Build Your Own AMD/Intel Computer Thread's own dedicated Technical Support Thread!

[flametop]

Is $250 for an e8400 too much?

also, will 4x2gb chips of ram run in dual channel or do I have to get 2x4gb? I read above that if you overclock you want to have 2 like chips rather than 4--is that a big deal? It's just that 2x4gb chips are so much more expensive I might as well put more money towards a processor lol.

[Superorb]

Quote from i3eezenotch : Is $250 for an e8400 too much? also, will 4x2gb chips of ram run in dual channel or do I have to get 2x4gb? I read above that if you overclock you want to have 2 like chips rather than 4--is that a big deal? It's just that 2x4gb chips are so much more expensive I might as well put more money towards a processor lol.

There's no reason for 8GBs of memory, 4GB will be more than enough as it is. The four sticks will run dual channel in pairs. I wouldn't spend $250 for an E8400, wait for the prices to drop a bit. We already know you can get them much cheaper.

[flametop]

Quote from Superorb : There's no reason for 8GBs of memory, 4GB will be more than enough as it is. The four sticks will run dual channel in pairs. I wouldn't spend $250 for an E8400, wait for the prices to drop a bit. We already know you can get them much cheaper.

i mean 8gb in a 64bit OS--someone mentioned before that this is like 4gb in a 32bit OS. I figure RAM isn't so pricey right now if I get the A DATA ram it will be like $130 for 8gb. BTW what do you guys think of A-Data VS. Crucial Corsair or Kingston, etc? Is it about the same crap or is there reason to consider the others and what owuld that reason be?

Thanks for all the help!

[Superorb]

Quote from i3eezenotch : i mean 8gb in a 64bit OS--someone mentioned before that this is like 4gb in a 32bit OS. I figure RAM isn't so pricey right now if I get the A DATA ram it will be like $130 for 8gb. BTW what do you guys think of A-Data VS. Crucial Corsair or Kingston, etc? Is it about the same crap or is there reason to consider the others and what owuld that reason be? Thanks for all the help!

You're confused or misinformed. 8GB is 8GB, and 4GB is 4GB. The difference is that a 32bit OS will not recognize 8GB, and the 64bit one will. What will you be using the computer for?

[flametop]

Quote from Superorb : You're confused or misinformed. 8GB is 8GB, and 4GB is 4GB. The difference is that a 32bit OS will not recognize 8GB, and the 64bit one will. What will you be using the computer for?

It'll be used for reaaaaaaally light video editing and photo editing, and some heavier sound recording/editing purposes. Also it's my media machine in terms of watching movies (HD eventually once the drives go down in price). I know 8GB may be overkill for now but I figure if it's better to have 4x2gb of the same RAM rather than 2x2gb of one and 2x2gb of another later.

BTW--what say you about using A-Data over Crucial/Corsair, etc

[JPSftw!]

Quote from i3eezenotch : It'll be used for reaaaaaaally light video editing and photo editing, and some heavier sound recording/editing purposes. Also it's my media machine in terms of watching movies (HD eventually once the drives go down in price). I know 8GB may be overkill for now but I figure if it's better to have 4x2gb of the same RAM rather than 2x2gb of one and 2x2gb of another later. BTW--what say you about using A-Data over Crucial/Corsair, etc

If you're not overclocking, the ADATA should be fine. If you are, get G.Skill, Crucial, or Corsair.

Quote from i3eezenotch : Is $250 for an e8400 too much? also, will 4x2gb chips of ram run in dual channel or do I have to get 2x4gb? I read above that if you overclock you want to have 2 like chips rather than 4--is that a big deal? It's just that 2x4gb chips are so much more expensive I might as well put more money towards a processor lol.

Yes. The Xeon E3110 is the same as the E8400, and can be found for cheaper in this thread.

[Superorb]

If you don't plan on a high overclock, you'd be fine with 2x2GB + 2x2GB with different brands/series per pair. They'd be on different channels, so brand won't really matter much.

If you don't plan to OC much or any at all, any of the name brands should be fine. Just make sure you manually set them to their rated speed/voltages in the BIOS.

[flametop]

Quote from Superorb : If you don't plan on a high overclock, you'd be fine with 2x2GB + 2x2GB with different brands/series per pair. They'd be on different channels, so brand won't really matter much. If you don't plan to OC much or any at all, any of the name brands should be fine. Just make sure you manually set them to their rated speed/voltages in the BIOS.

Would OC really increase the performance of my system to a point where it would make a difference for what I'm doing? And does A-Data have lifetime warranty? So "good quality brand" RAM is only better for OCing?

Also, that xeon processor--since it's rated for higher temperatures...doesn't that make it BETTER than the e8400? Are they literally the same chip? If so, why is it so hard to get the 8400 but easy to get the xeon?

[Superorb]

Quote from i3eezenotch : Would OC really increase the performance of my system to a point where it would make a difference for what I'm doing? And does A-Data have lifetime warranty? So "good quality brand" RAM is only better for OCing? Also, that xeon processor--since it's rated for higher temperatures...doesn't that make it BETTER than the e8400? Are they literally the same chip? If so, why is it so hard to get the 8400 but easy to get the xeon?

The e8400/q6600 are fast chips at stock speeds. No clue about a-data warranty. Good quality RAM isn't only good for OCing. A RAM that OC's well would be great for normal use just as much as a non-OC friendly ram would be fine for standard duty. But if you plan on OCing in the future, better to invest now than buy new stuff later.

The Xeon is likely marginally better in terms of heat resistance, plus it has some virtualization feature that won't do anyhting for the home user. The e8400 is selling because of its name, and most people don't think or know about the Xeons in desktop use.

[flametop]

Quote from Superorb : The e8400/q6600 are fast chips at stock speeds. No clue about a-data warranty. Good quality RAM isn't only good for OCing. A RAM that OC's well would be great for normal use just as much as a non-OC friendly ram would be fine for standard duty. But if you plan on OCing in the future, better to invest now than buy new stuff later. The Xeon is likely marginally better in terms of heat resistance, plus it has some virtualization feature that won't do anyhting for the home user. The e8400 is selling because of its name, and most people don't think or know about the Xeons in desktop use.

So the xeon overall is better than the e8400 anyway? So if both were at the same price, I should go for the xeon?

And if I don't overclock, getting the cheaper quality ram won't have any downsides?

[Superorb]

Quote from i3eezenotch : So the xeon overall is better than the e8400 anyway? So if both were at the same price, I should go for the xeon? And if I don't overclock, getting the cheaper quality ram won't have any downsides?

I'd get the Xeon if price was the same, but I'd wait till either was $200 before I buy. So long as you've set the RAM to their rated specs and volts you should be fine.

[ShyGuyCalif]

I bought Dell 530 for $422 in the deal last week. I soon realised it is not what I really wanted. It has so many limitations.

Hence I am considering building my own system. Hurray!!

But I feel that since I have never assembled in past, I am scared I will mess up.

I dont know if it is the right idea to assemble or may be I am going nuts!!!! I am sure my wife will tell you I am nuts.

Here is what I am planning/thinking to build
1. Desktop with Q6600 processor,
2. Atleast RAID 1 Controller Internal (this is important for me)
3. Slot for atleast 3-4 Harddisks (1HDD for regular Win XP OS, 2HDDs for RAID 1 setup - for backup of important data like family photos, documents)
4. 2 to 4GB RAM
5. may be 8600GT (i don't game but watch movies on computer/sometimes personal video editing)
6. may be TV tuner card.
7. Ability to connect regular IDE drives (I dont want to throw the PATA HDDs and IDE DVD drives) as well as to connect optical drive (if I buy any in future). Dell 530 did not have it and it wasted all my old drives.

What motherboard, power supply I should get for this setup? Also am I going nuts??

=ShyGuyCalif

[Superorb]

Quote from ShyGuyCalif : I bought Dell 530 for $422 in the deal last week. I soon realised it is not what I really wanted. It has so many limitations. Hence I am considering building my own system. Hurray!! But I feel that since I have never assembled in past, I am scared I will mess up. I dont know if it is the right idea to assemble or may be I am going nuts!!!! I am sure my wife will tell you I am nuts. Here is what I am planning/thinking to build 1. Desktop with Q6600 processor, 2. Atleast RAID 1 Controller Internal (this is important for me) 3. Slot for atleast 3-4 Harddisks (1HDD for regular Win XP OS, 2HDDs for RAID 1 setup - for backup of important data like family photos, documents) 4. 2 to 4GB RAM 5. may be 8600GT (i don't game but watch movies on computer/sometimes personal video editing) 6. may be TV tuner card. 7. Ability to connect regular IDE drives (I dont want to throw the PATA HDDs and IDE DVD drives) as well as to connect optical drive (if I buy any in future). Dell 530 did not have it and it wasted all my old drives. What motherboard, power supply I should get for this setup? Also am I going nuts?? =ShyGuyCalif

GA-P35-DS3R or any of the boards that end in DS3R offer two RAID controllers, one IDE channel, and are excellent overclockers.

[aballz]

I wanted to confirm that we can run sli with two different brands of video cards, correct? For example if i had a EVGA 8800gt and a MSI 8800gt.

[danny31004]

Which part(s) to choose?

I'm trying to replace my dell e521 with the antec 900 case.
First I'm doing this to add more harddrives, but later on I will change the mobo and cpu. I currently have 2 hard drives in there using sata, and I want to add one more (More later on)
I'm using about 5 USB connecters + 1 firewire. I also have a media card reader/ dvd burner
Do you guys think I need to replace the psu?
I will need it for my later build but I'm replacing it one by one. According to the dell website, the one installed is 305w... I was looking at
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6817371007
this if I needed one... or what else would be good?
(I'm a light gamer but my comp is on 100% of the time)