New PC Motherboard

[Deltasigmx221]

I am looking at building a new PC. My question is should I wait for the new X48 chipset in March or go with another motherboard.  also should I wait on the Navidia 9800's to come out?

I am looking at top of the line Asus boards at the moment.

Here is what I had so far.
ASUS P5E3 Deluxe/WiFi-AP LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model
OCZ Gold Edition 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600)
Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard
EVGA GeForce 8800GTX 768-P2-N831-AR Video Card - Retail

I do not need a new case. Maybe looking at a new monitor and water cooling if people think I need it. 

Thanks,

Delta 

[Video_Master]

The new cards should be out around the end of this month so I would hold off for those.  Also stick with an Nvidia chipset like the 780.  Also there is no need for a Quad Core processor as most programs especially games can't use more then 2 of the cores and I would say that 80% of the games out there can't even take advantage of the dual cores.

There is no need for memory faster then DDR2-800.  I have the DDR2-1066 and honestly I would have been better off with the DDR2-800 as I could have gotten 8GB for the same price as my 4GB.  There have been many tests done and going faster then even 1066 does not gain you anything.

[wonder.]

I agree with video to stick with the nvidia 780.  I have it and it runs great.  Fan on it is alittle loud, but you can turn it down.  I wouldn't get a GTX.  Get dual GT's or GTS.  I have dual GTS 92's and they run great.  They have the step up program so u can trade them in for the 9800 and pay the difference as long as it is 90days.  But if your in no rush, wait for the 9800 cards or just wait for them to come out cause the price of the 8800's will prob drop.

I dissagree with Video for the quad core.  Stick with the Q6600.  Games may not be able to take advantage of it now, but you are preparing for the future.  Also the Q6600 is soo cheap it can't be beat.  Its also easy to overclock and will stay cool.  Unless you intend on overclocking alot, I wouldn't suggest watercooling.  A pain in the ass.  Just get a nice CPU fan and u will do fine.  Zalman makes good ones.  You could prob overclock the Q6600 to 3.0 or 3.2, use air cooling and have it be stable and fine. 

I wouldn't go with DDR3.  There is no advantage for getting it now, and for the price might as well go with 8GB of DDR2. 

So thats just my input.  Good luck. 

[V.I.P.]

No need for 8 gigs, your processor will bottleneck it, I'd go with 4gigs at the most.  Go with a dual core like Video said.  Maybe you'll get a high ghz one or you can OC.  The intels are doing very will at that right now.

[MR|337]

Get two 8800 GT for what you would pay for a 768 GTX. Then you have 1 gig of v ram and sli.

The Nvidia boards rock. I got one with the 680i chipset, like it a lot.

I would go with 800mhz ddr2 from Corsair or OCZ, get 4 x 1 gig sticks.

Processor is to tatse. I have the C2Q 6600, and it's awesome.

Be wary of the psu. Check to see how many amps are on the .12v rails - too little wont support the vid card.

[Video_Master]

No need for 8 gigs, your processor will bottleneck it, I'd go with 4gigs at the most.  Go with a dual core like Video said.  Maybe you'll get a high ghz one or you can OC.  The intels are doing very will at that right now.

If he is going to use a 64bit OS the 8GB of memory will not be a problem at all.  The more the better honestly, especially with Vista.


As for overclocking I have the e6850 which is a C2D 3.0Ghz that I have overclocked to 4.1 Ghz and was still air cooled.  It beats out the C2Q in almost all tests and really beats it out in the gaming tests.  Like I said wait for the new video cards to come out cause then you can either pay alot less for the 8800 GT's or get the new series of cards.

As for Power Supply I like PC Power and Cooling and OCZ.  They are both OCZ Power supplies since OCZ has now bought PCPandC.  I would suggest at least a 750Watt or higher Power Supply.

[Deltasigmx221]

 

My current PSU is
Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 ATX12V 650W Power Supply with Three 12V Rails

My biggest concern is being able to upgrade in the future.  I made the mistake of building a
AMD x2 4400 on the old format not AM2 now I can not upgrade for shit. 
That is one of the main reasons I am looking at the x48 chipset becuase DDR3 is the future and as latencies come down from what I read they will be the new standard.  Do you guys think that I should go with a 45nm Processor or the Quad core.  What is the benefits to each?.    Anyone know if the new X48 boards are SLI or Crossfire?

Any feedback would be great

[MR|337]

Antec psu's blow goats. Sorry Delta. I doubt it has pci-e connections that the newer cards need. Like I said check how many amps are on the rail. Most 8800 series cards need somewhere around 20 to be happy.

PCP&C are the shit! I just put a 750 in noobinhood's pc and he is running dual 8800 GT.

[snyper133]

First wait until Feb 14, for the new nVidia cards.

If your going SLI get the 780i if you are not and want more of an over clocking board wait for th X48.

As far as power supplies go try to get one with a single 12v rail with a high amperage like the PC Power and Cooling shown below. (60A on the 12v rail, its enough for SLI Ultras)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009

If you need I can go into detail but all of it depends on overclocking and other components like SLI, what HD's etc.

It's an intel board they won't buy SLI from nVidia.... as of right now

[MR|337]

Not to disagree, but that psu wont do two ultras. At least isnt supposed to. I remember seeing in the literature in the box that it was certified for the GTX and back. Have to step up to the bigger Turbo-Cool 860 to do ultras.

http://www.pcpower.com/power-supply/turbo-cool-860.html

[wonder.]

Just to say, in the Dream Machine 07, they ran dual 8800 Ultras XFX xxx edition on the Silencer 750 quad. 

[Deltasigmx221]

Do you guys think my power supply will handle a single 9800, and if I am not looking to go SLI should I go with an x38/x48 board?

[Deltasigmx221]

or should I wait for this board
http://www.nordichardware.com/news,7315.html

[snyper133]

Leet you are correct after digging around a little more the 60A is not enough. The point is however to make sure to get a PC Power and Cooling or something with a Single 12V rail for stability sake.

I can't make the call on the PSU until the specs are out for the 9800.

I would like to see more info on the 790 chipset before making that call, and seeing what issues arise with the 780.

Snyp

[MR|337]

I would expect the prices on the 680i boards to fall some. If you dont HAVE to have ddr3 and three way sli, why be on the bleeding edge? Save a few bucks and go with tried and true.

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