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Core 2 Duo and SLI

Discussion in 'Techno-Magic' started by Faraaz, Nov 4, 2006.

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  1. Faraaz Gems: 26/31
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    Remove all ads!
    Yeah...but I could render a Pixar movie on that rig, couldn't I?? Real-life sucks... :( Why do these gfx cards have to cost money??

    Ontopic: Guys, I've had a look at the prices for E6300, E6400 and E6600 Core 2 Duo CPUs retailing in India at the moment and these are their respective prices:

    E6300 C2D 1.86 GHz - 195.121 USD
    E6400 C2D 2.13 GHz - 260.454 USD
    E6600 C2D 2.40 GHz - 361.512 USD

    I've also had a look at the prices for RAM and I've come up with these:

    1 GB DDR RAM 400 Mhz - 134.726 USD
    1 GB DDR2 533 MHz - 123.499 USD
    1 GB DDR2 677 MHz RAM - 163.916 USD

    I'm tempted to go with the cheaper DDR2 533 MHz option...if only to save $80 (2 GB remember?) but I dunno...is it worth spending an extra 80$ to get that 140 MHz boost to RAM speed? And I'm guessing I should be buying DDR2 RAM??

    Okay, assuming I go with the E6600 and DDR2 533 MHz option, that's 690 dollars or so already...I still need to get a motherboard, HDD, Optical drive, power supply, cabinet and graphics card...

    The problem with the dealer I'm getting these parts from is that the best graphics card he stocks is the ASUS - 256 MB GEFORCE FX 6600...not too good I know. I'll probably pick up the graphics card later whenever the GeForce 8800 comes out in India but for now, I'd appreciate it if you could comment on the stuff I have mentioned so far.

    Also, can you tell me what motherboard type I should be looking at to go with my CPU? Only..its all abbreviations and I have no idea what they mean so I'm just a bit dazed looking at their options online...

    [ November 10, 2006, 00:51: Message edited by: Faraaz ]
     
    Faraaz, Nov 10, 2006
    #21
  2. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Yes, you must buy DDR2 RAM, and from the benchmarks I've seen, DDR2 533 is about the same and in some cases better than DDR2 667 for the Core 2 Duo (because the FSB is 1066 MHz).

    The newest Intel chipset for the Core2 Duo is the P965, but they don't support SLI, so if that's important to you , you'd need to get a NVidia chipset-based motherboard. The socket is LGA775.
     
    Blackthorne TA, Nov 10, 2006
    #22

  3. Faraaz Gems: 26/31
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    Okay, the maximum power unit these guys stock is a 500 W SMPS unit. Is this enough to run an SLI setup with a Core 2 Duo?? I'm looking at worst case scenario here.

    The test system for the GeForce 8800 was running a 750 W SMPS...but then again, they had 4 GB DDR2 RAM... :rolleyes:

    Okay, the motherboard options for C2D in stock are as follows:

    * ASUS P5LD2 - VM SE

    ASUS P5LD2 - VM Intel 945G Chipset Socket 775 MicroATX Motherboard / Integrated Graphics / PCI - Express Sloat / 1066 MHz FSB / 533-667 DDR2 / SATA / 10/100/1000 LAN / 6 Channel Audio - (For Pentium IV, Pentium D and Core 2 Duo Processors - 3 Years Limited Warranty)
    Price : 109.111 USD

    * INTEL DG965 RY

    Intel DG965RY Socket 775 MicroATX Motherboard / Integrated Graphics / 1066 MHz FSB / 800-667-533 DDR2 / SATA / 10/100/1000 LAN / IEEE 1394a / Audio - (For Pentium D and Core 2 Duo Processors - 3 Years Limited Warranty)
    Price : 148.481 USD

    I have no idea what half of all that jargon means. Furthermore, IIRC Micro-ATX is a smaller sized cabinet and motherboard right?? Will this be adequate to house a possible SLI set up?? And how do I find out how many PCI-E slots these things have?
     
    Faraaz, Nov 10, 2006
    #23
  4. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    From the specs I've seen, you need a 500 W power supply minimum for one 8800. It is the processor and video card(s) that will require the most power.

    Ideally, neither of those motherboards are what you want, but they should do if that's all you have to choose from.

    Both of them are Intel chipsets, so no SLI. They both have the onboard graphics chipset too which you don't want. They're microATX so they don't have many expansion slots (maybe doesn't matter), and the ASUS board has the older Intel 945 chipset.
     
    Blackthorne TA, Nov 10, 2006
    #24

  5. Faraaz Gems: 26/31
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    Could you recommend something for me then?? If I know exactly what I want, I can have my dealer source them for me, albeit with a slight premium. Its just that I have no idea about chipsets and stuff when it comes to mobos so I was just trying to choose from what he has already.

    Again, your assistance is much appreciated BTA! :)
     
    Faraaz, Nov 10, 2006
    #25
  6. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Well, somebody else may want to chime in since you want SLI and I never looked at NVidia chipset motherboards, but here are a couple that look good:

    Asus P5N32-SLI Premium/WiFi-AP is a full featured board that includes two PCIe x16 slots for SLI, dual gigabit LAN, SATA and even a wireless access point. NVidia nForce 590 SLI chipset.

    EVGA 122-CK-NF68 is one of the first boards with the new NVidia nForce 680i SLI chipsets. Two PCIe x16 slots for SLI, dual gigabit LAN and SATA.

    Asus has a good reputation, I'm not sure about EVGA and motherboards.
     
    Blackthorne TA, Nov 10, 2006
    #26

  7. Faraaz Gems: 26/31
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    Hmm...P5N32 looks alright...not too expensive either. Nice...now if only I could find out how much the G80 retails for... :hahaerr:
     
    Faraaz, Nov 10, 2006
    #27
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