3k+ Rig, Suggestions!

[Fourevercali]

Like it says, this is what i am thinking? Any suggestions
See attachment for pics
PNY VCG8800XXPB GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB GDDR3 PCI Express Video Card w/Dual-DVI, HDTV-Out Retail

629.99 x 2
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory


$304.99

OCZ OCZ700GXSSLI GameXStream 700W Power Supply Retail

$139.99

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 Quad Core

$999

EVGA 122-CK-NF68 nForce 680i SLI Socket 775 1333MHz DDR2 - 1000 Extreme Overclocking Motherboard Retail

$259.99

Thermaltake Dream Tower Series -Tsunami VA3400SWA Aluminum Mid Tower Case w/Transparent Side Window (Silver) Retail

$135.00
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB Serial ATA 7200RPM Hard Drive w/16MB Buffer

$104.00

Grand Total = $3202.95
One GPU=$2572.96
One GPU w/Core 2 Duo e6700 =2092.96

 

[Scar]

get a C2D 6700, better ram, and a 2nd hard drive to run a raid-0.

 

[Max0r]

Get a giant chain to anchor your comp incase you get robbed lol

Oh and if you do it wasn't me

 

[BigDan3131]

I would move up to a full tower and get 1kw psu. Those vid cards are long and need alot of room, plus the fact that its going to be hot in that case. With say the Eureka case by Tt you will have more room for better airflow plus added space if you decide to watercool it.

 

[BMac420]

i don't see any cooling solution...

 

[Fourevercali]

wow i am hxc loling about the chain comment. Why would i get a 6700 c2d? Also better ram? doesnt get much better than that. and full tower noted. 1kw psu??? really man!. And also i dont want to do raid

THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTIONS!! and keep em coming!
Cooling solution havent thought about it... its gonna be air though... so any suggestions

 

[Scar]

well i fugured if you're going all out you might as well do it right.

 

[Hipcrostino]

wow i am hxc loling about the chain comment. Why would i get a 6700 c2d? Also better ram? doesnt get much better than that. and full tower noted. 1kw psu??? really man!. And also i dont want to do raid

THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTIONS!! and keep em coming!
Cooling solution havent thought about it... its gonna be air though... so any suggestions

delta fans, and lost of them. That'll keep it cool (and noisy).

also the 8800gtx gpu's pull a lota juice. 1kw will ensure you can overclock without power issues, plus let you expand into the future. I also suggest running 2x 150gb 10k raptors in raid 0, as HDD access is going to be the slowest link. i would even consider dropping the second gpu to fund the HDD's. you can always buy the second card later, because regaurdless on one card or two, you will be able to play every game on the market at max settings. i think you will notice a fast raid array more then a second gpu in this case.

 

[natewildes]

oooo, don't waste such a great machine with air cooling Go water all the way . And go for the Thermaltake Armor, great case for whatever parts or cooling you end up with

 

[Fourevercali]

well i fugured if you're going all out you might as well do it right.

Ya i am going all out.... so why would i downgrade my cpu... the one i was getting a quadcore? Also the ram thing... that ram is basically the best.


To everyone else..
Watercooling REALLY??? god i didnt want to!!! I just freak out that there is water in my case... plus i go to a lot of LAN parties... would it be a hassle?
Also the whole raid thing... money is not an issue. I just don't really want to do it... I mean how much more performance am i going to get here. maybe i just dont know if its significant... i will def consider.

Also i am def liking that armor!!!

 

[Max0r]

If you want stuff to load faster do RAID.

Don't need water to get a great stable overclock.

I take it you're interested in max game performance above all else, and lan party friendly setup.

 

[batboy]

The quad cores are overkill for now. There are no games that will take advantage of them yet. I would just get an E6600 for now and overclock it to 400 FSB with really good cooling. That way you'll run your DDR2-800 RAM perfectly in spec, plus you'll save almost $700. Get a quad core later when apps can utilize 'em and when prices drop to sane levels.

Spend a little of that cash I saved you on a good heatsink and a better PSU, like maybe a PC Power & Cooling unit (see link).

http://www.pcpower.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=S75EPS

 

[jivetrky]

Well I'd say the RAM is definitely fine...Are you running a 64bit OS? because if not, 32Bit windows XP will not see all 4GB of that RAM

About the harddrives, I'd definitely recommend going with a couple of 150GB raptors....or at least 2 or 3 74GB 16mB raptors. With the performance you'll have with everything else, your harddrives will be your weakness. RAID0 will GREATLY increase your read and write times. Then you can go with a 300-750GB backup drive (depending on your needs)

As far as the PSU, with a Quad C2D, a few HD's, and SLi 8800GTXs you will need a pretty beefy PSU.
Like:

SILVERSTONE ST85ZF ATX12V/ EPS12V 850W Power Supply 90V ~ 264V (Auto Range) - Retail

PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 EPS12V EPS12V 750W Power Supply - Retail


Cooling:

You don't need to go with water, but I'd definitely recommend it. Those GPU's need ALOT of CPU behind them. And just having 4 cores won't be enough, at least not for a while. So you need to get those cores going FAST. With good air you'll probably get to 3.4-3.6 With water you'll probably get closer to 4ghz.
I'd actually probably go with an E6700 and OC it to the max. Then use that extra money on the other areas that need improving.

I'd go with a slightly larger case, like maybe a Coolermaster CM Stacker (STC-T01) or perhaps a Tt Armor. OR maybe a beauty of a Silverstone Tj07

And I'd deifnitely add a sound card in there. If you are a gamer (And I assume from this massive rig, that you are....a soundcard is a great addition. The sound will be 20x better. Even if you only use headphones. The virtual 3D that the X-fi's give for headphones is quite good.

Here's my suggestion:
https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersio...681911&WishListTitle=E6700-SLI+8800GTX+system

Then you can spend $175-$250 on a decent water system and you are set.

 

[greenmaji]

I think 4GB of ram is overkill unless you use some professional 3d rendering software. 2GB should do ya. And yes they make better ram, DDR2 1000 has higher binned D9's.

1Kw PSU?????? HUH!! how about a stought 600W (like a Zippy) unit and that would be for 8800 SLI.

And why not 8800 SLI? if your paying that much you might as well put your bucks were the eye candy is.

And you really need to think about the display(s), if your getting DX10 GFX(s) you will need nice monitor(s) to see all that eye candy.

Water cooling? my personal opinon, if its not high end air cooling you might as well spend a few extra bucks and go Phase change and KILL WATERCOOLING CLOCKS!!

A good motherboard (like that i680) will make a E6600 clock pretty darn close to what an X6800 and if your lucky it will beat it. No use in my mind in getting the X6800 unless your not overclocking or your primary consern is benchmarking (wich is going to be superseded buy quad core soon so BLA!).

HD's? Nothing beats raptors for single user performance, you picked out a storage drive. and RAID0 WOO WOO!!! +1!!! The more 16mb cache raptors the better (you can run up to 6 of them in Raid0 on that mobo!!!)

 

[Fourevercali]

I think 4GB of ram is overkill unless you use some professional 3d rendering software. 2GB should do ya. And yes they make better ram, DDR2 1000 has higher binned D9's.

1Kw PSU?????? HUH!! how about a stought 600W (like a Zippy) unit and that would be for 8800 SLI.

And why not 8800 SLI? if your paying that much you might as well put your bucks were the eye candy is.

And you really need to think about the display(s), if your getting DX10 GFX(s) you will need nice monitor(s) to see all that eye candy.

Water cooling? my personal opinon, if its not high end air cooling you might as well spend a few extra bucks and go Phase change and KILL WATERCOOLING CLOCKS!!

A good motherboard (like that i680) will make a E6600 clock pretty darn close to what an X6800 and if your lucky it will beat it. No use in my mind in getting the X6800 unless your not overclocking or your primary consern is benchmarking (wich is going to be superseded buy quad core soon so BLA!).

HD's? Nothing beats raptors for single user performance, you picked out a storage drive. and RAID0 WOO WOO!!! +1!!! The more 16mb cache raptors the better (you can run up to 6 of them in Raid0 on that mobo!!!)

4gb was never an option look back. I always was going w/ 2 8800gtx's the sound card has been noted. I am going with 2 raptors now, full case (TT armom). And this PSU
https://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=371371
and this ram https://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=85025-22
going with the e6700.

 

[greenmaji]

If you plan on paying that much for a PSU, check into this deal
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=479745

And I'm kind of clueless what a E6700 will do that a E6600 can't overclocked on that motherboard

 

[splat]

i agree with everyone else...stick with 2gb ram, don't get quad core, and get 2x8800gtx in sli. I'd also suggest a pcpower & cooling power supply and a watercooling solution. Pretty much everything other people have said, i just wanted to reiterate. I also like the NZXT cases, but case is more personal taste.

 

[jivetrky]

If you plan on paying that much for a PSU, check into this deal
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=479745

And I'm kind of clueless what a E6700 will do that a E6600 can't overclocked on that motherboard

yeah, good point....save $200 on the E6600 over the E6700

And I'd still definitely pick the Silverstone over the Tt PSU....or even the PCP&C Silencer 750 (Or whatever the equivalent Seasonic is)

I'd actually probably go with the PCP&C or Seasonic equal because I'm a fan of single rails. But that's just me.

 

[Max0r]

New tally!!!!!! Go!

 

[Fourevercali]

LoL no joke... about the tally comment

Ok so first I was NEVER planning on 4GB of ram... Lol
Second, ok so just get an e6600? I can OC pretty easily, and your right definately save some money! Ok so the only reason I wouldnt just get that silverstein PSU or w/e. Is i really like buying all my items through ZipZoomflly. No tax and FREE Second Day shipping. If any of you could find a comperable PSU on zipzoomfly LINKY Please.

So what I am looking at now Is
101222-1 Quantity Limit: 20
Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB Serial ATA 10,000RPM Hard Drive w/16MB Buffer ***Free Shipping***
Remove $151.90 x2 $303.80



246707 Quantity Limit: 20
EVGA 122-CK-NF68 nForce 680i SLI Socket 775 1333MHz DDR2 - 1000 Extreme Overclocking Motherboard Retail ***Free Shipping***
Remove $259.99 $259.99



322843 Quantity Limit: 20
EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB GDDR3 PCI Express Video Card w/Dual-DVI, HDTV-Out Retail ***Free Shipping***
Remove $659.99 x2 $1319.98



371296 Quantity Limit: 20
Thermaltake Eureka VC8000BWA Aluminum Full Tower Case (Black) Retail ***Free Shipping***
Remove $159.99 $159.99



371371 Quantity Limit: 20
Thermaltake W0131RU ToughPower 850W Modular Power Supply w/APFC EPS Retail ***Free Shipping***
Remove $259.99 $259.99
(or if one can find better for cheaper)



85025-22 Quantity Limit: 20
Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C4D 2GB DDR2-800 XMS2-6400 Dominator Series Memory Retail ***Free Shipping***
Remove $313.00 $313.00



80860 Quantity Limit: 20
Intel® Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe Processor 2.4GHz, 1066FSB, LGA775, 4MB Cache Retail ***Free Shipping***
Remove $309.90 $309.90



290236 Quantity Limit: 20
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic Sound Card Retail ***Free Shipping***
Remove $94.99 $94.99


And then for cooling. Like i said before... I go to a lot of Lan Parties... i am an Overclocker. But i am not like Kingpin Trying to break every record... i wouldnt have to even touch anything an run anything with this machine. So i will probably just OC a little. So i dont think water is COMPLETELY necessary. But does anyone have suggestions for Air. Preferably if one could find it on zipzoom, but i am willing to look elseware for that!
THanks guys for all the input.