veritas88

Here's a link to my original thread from a little over a month ago:
Gaming Computer Parts List - Want Feedback

I wanted to update on what I have done, how it all worked out for me, what I still plan to do, as well as get a few questions/concerns I have answered. I really appreciated all the help I got last time, which is why I came right back when I wanted some additional input from other gamers/techies.

My old PC setup looked like this:
Mobo: Intel DP35DP
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad-Core 2.4GHz (Q6600)
PSU: NSpire PSH650V
RAM: 2x1GB Kingston DDR2 800
HDD: 2x120GB Western Digital Caviar SATA 8MB Cache (RAID0)
Video Card: EVGA 8800GT
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS

OS: Windows Vista Business (64-bit)
Case: Thermaltake Tsunami Dream
Monitor: 19" Neovo LCD / 17" Optiquest CRT

The setup I have now looks like this:
Mobo: Intel DP35DP
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad-Core 2.4GHz (Q6600)
PSU: NSpire PSH650V
RAM: 2x2GB OCZ Platinum DDR2 800
HDD: 2x500GB Western Digital Caviar Black SATA 32MB Cache (RAID0)
Video Card: EVGA 8800GT
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS

OS: Windows XP Professional (64-bit)
Case: Antec P182
Monitor: 24" Acer P243WAid

It was totally worth the upgrade IMO; there is a noticable increase in performance, the case is dead sexy, loaded with extra features, and is whisper quiet with ZERO desk vibrations, and the monitor makes everything look 100x better... It's beautiful.

My future upgrades (in order of priority):
1) Power Supply (I won't be able to overclock without more power)
2) CPU Cooler (I don't want to fry my CPU when I OC)
3) Sound Card (See below for my reasoning)
4) CD Burner (I like the idea of not having any ribbon cables blocking my case airflow, they seem faster and quieter IMO, plus it's cheap)

Several questions/concerns I have:
1) Would this PSU do the job? (I only ask because I might be able to get it at no cost to me)

2) Sound cards increase performance by taking load of the CPU... Would a higher-end card like the sound card I specified earlier do a better job than an older card like my Audigy 2 ZS? Would I notice significantly (keyword) better sound quality/performance in games?

3) Does anyone know if that CPU cooler will even fit in my case? It looks too big, but if anyone has it installed in the same case as I have, please let me know. I may just take some measurements and hope I do the math right.

4) Is all my hardware rated for overclocking to 3GHz, and would you recommend I do so? I really don't want to destroy anything because of one weak link in my system.

5) This was stickied under the PC Gaming Support Forum: Optimising Your System For Games (VERY helpful) Anyway, I was wondering about virtual RAM. Is there a limit to how much virtual RAM I can (or should) use. I ask because I have 1TB worth of HDD space, and probably won't every need any more than like half of that, so is there any reason I can't (or shouldn't) dedicate like 50GB to virtual RAM? Would it actually improve my performance, or would it basically be wasting space after a certain point? I think I currently have it configured at around 8-10GB of virtual RAM.

Thanks in advance for any help.

PS: if anyone is considering buying any of the items I recently purchased, I would be happy to tell you in detail what you can expect to get for your hard earned money. Send me a private message and I'll try to keep an eye out for them.

linderman

your intended psu is a good choice ............... the cpu cooler is a good one and yes it will fit in the antec P182

veritas88

Thank you for the help linderman. Can you answer any more of my questions?

1) Would this PSU do the job? (I only ask because I might be able to get it at no cost to me)

2) Sound cards increase performance by taking load of the CPU... Would a higher-end card like the sound card I specified earlier do a better job than an older card like my Audigy 2 ZS? Would I notice significantly (keyword) better sound quality/performance in games?

3) (SOLVED) Does anyone know if that CPU cooler will even fit in my case? It looks too big, but if anyone has it installed in the same case as I have, please let me know. I may just take some measurements and hope I do the math right.

4) Is all my hardware rated for overclocking to 3GHz, and would you recommend I do so? I really don't want to destroy anything because of one weak link in my system.

5) This was stickied under the PC Gaming Support Forum: Optimising Your System For Games (VERY helpful) Anyway, I was wondering about virtual RAM. Is there a limit to how much virtual RAM I can (or should) use. I ask because I have 1TB worth of HDD space, and probably won't every need any more than like half of that, so is there any reason I can't (or shouldn't) dedicate like 50GB to virtual RAM? Would it actually improve my performance, or would it basically be wasting space after a certain point? I think I currently have it configured at around 8-10GB of virtual RAM.

linderman

Personally I have always been content with onboard sound .......... but some prefer dedicated sound cards........but I dont see any of them making a big improvement over the sound card model you listed (audigy)

#5 : sorry I dont mess with that stuff much ........... if you ask in the gaming forum I am sure you will get a "how to response"

linderman

once you are done with your upgrade plans ........ the system should have no trouble getting to 3.0 ghz

veritas88

Sorry, I guess I forgot that this is almost exclusively a hardware forum...

It looks like the aftermarket CPU cooler only drops temperatures by a couple degrees? Plus I've been told that it is a pain to install, and may not even fit certain mobos? Then there's the whole debate about thermal grease and whether or not it even significantly helps to dissipate heat at all?

All in all it looks like I would spend upwards of $50-$60, and my CPU would run maybe 5C cooler than just keeping the stock heatsink/fan? Any thoughts?

Please ignore my off-topic questions about overclocking for now. I'll post them in the correct forum later...

grimx133

What debate on thermal paste?????

1 - Mount a heatsink without paste or a pad between that and the cpu.
2 - Turn on computer.
3 - Debate over.

linderman

I agree with Grimm ............... try running without the thermal grease and you will soon learn there is no debate ...................

same with the aftermarket cooler ...................... they would not have enjoyed such wide spread success if they lacked substantial merit .............

linderman

the Q6600 overclocked is a whole diff beast compared to stock speed ................... anybody that tells you diff ........... is blowin smoke

veritas88

That's what I like to hear! lol

A little while ago I was trying to figure out what particular processor I was working on, and I wiped the thermal grease off of it. There was still some left on the heatsink, which probably made all the difference, but I didn't notice any change (overheating, crashing, etc.)

Anyway, what do you recommend? I've heard mostly good things about Arctic Silver 5, but does it really make much of a difference as opposed to some ordinary stuff?

Well then, I guess I really have to overclock my system now...
First overclock... I'm going to need help

linderman

I like artic silver 5 ............. it doesnt dry out as fast as some of the others