*****THE OFFICIAL "SPEC ME" THREAD*****

aaserali
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 - (cheaper than the 9300, and insignificantly slower) $190
Motherboard: Gigabyte EP45-DS3R $139 $20 rebate
Memory: Corsair Dominator 4GB PC2-8500 $149, $40 rebate
Graphics card: Visiontek Radeon HD4870 $285(The one you listed is no longer on sale)
Hard Drive 1: WD VelociRaptor 300GB $285, $25 rebate
CPU Cooler: Tuniq Tower LED $59
Case: Antec Nine Hundred $130
PSU: Corsair HX 520W $115, $15 rebate
Monitor: Samsung SM2243BWX $316
OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit $100
Total price $1768, $1663 after rebates.

 

boien
CPU: Intel Pentium E2220 $90
M/B: Gigabyte EP35-DS3L $94
RAM: Kingston 2x1GB PC2 6400 $40
GPU: Foxconn 8500GT $60 - $20 rebate
HDD1: Western Digital WD2500AAJS 250GB $55
HDD2: Samsung HD753LJ 750GB $100
CPU cooler: Arctic Freezer 7 Pro $25
Water cooling: Not realistic on your budget
Case: (suggestion) NZXT Alpha $65
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 380W $60
Mouse: MS Intellimouse Optical $26
Speakers: Logitech X-240 $51
OS: Windows XP professional $135
Do not use 64-bit XP, it's rubbish.
Total price $801, $20 rebate

 

SORRY ABOUT FIRST POST I FORGOT TO ERASE A FEW THINGS THAT I DONT WANT TO COVER IN THAT BUDGET, CAN YOU RESPEC AGAIN PLS. AND FOR CPU IM BUYING QUAD CORE:

Country: USA
BUDGET:700.00 - 800.00$

Processor: Yes
Motherboard: Yes
Memory: Yes
Hard Drive(s): 2 (one 200GB and one 600-700GB)
Cooling: Yes
Cable(s): yes
Case: (personal choice)
Power Supply: Yes

Speakers: yes
Operating System: Windows XP 32bit or ( 64-bit to support 8GB ram )

 

OK SO. WHAT I WANT IS: CPU - QUAD CORE / I WILL DECIDE MY OWN MOTHER BOARD, SINCE I WANT A P45 CHIPSET / MEMORY - 2X2GB / AND I HAVE CHANGED MY BUDGET I FORGOT I HAVE 300.00$ TO SPEND ON A CPU WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF MY 700.00$ BUDGET SO ITS MORE LIKE 1K BUT I DONT KNOW WHAT CPU TO GET.

Country: USA

BUDGET:1,000.00$

Processor: Yes
Memory: Yes
Hard Drive(s): 2 (one 200GB and one 600-700GB)
Cooling: Yes
Cable(s): yes
Case: (personal choice)
Power Supply: Yes

Speakers: yes
Operating System: Windows XP 32bit or ( 64-bit to support 8GB ram )

 

ok, hello boien.

your shouting really doesnt make clear what you want, but i am trying to make me understand, is this it:

Country: USA

BUDGET:1,000.00$

Processor: Yes
Memory: Yes
Hard Drive(s): 2 (one 200GB and one 600-700GB)
Cooling: Yes
Cable(s): yes
Case: (personal choice)
Power Supply: Yes

Speakers: yes
Operating System: Windows XP 32bit or ( 64-bit to support 8GB ram )


so you have $1000 to spend on a CPU RAM, HDD, cooling, case PSU, Speakers AND an OS?

 

boien - please be more patient next time!
CPU - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 - $190
M/B - Gigabyte EP45-DS3R - $139, $20 rebate
RAM - G-Skill 2x2GB PC2 6400C4 $82
CPU Cooler - Arctic Freezer 7 Pro $25
Case - example NZXT Alpha $65
HDD1: HD753LJ $100
HDD2: WD2500AAJS $55
PSU: Corsair VX 450W $81, $15 rebate
Speakers: Logitech X-240 $51
OS: XP 32-bit $135
$923, $35 rebates
No Graphics card included, you will need one!

 

Country: Canada
BUDGET:1000$'ish

Processor: Intel Core™2 Quad Processor Q6600 2.4GHz w/ 2x4MB Cache $214.95
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L w/ DualDDR2 1066, 7.1 Audio, Gigabit Lan, PCI-E x16 $99.95
Memory: Need help with this, 800 vs 1066 and price/performance?
Graphics Card(s): HIS Radeon HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 PCI-E w/ Dual DVI, HDTV-Out, HDMI $294.95 - $20 rebate
Hard Drive(s): Old one
Optical Drive(s): Old ones for now
Cooling: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler for P4/775 $29.95
Cooling: ARCTIC SILVER Arctic Silver 5 High Density Silver Thermal Compound, 3.5g $9.99
Case: Antec Three Hundred Versatile Mini Tower Gamer Case $59.95
Power Supply: OCZ 600W GameXStream Power Supply w/ Quad +12V $99.95 - 30$ rebate
Operating System: Vista-64/Ubuntu (Already have)

Current price: 809.65 - 50$ rebate + 5% GST = 797.67 + RAM costs

Uses: Multimedia, Autocad, Programming, Listening to music, movies, word processing, surfing net
Overclocking: Yes

Have made some sacrifices with old equipment to keep costs down. Originally I wasn't even planning on buying a desktop but the idea is becoming more and more compelling. How is it looking so far?

 

Lookin good. I would see how much of a difference there is between 4GB(2x2GB) of ddr2 800 or ddr2 1066. If it's not much then get 1066mhz RAM. Otherwise, get 800mhz. It doesn't make much of a difference because cas4 800mhz and cas5 1066mhz are about the same performance and you dont need the extra speed with the 9x multi on the Q6600.

Also, get Arctic Cooling MX-2 for your thermal paste if you can.

 

I don't think sam will agree with the OCZ StealthXStream, but I think it's a good pick. I have one too and they're just as solid as any other top brand.

Also agreed on thermal paste. Arctic Cooling MX-2 or Arctic Silver Ceramique.

 

Yeah it should work fine.

 

There seems to be a significant difference between the 800 and 1066 sticks. I am willing to pay the extra if it will significantly help, but it seems a lot of retailers I'm looking at are even listing 800 sticks in the 1033 as being able to over clock to that range. Then there is also the matter of ram timings, and how much of a difference do they make?

Ideally I'm looking to get 2x2gb so I can later upgrade to 8 gb should I need it. Planning to have this rig last me well for the next 3 years or so without any major upgrades with the exception of the old parts I'm using.

If newegg shipped to Canada it would make this simpler, but for now I am stuck with places like memory express and NCIX.

 

They dont make 1066Mhz sticks. They all ALL overclocked 800Mhz sticks.

Basically 1066Mhz sticks run at cas5 timings and 800mhz sticks run at cas4 timings. They both give you the same performance because even though the 1066mhz is faster it has worse timings. I would save my money , get 800mhz sticks, and spend that extra money on a Tuniq Tower.

 

Agreed, get the 800MHz RAM and invest in a better cooler.

 

He chose a GameXStream, much worse than the StealthXStream units, don't get that, get a Corsair unit instead, A 520HX will do nicely.

 

I'd personally take the 520HX because I already have a 600W StealthXStream. But the OCZ is a bit cheaper and of comparable quality. It would be a good buy with either PSU.

 

My only issue with the PSU is that the OCZ is the different between 70$ and 100$. I understand it's not a strong choice when the standard retail prices are close, but is the Corsair still more valuable when it is 30$ more? I have no issues spending money for quality

As far as the CPU cooling goes I can't find any local stores that carry Tuniq. The only Canadian online retailers I can find is NCIX, but I'd prefer to be able to pick it up ASAP if possible. Any Canadians know where to find these, or is there another brand that is very close in quality?