Does the list hardware below look good and will it work together? Any advice will be greatly appreciated as I have not built a computer since the P4 first came out. I will be using Windows XP Pro OEM. Already have a monitor*, case, X-Meridian, Seasonic S12 550, radiator, pump, Zalman CPU water block, speakers, mice and keyboard. Right now I have enough money to afford the cost of this computer and worry that prices might jump next month for hardware in the US. From Newegg: Motherboard: Abit IX38 Quad GT 1600/1333 FSB, DDR2 1066 $219 CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0 Ghz, BX80557E6850 $275 Memory: Crucial Ballistix 2GB DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Duel Channel BLkit12864AA1065 $90 Hard drive: WD Raptor 150 GB $240 Video card: EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS (G92) $289.99 DVD Burner: Lite-on LH-20A15 SATA $30 From performance-pcs: Video card water block: EK-FC88 GT/GTS (G92) Nickel Plated $125 Non-conductive fluid: Four 1000 ml bottles of Fesher One $76 (for Zalman Reservoir 1) Tubing: 10 feet of TYGON-3603-3/8-1/2 $20 Grand total: $1,365, $2,255 with monitor *Planar PX2611W, ordered yesterday on newegg $890.
EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS is NOT the G92 chip... it is the G80! It is the Geforce 8800 GT and Geforce 9600 (nor too sure about the 8800 GS) that uses the G92 chip
Not quite; The 8800 GT 512 and the 8800 GTS 512 are both G92; the 8800 GTS 320 and 8800 GTS 640 are G80 ; and the 9600 is G94
Might i suggest switching out the zalman block for something better? Also, for radiator, isn't that one passive? I've never liquid cooled before, but from what i've read, spend the money on good quality parts, and stay away from passive radiators. Maybe you can mount a 240 rad on the top or back of the case or at the bottom? Maybe externally? Better radiator with fans = lower temps = more overclocking! Just my two cents though.
Gotta agree on not using Zalman blocks or their Reserator; they're made from aluminum, which is just asking for corrosion.
Change the motherboard to the Abit IP35-Pro, and change the CPU to the E8400 (if you can find it in stock) as it is much better for overclocking. I also wouldn't bother with the Raptor. The newest 7200rpm drives are actually faster for most things.
Thanks for the advice, here is a updated hardware list: Newegg: Motherboard: ABIT IP35 Pro $170 CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale $240 Memory: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) Duel Channel $60 Hard drive: Western Digital Caviar WD7500AYYS 750GB $200 Video card: EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS (G92) $289.99 DVD Burner: Lite-on LH-20A15 SATA $30 FrozenCPU: Radiator: ThermoChill PA120.3 Triple 120mm, fittings and shroud: $170 Fans: Three Noctua NF-P12 $60 Performance-pcs: Non-conductive fluid: Three 1,000 ml bottles of Feser One (FESER1-UVBL) $60 Tubing: 6 feet of TYGON-3603-3/8-1/2 $12 Video card water block: Danger Den IONE for NVIDIA G92 GT and GTS $110 CPU Water block: Alphacool NexXxoS XP Bold HIGHFLOW Socket 775 Water Block (Model # 11712): $60 The problem is I am using a scratch build computer case that is very narrow. With a little work a radiator can be fitted to the back of the computer case and my pump already has a reservoir bolted to the top of it. The case can only hold one hard drive and DVD burner as two 120mm fans take up much of the front. Power supply will be an existing Seasonic S12 550.
I defiantly also have to recommend Vista 64-bit. It is not that 1-2 frame per second loss (for now), that you will see a difference. If you DO, then the game would be already a slideshow, and I don't think you would play it either way. Also SP1 is like coming so very soon.
The water pump is an Alphacool 12 volt Laing DDC with a reservoir on top. I am not interested in using Windows Vista as it would turn my headphone amp into an expensive paperweight. Without the amp my headphones sound terrible and fry sound cards.
No need to turn this thread into an XP vs VI$TA debate. Some people like myself prefer XP, others like Vi$ta; it's just a matter of personal preference and the OP is entitled to his.
The hardware looks like it will work together and I always hated the Zalman cooler for its massive size, so getting it replaced will an efficient copper radiator will be great. In the summer passive cooling could not keep the computer stable without a floor fan blowing air on it. A couple times the Reservoir 1 leaked almost a gallon of distilled water all over my old P4 system but it refused to die. An accident with a drill last summer finally killed it but for what it was worth the computer lasted a very long time. Hopefully the new system will be just as resilient. Sometime this afternoon I will buy the hardware but rushing off to get something without thinking about it first is a bad idea.
