My new Gaming Rig...

[sygnus21]

Vista X64, hence, the 8GB's

I would seriously do some research if you plan on using 8gig of memory, especially if you plan on overclocking. If all of your Dimm slots are filled with memory you could wound up straining the MB's memory controller, which in the long run will damage/degrade the MB.

Look here - Full dimm slots - Please school me. - The Corsair Support Forums. Despite DerekT's ornery, he has some good points.

He shows a good example here - The Corsair Support Forums - View Single Post - Unpredictable results with QUAD2X4096 and Gigabyte X38-DS5. (It the same link in his first post to me)

More from Corsair - AN806: Memory Upgrade Resource Guide

For users opting to use four memory modules, referred to hereafter as “4-up”, there are many considerations. First, 4-up places a greater electrical load on the memory controller than 2-up. This increased load can result in instability if the BIOS is not tuned or tweaked to compensate. The user should make certain that their motherboard BIOS allows adjustments to the memory controller voltage. Additionally, users should be certain that their motherboard is capable of cooling the memory controller as it will generate more heat with 4-up and the increased voltage.

This increased load of 4-up is not an additional load on the memory modules. Many users mistakenly increase memory voltage when running 4-up and most often when trying to address stability issues. This is not necessary as a motherboard is configured to supply the BIOS set voltage to each slot, regardless of how many slots are filled. Increasing the memory voltage over the rated voltage should only be necessary when overclocking or using memory that exceeds the JEDEC specifications for voltage.

A user that already has a pair of modules and adds a second pair should take care to purchase a kit as similar as possible to the original to have the greatest chance of successful integration. This ensures a high likelihood of success when running a system with all four DIMM sockets populated.

The number of modules used can also have an effect on users attempting to utilize EPP or XMP performance profiles. Some BIOS implementations will not allow the selection of these options when running 4-up. Operation in the 4-up configuration is not a defined part of the EPP or XMP standard, and users running 4-up should set their memory settings manually.

Bottom line, research the board to see if it has problems with 8 or more gigs of RAM. Unless you really have a need for 8gigs of RAM, I'd do 2x2 2048 (4Gig) and run the RAM at the highest rating allowed by the MB.

But that's me

 

[AstaLaVista]

Beat me to it, I just came from reading a whole bunch of things and this is quiet correct. It seems Corsair doesn't make the dominator in 4GB sticks so it is going to have to be 4 max in order to leave the other 2 slots free.

I am a little baffled though, no where in those reviews they say if using 6GB's max is ok?

My head hurts and I think I am coming down with a cold... perhaps pure stress? :D

I have also searched about 22 different Shopping Online sites for prices... dammit, they are all pretty much even. It figures, the day I plan on purchasing something, everyone wants to make all the money in the world!

 

[sygnus21]

Beat me to it, I just came from reading a whole bunch of things and this is quiet correct. It seems Corsair doesn't make the dominator in 4GB sticks so it is going to have to be 4 max in order to leave the other 2 slots free.

I am a little baffled though, no where in those reviews they say if using 6GB's max is ok?

You could use 6gig, but unless they make 3gig modules, you're still going to use 4 slots. BTW, there's nothing that says you can't do this, you just need to be aware.

Have you got a list of components you wish to share?

 

[AstaLaVista]

You could use 6gig, but unless they make 3gig modules, you're still going to use 4 slots. BTW, there's nothing that says you can't do this, you just need to be aware.

Have you got a list of components you wish to share?

I could buy the matching set of 4Gb (2 x 2Gb) and 1 single of 2Gb but I think I'll stick with the 4GB's only... found a good deal from ZipZoomFly, about 75 bucks for 4Gb w/Fans.

components that I will be using are as follows... subject to change w/o notice

ThermalTake Spedo Advance case (*)
PC Power & Cooling 750W PSU (*)
EVGA 780i SLI FTW
Q9650 w/ CM Hyper Z600 or V-8 (if money left)
Corsair Dominator 4GB 1066Mhz Ram
EVGA GTX 260 (*)
WD 150GB Velociraptor (*)
Samsung 750GB 7200.10 32MB Cache (*)
Lite-On CD/DVD/r/w or similar
7 in 1 floppy + Card reader Combo

(*) Components I already have available with me.

That's pretty much it.


I am still debating the Q9650 because it appears that MSRP is about $317.00 and everyone has them for about $335.00 and up and I am weary about buying this Used but I would hate myself if I were to pay Retail + for it so I may bring it down a notch or 2.

What do you guys think?

 

[smarteyeball]

Bottom line, research the board to see if it has problems with 8 or more gigs of RAM. Unless you really have a need for 8gigs of RAM, I'd do 2x2 2048 (4Gig) and run the RAM at the highest rating allowed by the MB.

But that's me

+1 At least start with 4GB.

I'd keep away from the Q9400 too. When Intel replaced the Q9450 with the Q9400, they halved the L2 cache from 12mb to 6mb. It's still a good chip though, but the Q9550 is the 'sweet spot' in the q9xx range. Although if you can still find a Q9450, that's still a good one.

 

[sygnus21]

Looks good so far, but are you overclocking that much that you need that big a$$ V-8 CPU Cooler? Will it fit your case?

 

[smarteyeball]

Looks like a good rig. I'd be weary of a second hand chip though, you don't know what punishment the previous owner has put it through.

 

[sygnus21]

Yeah, I was going to say the same. Don't skimp on the chip - you may end up regretting it.

 

[AstaLaVista]

Yeah, someone told me that MOBO & CPU shouldn't be bought used... I'll stick to that plan and go new but again... I am just torn that I will have to pay a little over MSRP for the Quads.

I'll search the Q9450 & Q9550 to see if I can get them below MSRP.

No, I don't plan on OC'ng my rig just yet and chances are that I won't have money left for that V-8 but it just looks so Yummy I can't help but want it Would it fit on the Case? I don't really know that Either but the Case is so big I figure I can hide a dead body there w/o a problem :D

Can one of you smartey PC gurus help me find if any of the Asus Gaming Boards does SLI or not? I am getting nowhere myself or just conflictive/confusing answers.

I do thank you very much for the time you guys have indure with me on this one, I just hope I can repay it back someday.

 

[sygnus21]

I am just torn that I will have to pay a little over MSRP for the Quads.

I'll search the Q9450 & Q9550 to see if I can get them below MSRP.


Can one of you smartey PC gurus help me find if any of the Asus Gaming Boards does SLI or not? I am getting nowhere myself or just conflictive/confusing answers.

I do thank you very much for the time you guys have indure with me on this one, I just hope I can repay it back someday.

Look you're already putting an older system together so do yourself a favor and get new parts from reputable places and take comfort in that you can always return a part if something happens. Going cheap is good, but having insurance is better.


Not sure on what you're asking? I just Googled "Asus SLI boards" and found a few.


And thanks but I don't mind helping.

 

[AstaLaVista]

Well, the problem is they say that they support SLI but 2 x 8 and not 2 x 16 like the EVGA Nvidia boards, hence, the confusion.

 

[sygnus21]

That's not my area of expertise, but if that's something that's important to you, then you may have to go with Nvidia. Your choices may be limited by staying with a DDR2 board.

I don't do crossfire myself, so it's not an area of interest to me yet. so..

However that's curious that ASUS doesn’t have 2 x 16 boards??? :huh:

Are you just looking in your range?

 

[AstaLaVista]

Well, I had typed a long rant and was prepared to hit the "Submit" button when I received a pesky 0x00000109 error

I'll try to make it short this time around.

That's not my area of expertise, but if that's something that's important to you, then you may have to go with Nvidia. Your choices may be limited by staying with a DDR2 board.

I don't do crossfire myself, so it's not an area of interest to me yet. so..

SLI and Even 3-Way SLI is something i want to do in the future so having that option and a board that supports that is a plus for me, more so when I am banking on it by not going DDR3 right now.

However that's curious that ASUS doesn’t have 2 x 16 boards??? :huh:

Are you just looking in your range?

Asus has 2 boards that support SLI, the Striker II Formula (780i chipset) and the Rampage Formula (intel chipset) but when you compare $240.00 & $290.00 respectively against $ 190.00 for the EVGA 780i SLI FTW who also supports 3-Way SLI and I don't see the advantages of the Asus, it is hard to go with it even though people mention that board as the Coolest.

I think I will go with the EVGA 780i SLI FTW and I think I will also go with the 8 GB's of Corsair Dominator (EVGA forums suggest this is doable since I will be using 1066Mhz and not 1200Mhz).

The only obstacle now is the Quad CPU, prices are just to high at the moment for me to buy either the Q9650 & Q9550 and I don't want to settle on an old 65nn CPU so, what I was thiking on doing is... undusting my trusty E6300, OC'ng the crap out of it and go for broke and since the TT Spedo Case is supposed to be awesome at cooling, I shouldn't have any problems. If I do run into heat temps, I'll just get the Super Awesome (and Eye Candy) Cooler Master V-8 and it should do the work

Whatcha think of that idea?

Now... on to making a new thread about that pesky error!

 

[AstaLaVista]

Board and Ram have been already purchased, have about 120 bucks worth of Mail in Rebates though but... can't complain.

I also got my TT spedo Advance case today via Fedex, couldn't wait and I opened it I sure gonna need to go back to school to be able to make heads or tails out of that thing :eek: don't get me wrong, it is a beauting case, state of the art, but is has so many belts and whistles that it just overwhelmed me :D

Thanks eveyone for enduring the pain in the butt questions I had. Once I am pass the built stage, I am going to enjoy my time taxing your brains to overclock the CPU. Oh yeah... you know it was coming!

Admins... you can close this thread if you wish.

 

[sygnus21]

You'll need to finish off FEAR 2 and let me know what you think

Hope you like your new system.

 

[AstaLaVista]

That's for sure as right now am in the middle of transferring all my data to the other drive since I have to use one of them to build the new OS and everything for the neighbor so I won't be doing much gaming for a few days.

I am a little restless that all the other components won't be here until next week and my friend won't be able to help me build the rig until next week Friday

 

[sygnus21]

Yeah I know that feeling of anticipation. I'm awaiting a new hard drive for my backups and that won't be here till Tuesday

Nothing compared to playing with a new system though

Good luck

 

[AstaLaVista]

Nothing compared to playing with a new system though

Good luck

You said it. :D

Although, I am a little weary that my ole E6300 will bottleneck or hinder the Ram & GPU and I am to afraid to bust it open (OC to 3.0GHZ) right from the get go... I sure hope I am wrong though!

 

[sygnus21]

Well you got what you got so...

Did you research the processor to see what it can do?

 

[AstaLaVista]

Did you research the processor to see what it can do?

I had the E6300 before purchasing the E7200, which btw, is the one I promise the neighbor I'd give him. At one point I had the E6300 OC'ed at 2.8 Ghz w/o problems except for Cooling issues after heavy gaming. I am hoping the issues will go away now that I am getting a better cooling case... we will have to see I guess.

I know people that had it at 3.2Ghz and ever higher than that but I won't go that high, that's for sure