I need a new computer.

[Brian Cassil]

I'm in need of a new computer in a bad way so as always I'm here for advice. I've got a lot of questions so I am deeply indebted to anyone who responds to this. I'm not a hardware guy at all so I'm going to have the local supplier build this for me but I want to tell him what to put in it. Here's what I'm looking at:

 

intel Q6600

4 gigs ram

8800 GTS

 

I'm looking for advice on mobo, power supply, etc. and first and foremost on everything is STABILITY! I simply can't hassle with downtime on this, even if it means sacrificing some performance, spending extra money, or both. Quiet would be great too.

 

I've heard a lot on types of ram with different timings. Is this something I should consider when buying?

 

Last thing, I've read where SLI only works with one monitor. If true that's a deal breaker for me. But if not true than I would consider getting two video cards and going SLI. Thanks guys!

[manta]

Well if stability is your most important thing, I suppose getting a motherboard designed by the same people who make the CPU would make sense...

 

http://www.intel.com/products/motherboard/D975XBX2/index.htm

 

something to look at...

[AJLynn]

Or an Asus P5W DH - it's got the Intel 975X chipset and an 8-phase power system, which is a good thing.

 

About the SLI thing - SLI is for 2 video cards and 1 monitor. 2 video cards and 2 monitors is more normal and does not require SLI. 2 SLI'ed cards on one monitor and another card on a second monitor is also possible but the 3rd card can't be an nVidia card - get some kind of PCI Radeon card if you want to go that route.

[Brian Cassil]

Thanks guys.

 

OK that asus board sounds good and thanks for clearing things up on the SLI thing. I'll stick with one card, and if so maybe I should jump up the 8800 GTX?

 

How bout my ram question or does the timing really not matter?

 

I've left off hard drives. I do some video so fast and stable of course. I'm thinking Sata II in a RAID 1 config. Is there a preffered brand?

[Sketchrender]

if its max 32 bit your using 4gb ram

I have been led to believe it won't work ?

 

am I right

 

phil

[Brian Cassil]

if its max 32 bit your using 4gb ram

I have been led to believe it won't work ?

 

am I right

 

phil

 

I'll be using XP64 but if it were a 32 bit OS I think 3 GB is the limit.

[Tim Nelson]

I cannot recommend this board enough for a Core 2 Duo/Extreme system.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813188013

 

I have been using this combined with the QX6700. It's the same board Boxx uses for their systems. Super easy setup, easy overclock to 3.2ghz, rock solid.

[Tim Nelson]

I've also built a bunch of systems with the Intel XBX2. You'd think it would be a better motherboard since they also make the chips, but honestly I wasn't overly impressed. Last I heard, you could not use the Extreme chips and XP64 together with that board. Kind of retarded.

 

**that bug seems to have been fixed in a later bios release, but I haven't tried it yet.

[Brian Cassil]

I think I've seen these mentioned a lot with system configs on newegg. It doesn't look like either of these (Asus P5W DH or the nForce nForce 680i SLI) support DDR2 1066 memory which would seem like the logical choice for ram speed since that's what the proc speed is but maybe that doesn't matter. Are there versions of either of these boards that do support 1066 ram?

[Tim Nelson]

Brian,

 

Looks like the EVGA board does support 1066 memory. It actually supports up to 1200.

 

http://www.evga.com/support/mbmem/

[gfa2]

I have been using this combined with the QX6700

 

Tim, are you running any additional cooling on this? I'm considering going with that QX6700 and OC'ing it too.

[AJLynn]

The memory speed thing is just about the dumbest thing the industry has come up with in the last decade.

 

There is a base number, which is usually 266MHz but can also be 333 or in theory, using current parts, as high as 400. This get multiplied by either 2 (for spec'ing memory and sometimes motherboards) or 4 (in Intel's advertising and sometimes for motherboards).

 

The 1066MHz is 266*4, and the 1333 is 333*4. DDR2-533 memory can be used for the 1066, DDR2-666 for the 1333, and you can use faster memory than you need.

 

When you overclock, with most of these CPUs you do it by changing the base number. E.g., I've got mine up to 355, using DDR2-800 RAM running at 710 by those numbers or 1420 if you ask Intel.

 

All these boards that were mentioned here will handle any of these CPUs' default memory speeds when used with memory that's good enough.

 

Edit:

 

Also, sometimes you multiply the base number by 16 when getting the model names of the memory DIMMs. Why? Who the hell knows. The memory with 6400 in the model number is DDR2-800.

[Tim Nelson]

Tim, are you running any additional cooling on this? I'm considering going with that QX6700 and OC'ing it too.

Yeah, I've been using these which I really like.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

[AJLynn]

I've got that too, it works well and isn't too loud.

[Brian Cassil]

The memory speed thing is just about the dumbest thing the industry has come up with in the last decade.

 

There is a base number, which is usually 266MHz but can also be 333 or in theory, using current parts, as high as 400. This get multiplied by either 2 (for spec'ing memory and sometimes motherboards) or 4 (in Intel's advertising and sometimes for motherboards).

 

The 1066MHz is 266*4, and the 1333 is 333*4. DDR2-533 memory can be used for the 1066, DDR2-666 for the 1333, and you can use faster memory than you need.

 

When you overclock, with most of these CPUs you do it by changing the base number. E.g., I've got mine up to 355, using DDR2-800 RAM running at 710 by those numbers or 1420 if you ask Intel.

 

All these boards that were mentioned here will handle any of these CPUs' default memory speeds when used with memory that's good enough.

 

Edit:

 

Also, sometimes you multiply the base number by 16 when getting the model names of the memory DIMMs. Why? Who the hell knows. The memory with 6400 in the model number is DDR2-800.

 

My head hurts... but thanks for the effort. I think I get it.

 

I think I'll go with the nForce board. I'll post a more complete config this evening for review.

[Ernest Burden III]

It's the same board Boxx uses for their systems.

 

Why not buy a Boxx? Stabilty.

 

Or, what about a high-end laptop? You can network it in for rendering, then if you have to work somewhere other than your desk you will be able to take a kick-ass computer with you (break your shoulder carrying it, though).

[Tim Nelson]

Why not buy a Boxx? Stabilty.

Not from our experience. 2 systems out of the 3 that we bought have had major problems. So with that track record we weren't really that enthused about trying to improve our odds. And you can build the same thing for a lot cheaper, so thats what we did. Plus I think it's fun. I really haven't had any problems with the systems I've put together. There are a few components that have been doa, but once you get those out of the way the rest is pretty reliable.

 

I don't think you are paying for quality with Boxx. You are paying for insurance in case something goes wrong, plus their brand hype. When computers break it's a pain whether you have to fix it yourself or call somebody else to do it for you.

[Justin Hunt]

If your budget can streatch enough, consider going quad core. Its worth the extra money.

 

JHV

[Nic H]

I think Q6600 is a quad core. Intel chip prices are due to drop on July 22nd as well. Have you looked at all at dual quad core using xeon 5320 chips or similair? They are surprisingly affordable and upgradeable depending on the lifecycle of your workstations.

 

Is it worth spending a bit more to future proof and pretty much double your rendering speed? Are you using vray/max?

[Justin Hunt]

Its that endless question of do I wait and get it cheaper or do I pay now?

 

I gave up on the upgrade route years ago as I found I never got around to upgrading or by the time I wanted to it was more cost effective to buy a whole new system or the parts werent available.

 

Get as much as you can within your budget now

 

JHV

[Brian Cassil]

Why not buy a Boxx? Stabilty.

 

Or, what about a high-end laptop? You can network it in for rendering, then if you have to work somewhere other than your desk you will be able to take a kick-ass computer with you (break your shoulder carrying it, though).

 

I just can't justify the cost for a Boxx. Also, if I ever needed to have phisical support, not just phone support, my dealer down the street (that sounds weird) can take care of me the same day (getting weirder!).

 

 

I think Q6600 is a quad core. Intel chip prices are due to drop on July 22nd as well. Have you looked at all at dual quad core using xeon 5320 chips or similair? They are surprisingly affordable and upgradeable depending on the lifecycle of your workstations.

 

Is it worth spending a bit more to future proof and pretty much double your rendering speed? Are you using vray/max?

 

The Q6600 is quad core and I am aware of the price cut on the 22nd. I've seend that the Q6600 will be about $260 which is well under my spending limit. If the QX6700 goes down far enouph I'll go for that one but I haven't seen anything on what it will drop to. If I could build a quality xeon system for ~$1500 I would do it but I don't think I can. I'll be using max/final render.

[Brian Cassil]

Any suggested memory with possible overclocking in mind?

[F J]

hi,

 

this is the board im getting real soon:

http://us.dfi.com.tw/Product/xx_product_spec_details_r_us.jsp?PRODUCT_ID=5276&CATEGORY_TYPE=LP&SITE=US

 

and also have been suggested this 1:

www.uabit.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=48&page=1&model=335

 

as for power supply 1 of these oughta do it

www.lc-power.com/htm/products_detail.php?lang=2&h_id=1&u_id=31&a_id=131

www.lc-power.com/htm/products_detail.php?lang=2&h_id=1&u_id=31&a_id=130

[AJLynn]

I'm using some OCZ DDR2-800 memory, can't remember if it's the gold or the platinum, and it's working out very well - but there are a lot of good options. Choose from this list. Some good options have come way, way down in price, like this and this or maybe this.

[Brian Cassil]

I'm using some OCZ DDR2-800 memory, can't remember if it's the gold or the platinum, and it's working out very well - but there are a lot of good options. Choose from this list. Some good options have come way, way down in price, like this and this or maybe this.

 

How bout this?

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145043&Tpk=Corsair%2bTWIN2X2048-8500C5D