Can you say Grrrr?

Just looking for some opinions. The goal is a powerful overclocking/gaming rig with no compromises as per the customer wants. They basically said under 5 grand and its good to go. Here's what I have so far:

CPU: QX6850
MOBO: ASUS Striker Extreme
RAM: OCZ Reaper DDR2 1066 2x1GB
VGA: 2 x EVGA 8800Ultra in SLI
PSU: PC P&C Silencer 750
Hdds: 1 x Raptor X 10k 150Gb and 1 x Hitachi Deskstar 1 TB
Case: Cooler Master Stacker 830 Evo
Cooling: Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme
OS: 64 Bit Vista Ultimate

Subtotal with various peripherals - $4700

Does anyone see anything that might not be compatible or could be upgraded to something significantly better? I will be personally overclocking it for the customer before it is given to them. The goal is daily 3.4+. personal goal is 3.8+

How about 8800Ultras?

Quote: Originally Posted by killert How about 8800Ultras?

The GTX's overclock to the same as Ultra anyways so its really like why bother.

I'll switch them if i cant think of anything else to upgrade.

Quote: Originally Posted by Supahobnobba The GTX's overclock to the same as Ultra anyways so its really like why bother. I'll switch them if i cant think of anything else to upgrade.

The Ultra uses a different core and memory, Which overclock higher

May as well go 4Gb of RAM with that budget

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Newegg.com - Patriot eXtreme Performance 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Two questions:

1. What's your deliverable time on this?

2. Why not make the jumpt to DDR3 (SLI requirement, perhaps?)

-godling

Quote: Originally Posted by killert The Ultra uses a different core and memory, Which overclock higher

Are you sure about that? do you have any links to back it up?

Not saying your wrong but i believe i read something different a little while ago...

Quote: Originally Posted by Dex May as well go 4Gb of RAM with that budget Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail Newegg.com - Patriot eXtreme Performance 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

The only reason im thinking against 4Gb is the fact it wont OC as high as 2x1's. Is that true or not?

Quote: Originally Posted by godling Two questions: 1. What's your deliverable time on this? 2. Why not make the jumpt to DDR3 (SLI requirement, perhaps?) -godling

1. needs to be done by the end of next week.

2. Got any suggestions? I'm not against it just not sure about it..

Quote: Originally Posted by Supahobnobba The only reason im thinking against 4Gb is the fact it wont OC as high as 2x1's. Is that true or not?

I wouldnt say that.. I have 4x1GB Corsair XMS DDR 800 running at DDR 1066 ... Also put a healthy 800Mhz OC on my E6600 which is on air and running cool

Quote: Originally Posted by Supahobnobba The only reason im thinking against 4Gb is the fact it wont OC as high as 2x1's. Is that true or not?

Depends 4 gigs on that striker is a bitch though. You might want to just get 2x 2gig sticks.

Quote: Originally Posted by Supahobnobba Are you sure about that? do you have any links to back it up? Not saying your wrong but i believe i read something different a little while ago...

Ultras have new memory on them that are faster and overclock much better. Also different core for better clocks as well. If you dont believe me PM me and I will give you my sources. I work for an nvidia partner.

Quote: Originally Posted by Cpt.Planet Ultras have new memory on them that are faster and overclock much better. Also different core for better clocks as well. If you dont believe me PM me and I will give you my sources.

Or you could post it here for all to benifit from.. That is, unless its info that your not suppose to give out in the first place...

Alright, I threw it back to a couple of Ultra's.

Can anyone recommend any better air cooling other than the Ultra 120 Xtreme?

Quote: Originally Posted by Supahobnobba Alright, I threw it back to a couple of Ultra's. Can anyone recommend any better air cooling other than the Ultra 120 Xtreme?

For the striker?..... GeminII from Coolermaster

I have a lesser version of the Striker (same layout of everything) and its northbridge gets HOT!!! the GeminII cools the CPU VERY well.. and it also provides cooling to my Ram, Northbridge and pretty much.. the entire top half of my motherboard...

I have my E6600 Over clocked from 2.4Ghz to 3.2Ghz using the GeminII on straight air...

the only downside I will warn agains is you cant use any ram with fancy pants tall heat spreaders... i.e. Dominator

Although it looks like you're getting pretty close to the ceiling, there's a few more luxury items you could go for unless they're included in peripherals. First of all, any sound card in mind?

Second of all... PhysX?

Quote: Originally Posted by Supahobnobba 1. needs to be done by the end of next week. 2. Got any suggestions? I'm not against it just not sure about it..

Well, I'm no SLI expert, but ... but a basic search for motherboards that handle both SLI and DDR3 include:

ASUS P5K3 Deluxe WiFi-AP
Gigabyte GA-P35T-DQ6 (apparently bad layout, blocking some SATA slots)
MSI P35 Diamond

Those boards are reviewed in this Tom's Hardware article.

Quote: Originally Posted by godling Well, I'm no SLI expert, but ... but a basic search for motherboards that handle both SLI and DDR3 include: ASUS P5K3 Deluxe WiFi-AP Gigabyte GA-P35T-DQ6 (apparently bad layout, blocking some SATA slots) MSI P35 Diamond Those boards are reviewed in this Tom's Hardware article.

P35 doesnt support SLI