Best Core 2 Series Desktops-Results and Specs

[unclemonkey]

Well I got my parts in about a week ago to find the rack case I ordered was to long. It stuck 2 inches to far out the back of my rack so I ordered a different one with a more shallow depth. Come to find its just as long. I couldnt wait any longer, so I disasembled the brand new case and used a dremel to cut 2 inches off the front of the case redrilled all the screw holes and reasembled, which took about 7 hours. I put in all the parts and everything fits perfect. As soon as I get off work, I will hook everything up and hopefully have some d verb tests this weekend.

Heres the build so far.

ARK IPC-4806 Black Steel 4U Server Case - OEM
Item #: N82E16811128015
$89.99

Track 1 CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817139001
$139.99

1 ASUS P5K DELUXE/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131182
$214.99

1 Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115017
$279.99

1 CORSAIR Dominator 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-8500C5D - Retail
Item #: N82E16820145043
$209.00

2 ASUS EAX1600PRO SILENT/TD/256M Radeon X1600PRO 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 CrossFire Supported Video Cards - Retail
Item #: N82E16814121056 $137.98

2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drives - OEM
Item #: N82E16822148140
$159.98

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116056
$89.99

1 PHILIPS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner 2-Tone SATA Model SPD2513BD - Retail
Item #: N82E16827248008
$33.99

Any suggestions before I get to far?

[mykhal c]

Looking again, You may want to set the FSB to DRAM ratio to 5:4 VS 5:3, My math says 5:3= 1333/798 and 5:4=1333/1066.

I never remember setting my FSBRAM ratio so I'm assuming there is a 5:4 setting. I not at home so I can't check the Quad. I suspect this is the problem not the memory.

Can any other Quaders check their BIOS and let us know what setting they have?

I´m getting more confused with my P5K/Kingston setup though it´s working fine. I tried some new tweaks after reading numerous posts you guys have sent so thanks for the support.

First of all, my P5K has Bios version 0603 which is the latest I believe. Then there´s the confusing parameter "FSB Strap to North Bridge". I just have had it set to auto and the actual FSB freq was typed as 266, you can input a value from 200-800 in that field. With this (266) there was no way getting the memory running at 1067 Mhz without a crash during boot. 890Mhz was possible and steady.

But after setting FSB Strap to NB to 266 (options are auto/200/266/333MHz) interesting things started to happen.

So, check out the following values I gathered to see if there´s a pattern to explain something about this Strap-parameter in P5K bios

Strap=266, FSB frq=266--> DRAM frq options are 667/700/1067/
Strap=266, FSB frq=300--> DRAM frq options are 750/900/1200
Strap=266, FSB frq=333--> DRAM frq options are 833/1000/1333

Strap=333, FSB frq=266--> DRAM frq options are 533/640/853
Strap=333, FSB frq=300--> DRAM frq options are 600/720/960
Strap=333, FSB frq=333--> DRAM frq options are 667/800/1067


I just picked and chose Strap=266, FSB frq=333 and DRAM 1000 and DVERB 1 result was my all time record 320!!!
CPUZ confirmed that memory was doing 501Mhz which correlates to 1000 Mhz setting.

Is there a risk running with these settings so am I doing something stupid here? It´s nice to learn some new stuff but still I should ask my self, do I really need to get my memory over 1000Mhz. Still, after figuring this case out, it might help someone else some day with P5K and Kingston memory.

Ok, time to record and edit some vocal tracks with 9 melodyneplugs and all the other stuff including TL Space´s enabled. It´s nice that you can leave the buffer at 128 for occasional overdubs

[/QUOTE]

i know sunburst and blade can definitely speak more 'surely' about your settings than i can but i do not think you will have any problem with what you have chosen. you DO have your FSB oc'ed to 1333. your stock settings for your rig are Strap=266, FSB frq=266--> DRAM frq options are 667/700/1067/ . this would allow you to run your memory at 1067. your DVERB count will probably drop tho since you'd be lowerin' the FSB speed. i think sunburst got 288-295 at stock. congrats on the build!!!

[unclemonkey]

[/QUOTE]

i know sunburst and blade can definitely speak more 'surely' about your settings than i can but i do not think you will have any problem with what you have chosen. you DO have your FSB oc'ed to 1333. your stock settings for your rig are Strap=266, FSB frq=266--> DRAM frq options are 667/700/1067/ . this would allow you to run your memory at 1067. your DVERB count will probably drop tho since you'd be lowerin' the FSB speed. i think sunburst got 288-295 at stock. congrats on the build!!!

[/QUOTE]



So what is the best setting for this ram? Would I get better results from a different ram? I dont have a problem spending some cash on this thing. I just want it to be right and stable. What about cooling? Stock fan ok? How many other fans should I use?

[mykhal c]

i know sunburst and blade can definitely speak more 'surely' about your settings than i can but i do not think you will have any problem with what you have chosen. you DO have your FSB oc'ed to 1333. your stock settings for your rig are Strap=266, FSB frq=266--> DRAM frq options are 667/700/1067/ . this would allow you to run your memory at 1067. your DVERB count will probably drop tho since you'd be lowerin' the FSB speed. i think sunburst got 288-295 at stock. congrats on the build!!!

[/QUOTE]



So what is the best setting for this ram? Would I get better results from a different ram? I dont have a problem spending some cash on this thing. I just want it to be right and stable. What about cooling? Stock fan ok? How many other fans should I use?

[/QUOTE]

your ram is designed to run at 1067 and that's what you want!! so you are good to go as far as that is concerned. i'll step aside to let sunburst and others advise you about coolin' and fans

[sunburst79]

Well I got my parts in about a week ago to find the rack case I ordered was to long. It stuck 2 inches to far out the back of my rack so I ordered a different one with a more shallow depth. Come to find its just as long. I couldnt wait any longer, so I disasembled the brand new case and used a dremel to cut 2 inches off the front of the case redrilled all the screw holes and reasembled, which took about 7 hours. I put in all the parts and everything fits perfect. As soon as I get off work, I will hook everything up and hopefully have some d verb tests this weekend.

Heres the build so far.

ARK IPC-4806 Black Steel 4U Server Case - OEM
Item #: N82E16811128015
$89.99

Track 1 CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817139001
$139.99

1 ASUS P5K DELUXE/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131182
$214.99

1 Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115017
$279.99

1 CORSAIR Dominator 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-8500C5D - Retail
Item #: N82E16820145043
$209.00

2 ASUS EAX1600PRO SILENT/TD/256M Radeon X1600PRO 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 CrossFire Supported Video Cards - Retail
Item #: N82E16814121056 $137.98

2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drives - OEM
Item #: N82E16822148140
$159.98

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116056
$89.99

1 PHILIPS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner 2-Tone SATA Model SPD2513BD - Retail
Item #: N82E16827248008
$33.99

Any suggestions before I get to far?

Your parts list looks good to me. Basically you will have a close duplicate of mine with a differant CD/DVD Combo burner and the Dominator VS the Corsair XMS. You shouldn't have any problems. I bought a second card but have not installed it yet. You may want to install XP and PT and get them running to your satisfaction before you add in the second video card. Less to trouble shoot

Loved the case mod I'm real picky about stuff and have wangled/mangled a fair amount of stuff to get it to my liking. If you need to Skype me or want a phone number give me a email.

[sunburst79]

Geeees I start to build this thing and learn that the PSU is too old and low power. Got that on order from newegg now. So much for using old parts. I am taking two steps backwards for every one forward but it will get built darn it.

Sorry to hear that. I did the P35 test bed with a 380 Antec PSU and it ran fine. If I understand correctly you CAN use a 20pin ATX connecter PSU in the newer style 24 ATX2.0 slot.

[G.roots]

Just tested my system, which is absolutely quiet:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 stepping
Zalman 9700 NT Cooler
Gigabyte P35-DS3P
RAM GSkill 2x 1048 1066 CL5 Kit
Be Quiet Straight Power 500 W
250 GB Seagate Sata II 16MB (System)
500 GB Samsung Sata II 16 MB (Audio)
500 GB Western Digital Caviar SE16 (Samples) (from old system)
Graphic Asus 8600 GT Silent 256 MB
Samsung Sata DVD+/- DL burner
Thermaltake Soprano DX
Windows XP Pro

buffer settings: 1024, RTAS engine not checked,
test tone for more than 5 minutes uninterrupted!
32 audio tracks 5 mono dverbs each + 12 aux tracks 5 dverbs each --> 270 Total!!!! 95% CPU

32*5 + 12*5 = 220 not 270. Right?

[unclemonkey]

Your parts list looks good to me. Basically you will have a close duplicate of mine with a differant CD/DVD Combo burner and the Dominator VS the Corsair XMS. You shouldn't have any problems. I bought a second card but have not installed it yet. You may want to install XP and PT and get them running to your satisfaction before you add in the second video card. Less to trouble shoot

Loved the case mod I'm real picky about stuff and have wangled/mangled a fair amount of stuff to get it to my liking. If you need to Skype me or want a phone number give me a email.

I appreciate all the help. I'm installing the operating system right now. I'll shoot you a email in a minute.

[unclemonkey]

[/QUOTE]

So what is the best setting for this ram? Would I get better results from a different ram? I dont have a problem spending some cash on this thing. I just want it to be right and stable. What about cooling? Stock fan ok? How many other fans should I use?

[/QUOTE]

your ram is designed to run at 1067 and that's what you want!! so you are good to go as far as that is concerned. i'll step aside to let sunburst and others advise you about coolin' and fans

[/QUOTE]


Thanks for the reply. I was getting a little nervous.

[unclemonkey]

what bios version are you guys using for the p5k deluxe wifi boards?