The quiet quad core challenge

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:22 am

Hi all!

I'm a frustrated cgi type with plans on building a quad core system to replace my ageing XP3200+ affair.
My current list of components appears below (handily arranged into a scan basket)
Do these things go together happily? I'm especially interested in the 3 hard disc RAID 5 plan I've got going on, the 8800 and the quad core and those things' abilities to be quiet whilst remaining safe to leave on full wack. I'll be using the cpu to the limit (and beyond if cooling permits) on a daily basis.
I've built pcs before so this stuff doesn't scare me, but it's quality and stability I'm after, all whilst being as quiet as possible.
Budget of around Â£1200... when I get around to earning it, but that's my target
Cheers
Alex

pic:

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:32 am

you actually got original Ninja rev A? I don't see AM2 listed, so its it is Rev A I think. Good job. Rev B has had problems with LGA-775. Yeah, as long your motherboard has QuadCore support your system should go easily together.

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:02 pm

Just checked it out. It's rev2. Anyhow, according to the scythe site and a few others, the p5ne-sli board needs modifying to get it to fit. Pesky capacitors in the way... So that's either different cooler territory or time to consider a motherboard without tall capacitors next to the socket

J. Sparrow · Post by **J. Sparrow** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:46 pm

I'd rather buy an Ultra-120 or extreme rather than mod a brand new Ninja.

bonestonne · Post by **bonestonne** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 4:00 pm

i'd rather get a quad core with 1333mhz FSB... O_o

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 12:55 am

bonestonne wrote:i'd rather get a quad core with 1333mhz FSB... O_o

Me too but that's sooo much more cash

The ultra 120 seems to be unavailable atm, making me wonder if they've been recalled to fix that 775 bracket spcr found awkward... or they're just so popular it's crazy.
Either way, I'm not going to modify things in this pc.

dragmor · Post by **dragmor** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:13 pm

1) Get the 520w Corsair, you wont need 620w.
2) Look for a heatsink with a bolt through mechanism. I'm really *really* not happy with the pushpin design.

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:04 am

I was considering the thermalright 120 which is coming back into stock soon apparently according to one of the shopping sites i found it on, and also the Zalman 9700, though the LEDs will be somewhat wasted sitting in a case with no window

I think the 9700 bolts on
I was almost hoping someone would pick me up on the psu. It saves me 30quid! Thinking about it, the setup aint so different to what ive got now bar the processor and the amount of ram. This all runs on a somewhat white label 400W psu i got in a shop down the road for Â£25

ok... 520. Duly noted.

dnoiz · Post by **dnoiz** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:21 am

Look for a Xeon X3210. Is cheaper then the Q6600 and gives you probably the same performance with a mild overclock

.

R.

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:31 am

Wouldn't that require different motherboard, ram, and thence cooling? Or is it 775 too? Not sure the price difference warrants a "probably". I'd need proof.

[edit] Did a little research. The 3220 is the same chip, same price. The one your suggesting is the 3210, lower clock. Ok, but I'd rather not overclock just yet, so I'll still go for q6600. Remember this is for business use so if it goes bang i have to deal with it.