Getting New Mobo and CPU for christmas...

[SizeableSSonic]

My mobo already needed a replacement, so that was a given, but we figured that since there were so many good combos out there, we could upgrade to a quad core as my present this year.

Anyway, after a lot of searching...

XFX Mobo with 2.66 Intel Quad core.

This seems like an excellent deal to us. The motherboard seems excellent, the processor is great, and I'm reading some very good things. Is there a catch to the board? I've thoroughly read the specs, and I don't see a catch. On top of it, I'm getting 4 GB of Corsair ram (Newegg has it for only 25 bucks!) So I think I'll be set for a while.

I have a few questions though. My card, a BFG 9600 GT, can use PCI-E 2.0. The motherboard's 2 PCI-E slots are just regular x16 slots. Will my card run fine in these?

The other question is if I have enough power to handle it all - my PSU is an Antec 500w. Is that enough?

I really want to be sure about what we're getting, and I don't want to get something that dissapoints me-this will most likely be the first computer actually capable of running games without crashing I will have in nearly two years. More importantly, 300$ isn't chump change, especially with the economy as bad as it is. I don't want my parents to waste their money.

So, is this a good setup? Is it worth it? Or should I keep looking?

[Pixel]

PCI-E 2.0 cards will work in PCI-E 1.0 slots. They just won't be able to transfer as fast as they would if they were in a 2.0 slot.

Don't know what effect that would at performance at all thou.

[Bridget]

That's the 680i LT. Not going to give you standard speeds of regular 680i. Also, forgetting to mention the title mentions that the package is OEM, which means once you open the package, the results are up to you. If the parts don't work out of the box, then they will probably offer you one exchange for a new set, but after that most likely not, Also, if the products (one, other, both) fail in the future after installing them, considering they're OEM, you can NOT get a refund or replace them. OEM is used by companies who put computers together and sell them. The person who buys the OEM product from the initial seller is responsible to refund the product for his or her customer or him or herself. If I were you, I'd work up an extra $100-150 dollars and buy the 780i and Q6600 on Newegg. Free and fast shipping with them, can rush orders to be shipped (not delivered) same day for $2.00, excellent customer service I hear, few OEM products (Small trivial stuff, maybe. My mousepad is OEM.) and so on.

[SizeableSSonic]

Wow, thanks for that info. We could have gotten ourselves screwed over big time. However, my parents probably can't spend an extra 100-150 dollars.

The other thing I was thinking of doing was getting a Micro ATX board - Newegg has some really good ones for 50 - 70 dollars. However, my current board is a micro atx, and it failed MISERABLY - are there any reliabilty issues there? Can they handle the stress of gaming? Or should I just stick with standard ATX?

EDIT:
Looked around and found this motherboard. It says it's a recertified board, but it is Newegg, so we should be able to RMA if something goes wrong.

Even better price:
This.
Question is, can a 550w antec PSU support all that and a 9600gt?

[Bridget]

Originally Posted by SizeableSSonic

Wow, thanks for that info. We could have gotten ourselves screwed over big time. However, my parents probably can't spend an extra 100-150 dollars.

The other thing I was thinking of doing was getting a Micro ATX board - Newegg has some really good ones for 50 - 70 dollars. However, my current board is a micro atx, and it failed MISERABLY - are there any reliabilty issues there? Can they handle the stress of gaming? Or should I just stick with standard ATX?

Last time I checked, The 'micro' in ATX just meant its size. But, read up on it because I'm not one-hundred percent sure. I'm a little meh on the whole open-box, recertified, resell items. They must have had a reason to have been returned, right? Plus, I don't know if you get refund/exchange/replace with those products like you would with 100% new products.

There's this, but.. I'm not sure if you can use memory under the standard. One would assume you could use under and up to the standard, but the standard might be enforced as the ONLY suitable memory to use. Someone know? I don't.. (See specifications and memory standard) .. Also, considering it's a standard mobo, there's no SLI.

^ That with Q6600 will run you $304.00 including free shipping for both items and the optional $2.00 rush same-day shipping (Must be processed before 12 in the afternoon, time for California, I believe.) which is .. a few more dollars from the standard price of the TigerDirect deal excluding the shipping cost there? .. :s

[SizeableSSonic]

Yes, true. However, I hear Evega has excelent customer support, and that they will replace the boards if necassary. Also, the other board, an ECS board, is a regular, non open box product.

[Sidd]

If you have a single PCI-E 2.0 graphics card then get a board with a single PCI-E 2.0 graphics card slot. The one Bridget linked looks perfect. $100 if you bother with mail in rebates.

I'd get a Q8200 instead of Q6600 . $190 for either, but the Q8200 is about 20% faster and comes with a free game.

If you've got a bit more cash get either more rams or a Q9300

[Bridget]

As far as the power supply working, it should. I have a 550w power supply powering a ton of stuff near equal power with eight case fans (No, it's not that loud.) As Sidd said, go with the 8200 for better speed. The differences between them are really irrelevant to standard use and performance, I think. .. Free shipping too. Gotta love Newegg. x:

DON'T FORGET ANTI STATIC WRIST STRAP. Trust me.

[SizeableSSonic]

How is the Q8300 faster? Bigger caches?

EDIT: Oh, 45nm manufacturing process. Nice.

Also, the rebate on the Corsair ram ends tomorrow, so I'll probably be getting G-Skill ram for the same price - same amount, but faster clock speeds. I can't get any more than 4 GBs-32 bit OSes, such as XP Professional- can't use more than 4GBs.

As for the straps... as long as you ground yourself before handling each part, you should be fine. That's my experience, anyway.

[Sidd]

cpu comparison: http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php

random game comparison: http://www.pcgameshardware.com/?menu...mage_id=899544

The Q8200 will also use up less of your 500W

[greenday5494]

And, if you're buying a windows copy, make sure you do not get it OEM either. it is tied to your motherboard, period. If you upgrade, it's invalid.

[Bridget]

Also, don't download and install Firefox, as it will give you a virus.

[SizeableSSonic]

Nope, we already have our own copy of windows. I'll reinstall it after all my stuffs backed up and my HDD is in the new system.

My final setup:

CPU

Mobo

Memory


And wouldn't you know it, one of the RAMs reviews (5 stars) says they plopped it right in to the same Mobo I'm getting, and worked perfectly.

Yay!

[Bridget]

;D

[KubeDawg]

You'll also need some of this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100007

[SizeableSSonic]

Thanks a bunch everyone, it came out a bit pricier than I expected, but I got honors this past quarter, so my parents might just count it as part as that as well.

[greenday5494]

Originally Posted by Bridget

Also, don't download and install Firefox, as it will give you a virus.

That's really not funny anymore, dude.

[Pixel]

Originally Posted by KubeDawg

You'll also need some of this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100007

Intels don't come pre-thermal pasted?

[SizeableSSonic]

It is done. We just ordered the above parts.

Best part?

We're gonna assemble it before Christmas! My PaPa needs my current parts beforehand for a friend... we're gonna do it together too, which will be a ton of fun. Thanks a bunch everyone!

[Skanky Butterpuss]

Originally Posted by SizeableSSonic

My PaPa needs my current parts beforehand for a friend... we're gonna do it together too, which will be a ton of fun.