Please Comment on My Build

[rognorak]

Would Like comments / suggestions on improving this build, and if anything in the configuration is a bottleneck, or extreme overkill when added to the rest of the components.

Would Like to run it stock for a while, but be able to overclock a little later .

CPU: Q9450

Motherboard: DFI LANPARTY DK X48-T2RS
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16813136047

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16820231145

Video 1: EVGA 01G-P3-N897-AR GeForce 9800 GX2 SSC 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16814130344

Video 2: EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SCC 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16814130311
(This Card is just so I can run extra displays in 2D - Not trying to SLI)

PSU: Antec TPQ-850 ATX12V / EPS12V 850W Power Supply 100
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16817371009

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16822148288
Times 2x for raid


The 2 things im most unsure about are the ram and PSU

1 - Is that an OK ram for running 1:1 with the FSB at 4x400, but still leaving a little room to OC later?

2 - Is the PSU overkill for the system?

Thanks !
Mike

 

[firemann]

What is your build for? Do you actually have a need for the Quad Core?

 

[blazed]

Well the motherboard seems a bit overkill if overclocking is not the first concern for the PC, X38 or even P35 board would have what you need for much less money. Also an $105 8600GT just for extra monitor displays, unfortunately the GX2 doesn't have the best muli monitor support on its own, but if thats really the way you want to go about extra monitors a cheap $40 card could do the same.

What resolution will you be gaming at?

1- Yes, but same could be said for DDR2 800mhz memory with tighter timings.
2- Generaly yes, as you could get away with a quality 750W easy, but its good to be a bit overkill on the PSU.

 

[rognorak]

To Answer Everyone's Questions -

I probably dont have a need for a quad core at this time, but I'm not one to be constantly upgrading. So when I spend the money I try to do it right so it will last me a while. The PC is used for everything and anything. Gaming PC, its part of my entertainment center, and I write my own software, some of which has a lot of number crunching.

Gaming at 1920 x 1080 on my TV

I would like to overclock in the future, just not right away, haven't built a PC in a while and even stock this config will blow my current PC out of the water so I figured Ill get it all set up and stable for a bit, and the OC it.

Whats wrong with GX2's multimonitor support?
Can you suggest a 40 dollar card thats can drive 2 DVI's well?

The RAM is a tough one for me, the price delta is pretty small. Is it actually better to get DDR2 800 with tighter timings? I saw RAM all the way up to DDR2 1200 with prices from dirt cheap to over 1000 dollars... and had a hard time picking - so more opinion welcomed on this.

 

[attack]

DDR2 800 cas 4 is what I'd get. DDR3 and other higher speed RAM's have higher CAS ratings which negate any benefit. There are 1066 cas 4 out there, but the gain from even that is only noticeable in benchmarks. Save the cash and get inexpensive DDR2 800.

I'd also recommend a P35 based board or X38. The MSI Neo2-FR is around 100 and has 2 PCI-e 16x slots, it will work great and has headroom to OC.

There are cheaper dual DVI solutions out there, I didn't see any nvidia ones at the egg, but if you check ebay or anandtech forums you can get one used for cheap.

 

[rognorak]

DDR2 800 cas 4 is what I'd get. DDR3 and other higher speed RAM's have higher CAS ratings which negate any benefit. There are 1066 cas 4 out there, but the gain from even that is only noticeable in benchmarks. Save the cash and get inexpensive DDR2 800.

I'd also recommend a P35 based board or X38. The MSI Neo2-FR is around 100 and has 2 PCI-e 16x slots, it will work great and has headroom to OC.

There are cheaper dual DVI solutions out there, I didn't see any nvidia ones at the egg, but if you check ebay or anandtech forums you can get one used for cheap.

How is this one to replace the RAM?

OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR800C44GK - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227267

 

[blazed]

Just as good as any 2x2gb DDR2 800mhz kit with the same timings, except the extra heatpipe is mostly a gimmick and can get in the way of a CPU cooler. Mushkin has their 2x2gb 5-4-4 timing ram for only $80 no MIR either overclocks about the same. Also I'd recommend looking at the PC Power and Cooling Silencer 750W for about $150 and a great PSU.