faster memory, DDR2-800 or 1066. You're wasting it on 667. OCZ gold DDR2-1066 is so cheap that you should have 8GB to be honest.

I want to stick with my current RAM simpley because it was a gift from a good mate of mine so I don't want to get any new RAM.

But with the current RAM is everything good?

[Aynjell]

Originally Posted by tinymouse2

I want to stick with my current RAM simpley because it was a gift from a good mate of mine so I don't want to get any new RAM.

But with the current RAM is everything good?

I'd get an eVGA over an XFX, plus it's lifetime warranty and it's a great overclocker.

[tinymouse2]

Originally Posted by Aynjell

I'd get an eVGA over an XFX

Sorry had to sleep after I posted the last comment

I already brought the XFX and the price for the EVGA model over the XFX model is 1.6 times the price.
So is the xfx low quality?

[Pandam00nium]

Most video cards come from the same manufacturer.. XFX has a double lifetime warranty(transferrable if you decide to sell it to someone) and shouldn't be any different from an EVGA(unless they have a non-reference design).

[tinymouse2]

Originally Posted by Melan

shouldn't be any different from an EVGA(unless they have a non-reference design).

So this rig is all good? And will give things like 1:1 ram timings? and there won't be a massive bottleneck anywhere?

[MARCI]

The only thing that could slow you down is the ram, what's the FSB on the q9550

[tinymouse2]

Originally Posted by MARCI

what's the FSB on the q9550

1333mhz
2.83GHz 8.5 multiplier

[MARCI]

1333 = 333FSB

You'll be fine with the ram, as long as you intend to run at stock speeds.

If you intend to Overclock to any real degree , you'll find it more difficult without faster ram

[tinymouse2]

Originally Posted by MARCI

1333 = 333FSB

You'll be fine with the ram, as long as you intend to run at stock speeds.

If you intend to Overclock to any real degree , you'll find it more difficult without faster ram

What about if I want to overclock the cpu up to 3.0 or 3.2GHz on stock voltages? (I don't know how to overclock yet but I will be after a few months)

[MARCI]

To overclock that CPU at all you'll want faster ram. 3.0 would be a FSB of 353 which would put the ram at 706. 3.2 would be FSB 376, which takes you up to 752.

ddr2 800 will make it MUCH easier, actually would make it possible to run 3.4 and keep the ram at stock speeds.

[tinymouse2]

Originally Posted by MARCI

To overclock that CPU at all you'll want faster ram. 3.0 would be a FSB of 353 which would put the ram at 706. 3.2 would be FSB 376, which takes you up to 752.

How easy is it to overclock RAM? This 667MHz RAM was over 70 quid a year ago and is still over 60 quid so I would assume I have room to OC


Only problem with buying new RAM is I don't have any money left.
My bank balance has about 2,000 quid left in it incase of some big economic crash.

[MARCI]

Not sure what brand of ram you have, nor how the local market may price ram, but These would do the trick. Of course what you have now is perfectly suitable for use. Ram overclocking is doable, just may have to loosen timings, or increase voltages.

[GT3mich]

From what I remember about 780i boards, they were buggy and didn't overclock that well. Thats why I went the P35 route and bought the best single video card I could afford at the time. Its been a while since that mb was released. I would get some faster ram too. Its still real cheap here in the States.
Like this...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-TWIN..._ob_ce_title_1

[tinymouse2]

Originally Posted by GT3mich

From what I remember about 780i boards, they were buggy and didn't overclock that well.

WOAH what do you mean buggy? Also I only plan to overclock by 200MHz so no massive overclocking from me.

[ou_phidelt]

Originally Posted by tinymouse2

WOAH what do you mean buggy? Also I only plan to overclock by 200MHz so no massive overclocking from me.

The 780 boards do not overclock quads well but if all you want is 200Mhz then it will be fine. For any big OCing you would want either an Intel based board or a 790.(in addition to bfetter memory) If memory serves the 790 is DDR3 only so that makes it even more expensive yet which is why many 775 users stuck with Intel boards. Also if memory serves nvidia chipsets let you run the memory and CPU unlinked which in essence will let you OC the CPU and leave the memory at stock speeds. The performance gain you get will net will not be near as great though.

In addition to the Intel boards being better Ocers most users with plans like yours will never run SLI. By the time next year rolls around adding another 260 will not make any sense. First you will probably not be able to find another 260 new, so you will be looking at used. Second, you will likely be able to buy a current generation card next year for about what you are spending on the 260 now that will outperform the pair in SLI. Its jut the nature of the beast. If someone is not going SLI straight off the bat I never recommend and SLI board.(of course i7 boards changed this but that is not what we're talking about)

[Aynjell]

Originally Posted by tinymouse2

Sorry had to sleep after I posted the last comment

I already brought the XFX and the price for the EVGA model over the XFX model is 1.6 times the price.
So is the xfx low quality?

In all honesty, it's probably the same reference foxconn board.