Quad PC build: opinions /suggestions ?

[VanDerGraf]

I am going to take the plunge and build a new box for my Digi002. Appreciate any suggestions or opinions about my choices. They are mostly from the Quadzilla thread, but I thought I would post to see if I missed anything or if there are updates:

1 ASUS P5K DELUXE/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard

1 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Yorkfield 2.5GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80580Q9300

1 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

1 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3500630AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

1 Sony NEC Optiarc 20X DVD±R Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model AD-7201S-0B

1 CORSAIR XMS2 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit

1 Antec NeoPower 650 Blue 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply

1 EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP
Ready SLI Supported Video Card

1 Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Grand Total: $1,214.00



I am keeping my current monitor, an NEC 24" flat panel, as well as the mouse & keyboard.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Van

[sunburst79]

I'm running a the same board with a Q9450. Its a tossup as to whether the Q9300 or Q6600 is better with PT. If you build one we might find out.

If you can I would get some DDR2 1066 memory with Timings of 5-5-5-15 this should give you a performance bump over the DDR2800 at little or no cost.

That 512MB Video card is going to drop your system memory down to 3GB. You might want to get a 256 or 128MB card witch will give 3.25 to 3.5 GB of memory. Put the money saved towards a Q9450 or the DDR2 1066.

But everything have listed should work just fine with PT.

[albee1952]

Just my 2 cents but I would go with a much smaller system drive(like 160gig) and then a 500 gig as a 3rd drive for samples and backup images. I would also consider another 160gig and keeping it cloned from your main C: drive(keep it in a USB2 case or use one of those USB-SATA cable adapters for fast hookup) so you always have a working backup in case of a crash or some other corruption of your C: drive(stranger stuff has happened). I clone my system drive every few months or so(when it has been working smoothly) so I always have the last-known solid setup(real handy when you do software updates too as you can swap drives and be back to work in minutes if anything goes awry). Consider one or two drive cage setups like this for your system drive.

[VanDerGraf]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I appreciate it. I haven't been on these boards much lately, so I'm kind of out-of-the-loop. I'll let you guys know how this goes when I do it in about a week.

Van