Bought new system...opinions?

[megawhompertoo]

'lo all.

Tonight I purchased a budget upgrade (my home agp/socket 478 PC just bit the dust). Going to ebay the parts and hopefully break 1/3 to 1/2 the way even.

I wanted dual core, but didn't want to buy C2D until (at least) the E6420 is released at the end of April. So I went the 65nm netburst (yes, yuck, I know) way:

Processor: Pentium D 915

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116253

GPU: Saphire x1950xt

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102067

RAM: Value RAM 800mhz @ 4-4-4-12

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820161030

MOBO: ASUS P5B-E

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131070

So, knowing that I'll have to initially tweak the memory, and knowing that my processor is underpowered (before o'c) for the rest of the system...

...what do you folks think for $600? I already have an antec trio 650W psu, 2x160gb samsung 8mb cache sata hd's, and a p180 case. Was waiting until the next C2D...but my current pc situation left me high and dry and needing to build another 'puter.

For the folks that only want to say the pentium d's sux bowls...'k...I know. However, for (edit: 65nm) dual core for $97 shipped, I couldn't justify the +$100 upgrade to an e6400 C2D at this point. Summer, yes--I will ebay my 915 for $10-20 less than what I bought it for, and buy the e6400-e6600 equivalent available then. For now, all I want is to build a stable system that will push BF2 and Oblivion at nice FPS w/decent eye candy and ebay my current parts for net loss of ~$250-400 depending on which suckers/savvy buyers are on ebay at the moment.

edit: current specs are
p4 3.0C w/arctic coolign hsf/fan
x800xt aiw w/arctic cooling
4x512mb@400 mhz
2x160mb samsung hd160hj (really awesome hd's that i will stripe with the next build)
ecs p4m800pro-m478 (FD receptor is broke and I can't load winderz onto my sata's w/out a working fd or slipstreaming)
failing (according to SMART) 200mb wd200jb that has prompted the buying frenzy

edit again: purchases zalman vf900-cu and arctic cooling freezer 7 pro for cpu (in prep for a cool/quiet C2D sys this summer )

[cloakster]

Re: Bought new system...opinions?

I would have gone with the Asus P5N-E. The 650i chipset is newer and better than the P965.

[megawhompertoo]

Re: Bought new system...opinions?

I would have gone with the Asus P5N-E. The 650i chipset is newer and better than the P965.

Thanks for the input. I've read your other posts and understand that you're very well informed. The 650i looks like it would have been at least as good as the 965, but on the other hand, I have no intention of ever going SLI. I intend on this upgrade plus the e6420 (or e6450 if I remember correctly) that I'll buy in Q3 or Q4 of this year lasting me until DX10 is a requirement and not an option for gaming the games that interest me. I also have some requirements for PCI slots that the P5N-E might not have accomodated (audigy 2zs and a pci video) inputs that would have potentially interfered with a 650i solution.

[cloakster]

Re: Bought new system...opinions?

That is true, if you need the PCI slots and you are not planning on SLI, the P965 boards are not bad. But the 650i is better for OCing which is esp. good for when you are using that PentD. So, its really up to which features you will want more since they are both good boards.

Gigabyte's P965 DS3 board is also one to look at.

[megawhompertoo]

Re: Bought new system...opinions?

That is true, if you need the PCI slots and you are not planning on SLI, the P965 boards are not bad. But the 650i is better for OCing which is esp. good for when you are using that PentD. So, its really up to which features you will want more since they are both good boards.

Gigabyte's P965 DS3 board is also one to look at.

:) believe me: from what I've heard about the conroe's, i WILL NOT be holding on to the pentium D for very long. just couldn't justify even the e6300 at $183 when I can probably get an e 6420 for about that price in a couple of months. coupled with the fact that I can probably ebay the 915 for at least $70, i don't think i'll be ending up on the losing end when I upgrade. have to see though--the ebaysters are sometimes finicky with their bids. :)

honestly, i can't wait to get an (at least) e6420.

edit: since original post i've added a zalman vf900-cu and an ac freezer 7 pro. and canceled old order to include these items. bolting on an 6450 or 6420 in Q4 07 should be easy as pie, and give me nice fps boost to boot.

edit again: changed ram to buffalo "firestix" lol. my budget build is starting to bust my budget...going to have to put off the C2D until October or November.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820150054

[megawhompertoo]

Re: Bought new system...opinions?

Newegg Rocks! Ordered on Sunday night, the delivered this morning!

Going to set it up and then run some benchies this evening after work. Probably going to set the vid card up stock and make sure it functions before slapping the big copper flower on their.

Maybe o'c it just a tad...