Building a New Core 2 Duo Rig, Please Advise

[drenader]

Fellow overclockers, prices are falling all over the place and DreNader needs a new rig after the one in my sig died after 6 solid years. I want to future proof a little bit, but wish to stay within a modest budget so the latest DX10 Graphics card is not needed. I am not a heavy gamer but like to have the option when I game to play with some eye candy on. OK on to the Build.

Budget a little more then $600

I already have a cheap case and power supply that I received free after rebate.
I don't really trust a free after rebate power supply.
The Power Supply is an Ultra 500w link
The case is also Ultra Link
And I have PNY 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 link

I got the ram before prices dropped so it is not the fastest, and I really am ok replacing the above already on hand items. In the case of the Ram it is an easy upgrade later.

I need:

C2D Processor: Want a 6600 but it is out of my budget
Motherboard: Maybe one that supports Quadcore for the future
Graphics Card: I watch mostly movies, but game sometimes
Harddrive: I need a quick harddrive to put Vista on. I have 2 ide harddrives that I will upgrade at a later date but for now 1 quick sata drive will due.
DVDRW: all my old drives are IDE, and that seems to be dead based on most the mother boards I have been viewing.
Power Supply: I dont trust my free one.
Case:? maybe this free case is crap as well.
I think that covers it, I will need some cooling fans and a heatsink fan. Other then that I have all the keyboard/mouse/monitor areas taken care of.

What would you recommend. I have $600 or so, help a fellow overclocker out.

 

[Peepaw]

I think it's going to be tight on a $600+ budget.

 

[drenader]

I think it's going to be tight on a $600+ budget.

A 6600 is impossible but I can dream right? Lets say we drop down to the C2D 4400. Thats like $140, and the mother board lets say will be $175. Another $200 for a Graphics Card...

OK ok Fine lets up the budget a few $100's to 800-900$

Can we work with that?

 

[psi]

I know at frys, a guy mention here on the forums, a e6600 and ecs combo for like 200-230 bucks. Crap board, but good enough to get started.

So the e6600 isnt impossible.

What do you use you pc for? that will help in the gfx department?

Also you can use your ide roms/ You will have one IDE port.
This was a quick guess,
after rebates only goes over by 50 bucks, but its without fans. You wont need a HS and fan for now, if you are on a budget
https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.asp?ID=4789631

 

[drenader]

What do you use you pc for? that will help in the gfx department?

I use my computer as my main form of media, DVD's, HD content. Not too much on the games side but would like the option here. Perhaps I should go with the entry level DX10 card that was around $150 if I remember correctly. But no need to blow the bank in this area. Perhaps I could get an SLI mobo and buy 1 card now and another later if I wanted to do more gaming?

 

[psi]

I use my computer as my main form of media, DVD's, HD content. Not too much on the games side but would like the option here. Perhaps I should go with the entry level DX10 card that was around $150 if I remember correctly. But no need to blow the bank in this area. Perhaps I could get an SLI mobo and buy 1 card now and another later if I wanted to do more gaming?

Well if you not inot much gaming then no need for a sli mobo, but thats juct my opinion.
https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersio...p?WishListNumber=4789631&WishListTitle=budget

That above link didnt work right, its a rough start, but its something to look at
a cheap dx ver card would be the new 8600gt i believe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=8600&x=0&y=0

 

[Peepaw]

Deleted bad link.

Look that list over and see what you think.

 

[Peepaw]

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115005

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128017

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817194003

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814121031

Try those links. I don't think that other link is going to work.

 

[psi]

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/WishList/TemporaryWishList.asp

Look that list over and see what you think.

url no worky, save the wish list, the temp wish list stores in your cookies

 

[psi]

forgot HDD

 

[BossBorot]

do you want to overclock at all? Also that psu is not total trash it may be sufficent depending on what you throw in the system and how much you push it

 

[Peepaw]

forgot HDD

I was leaving something for you to do.

 

[drenader]

do you want to overclock at all? Also that psu is not total trash it may be sufficent depending on what you throw in the system and how much you push it

I want to overclock up to 3.0. I read that if I go with a slower Chip like the 4400 I would rely on the ram to get me overclocking while with the 6600 the ram is less important. Is this the correct line of thinking? Based on the multipliers on the core?

 

[psi]

I was leaving something for you to do.

hah, i did in my list, but it went over by 50 bucks lol

I want to overclock up to 3.0. I read that if I go with a slower Chip like the 4400 I would rely on the ram to get me overclocking while with the 6600 the ram is less important. Is this the correct line of thinking? Based on the multipliers on the core?

Hmm with your ram, 800 would be ideal, but if you get the 6420 or 6000.

No their is a few boards that come with 2 IDE ports, that could save some money.
with my list, is with the 6600 with a 200gb sata hdd. it comes to 650 and some change after rebates. Guess you could squeeze it down some, with different power supply, cheaper card,etc. But at least with that board you can get it @ 3.0 on stock cooling. Then down the road all you will need to do is working on some cooling. But thats just my opinion, im not no oc guru

 

[drenader]

Ram is so cheap right now I could always try and sell my ram locally and spend some more and get a nice 2gb kit for under $150. This comes to mind..

I could go with the 2 ide motherboards like you said but it would feel like i was living in the past haha. I want to transition away from my fat cabled friends.

And the Harddrive does not have to be big, I want it for the operating system. I have a large 500gig ide drive that has all my files on it right now, I will eventually transfer that to some sata drives and put everything in a raid. Rapter anyone?

 

[psi]

true, about the ide thing. If you got a local frys why not check them out.
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=509991
That guy said

there is a sale at fry's right now for a e6600 and ecs mobo for $229.99+ tax

You can allways upgrade the mobo later, you are pretty much buying a e6600 and getting a ecs free with purchase. You could do that and ge the other stuff that you need, and upgrade the mb later?

 

[drenader]

true, about the ide thing. If you got a local frys why not check them out.
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=509991
That guy said


You can allways upgrade the mobo later, you are pretty much buying a e6600 and getting a ecs free with purchase. You could do that and ge the other stuff that you need, and upgrade the mb later?

Yea there is a Frys a few miles from me. I was planning on going in there to make sure I wasnt missing anything anyway. Was planning on building in a few weeks (finals are this week and next week and my school hasnt started selling Vista yet).

 

[splat]

e6420 - 193.00
gigabyte ga-965p-s3 or biostar tforce965p - $104.99
g.skill 2x1gb ddr2-800 PK's - $129.99
enhance enp-5150gh psu - ~$70
evga 7600gs - $69.99 after mir

thats pretty close to your max $600 budget right there. dropping to the e4400 or e4300 will free up some cash, and if you get a good heat sink like a scythe or tuniq tower, you should be able to hit 3.2ghz easily with all of those processors.

 

[chrispycrunch]

What is the system for? E4400 is great for GHz but the E6300, e6400, e4x00 are good for games, and the e6600 w/ 4mb cache is good for apps and games.

 

[drenader]

What is the system for? E4400 is great for GHz but the E6300, e6400, e4x00 are good for games, and the e6600 w/ 4mb cache is good for apps and games.

I play a few games, but mostly media related things. I use my computer as a DVR to copy HDTV versions of my fav. shows off the air. I am not a heavy gamer by any means, but the new games starting to come out are getting me a little excited.