I am thinking of putting these parts together.

If anyone is interested in reviewing I guess what I am looking for is any ideas as to a better product or if anyone knows of a problem with the one's I have selected.

I chose the best products I could find from this one seller as I have used them before and I just like getting everything from one place at the same time.

Money is relatively no object in this project.

Thanks for any feedback!

Motherboard:

Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe Core 2 Duo nVidia nForce4 SLI X16 Chipset 1066MHz FSB

http://www.xpcgear.com/p5n32slise.html

CPU:

Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 Conroe Dual-Core, 2.93GHz 1066MHz FSB, 4MB L2 Cache

http://www.xpcgear.com/x6800.html

RAM:

(2 pairs = 4G) Kingston KHX6400D2K2/2G DDR2 800 PC2-6400 2GB HyperX Memory Kit

http://www.xpcgear.com/khx6400d2k2g.html

GPU:

(2 cards SLi) eVGA 8800GTX 768MB 575MHz 768-P2-N831-AR nVidia GeForce PCI-Express X16 Video Card with SLi

http://www.xpcgear.com/asus8800gtx768.html

PSU:

Enermax Galaxy 850W ATX / BTX Power Supply ATX 12 Ver 2.91 SATA, Quad-Core, Quad CPUs, and Quad GPUs Compatible, PCI-Express and SLi Ready

http://www.xpcgear.com/ega850ewl.html

Case:

NZXT Lexa Windowed ATX Computer Case with Front USB 2.0 Ports, Top Audio Output, 120mm Clear Rear Fan, 80mm Blue LED Fan

http://www.xpcgear.com/lexablk.html

Liquid Cooling:

Zalman ZM-Reserator 1 PLUS Anodized Aluminum Fanless Liquid Water Cooling System

http://www.xpcgear.com/zmreserator1p.html

HD Drives:

(3x) Maxtor DiamondMax 500GB Serial ATA II 7200RPM 16MB Buffer SATA Hard Drive

DVD drives:

(2x) Asus 1608P3S 5X DVD-RAM 16x6x16x DVD-R/RW 32x24x32x CD-R/RW 8X DVD-R DL Dual-Layer IDE Optical Burner Drive

Floppy:

Sony 3.5 Inch 1.44 MB Floppy Disk Drive

Card reader:

5.25" Sunbeam 20-in-1 Superior Panel with Flash Memory Card Reader, Fan Speed Controller, Audio, Video, SATA, USB 2.0, Firewire

http://www.xpcgear.com/superiorpanblk.html

Monitor:

23" ViewSonic Pro Series Widescreen LCD Monitor

http://www.xpcgear.com/vp2330wb.html

Wow, that's a pretty sexy spec you've got there Jephree

Have you got RAID on those discs? If not, how are you planning to back up 1.5TB of disk space? That's a lot of DVDs!

Did you know that you can get DDR2/1000 memory (PC2-8000) to help get all of the benefit of that 1066MHz FSB? http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/list...DRII/list.html

Front Side Bus 1066 / 800 / 533MHz

Memory Dual channel memory architecture

4 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support max. 8GB DDR2 800/667/533 non-ECC memory

Thanks for the feedback DJ!

I am confused by the RAM spec from Asus as it lists 800 but not 1000?

http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?m...3&l2=11&l3=227

Also as to backups I hadn't thought of that. I am not very familiar with RAID. Cannot any hard drives be set in a RAID configuration if one chooses?

In all honesty a lot of this build is in the spirit of "because it's there" and I doubt that much disk space will ever be required. In my last shopping cart update I actually went to 4 500GB drives.

Thanks again for taking the time to look!


Would this RAM work on that board:

OCZ Platinum Series Dual Channel 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-8000 DDR2 1000MHz CL 5-5-5-15 Kit PC System Memory 240-Pin Unbuffered SDRAM

http://www.xpcgear.com/oczd22g1000k.html



...

New motherboard found:

http://www.xpcgear.com/evganforce680i.html

eVGA nForce 680i SLi 122-CK-NF68 Core 2 QUAD 1333MHz FSB Dual Channel DDR2 800 LGA775 Socket 775/T ATX Motherboard w/ SLi Ready 2x PCI Express x16, Overclocking Extreme, Audio, Dual GB LAN, SATA 3G/II, RAID, USB 2.0, Firewire 1394

Although that spec shows DDR2 800 the details show:

Memory 4 x 240-pin DIMM sockets
Dual Channel DDR2
Maximum of 8GB of DDR2 533/667/800/1200MHz SLI-Ready memory

So will this RAM work on that board:

OCZ Platinum Series Dual Channel 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-8000 DDR2 1000MHz CL 5-5-5-15 Kit PC System Memory 240-Pin Unbuffered SDRAM: OCZ2P10002GK

http://www.xpcgear.com/oczd22g1000k.html



Also curious as to the differences between Dual Core and Quad Core as seen in these two CPU's:

Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 Conroe Dual-Core, 2.93GHz 1066MHz FSB, 4MB L2 Cache, EM64T, Virtualization, LGA775 Socket 775/T CPU Processor: BX80557X6800

http://www.xpcgear.com/x6800.html

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 Kentsfield QUAD-Core, 2.66GHz 1066MHz FSB, 8MB L2 Cache, EM64T, Virtualization, LGA775 Socket 775/T CPU Processor: BX80562QX6700

http://www.xpcgear.com/bx80562qx6700.html



...

Jephree, I can give you many tips and suggestions where money is no issue

Or little...

But is this the only place you will purchase from? What about places like directron, newegg, pricegrabber etc?

RAID works on any system with most HDDs as long as you have support from the Mobo and set it up right. Intel ICH7R controller or ICH8R are the better controllers, and RAID 0 is very quick and efficient to use with HDDs. Your burst speed, access time, sequential read peak and average read will all increase dramatically!

I have a professional work system that I can post specs of if you want to see them to compare, its a Kentsfield I've had for a month?

Your cooling choice is nifty BTW.

The FSB is on the mobo but processor dependent. The CPU has to be able to support it. The mobo BIOS has limitations as to what the FSB can be at maximum. If you change the ASUS mobo while running at 200Mhz FSB to 266MHz, you'lll see the option to run RAM at DDR2-1066MHz appear
The Memory Bus is motherboard dependent and is limited by the FSB.

You can have 1066 / 800 / 533MHz FSB on that ASUS motherboard depending on your processor choice.

The mobo has 4 slots of RAM supporting a maximum of DDR2-800 (PC2-6400) which means your Memory Bus is to run at 400Mhz at maximum. Faster speeds are not widely developed as of yet but you can overlock it to much higher depending on which RAM you get.

Your last eVGA mobo will need to be overlocked to run PC2-8000.

Here's a little screenshot from a vid by Corsair explaining it:
http://www.corsairmicro.com/memory_b...707/index.html

RAM.jpg


I've overlocked my Kentsfield to run at 3.5GHz absolutely flawlessly with ease and my Corsair XMS2 DOMINATOR PC2-8888 4-4-4-12 2T to run at PC2-9600 in 4x1GB Dual Channel mode.

Your Viewsonic screen is very similar to one of my Viewsonics, although yours has the same brightness nit and contrast ratio's aswell as resolution -- your states its a WUXGA while there's no such thing but only WQUXGA thats similar to that

If it is that, then thats a phenomenal screen. I use the Apple 30" Dual HD monitor at 2560x1600 which are right up there too.

I have exactly the same PSU as yours but the 1000W version. I rid myself of the PC Power&Cooling PSU to get it.You'll love it with 5 12V rails!!!

My HDD's are:

2x1.5TB (Firewire800)
1TB (USB2.0)
Maxtor DiamondMax10 IDE 82GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache
Seagate Cheetah 73.4GB 8MB Cache Ultra320 SCSI 15,000 RPM
Seagate Cheetah 146GB 8MB Cache Ultra320 SCSI 15,000 RPM
150GB WD Raptor 10,000 RPM SATA 16MB Cache
WD Caviar 500GB.

RAID setup through:

Areca ARC-1210 - PCIe x8 RAID Controller
2 x 74GB WD Raptor 10,000 RPM 8MB Cache in RAID 0

My GPU's are GeForce XFX 8800GTX XXX 630MHz core and 2GHz memory.

The rest you have on lock down!!!



What about this ASUS motherboard BTW?: http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?m...3&l2=11&l3=397

I have an ECS PN2-SLI2+ (V1.0) chipset: NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI myself.

Thanks Kazna3. I don't know how I ever helped you as you know so much more about these gadgets than I do.

Anyway I did switch my source today to Newegg as they had a better selection of RAM.

I have also chosen the mobo you suggested. Thanks!!!

http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?m...3&l2=11&l3=397

This is the RAM I've chosen and I think will work: 2 pair (8GB)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231112

I found everything else from my first list at Newegg except the monitor which is now:

BenQ FP241W Black 24" 16ms (6ms GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 500 cd/m2 1000:1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824014124

Again many thanks for your time!

Also moved to the 1000W PSU thanks to your suggestion.


Also still a decision between these two CPU's:


Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 Kentsfield 2.66GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115011

Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 Conroe 2.93GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115001


I am tending towards the first one (quad core) but am confused by the GHz number.

2.66GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache compared to 2.93GHz 4M shared L2 Cache


.

Hi jephree

Originally Posted by jephree

Thanks Kazna3. I don't know how I ever helped you as you know so much more about these gadgets than I do.

Well I might have told you back when my OS was destroyed and you spent a lot of trouble and effort in helping; that I don't usually say much if I need help and ask as if I'm a novice. Thats to stop any confusion and mixed opinions. I was a trainee engineer from '80-82 and from '83-86 I was a programmer -- before JavaScript was released. I was v.young, below 20 and happened to get involved in serious hacking and when I reached 19, I realized that all was so wrong and quit the computing scene altogether! Made up for it, luckily there were no damages, everyone else involved was plus 35 so I was let off when I handed myself in for it and I even landed a few state jobs and an accolade for it . Never touched computers much till 2006 although I work on computers a lot even at work.. I had only used the applications that were running needed for work. The remorse kept me away and only this year when 2 of my systems broke I had to venture into and look into it more. I had forgotten everything but slowly it came back and I remember some details now apart from programming, which I recall only basics of. That said you probably still know much more than me

There's todays special for ya!

Anyway I did switch my source today to Newegg as they had a better selection of RAM.

I have also chosen the mobo you suggested. Thanks!!!

http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?m...3&l2=11&l3=397

Very good mobo

This is the RAM I've chosen and I think will work: 2 pair (8GB)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231112

It'll work yes. A little concerned that its timings were a little slower than possible out there. They were 6-6-6-18. Still not as slow as the 8 and 10's out there for that size. But it will undoubtedly be quicker than non-competitive ones. If you want faster, a 4x1GB all in Dual Channel would be better for you and the bandwidth. But it will leave you no room to upgrade to 8GB - which at this moment is 3 or more years too far ahead to do so.

You will hardly ever require past 2GB RAM on a personal system though, which means that the rest goes to waste. Just something to keep in mind.

I can look for faster RAM if you want?
Most RAM that is high-end is not fastest when sold.. but is featuring the ability to be overlocked to much faster so it may be PC2-8000 but will easily overlock to PC2-9000 if you get what I mean.

I found everything else from my first list at Newegg except the monitor which is now:

BenQ FP241W Black 24" 16ms (6ms GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 500 cd/m2 1000:1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824014124

That monitor is actually the same technology WQXGA - but better as in an inch bigger, better brightness and contrast ratio's aswell as timing. Good find jephree!

Again many thanks for your time!

Also moved to the 1000W PSU thanks to your suggestion.

You're certainly welcome anytime! That PSU will keep you insured for as long as you like.

Also still a decision between these two CPU's:


Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 Kentsfield 2.66GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115011

Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 Conroe 2.93GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115001


I am tending towards the first one (quad core) but am confused by the GHz number.

2.66GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache compared to 2.93GHz 4M shared L2 Cache

OK.

The Quad core is actually: on a single chip 2 Dual cores combined. So you have 4 processors but on a single chip you see. Each processor is running at 2.67GHz. Each processor has a separate L1 cache and each set of 2 processors has a separate L2cache

The Dual core is also on a single chip and 2 separate cores (i.e. processors) combined. So you have 2 separate processors running at 2.93GHz each.

Dual_Core_Generic (WinCE).jpg

Thats one Dual Core CPU- times all that by 2 on one chip and you have a Quad Core CPU

Each core is on a separate "Die". Together combined they are on a "Chip". That makes your complete socket chip: "Central Processing Unit".

I work in the medical field where we do heavy graphics and video intensive work. For that reason a quad core is suited to me immensely as graphics and video apps can utilize ALL the cores at the same time. More to work with then and its like me having 4 x 2.67Ghz running!
MOST other apps at this moment in time cannot utilize more than one core and even less 4 cores. For this to happen, they have to be "multi-threaded". If they are not designed for more than one core, they will only use one and hence it will be like yourself only using a single core CPU. So if you have a software running that can only use a single core on the Kentsfield, it will be running at a maximum of 2.67GHz. In this case the Dual core 2.93 will be faster for you and so would any single core CPU thats above that in processor frequency.

To understand it better, and to see if it suits your needs, have a read of this review and testing: http://www.hothardware.com/viewartic...leid=878&cid=1

It compares them well. In the end its why and what you need out of them that matters as to why you get which one. Undoubtedly after the first quad core you'll see many coming out this year and soon it'll be the technology everything is designed for and revolves around for best performance. It is definitely better and more advanced than Dual Cores -- so a step ahead in time.

You're welcome Jephree and let me know if you have any questions at all!

Originally Posted by Kazna3

Hi jephree

Well I might have told you back when my OS was destroyed and you spent a lot of trouble and effort in helping; that I don't usually say much if I need help and ask as if I'm a novice. <snip>
There's todays special for ya!

Wow I am not worthy!

Very good mobo

Thanks for the tip!

It'll work yes. A little concerned that its timings were a little slower than possible out there. <snip>
You will hardly ever require past 2GB RAM on a personal system though, which means that the rest goes to waste. Just something to keep in mind.

Been reading that Vista Ultimate will eventually be a 2GB minimum system. And I do plan on installing Vista Ultimate 64 bit.

I can look for faster RAM if you want?

If you have the time I'd appreciate the suggestions. I want at least 2 pair of 1GB. 4GB total.

That monitor is actually the same technology WQXGA - but better as in an inch bigger, better brightness and contrast ratio's aswell as timing. Good find jephree!

Newegg

It compares them well. In the end its why and what you need out of them that matters as to why you get which one. Undoubtedly after the first quad core you'll see many coming out this year and soon it'll be the technology everything is designed for and revolves around for best performance. It is definitely better and more advanced than Dual Cores -- so a step ahead in time.

I have read that the quad core will be waiting for applications to come up to it. My single core now runs at 3.52GHz so I might even see a decrease in speed going to a quad core. But I hope this system is being built for some years to come.

The user is not even into high end gaming and has just started personal video editing but I was given a Carte Blanche to put the best pieces available together.

Thanks again for you time and input.

Hi jephree!

I didn't get any email notifications so I lost track if someone replied to my subscribed threads or which threads I had replied to

Anyway, here's the best RAM you can get in the market today:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590

Its the fastest and compatible with your mobo. Its mostly the latencies that matter after the bandwidth. Only looking on Newegg and they didn't have any 2GB version although you have a rebate and a cheap deal on them at the moment for the 2 x 1GB versions. You can bundle two pairs for cheaper at $428 for the 4GB pairs. It has easy potential of being overlocked to 9800MB/s from the 8000MB/s.

Bear in mind the Kentsfield has been OC'd on test systems fro benchmarking GPU's and HDD at 3.5Ghz per core. So its not exactly too slow if ran at that speed.

Yes Vista will require quite a bit of RAM and with Vienna out in 2 years, it will require much more. So for future proofing and video editing your doing very well.

Best GPU out there is this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150214


All available on Newegg with a few discounts, free deliveries and bonus freeware!!

Your spot on with the quad core assessment. They'll become mainstrem very soon.

Let me know if you have any questions or queries. Alot of money there!!

Thanks.

Motherboard

ASUS P5N32-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131073

CPU

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 Kentsfield 2.66GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115011

GPU

2x(SLi) XFX PVT80FSHD9 GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 XXX Version HDCP
Video Cards

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150214

RAM

2x(4GB) CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590

PSU

ENERMAX GALAXY EGA1000EWL-DXX ATX / BTX 1000W Gamers Edition Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817194016

Case

Thermaltake Armor Series VA8003BWS Black Full Tower Case w/ 25CM Fan

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133021

Cooling

ZALMAN RESERATOR 1 Plus Fanless Water Cooling System

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118120

That is the core setup as of now.

With the monitor and keyboard/mouse and all the drives (2DVD)(floppy)(multi-card reader)(4x 500gb Maxtor SATA II) the present cart is about $7,000 USD (delivered).

Plus $250 more if I get Vista Ultimate upgrade for it. I am assuming I can use any previous Microsoft CD to qualify for the upgrade version? This was the case with XP upgrade versions.

I guess that is my last dilemma. I want to leave my current XP on this computer so it is either buy another XP or Vista. I hate the Vista restrictions but if I buy another XP it will be the 64 bit edition.

Just curious what you think of Xandros Desktop OS Version 3 Business Edition

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832106511

I also use Ubuntu but it lacks a lot of what I've come to expect from XP.