I need a little help

Welcome aboard

what resolution are you going to be gaming at and are you looking for a system that will let you run at that resolution at hi settings?

ok, q9650 version:

here you go Ticket# 190956 --- Price: $3487 (To see this build click here)

Copy of Specifications:
Chassis: Cooler Master HAF 932
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Power Supply: 1000W Corsair HX (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 3.0GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache)
Motherboard: nVidia 790i Ultra Core 2 Quad (nForce 790i Ultra SLI) (DDR3 Only)
System Memory: 4GB DDR3 1333MHz OCZ
Card Reader: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 1: 300GB Western Digital VelociRaptor (10K RPM) (16MB Cache) (Extreme Speed)
Hard Drive 2: 500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Raid Option: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 3: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Wireless Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 2x SLI Dual (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 896MB (Includes PhysX Technology)
TV Tuner: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: Liquid Chilled FrostBite CPU Only
Internal Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Red Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes)
Modifications: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: Yes, Overclock memory timings (Includes Memory Fan Kit Installed)
Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Enthusiasts)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
LCD Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty
---------------------------------------------------------

q9550 version:

here you go Ticket# 190958 --- Price: $3211 (To see this build click here)

Copy of Specifications:
Chassis: Cooler Master HAF 932
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Power Supply: 1000W Corsair HX (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache)
Motherboard: nVidia 790i Ultra Core 2 Quad (nForce 790i Ultra SLI) (DDR3 Only)
System Memory: 4GB DDR3 1333MHz OCZ
Card Reader: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 1: 300GB Western Digital VelociRaptor (10K RPM) (16MB Cache) (Extreme Speed)
Hard Drive 2: 500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Raid Option: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 3: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Wireless Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 2x SLI Dual (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 896MB (Includes PhysX Technology)
TV Tuner: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: Liquid Chilled FrostBite CPU Only
Internal Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Red Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes)
Modifications: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: Yes, Overclock memory timings (Includes Memory Fan Kit Installed)
Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Enthusiasts)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
LCD Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty


I did not add a sound card, if you are big on sound then add a razer sound card to it.

both of those will run what ever you got.

the difference is that with the q9650 you can expect your pc speed to be around 3.8 to 4.0GHz.

with the q9550 you can expect your pc to be around 3.4 to 3.6GHz.

use the first HDD for OS/apps and games and use the second hdd for media/personal files.

no at best a 32bit can only access total of 4GB

you have total of 5.8GB of ram in there. no 32bit can use it.

also if you read about PAE, you will notice it will limit to 2GB which actually in most cases gives you less ram

64 bit will see all of that and use it

only problems you may have with vista 64bit is very old games may not work on it.

I have been watching/testing vista 64 bit for a while now and I have found it to be very good, XP 64bit was a nightmare, vista 64 I think is gonna be the OS that will make the move to 64bit easy, for xp lovers like you and me

Edited by DST4ME - 05 Oct 2008 at 7:49pm

wiacekc if you call DS I'm sure they can work that out for you.

Thats great to hear wiacekc, only problem is that I'm a customer like and I don't work for DS

Just like you I too checked out fwn, vigor, vm and many more, each has their own problems or combination of below:

too expensive for no reason, same parts cost more.

bad customer svc.

lack of tech knowledge

lack of customization

lack of customer satisfaction

then I found DS, this place is great, I love it so much, I'm hanging out here and helping others to get the best quality PC for the best price


but trust me DS is very happy to have you onboard.

well this motherboard offers you a 7.1 audio, which for somebody like me is good enough.

out of the cards we have, as I suggested before I would go with the razer, its got the least problems and lots of features for people who are big on audio.

upgrade-wise, you can always change your CPU with a faster one down the road (highest you can get is a qx9770 3.2GHz, this chip overclocks great)

you can always add a third graphic card but I gave you 2 so I'm not sure why you would need 3 but if the situation ever comes, your PC can hangle 3

but none of those are needed, it that was my PC I would not upgrade it for 2 years at-least.

hope that helps

Edited by DST4ME - 05 Oct 2008 at 8:28pm

NP, its my pleasure

I forgot to mention that can add many more harddrives to that pc, it holds a total of 11 drives. (harddrives, cd/dvd drives, etc.)

Edited by DST4ME - 05 Oct 2008 at 8:35pm

Right now I would say no, a velociraptor is great, when the prices drop and the sizes get bigger and its been out in the market for a longer period then it would be good.

That rig is a beast

That is personal preference, I don't play games on pc so I'm not the best person to ask.

my advise is that you use a what ever you have now for a week or two and figure out what types of option you would like to have, that way you know what you want

if you are gonig to OC the gpu then for sure if not then no

trust me when I say its not for you OC GPU is for GPU enthusiast

OK, if you look at the 2 builds I recommended, you will see each has a CPU. first one has the Q9550 and the second one has the Q9650.

both of those CPUs are from the penryn family, Nehalem(core i7) is going to replace penryn.

the chip is a real quad core, for multitasking and computing its a big difference, for games not that much, but over all its a better chip and it will cost less.

I'm waiting for it, it should be out in Nov.

ask any questions you like, there is no stupid question and we all had to start somewhere, its good that you ask questions

well nehalem will pretty much make penryn outdated but that does not mean penryn won't be good cpu till end of 2009 atleast.

Thanks for the input.  It's amazing how much I learn in these DSO forums.  And its good to get a different view on things.  Sorry DST4ME.  Any other thoughts about the build that is in the thread?

would there be any differance if i was to upgrade to the 4GB 1600MHz platinum from the 1333MHz. does the MHz speed make that big of a differance.  there is a big price jump to 2000MHz,  would a casual gamer like me notice the differance, assuming all chips were 4GB? 

what is the differance between DDR2 and DDR3?

I believe there is lot more difference then that

the new chip Nehalem will, but I think that Westmere will be the first to really rip into it.