Looking to upgrade/replace my PC, could use some input

[ifander]

Hello!

It feels like it's time to replace my PC, it's been kinda slow lately and I get bluescreens in most new games, even after replacing the gfx card (I'm pretty sure it's the mobo). This time I'm going to try to get a PC that'll last me for a couple of years, but since my salary isn't all that great I'm going to upgrade on a monthly basis, starting with the CPU/mobo/RAM.

So, I was thinking of getting these parts next month:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
- I'm pretty set on this perticular CPU, I don't mind the lower frequency, i can always overclock it.

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-P35-DQ6, DDR2
- Here I'm looking for a good overclocker, with lots of SATA ports, IEEE1394 and (preferably) dual Ethernet ports (which this one lacks unfortunately). I'd like it to be silent too (no annoying chipset fans). I'm not sure if I should go with DDR3 or DDR2, DDR3 feels kind of unnecessary at the moment, unless you've got tons of cash to spend. I'd rather go with 2 GiB of DDR2 1066 Mhz RAM.
I'm pretty flexible on the motherboard choice, preferably something in the same price range or lower.

RAM: Corsair Dominator 2048MB DDR2 XMS2-8500 (TWIN2X2048-8500C5D)
- I'd like it to be a decent overclocker, i.e. it doesn't have to be the best stuff (I'm not that great an overclocker myself). But I'm not quite sure what to get, these sticks weren't too expensive and seemed to have decent timings so I picked them. An alternative would be a pair of 1 GiB Mushkin sticks (5-5-4-12 timings, slightly better than the Corsair sticks, similar price).

So, that's it for now. Will my 580W Hiper Type-R PSU be able to power this (20A and 18A on the two 12V rails respectively)? If not, any tips? I'll probably be getting a new PSU before Christmas, when I plan to get an HD2900XT graphics card, along with a new case, so if the PSU is enough for this upgrade and an X800 gfx card, then I won't have to get it now.

As always, any input would be nice :D.

[PorscheGuy997@yahoo.com]

If you are going quad, make sure it is a G0 stepping model. These overclock better and run at cooler temps.

The P35 boards are turning out to be pretty good (should have gotten that instead of my 650i). But, I can't tell you which one is best.

When it comes to power supplies, I always go overboard. The Q6600 and 2900XT draw a lot of juice. Plus, overclocking will draw even more out of the psu.

Have you thought about a processor heatsink? The quad cores can get pretty toasty. My U-120 Extreme performs great, but there are plenty of good options out there.

[ifander]

OK, well, I was pretty much expecting having to buy a new PSU, the question is whether or not I can put that off until I get the HD2900XT (I can wait with the overclocking until then as well). The thing is that I want to start upgrading next month, and I can't get the CPU/mobo/RAM combo if I have to get a PSU at the same time. Am I pushing it trying to run the mentioned parts with a 580W PSU?

As for a heatsink, I've got a Zalman CNPS9500. Sadly, it's the AM2 model, so unless there's a bracket for 775 systems out, I'd have to get a new cooler... but that can wait too, the boxed cooler should suffice, at least until I get a better PSU and start overclocking.

I'm impatient, I know, but with TF2 ready to go and Windows crashing as soon as I run it (or any other Source game, as well as Darkstar One, to name a few) I'm anxious to get new parts.

[PorscheGuy997@yahoo.com]

If you don't overclock your Q6600 and keep the X800XL, you should probably be okay. I'm just speculating that there might be a strain on the PSU if you overclock and have the 2900XT.

The boxed cooler is fine for normal (not overclocked) use. It is especially important with the quad cores to get something substantial if you overclock, though. There are many good deals to be had on eBay.

[samtomjohn1]

As for a heatsink, I've got a Zalman CNPS9500. Sadly, it's the AM2 model, so unless there's a bracket for 775 systems out, I'd have to get a new cooler... but that can wait too, the boxed cooler should suffice, at least until I get a better PSU and start overclocking.

http://www.awd-it.com/scripts/prodVi...Cooling+System

af alook at this

Zalman good cooler though!!!
also let me know could i hook up more pipes to this 1 to put em on my graphics cards

[ifander]

OK, what about the mobo and RAM then? Are the ones I mentioned good choices?

[PorscheGuy997@yahoo.com]

The ram is fine - you shouldn't have any problems with that stuff!

For the motherboard, I would use the GA-P35C-DS3R chipset, but that is just me.

[ifander]

Will the GA-P35C-DS3R overclock as well as the DQ6 model? Lacking firewire is a minus in my book, so unless there's something to weigh it up (other than the lower price), I'm still set on the DQ6 model. Although it has support for DDR3, I feel that by the time an upgrade to DDR3 would become notably beneficial, I'd be looking at buying a new PC.
Oh, and do you have any tips on how to seed out the G0's from the B3's, short of calling the store and asking (if they're willing to say, that is)? I'm guessing the part# hasn't changed, but the TDP should be lower, right?

[casecutter]

I have a B3 stepping Quad and it is doing just fin @ 2.92Ghz @ 1.25V Vcore. Haven't tried or felt the need to push any harder yet.

[PorscheGuy997@yahoo.com]

WOW!!! 2.93ghz @ 1.25 is excellent.

My E6600 can hit 3.0ghz under stock voltage and 3.6ghz at 1.38. This is coming from a B2 processor, too.