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

I did the dverb with only protools installed no plugins. I hit around 175. 135 with all plugins and programs. a big step up from 35 on my old system, but at the same time diapointing. I had a few strange problems with my build. When I was first testing protools the computer just shut down on me and gave me the blue screen of death when I started it back up. only happened once so far. Then I went to do a backup of my complete setup tweaked all plugins instaled, acronis true image kept freezing up. had to restart the computer 5 times before getting the backup done. Also every time I restart the computer, my theme changes. I think my dverb drop may be due to the 2 video cards. I didnt have the 2nd one in when I did my first test. but all other problems were before I installed # 2. I'm concerned my ram may be another problem. I may order the ram sunburst is using to see the difference.

[G.roots]

I did the dverb with only protools installed no plugins. I hit around 175. 135 with all plugins and programs. a big step up from 35 on my old system, but at the same time diapointing. I had a few strange problems with my build. When I was first testing protools the computer just shut down on me and gave me the blue screen of death when I started it back up. only happened once so far. Then I went to do a backup of my complete setup tweaked all plugins instaled, acronis true image kept freezing up. had to restart the computer 5 times before getting the backup done. Also every time I restart the computer, my theme changes. I think my dverb drop may be due to the 2 video cards. I didnt have the 2nd one in when I did my first test. but all other problems were before I installed # 2. I'm concerned my ram may be another problem. I may order the ram sunburst is using to see the difference.

Dude, you have bad ram! RMA that stuff asap!! I recently had some bad Dominator as well. RMAed it back and the new parts worked great. Corsair may be having a quality control issue with the Dominator series ram.

[unclemonkey]

You really think its the ram? I was afraid of that.

[unclemonkey]

Sunburst79,
Nice to talk to you Saturday. Are you using the ram from the first page?

[sunburst79]

Sunburst79,
Nice to talk to you Saturday. Are you using the ram from the first page?

Yep I sure Am! I have 4 GB Each of both the XMS DDR2 800 and the XMS DDR2 1066. No problems here with the XMS

I tend to agree with g.roots If your memory is bad this would be the 3rd pair of Dominator we have seen go bad.

You might want to go to run Memtest 86+ which is a free download, You will need to burn the bootable ISO to CD.

Unless your going to be overclocking i would recommend the regular old XMS the 1066 variety is 91.00 for 2 GBs with the rebate.

You might try yanking one Video card and see if it makes a difference.

[unclemonkey]

I ordered 2 gigs XMS 1066. lets see if this makes a difference.

[thefridge]

Gday all, Sorry to intrude on this thread, just a quick query on XP installation for my new Q6600/P5K/XMS2 rig (for new Mbox2 pro factory) that I'm loading with the updated bios as we speak. Is there a page here that gives the best XP install for the Q6600, Ive looked on the main page for this but the info is quite old. Cheers!

[spaids]

Wow this thread is very technical. Please forgive the silly quesiton.

So as I set up the dverb test do I want the dverbs wired in parallel or series? I have the test tone output to a bus and the input to the first dverb is the output bus of the test tone. Now the out put of that first dverb should be my system output or to a bus to be the input to the next dverb.

[spaids]

PS

BIG HUGE Props to Sunburst and you guys that keep coming back here day after day and handing out such great and hard to find tech advice. Many people get thier sys running and then don't come back and some of you guys are here helping everyday. Thank you

[sunburst79]

Gday all, Sorry to intrude on this thread, just a quick query on XP installation for my new Q6600/P5K/XMS2 rig (for new Mbox2 pro factory) that I'm loading with the updated bios as we speak. Is there a page here that gives the best XP install for the Q6600, Ive looked on the main page for this but the info is quite old. Cheers!

I'm not sure what you mean buy a install guide? There isn't anything special needed to install Windows on a Quad..... leave the motherboard at the defaults during the install. Select your optical drive as the first boot device-your primary HDD as the second boot device- then nsert the Windows disk and restart.

After windows is installed insert the ASUS driver disk and install the Chipset, Lan, and INF drivers. You do not need to install the USB driver, use XP's standard USB driver. You dont need to install the soundcard driver unless your going to connect a set of speakers to the onboard sound card. Authorise Windows and then update Window VIA Windows update......

Once Windows is up and running BACK IT UP! using Acronis True Image or Nero Back It Up. You may want to do this immediately after you have installed Windows and before you have installed any mother board drivers or updated Windows. Thats up to you. This will save you a lot of aggravation and time down the road.