Building A New Computer - Comments Requested

[RHoldenSr]

I want to post another comment on this ABIT IP35 Pro MB

It is a sweet.. MB as most ABIT motherboards are, one other comment I have is that they have the labels for the SATA connectors 1/2 3/4 5/6 on the MB in front of the IDE connector (laying flat/sideways) ! The SATA connector is located to the right of this IDE connector!

I honestly tried to connect a SATA plug to this becasue it is mounted sideways and you can not see the pins and inside connector. I did bend a pin but was able to straighten it out

You may want to read the manual and familiarize yourself with all the connectors and MB features!

I read the manual but missed or did not pay attention to this particular feature until I was almost finished and was moving my 500gb photo HD.

[RHoldenSr]

ZERO

I got the Corsair RAM:

Model Brand CORSAIR Series XMS2
Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4
Type 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM
Tech Spec Capacity 2GB (2 x 1GB)
Speed DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Cas Latency 4
Timing 4-4-4-12
Voltage 2.1V
Heat Spreader Yes
Features EPP (Enhanced Performance Profiles) and also SLI certified
Recommend Use High Performance or Gaming Memory

Originally Posted by zeroendless

What memory you got?, find the voltage usage. I believe it's defaulted to 1.8v, that's a bug in that mobo. I raised mine straight to 2.2 in order to run 4x1gb then Ocing...

If you want to go further, slowly increase the cpu voltage (somewhere in 1.41v should get you in 3.6ghz without froze, but first u'll need good cooler for it) The board will auto shut down if anything goes wrong, and 35 pro has a manual reset switch on the backpanel that's really cool and unique for OC if it does happened to shut it self. Easy to access.

If you got the G0 stepping, it should pass 3.2 easy. I went from stock straight to 3.4 and played a little bit to get to 3.6

Free app like cpuz will let you see the information on your system,
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

After you finished, test with OCCT for 30 minutes.. then you are good to go.
http://www.ocbase.com/perestroika_en/

Mine did 3.75Ghz at normal usage but it didn't pass OCCT test.

Do visit abit forum/website and upgrade the latest Bios. Their latest or last one fixed the firewire 400 bug that wasn't mention on the bullentin. It was running twice as slow as usb. But, DO NOT use the windows bios upgrade utility.

[adirty1]

I did it and pulled the trigger on the pro board and e6850. with 4gigs of ram. should be here in a couple days.

[adirty1]

I am in the middle of setting up my new computer. After the updates comes the real test. setting up the raid 5. Hope this works as I thought it would else I am going to have to buy a sata card.

from what I have seen so far I am pretty impressed with e6850 and 4 gigs of ram. The network card works great and all the drivers on the abit disk seem to work great with xp. No vista in this house. I would rather buy a MAc than run vista.

Matrox apve card is amazing. well worth the money. I can hook that up to anything in the house our office. back to the install..

[MRCPix]

Robin sounds like a sweet system do you mind sharing what the final cost was for it? I am thinking about building me a system like that.

[Tapper]

Originally Posted by RHoldenSr

We have two son's that are both computer programmers, one in Austin and one in San Antonio. They both have told me Tom's website is flawed and biased.

Although I have enjoyed this discussion, and found your pursuit of a new system interesting, I have to say that the above quote was just unworthy.

During my tenure as Executive Director of Quakecon, I had the pleasure of becoming friends with Tom, as well as the guys at Ars, HardOCP, etc. I can tell you that all of them work very hard to provide good info, and place a lot of value on their integrity - their ability to attract users depends on it. They all have their own opinions, and of course (this is the intarweb after all) some folks disagree. But to defame the man, based on "so and so said" is just.. Lousy.

All of these guys are constantly being accused of taking payola from hardware companies, rigging test results, etc - usually by the hardware companies that didn't fare so well in tests. And, as is ever the case on the internet - when one person lights a flame, 1,000 moths arrive to enjoy the drama.

Tom and his staff have worked very hard for many years to feed themselves by testing hardware. Their site shows it. I'm glad that he's doing so well these days, because it hasn't been that long ago, that he was struggling hard to stay afloat - just as all websites did after the bubble. But what he has now, he earned by hard work. And I have personally seen him to be, and believe him to be, a man of integrity, who genuinely believes in what he is doing.

[RHoldenSr]

MRCPix

Sorry it seems like I do not always get the reply notifications

With everything I purchased locally (Microcenter, Frys) , NewEgg and with rebates it was around $900.

Originally Posted by MRCPix

Robin sounds like a sweet system do you mind sharing what the final cost was for it? I am thinking about building me a system like that.

[RHoldenSr]

Sorry if I hurt your feelings about Toms Hardware website.

This is just one feeling I have about Toms Hardware:

Maybe if he made all the Flashy Ads, Ads by Google, Shop For's and etc less prominent he may get better reviews?

We all know he has to pay for the website, but I hate having to dance around all the flash to get to read the reviews. When the reviews take second place to the ads forget it in my opinion.

I feel his cluttered website is not much better than CNET.

I will use the website now and then but I will not use the information to base my final decision on.

But this is just my $0.02

Originally Posted by Tapper

Although I have enjoyed this discussion, and found your pursuit of a new system interesting, I have to say that the above quote was just unworthy.

[RHoldenSr]

Ok I am ready to replace the CPU heatsink and fan!

Can someone suggest a good OC CPU heatsink and fan to purchase?

I want to hear opinions on some that are easier to mount than the Intel unit and the cheap plastic stand offs they used.

[mjdmike]

I just have a cheapo Cooler Master 95 mm on my Q6600, and it's doing fine. It's just a stock HS/Fan, but it's easy to mount, quiet and cool. Others can lead you to a serious OC'ing setup.

I have this chip OC'd to 3.4 on an Abit IP35 Pro and it's stable and running around 35 DEG C. I've taken it up to 3.5 but it wasn't stable. I need to tweak it more, but haven't played much yet.