******..help decide!!!thx

[xhammerx]

hello every one....

im getting a Q6600 processor, DG33TL motherboard from intel......

should i keep the motherboard or should i get something else?
i want to build this computer and OC the S--t out of it, and run stable..
and try to keep the cost low...
need help choosing: 1) CASE/ perfer built in water cooling, if possible to do with fan..thas ok
2) Ram at least 4 gig 1000
3) Mother Board One that is best with overclocking and performance
4) video card
any input on this will appriciate

thx everyone....

[JazzyJake]

Hey and welcome to the forums!
I'd like to suggest taking some time to read the review section both on motherboards, and cases.

I feel that it is quite important to read about these two things because, while some motherboards generate better numbers, it's important to get a board you like and enjoy working with, and has the features YOU need.

My personal favorites are any Gigabyte board, hah. (Call me a fanboy, i haven't had a bad Gigabyte experience)

The same goes for cases. Looks are completely up to the user.
I'd personally suggest the Cooler Master CM690 if you're on a budget, Antec 900 if you have some extra money, and the Cooler Master Cosmos, or some of the higher-end LianLi cases if you've got lots to blow.

Those three cases are all excellent, and perform great, and have the looks to back them up.

As for ram, i suggest Crucial Ballistix (tracers are the same thing just prettier)

As for a video card, i suggest an eVGA (because of their warranty) 8800gt, 8800gts (512mb only, below the 512mb card, the 8800gt outperforms it per dollar) or an 8800gtx

it all depends on budget

Also around here we do our best to use proper grammar and punctuation so it's easiest for everyone to read. It helps everyones questions and problems get solved quickly

Jake

[Carl Martin]

Welcome to Hardware Logic Forums!

Just a couple suggestions - Check out Hardware Logic's recommended components. HardwareLogic
That motherboard is microATX; go with a full ATX board to have lots of room for your cards and cooling. (Reviews aren't crazy about the BIOS either.)

Carl

[RangerXLT8]

I can tell ya right now the Intel board is not going to OC. Go with a board by Asus Gigabyte or Abit. My favorite is Asus. I have used 2 gigabyte boards and had to RMA 1 of them. For a Quad core you want a sturdy board. I suggest something like an Asus P5K series or any Gigabyte P35 board.

For a case, go for something that has the features you need. With a Quad core processor you need atleast a Mid tower with above average cooling. I personally like Antec cases, and have been using them since I built my first computer in 04'. There are many other good cases, and some can cost ALOT of money. Antec seems to be a good quality\price selection. HL has good ties with Antec and have reviewed many of their cases.

[screwballl]

^.^ agreed with Ranger. My experience has been hit and miss with Gigabyte, yet I have never had a single problem with Asus boards. Intel boards are stable and work great at stock speeds but very few actually overclock well and stable.

[Yellowhello]

Welcome to HL!

As said above, that Intel board will not OC very well. I have had good experiences with Asus and DFI, and I would recommend them both. The P35 chipset seems to be a great choice these days, unless you plan on running a dual GPU setup. In that case, either the X38 for Crossfire or the Nvidia 780i for SLI.

As for cases... cases with built in water cooling are all fine and dandy, but its the built in water cooling part that is the problem. Most of the time you can get better performance with a stand alone water cooling loop (like from Swiftech or Danger Den) and that also makes the cases cheaper (without the built in water cooling I mean). I have seen many awesome builds with the Silverstone TJ07 case, as well as the TJ10. Those will cost you a pretty penny though, so a cheaper option would be the Lian Li PC-7 series of cases, not to mention the Antec Sonata line and the Coolermaster CM960.

RAM... if you are going for 4GB, you will need a 64-bit OS to take advantage of the full 4GB. Some nice options for RAM are Crucial Ballistix, OCZ, and Corsair to name a few, along with Super Talent and Mushkin. All are great choices.

GPU... right now I'd recommend the 8800GT for bang for the buck, but the AMD 3870 aren't looking too shabby either.

[screwballl]

according to many gaming benchmarks, the HD2900XT does better than the 3850 does... not sure how or why...

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

GPU... right now I'd recommend the 8800GT for bang for the buck, but the AMD 3870 aren't looking too shabby either.

the 3870 and 8800GT are pretty close in terms of "bang for buck", but both cards are currently overpriced. The 3870 is supposed to be priced at $219 and the 8800GT at about $250 for the 512MB version (256MB version supposed to be about $200). Just something to keep in mind before you think that $310 is a good deal for a 512MB 8800GT, think again. It's a great card, but prices are inflated due to an unusually high demand.

[Tech Geek Deluxe]

ABIT IP35 Pro Motherboard
G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000)
EVGA 512-P2-N757-TR GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3
CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel $80 after rebate!

• Well ... the above list is "Quality" on a budget. All great deals right now at Newegg.
• The Abit Mobo is one of the best rated Mobos out there for a huge variety of reasons ... especially overclockability. [Of the 6 OC recent builds I have done with current model Asus, Gigabyte and Abit ... this is by far the best Mobo]
• The Ram is a great deal now ... I have 2 sticks of it and it performs as stated. Don't expect to overclock it though. Get the overclock out of your CPU. [I have 20 GB of Ram in the house DDR2 6400 or better of various types ... and this is one of the best for the money.]
• The video card is a super solid excellent rated and warranted card. It"WILL" play all the new games and good frame rates. Then when the 8800GT is at $150 ... or less with rebate ... buy it and ebay your old card for $85 ... or buy the 9000 series for $270 when they get all the bugs out of Direct x10.
• You did not mention power supply ... but you need a good power supply. The one I listed is one of the best and it can handle a very high performance system.
• I suggest you stay away from H20 cooling ... the benefits are few and the stresses and costs are many. The Arctic Freezer will let you get a stable Overclock of between 3-3.2 GHZ and a semi-stable clock at 3.4-3.6 Ghz ... Just don't overdo it. Water won't get you much past that if at all.
• The case is a winner and at a great price now. Fantastic airflow to help an air OC.

[JazzyJake]

Originally Posted by Tech Geek Deluxe

EVGA 512-P2-N757-TR GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3

• The video card is a super solid excellent rated and warranted card. It"WILL" play all the new games and good frame rates. Then when the 8800GT is at $150 ... or less with rebate ... buy it and ebay your old card for $85 ... or buy the 9000 series for $270 when they get all the bugs out of Direct x10.

The rig i'm on right now has the same card, and while it's good, at this point in time i wish it had an 8800gt in it. For the price difference, and the budget that this guy seems to have the 8800gt would be a far better card.
the 8600gt plays cod4 not maxed out, and at mediocre frame rates, not noticeable better then the 7900gt i have at home