New build!

So I'm looking for suggestions for my third PC build. I'm looking to upgrade from a system centered on a AMD athlon xp dual 2.1ghz and a Asus A8N SLI Premium(just to give you an idea of what I'm expecting to jump from).


I've got the case, monitor and one 80GB raptor covered. I'm looking for one more storage drive, RAM, video card, and most importantly the CPU/Motherboard. I'm at a complete loss on the last two components, and I want to make sure I get the best value (I'm stingy :-D)


Please list a couple options for me (especially in regards to CPU/Mobo/Ram) and hopefully I can get some kind of solid idea of what I want. Thanks a lot guys.

 

Without a stated budget, or the intended purpose of this machine, you might as well be asking for advice on fishing poles.

 

I am in the process of building a new PC.

Mobo ABIT IX38 GT3
CPU intel duo2 Q6700
GPU nvida GTX260
HDD 1X40gb 1X300gb
RAM 2Xddr3 4gb
CD player and DVD read/write

PSU is 700 watts

This does not come cheap but you will have to pay for performance.
Hopefully it will be up and running in the next couple of days.

 

My bad, I was certain that I had posted my budget which is $1200-1300. I plan to use it mostly for gaming.

 

Well there are many fine CPUs to choose from with that budget, and since budget permits, I would go Intel.

For beginners (and experienced too) I recommend you check out MWave's "Motherboard Bundles" Wizard. This is a great research tool as it allows you to pick a motherboard, then the Wizard will offer a big list of CPUs and RAM that MWave has already determined are compatible with that motherboard. Or, you can start with a CPU and the wizard will list a bunch of motherboards and RAM options that will support that CPU. This is a great research tool you can use even if you buy elsewhere (although their prices are fairly competitive once you factor in shipping - if you live in the US). However, for only $10 more, MWave will mount the CPU and RAM on the motherboard AND test them. So not only do you know from the Wizard that your components work together, you know from the testing your specific parts will not be DOA - a nice warm fuzzy for only $10.

 

Ok I think I've got the CPU narrowed down to an I7 920, but now I have another question:

My current GPU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130380

has been discontinued. Can I buy any other brand 9800 GT and go for SLI or does it have to be that exact make and model? I was thinking it might save me money but I could also get a new GPU and gift the 9800GT to someone else. Thoughts please?

 

Any brand will work - in theory.

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=ODY5

 

I have looked every where for a I/O shield for a Gateway ms-7248 Motherboard I have come up against a brick wall. Can anyone tell me where I may be able to locate one. This is a BTX board. You can go to pcpartsohio.com and look at. I tried them and they have none in stock. Thanks if you can help.

 

EVGA LGA 1366 Intel X58 mobo
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5
PC Power & Cooling 860W ATX12V
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB DDR3 1866

My new build is complete, but I'm having a problem with the CPU temp being mis-reported. All my fans are spinning (bit loud actually) and my idle temps are:
HDD: 24C
VGA: 46C
CPU: 84C

I'm certain the CPU reading is incorrect because the radiator fins are cool to the touch and the rest of my case is pretty cool. Also the temp never budges from this number even when I increase or decrease the fan speed. Any guesses as to what went wrong there? My motherboard has a built in LED for CPU temp and that also is reporting 84C. Help please?

 

The fact the fans are spinning fast too is not good. How are you measuring these temps? Your motherboard utilities disk should have a monitoring program (or check for a more recent version on your motherboard or PC maker's website). If none, I recommend CoreTemp for newer Intel and AMD64 CPUs. SpeedFan is a great and popular alternative, or you can try Motherboard Monitor. Unfortunately, I have found that these programs often have problems properly identifying and labeling the sensor they are reading. The temperatures shown are as accurate as the inexpensive, low-tech sensors will allow, but it may say System Fan instead of CPU Fan. Fortunately, the programs do allow you to edit the labels, so I use Everest to verify the temperatures (as it is able to put sensor to label correctly), then edit the label in the monitoring program. In Everest, look under Computer > Sensor, then wait a couple seconds for the readings to appear. Unfortunately, Everest does not minimize to the system tray to show real-time temperatures, otherwise, you could use Everest instead of the others.

Did you use TIM?

Also, make sure you have good front-to-back air flow.

 

Thanks for the reply, I'll give Everest a try too although I've already tested with Coretemp and Speedfan. I may have been reckless but I was convinced that everything was adequately cool so I left it on overnight downloading updates and nothing caught on fire so THAT's good. When I get home from work tonight I'll try reseating the CPU cooler just in case but i used a real minimal amount of Arctic SIlver 5 so that shouldn't be the issue. And finally, I think I've got a pretty strong airflow running through (2 fans up front pulling air in, one on the top sucking out, one in back also drawing out, and one on the side blowing at the VGA (should I try reversing this one?)

I'll get back to you tonight with results. Thanks.

 

Everest is a good program to keep on hand, but if Coretemp and speedfan show the same results, so too will Everest. Everest is just better at putting the right label with the right sensor.

I would not reverse it, but I might try disconnecting it and see if it makes a difference. You want "flow" through and not turbulence - the side fan may be affecting that. However, I don't think that would make any significant difference.

If that TIM has been through several heat and cool cycles, then you will need to remove the old, clean the mating surfaces, and apply a fresh new layer.

If you are overclocking, don't until this is resolved.

 

So I just got home and cleaned both the chip and the cooler and reapplied TIM correctly following Arctic Silver's website across all four cores and got it reseated (the stock cooler on the i7's sucks in my opinion, feels shoddily made) but it's still reporting my CPU as 84celsius. This may be a bad idea but I'm going to try putting some load on it and see if the cooler heats up noticeably because right now the radiator fins are room temp.

This is driving me nuts because everything seems to be running great but I haven't been able to use my new build for anything but getting tech support for it Any other guesses? Google still isn't returning any similar problems as far as I can tell.

 

It is not a bad idea if you are watching carefully. It would only take a few seconds of intense use to start the temp rising. If it does not move, you are not monitoring the CPU.

 

Yeah, just as I started to suspect last night, it was that my CPU cooler (stock intel, I hate it) wasn't actually making contact with the chip because the plastic locking pins weren't going all the way through my Mobo. I took everything out and installed the CPU cooler correctly by pulling the pins through manually with a pair of hemostats. Rerouted my cables a third time (getting good at this!) made a few other minor improvements. Now my temps are detected as 33C @ idle (Speedfan) and 50-45@idle by Coretemp. Haven't tried Everest again as it was crashing before (although probably related to my temps being so high hehe) Thanks for bearing with me thus far, but as always, now I have a new problem.


Every so often I'm getting a msg
Windows - Delayed Write Failed : Windows was unable to save all the data for the file G:\$Mf


I'm pretty sure it's related to my secondary HD (650 WD storage) and it's not causing problems yet but I'd like to fix it. I've read a few solutions but I trust you guys more. Save me!

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330174