Q6600 build - need to decide on mobo, cooler, video and case

RichLum · Post by **RichLum** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:43 pm

Hi all,

I'm looking at getting a Q6600 system to replace my old P4

I don't plan to overclock it.
Will be using it primarily for audio recording and mixing so quiet is good

I'd appreciate any advice/experience/comments on the following:

Mobo - Asus P5K or Gigabyte GA-P35-DQ6??

RAM - Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C4

HDD - 2 x Seagate ST3320620NS

Cooler - Zalman 9500 or Thermaltake V1 (not sure about fitting in case etc)

Case - Antec Sonata 3 with inbuilt or Antec P182 with TruePower Trio 650 PSU (cooling and noise concerns)

Video - Gainward Geforce 8500GT 256mb PCI-E x16 video card, VGA/DVI, composite/component video out, fanless (want a passive card with dual monitor support. Won't be playing games or anything, mainly running audio apps with low graphics requirements. Maybe playback of video etc.)

My main concerns are whether the case and cooler will be enough for the Q6600 and fit.
And also I know nothing about video cards, so not sure whether getting a 128MB 7600GS might be better for lower power consumption/cooler running or whatever.

Any advice or things to consider on the above would be appreciated.
thanks,
Rich

Max Slowik · Post by **Max Slowik** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:09 pm

ATI HD 2000 video cards have more passive options and better video acceleration, for the same price. The low-end 7-series NVIDIA cards aren't better, nor do they require less power, and have other drawbacks. I'd stick with a current-generation card.

If you're not going to overclock or play games, you may want to consider onboard graphics, say with the Intel G33 chipset. In any case, I'd go with a mainstream board, like the DS3R and not the DQ6. I'll always pick any Gigabyte product over its Asus counterpart.

Zalman and Thermaltake aren't swinging dicks anymore; consider Scythe or Thermalright. That Zalman cooler is loud, and Thermaltake anything but power supplies (because TT doesn't make them) are all pretty poorly.

RichLum · Post by **RichLum** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:35 pm

OK thanks Max.

so a card like this
http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/show_prod ... y_id]=1204

Onboard graphics won't allow dual monitor will it?... otherwise I would to save a bit of $$$ if it provided the functionality I need...

Wouldn't the P35 chipset be better than the G33?? Or is newer not better?

OK more cooler research to be done...

This Review rated the Thermaltake well...

Thanks - so much reading to be done...

Rich

kingfetty · Post by **kingfetty** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:18 pm

if you are going with a quad core, definately go with the Abit IP35 PRO MB it's about the only one that can truly handle the quad core.

RichLum · Post by **RichLum** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:52 pm

In what way?
Can you elaborate on that kingfetty?

Why can't other P35 boards handle a Quad?

thanks,
Rich

BoomAM · Post by **BoomAM** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 11:23 am

Im planning on an IP35 Pro anyway, but it'd still be interesting to hear the reasons why its better than other boards.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:30 pm

Why do you want a quad core?

I was thinking about a Q6600 too but now I have changed my mind.

I'm going for a E6750. Fast, efficient and cheaper. Just wait a couple of days.
As far as I know the use of having > 2 cores is low with current software and OS. Why not wait with the >2 core buy and think a little more of your power consumption bill and hotter CPU to cool (silently)?

With a E6750 you are also guaranteed to get one with G0 stepping.
For the Q6600 there are still some old ones out there.

Intel price cut July 22.
http://www.vr-zone.com/index.php?i=4976

Edit:
As for the graphics card I recommend this but then you will have to wait until mid August I guess.
viewtopic.php?t=41818&start=12

Then if you want to game with very powerful graphics buy a new powerful graphics card later. Nvidia will probably come up with something unbeatable for X-mas. (G90?) so the current powerful ones will probably become cheaper then.

RichLum · Post by **RichLum** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 2:26 pm

The software I primarily (REAPER) use handles multi cores very well

THIS THREAD has a screenshot showing REAPER using all 8 cores of a dual quad Xeon evenly.

Also in THIS THREAD the developer of REAPER says that he'd take a quad 2.4 over dual 3ghz for REAPER.

I am concerned about the cooling though... which is why I'm not sure about the case and cooler

That card looks nice... I'm not worried about graphics power though as I won't be playing games on this machine so a HD2400 should be good enough I think.
I just need dual monitor support

thanks,
Rich

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:10 am

i use an asus p5b deluxe with my quad core. It 'handles' it fine. Got no idea what the previous comment was about there, but it did need a bios update to be fully recognised as 4 cores.
I chose the p182 over the sonata and solo options as it has a reasonable airflow to help cool the q6600.
650W psu is possibly overkill considering the graphics card thoughts. I use a 520W Corsair and that's plenty enough, plus it's quiet.
Not sure how modern Seagates are but I remember some of them being whiney a few years ago.
Cooler-wise, practically anything fits inside the p182. It's pretty chunky.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:13 am

OK, if you use one of these few multicore adapted software much and you want to pay for that extra performance then sure get a quad core.

Just do not complain about higher CPU temps and less silent CPU cooling Fan afterwards (EDIT: I agree this is marginal but still a fact). Remember this is SPCR =not for top performance but silence prioritizing fellows.

There is nothing wrong with your choice if you prioritize performance

and do not care to much about silence or cost

(like if you will use REAPER much for work or hobby purposes).

bkh · Post by **bkh** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 9:27 am

Don't be discouraged by the previous remark. It is entirely feasible to make a very quiet quad core machine: this site has lots of good information about how to manage your system heat quietly without necessarily going to extremes.

mfczap · Post by **mfczap** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 11:07 am

Thoughts:
MB - from what I've read, the Gigabyte boards are killer. They use solid state capacitors, with improved ferrite core choke coils, Low RDS MOSFET's ... and generally run well - http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2118 and http://techreport.com/reviews/2007q2/gi ... dex.x?pg=1. Asus boards tend to come slightly overclocked and draw a little more power - but are obviously good as well.

Case & Power Supply - I would stay away from Antec. Cases look nice, but buttons and doors tend to break too easily (on my Solo for example). Some of their PSU's are made by Seasonic. The others have a mixed record of success and silence. Suggest you go for a Seasonic, Corsair (made by Seasonic) or an Antec unit (find one made by Seasonic). Lian Li makes outstanding cases that can be made to run quietly. The A16B is pretty sweet. Check out most high end / boutique computer makers like Voodoo PC - and you'll find Lian-Li cases used.

Good luck!

vaclav · Post by **vaclav** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:28 pm

RichLum wrote:Wouldn't the P35 chipset be better than the G33?? Or is newer not better?

P35 isn't newer than G33, they're both the same generation. The only difference between G33 and P35 is that G33 contains integrated graphics card whereas P35 doesn't.

I wanted to go with G33 myself for a similar config (two monitors), but after lot of research into G33 graphics adapter's capabilities, I went with dual-head MicroStar NX7600GS-T2D256EH card instead. The problems with G33's graphics are: only one DVI output, the other would go through add-in ADD2 card and they have limited resolutions (1600x1200) and the ones that don't are hard to find. Plus the adapter itself is documented to not allow more than 1600x1200 in 3D accelerated mode and I wanted to run 1280x1024 and 1920x1200 monitors in 3D desktop (Vista-like).

As for boards, if you don't plan to overclock, I'd stick with Intel board (they can of course handle Quads).

ame · Post by **ame** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:36 pm

just built a q6600 system for my freind's ProTools LE audio recording computer last month...

antec p180
asus p5k
2*1gb ddr2 800 value ram
termaltake 500w psu (should have gone corsairHX520)
zalman 9700 cpu cooler
gigabyte 8600 gt passive (with 2*19" lcds)
2* segate hds

its very quiet stock fans and all - not silent

RichLum · Post by **RichLum** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 11:16 pm

Thanks all for the advice.
I'm finding it and this site very helpful.

I've switched to 2 WD 320GB AAKS drives now as they look to be quieter than the seagates, but more reliable than the Samsungs.

ame - does the stock fans in the P180 and zalman 9700 keep the system cool enough? That sounds real close to what I'd be building so if so great!
It's good to know that case and cooler are OK at stock speeds.

Also looking at maybe the SI 128SE now...

I'm not expecting it to be dead silent, but obviously as quiet as possible and with high grunt is the aim.
I realise this will require extra cooling, but at the same time want to try and do that cooling as quietly as possible and still have a stable system.

thanks again,

Rich

Solmiester · Post by **Solmiester** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:53 am

Hi OP, I too i'm looking at upgrading to the Q6600 with the Gigabyte DQ6 P35 mobo.
I think the 9700is only rated for the due core chip not the quad, however I believe the wind tunnel of the TJ-06 maybe enough to provide the cool ambient temp difference.

Remember the Q6600 is a hot chip to start with....

ame · Post by **ame** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:12 am

The antec fans are quiet at low and they are fine with regrads to cooling. Im getting good venting from the front since I didnt use the top drive bay (I took it out).
The Zalman 9700 is the loudest fan and emits a low whosh but really can't be heard from about 1 m away. my cpu rarly reaches 50c
The Termaltake PSU is also not heard probably because of its location in the bottom (no need to diss TT - some of their stuff is fine).
The P180 is great - not that eazy to put together and the cables vs fan in the bottom chamber should be handled, as well as the main mobo power cable.
The P182 has better cable management.

mx-5 · Post by **mx-5** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:57 am

vaclav wrote:The problems with G33's graphics are: only one DVI output, the other would go through add-in ADD2 card and they have limited resolutions (1600x1200) and the ones that don't are hard to find. Plus the adapter itself is documented to not allow more than 1600x1200 in 3D accelerated mode and I wanted to run 1280x1024 and 1920x1200 monitors in 3D desktop (Vista-like).

I'm not sure how to test your claims... I have a Asrock Conroe945G-DVI (mATX with VGA onboard and ADD2 for DVI). I'm using the DVI via ADD2 with my Dell 2407 at 1920 x 1200 and haven't detected any issues.

Max Slowik · Post by **Max Slowik** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 9:29 am

The G33, with that passive HD 2400, will be the perfect, high-performance, quad-core-ready combination.

RichLum · Post by **RichLum** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:19 pm

Thanks everyone for the input.
Especially ame - that real world feedback is really helpful for me.

I'm now thinking maybe the Abit IP35Pro as the Gigabyte DQ6 has a heatsink on the back that either needs to be removed or you need to modify the Zalman backing plate...

Also have switched the the SEASONIC 550W S12ENERGY+ EPS PSU as it should be enough power and looks to be quieter than the Antec.

Thanks,
Rich