Best Core 2 Series Desktops-Results and Specs

[mano111]

I'm thinking of trying these folks ... Anyone here ever bought from them?

http://www.wootcomputers.com/daw/daw_core2.html

Specs seem fine, "only" about $500-600 overpriced .

Why not buy the parts and asemble your own?

[jello]

I am ready to press buy on these items, to get myself a Quad pc. So, will this work out fine, and will I need an extra firewire card?

Here is the components;

Mobo; ASUS Maximus Formula X38 Socket 775 DDR2, SATA, ATX, GbLAN, 2x PCIe 2.0 16x
Harddrive; Seagate 320GB S-ATA II NCQ 7200RPM Barracuda 7200.10 16MB cache
Ram; Mushkin DDR2 4GB extreme Performance XP2-8500 2x2048MB 1066MHz. (5.5.5.12)
Lcd; ASUS 22"W LCD 2MS 300CD 1680x1050, 2000:1, DVI-D+VGA
Cpu/fan; Zalman CPU Vifte CNPS9700LED
Keys; Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave
Lcd card; ASUS GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 Silent Tv-Out, 2xDVI-I, HDTV, HDCP, PCI-Express
dvd; Samsung DVD SH-S202N LightScribe IDE, bulk SH-S202N/RSMN
paste; Arctic Silver 5
Tower; Antec Performance One P182 Gun Metal ATX miditower u/PSU
Psu; MIST, 600W, Rev.3
cpu; Q6600 Go

Its my first build, so any feedback is Good feedback!!!

I have ordered the stuff, just switced out the cordles mouse/keyboard with ordinary keys/mouse, and went for an intel Q9450 instead, they didn`t have the desired hardisk size-so I bought one 250 gig and one 750 gig (I think I will be fine with this:).

The reason why I write this is that maximus formula has EPU (Energy Processing Unit), I am worried if this feature will work with protools le.

Anybody using an asus board with epu?

[mykhal c]

I have ordered the stuff, just switced out the cordles mouse/keyboard with ordinary keys/mouse, and went for an intel Q9450 instead, they didn`t have the desired hardisk size-so I bought one 250 gig and one 750 gig (I think I will be fine with this:).

The reason why I write this is that maximus formula has EPU (Energy Processing Unit), I am worried if this feature will work with protools le.

Anybody using an asus board with epu?

all i can say is that i think you will luv your new rig!!! 3 other successful builds usin' the ASUS MAXIMUS FORMULA!!! i think i have at least 1 posted on page 1. that 1333 FSB on the mobo and Q9450 along with the larger cache is gonna have you smilin' every time you fire of PTLE!!! very nice choices IMHO!! and none of the other builders ever mentioned the EPU bein' a problem. happy builin'!!!!

[pihahiroth]

What if I use an MBOX 2 Pro with DDR3 ???.. Would be any problem there??

[Braveheart]

Thanks again for all the help. Built, booted, up and running.

Braveheart 248 Dverbs 24 48 1024 on a Q6600 ASUS P5K DELUXE/WIFI, 4GB G. Skill DDR2 1066, GeForce 7300GT 256MB, Segate Barracuda 500GB internal SATA sys drive, Glyph 250GB FW extrernal audio drive, PTLe 7.4 003 Rack.

Hoping this weekends practice will all go to disk without nasty DAE messages.

[Tracy Lowery]

Hey Guys, Well I guess its that time again as you can in my config below I am still using the trusty 001 and Asus K8v, I want to build a new rig that will be ready for the 002 or 003 but I will still be using the 001 for a while.(Or Maybe Not!!!)I have been reading here for a few weeks and have a couple of questions and concerns. Here is the system specs that I am considering to purchase. Keeping in mind I would like to purchase the latest and the greatest but I also don't want to go with a rig that has not been put to the test as far as compatibility goes. Stability is my main concern. I see that these specs have been around for while so I just want to be up to date at least for a while. THANKS SO MUCH FOR ANY INPUT YOU MAY HAVE...

SPECS!

ASUS P5K DELUXE/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model
ZALMAN CNPS7700-CU 120mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan. OR THIS ONE!!!Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro cpu fan
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1066. OR THIS ONE!!!! G.Skill DDR2 800 Ram 4GB (2x2GB) Timings:5-5-5-15.
ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA.


QUESTIONS!!

*How do I make sure I have the correct stepping when I order the Q6600? (i.e. the G0 stepping.)

*DDR2 1066- Vs - DDR2 800

*ZALMAN CNPS7700-CU 120mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan- Vs - Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro cpu fan





Thanks, Tracy


Digi 001 - WinXP PRO - PT V. 6.4
Asus K8V SE Deluxe
Corsair - 2 x 1 gig
CPU AMD 64 3400+ ATHLON 64
CPU FAN A/I ZALMAN CNPS7000A-CU RT
Western Digital 80 gig - System
Western Digital 80 gig - Audio
Western Digital Firewire 250 gig - Storage
MNTR SMSNG|19"LCD 193P-Silver x 2
Apogee Rosetta 800 - via lightpipe into 001
Apogee Big Ben M. Clock
Bechmark DAC1 - via Spdif out 001
Great River MP-2NV - Preamp
Distressor EL8-x 2
Presonus Digimax - Preamp

[SixChurchStreet]

*How do I make sure I have the correct stepping when I order the Q6600? (i.e. the G0 stepping.)
I think most of them shipping out of NewEgg right now are G0. There's no way to really tell I guess unless you call your vendor(NewEgg or whoever you buy from) and ask them outright what they are shipping out. I just bought one last week and it's G0.

*DDR2 1066- Vs - DDR2 800
Either will work fine. I happen to be using the exact DDR2 800 G.Skill Ram you mentioned (2x2GB 5-5-5-15)), and everything is working great. The 1066 will give you some performance increase, but will cost you a little more money. Personally, I have the Q6600 overclocked to 3GHz easy (just upped the FSB to 333, all voltages on Auto) with no problems at all. And I get 278 D-Verbs with this setup. If it's in your budget, I'd say just go with the 1066. Personally, I had a budget for my upgrade, and hit the ceiling on it, so I had to go with the 800 RAM. I don't regret it though. My system is pretty sweet.

*ZALMAN CNPS7700-CU 120mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan- Vs - Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro cpu fan
I'm using the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro, lot of other people on here do too. I went with this primarily because it's not quite as tall as the Zalman or the Tuniq Tower. I have a full size case, but it's not extra wide. I just wanted to avoid any problems. I like the AC Freezer a lot.
You might get a few more degrees cooling out of the Tuniq Tower or Zalman, but make double sure you have the room for them in your case. The height in mm of all of them is listed in the NewEgg specs.

As far as using the 001, I'm pretty sure you are going to have to shut off the multiple cores, as the 001 can't use them, and I think a lot of people had reported problems. If you do need to do that, you're losing all your horsepower. I upgraded from the 001 earlier this year and went over to M-Powered with an 1814 interface and I'm very happy. My advice is if you're going to do the upgrade, just jump right in and get that 002 or 003. You'll be psyched at how much horsepower you have compared to the 001 days.

edited at 12:34EST, made some minor additions, spelling corrections, etc.

[soundguy_2000]

i'm not sure if this is motherboard version or BIOS related but i had to RMA my P5K Pro as the on board firewire was defective and the new board drops me from 254 dverbs to 246 with the exact same settings. not a huge hit, i know, around 3.1%, but i'd love to know if it's the actual board or BIOS.

original BIOS was 0501, board revision 1.02b and the new board is BIOS 1001 rev. 1.08c.

physically, they appear identical but...

[SixChurchStreet]

i'm not sure if this is motherboard version or BIOS related but i had to RMA my P5K Pro as the on board firewire was defective and the new board drops me from 254 dverbs to 246 with the exact same settings. not a huge hit, i know, around 3.1%, but i'd love to know if it's the actual board or BIOS.

original BIOS was 0501, board revision 1.02b and the new board is BIOS 1001 rev. 1.08c.

physically, they appear identical but...

What exactly was wrong with your firewire.

In many cases you'll find the VIA firewire chipset that's onboard the P5K series board is incompatible with Digi and M-Audio firewire interfaces. I got crackly audio when trying to record and sometimes on playback, yet everything worked fine on my old A8N-SLI board that had a Texas Instruments firewire chipset. Try one of the Digi approved cards and see if you're firewire issues go away.

[Tracy Lowery]

*How do I make sure I have the correct stepping when I order the Q6600? (i.e. the G0 stepping.)
I think most of them shipping out of NewEgg right now are G0. There's no way to really tell I guess unless you call your vendor(NewEgg or whoever you buy from) and ask them outright what they are shipping out. I just bought one last week and it's G0.

*DDR2 1066- Vs - DDR2 800
Either will work fine. I happen to be using the exact DDR2 800 G.Skill Ram you mentioned (2x2GB 5-5-5-15)), and everything is working great. The 1066 will give you some performance increase, but will cost you a little more money. Personally, I have the Q6600 overclocked to 3GHz easy (just upped the FSB to 333, all voltages on Auto) with no problems at all. And I get 278 D-Verbs with this setup. If it's in your budget, I'd say just go with the 1066. Personally, I had a budget for my upgrade, and hit the ceiling on it, so I had to go with the 800 RAM. I don't regret it though. My system is pretty sweet.

*ZALMAN CNPS7700-CU 120mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan- Vs - Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro cpu fan
I'm using the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro, lot of other people on here do too. I went with this primarily because it's not quite as tall as the Zalman or the Tuniq Tower. I have a full size case, but it's not extra wide. I just wanted to avoid any problems. I like the AC Freezer a lot.
You might get a few more degrees cooling out of the Tuniq Tower or Zalman, but make double sure you have the room for them in your case. The height in mm of all of them is listed in the NewEgg specs.

As far as using the 001, I'm pretty sure you are going to have to shut off the multiple cores, as the 001 can't use them, and I think a lot of people had reported problems. If you do need to do that, you're losing all your horsepower. I upgraded from the 001 earlier this year and went over to M-Powered with an 1814 interface and I'm very happy. My advice is if you're going to do the upgrade, just jump right in and get that 002 or 003. You'll be psyched at how much horsepower you have compared to the 001 days.

edited at 12:34EST, made some minor additions, spelling corrections, etc.

Hi, Thanks so much for the info, as far as the memory goes.... should I get Corsair XMS 1066 or G.Skill 1066. Should I get 2 x 2gig or 4 x 1gig. Getting ready to place the order.

Thanks so much, Tracy Lowery