Best Core 2 Series Desktops-Results and Specs

[sunburst79]

That's awesome sunburst Thanks. I think that's even helpful for experienced builders. I know I will use it as a checklist.

Well I hope everyone can decipher what I wrote and its legible and understandable. You and Mykhal going to test drive it for me. I kicked the tires.

[vocalvoodoo]

Did the Ninja fit in your Antec case with the fan mounted to it? It looks like I'm going to end up going with 3 1200 Noctuas for the case and 1 1200 Noctua for the Processor.

the Ninja fit just fine. I think it's actually a little shorter than the Thermaltke. It is a bit of a pain to mount though.

[FatBelly]

sunburst79 or anyone.

I was under the impression that the larger your graphics card memory was the less
your system memory gets taxed. Can anyone direct me to where I can research this.


I'm about to order my system and I'm hung up on the video card.
I'm currently planning to purchase this one.
Let me know what you think.

Thanks in advance

[Willosy]

Video Cards that don't use technology like Turbo Cache (nVidia), I'm not sure what ATI call it, just use what ever RAM that have on-board.

Turbo Cache etc, are usually on low end cards with bugger all on-board memory. Specs don't mention use of system memory and with 512MB DDR3 on-board I doubt it would use system memory.

I must say though that this card is way overkill for a DAW.

[Willosy]

Hi Guys,

After starting my own thread, Sunburst suggested I post here so we have a record of my build to track successes and errors for everyones benefit. Here goes:-

Case :- Silverstone Temjin TJ-08 mATX (Excellent Case, Great Build and 120mm Fans)

PSU:- ThermalTake Pure Power 430W

Motherboard:- GA-965GM-DS2 (Gigabyte based on INtel 965G Chipset)

Firewire:- On-Board Firewire (VIA)

Memory:- 3GB or DDR2-667 (2 X 1GB Kingston Value RAM + 2 X 512GB Mushkin Value RAM)
Both Sets are dual channel kits to be run in Dual - Channel

CPU:- Intel® Core™2 Duo Desktop Processor E4300

CPU HeatSink:- Scythe Ninja Plus Rev. B Passively Cooled

Fans:- 2 X Artic Cooling 120mm PWM Fans. Connected to CPU PWM Controller High CFM and
Quiet. Automatically Spreed Adjusted By System Temp. 1 X Intake & 1 X Exhaust

Video:- nVidia 256MB 7600GS Passively Cooled

DVD-Burner:- Pioneer DVR-212 SATA

Hard Drives:- 1 X Samsung SpinPOint 250GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache - System Drive and Some Track Recording
1 X Maxtor 500GB 16MB Cache 7200RPM - Main Track Recording Drive

Build to start Tuesday. Will keep you posted.

[sunburst79]

sunburst79 or anyone.

I was under the impression that the larger your graphics card memory was the less
your system memory gets taxed. Can anyone direct me to where I can research this.


I'm about to order my system and I'm hung up on the video card.
I'm currently planning to purchase this one.
Let me know what you think.

Thanks in advance

I used to think the same thing

A grossly simplified version is that once you have 3GB or more memory in the computer the system will set aside X amount of memory to "Feed" the cards. In my system with 4GB of RAM and a 256MB card I was showing 3.25 GB of RAM. When I dropped in a second identical 256MB video card the memory dropped to 3.00 GB even. If your going to run memory sizes over 3GB I would look for a 128MB card which is more than enough for Pro Tools.

If I understand the situation correctly this does not occour if you only have a total of 3GB or less, Only more than 3GB. I have not tested this personally though.

Strange but true.

If your running Vista and 4GB of RAM that 3.25 under XP drops to 3.12 according to Microsoft.

I would recomend you grab a 256mb or less video card.

It's looking like the original ASUS X1600 Silent video card specced in the top of Core 2 System Specs page is no longer going to be made. I am interested in the Radeon 2xxx series as a replacement. I may not be able to help you if you have video problems since I have a different card but I would be VERY interested in your results with a 2xxx card.

[sunburst79]

Hi Guys,

After starting my own thread, Sunburst suggested I post here so we have a record of my build to track successes and errors for everyones benefit. Here goes:-

Case :- Silverstone Temjin TJ-08 mATX (Excellent Case, Great Build and 120mm Fans)

PSU:- ThermalTake Pure Power 430W

Motherboard:- GA-965GM-DS2 (Gigabyte based on INtel 965G Chipset)

Firewire:- On-Board Firewire (VIA)

Memory:- 3GB or DDR2-667 (2 X 1GB Kingston Value RAM + 2 X 512GB Mushkin Value RAM)
Both Sets are dual channel kits to be run in Dual - Channel

CPU:- Intel® Core™2 Duo Desktop Processor E4300

CPU HeatSink:- Scythe Ninja Plus Rev. B Passively Cooled

Fans:- 2 X Artic Cooling 120mm PWM Fans. Connected to CPU PWM Controller High CFM and
Quiet. Automatically Spreed Adjusted By System Temp. 1 X Intake & 1 X Exhaust

Video:- nVidia 256MB 7600GS Passively Cooled

DVD-Burner:- Pioneer DVR-212 SATA

Hard Drives:- 1 X Samsung SpinPOint 250GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache - System Drive and Some Track Recording
1 X Maxtor 500GB 16MB Cache 7200RPM - Main Track Recording Drive

Build to start Tuesday. Will keep you posted.

Not seeing any problems with those specs. I'm not however familier with that board. If its got the VIA 6308 FW chip you should be aware its not working with Protools (or at least not on the ASUS boards) a Digi approved FW card solves the problem. There have been some reported issues with the Gigabyte boards with the P35 chipset and Samsung SATA2 drives-as far as I know the P965 is not affected by this. Just a general heads up.

[sunburst79]

Hi Guys,

After starting my own thread, Sunburst suggested I post here so we have a record of my build to track successes and errors for everyones benefit. Here goes:-

Case :- Silverstone Temjin TJ-08 mATX (Excellent Case, Great Build and 120mm Fans)

PSU:- ThermalTake Pure Power 430W

Motherboard:- GA-965GM-DS2 (Gigabyte based on INtel 965G Chipset)

Firewire:- On-Board Firewire (VIA)

Memory:- 3GB or DDR2-667 (2 X 1GB Kingston Value RAM + 2 X 512GB Mushkin Value RAM)
Both Sets are dual channel kits to be run in Dual - Channel

CPU:- Intel® Core™2 Duo Desktop Processor E4300

CPU HeatSink:- Scythe Ninja Plus Rev. B Passively Cooled

Fans:- 2 X Artic Cooling 120mm PWM Fans. Connected to CPU PWM Controller High CFM and
Quiet. Automatically Spreed Adjusted By System Temp. 1 X Intake & 1 X Exhaust

Video:- nVidia 256MB 7600GS Passively Cooled

DVD-Burner:- Pioneer DVR-212 SATA

Hard Drives:- 1 X Samsung SpinPOint 250GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache - System Drive and Some Track Recording
1 X Maxtor 500GB 16MB Cache 7200RPM - Main Track Recording Drive

Build to start Tuesday. Will keep you posted.

Not seeing any problems with those specs. I'm not however familier with that board. If its got the VIA 6308 FW chip you should be aware its not working with Protools (or at least not on the ASUS boards) a Digi approved FW card solves the problem. There have been some reported issues with the Gigabyte boards with the P35 chipset and Samsung SATA2 drives-as far as I know the P965 is not affected by this. Just a general heads up.

[sunburst79]

I would like to thank DIGI for the Sticky

All of the system builders here and in the Core 2 thread deserve a big hand for the effort thats made a untested and unqualified platform a success.
Hopefully the the sticky will eliminate all the crossposting across the forum regarding Core 2/Intel Systems.

And if the thread ever goes for more than a year without updating the top of the page please unsticky it and let it it die a natural death

[Shan]

About flippin' time! And congrats! Your email requests will now triple(trust me) and I can take a bit of a holiday for awhile until the 8-cores roll out.

Shane