New Build: Back to Core 2 Duo

[NickS]

I know, I know, the third Core 2 Duo rig I've had. It just goes to show how awesome it is. Had an E6300, went back to AMD in favor of getting an LCD for my PC. Saved up, went C2D again with a Xeon 3060. Sold that rig for a 32" HDTV, and now that I've got a job I've recouped the money relatively quickly and now I purchased another C2D setup.

So, the parts list!

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 "Wolfdale"

--I didn't want to shell out for an E8400, and for $129? You can't beat it! 3MB L2, 1066MHz FSB, 45nm, etc. PLUS, they usually do 4GHz air just like all the other Wolfdales.

Mobo: MSI P45 Neo3-FR

--$119.99, has copper heatpipes and heatsinks, a good layout and since my MSI P35 Neo2-FR was such a pleasent experience, I decided to go with this one too.

RAM: G.Skill "4GBPQ" PC2-8000

--I had the same RAM before but PC2-6400, same chips though just binned differently. G.Skill is my favorite RAM manufacturer, so, werd.

HDD: Western Digital 320GB "WD3200AAKS"

--Single platter fastashell 320GB SATAII drive. Reliable, cheap, quiet. This, combined with my 500GB external HDD should provide more than enough storage space. This is replacing my 80GB Seagate 7200.10 internal drive.

Case: CoolerMaster CM590

--Basically a more simple, elegant, "conservative" CM690. Had the CM690, loved it apart from the HDD racks and all the plastic. This I should like even more. The uh-oh part is that it is a good W/C case, but I can't go water again. Air cooling is just too good and every time I go water I end up selling it some time down the road rofl.

Keeping the Enermax Liberty 500w, of course. Things a champ. Got a Sapphire 3870 512MB Toxic 3 weeks ago, using that as well. Should be a well rounded gaming rig. Mabye I'll throw a Yorkfield and a 4850 in it someday.

 

[Rastalovich]

Sounds good, need to have some gratuitous pictures of the boxed goods when they arrive of course.

 

[JN]

Sounds good, need to have some gratuitous pictures of the boxed goods when they arrive of course.

QFT. I never actually learned how to read so pictures are a must tbh

 

[ionicle]

yeah, gotta have some hardware pr0n

looking to be a goodish spec though

 

[NickS]

Thanks guys. Got the case already, but that's the boring part! All the rest of the parts are coming next week.

 

[Rastalovich]

Thanks guys. Got the case already, but that's the boring part! All the rest of the parts are coming next week.

Ah man, if they`re all bought from the same place - that`s just cruelty. Some stores just don`t understand.

 

[Acid90]

Any pictures of the CM590? I love my 690!

 

[NickS]

Ah man, if they`re all bought from the same place - that`s just cruelty. Some stores just don`t understand.

I got the case from Buy.com, got the Mobo & CPU from Mwave and I got the HDD & RAM from ChiefValue.. but I know what you mean when you order it all from one place and the stuff comes @ different times.

Any pictures of the CM590? I love my 690!

Just this picture for now. I had a CM690 before as well with dual wc loops (mcr220/fuzion/50z & bix2/fuzion gfx/mcp655), I liked it, but I think I like this case more.

Got these fans from a local shop, Red Barn Computers. Me and my buddy drove over and he gets employee discount because he used to work there - scored two "dual packs" of Coolermaster Blue LED fans (41CFM/19.2dBa) and a Zalman 120MM (not pictured) for $25 incl. tax.

Oh and theres my (new) legendary Craftsman 4-in-1 screwdriver. My old one, which was originally my dads given to me was almost as old as me. I drove over to sears because it had developed a crack in the handle (dropping it on a concrete floor is bad). Got a brand new one for free, exchanged, no questions asked. Sears is win. All their tools are made here in America and they have a unlimited lifetime warranty.

 

[NickS]

Got the stuff!

Using a cooler from a Q6600.

LOTS of adjustability here. CPU vCore steps in 0.0125v jumps! vDimm is even more precise, it's ridiculous.

I installed Vista Home Prem. X64, most of my programs, games, all updates, etc at 3.6GHz 1.31v vCore on a Stock HS/F

Temps according to coretemp are ~49-52c idle on both cores, and with Orthos it loads at ~77c. No apps or games make it hit nearly as high as orthos, though. I'm going to order a heatsink in a week or two here.

But yep, that's the rig!

 

[ionicle]

looking good

 

[Orion]

nice man. good looking case, tasteful. im not mad at your proc choice either. most games out today just arent optimized for more than 1 or 2 cores, and so it seems that clock speed is still the best way to increase real world performance. dig it.

 

[Socks]

nice build, may i ask, why msi mobo??

 

[NickS]

Always loved MSI boards and they always clock GREAT for me.

 

[Acid90]

Looks abit hot under load but I guess its good for a stock cooler, get it on water or high end HSF and you'll be singing mate. Good job!

 

[haofeng]

pretty nice o/c, and although its a stock hsf, all those fans do move quite a lot of air. but i guess getting higher than 70 is pretty dangerous.