Here is my current build specifications. Some things have changed...

@Luke,
Don't know if they are available over there, but I get amazing sound quality from the Logitech Z4 (2.1) with the onboard from my Asus P5K.

F.

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Loong thread..
I hope I didn't jumped in too late..


I would go with the GIGABYTE SOC, higher OCed as an EVGA SSC!


The pic of the GTX260-216 in this thread is a very old model. (It's look more like a GTX260-192 or GTX280)
The new GTX260-216 is smaller, or other size of the GPU case.

My 4x EVGA GTX260-216 SSC look other.
Bought in January/February this year.
[EDIT: Some weeks after the release of the new 55nm chip.]

I guess if the GTX360 will be available it will costs the double as a GTX260-216. Around the same wattage/around double performance.
So 1x GTX360 or 2x GTX260-216 - same prize , around same performance , but around double wattage for the GTX260 twins.


My GIGABYTE GTX260(-216) SOC cost ~ 170.- €. (260.- US$ / 355.- NZ$) (for ~ one month)
I guess the stock GTX360 will costs ~ 350.- €. (530.- US$ / 730.- NZ$)
[the current money exchange]

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You may wish to look into a WD VelociRaptor for your main system drive. When I build my new system I choose to go with standard 1tb drives in a stripe raid configuration instead of a new raptor as I had in my old system. I think this was a bit of a mistake on my part. So to make it up to myself I've planning to get a pair of 150gb VelociRaptor drives sometime after the holidays.

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SETI@home classic workunits: 93,865 CPU time: 863,447 hours
Join the [url=http://tinyurl.com/8y46zvu]BP6/VP6 User Group[

@Fred:
Good to know the onboard audio is good from a Asus motherboard. I've removed the sound card from the list. :).

@Sutaru Tsureku
Nice! Does it support dual monitors? If it doesn't, I cannot go with it, but if it does, I am more than happy to buy it.

@HAL9000
Good idea. I won't go with it for my main drive, because I am a movie junkie and store lots of HD, but I have added it as a product I might buy in the future for an upgrade!

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- Luke.

Dual monitor.. ops.. you can't ask me..

I found in the GIGABYTE specs 'multi view'. That you need?

There you can compare both cards..

[GIGABYTE GTX260(-216) SOC] VGA + DVI-I
1 x DVI-I output
1 x with HDCP
1 x Dual Link
1 x VGA output

[EVGA GTX260 Core216 SSC] 2x DVI-I
2 x DVI-I output
1 x with HDCP
2 x Dual Link
1 x S-Video output

The connection infos I have not from the official sites. For to be sure.. have an own look at the official.

AFAIK, the GIGABYTE is the highest manufacturer OCed GTX260-216.

Test of the GIGABYTE..
[anandtech.com]
If for only CUDA then because of the higher settings.. I would go with the GIGABYTE OCed GTX260 instead of stock GTX275.

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Dual monitor.. ops.. you can't ask me..

I found in the GIGABYTE specs 'multi view'. That you need?

There you can compare both cards..

[GIGABYTE GTX260(-216) SOC] VGA + DVI-I
1 x DVI-I output
1 x with HDCP
1 x Dual Link
1 x VGA output

[EVGA GTX260 Core216 SSC] 2x DVI-I
2 x DVI-I output
1 x with HDCP
2 x Dual Link
1 x S-Video output

The connection infos I have not from the official sites. For to be sure.. have an own look at the official.

AFAIK, the GIGABYTE is the highest manufacturer OCed GTX260-216.

Test of the GIGABYTE..
[anandtech.com]
If for only CUDA then because of the higher settings.. I would go with the GIGABYTE OCed GTX260 instead of stock GTX275.

Thanks for the input Sutaru! I have checked against the manufacturers and it does look like the Gigabyte SOC GTX260-216 only supports 1 monitor (through DVI). So for now, I am sticking to the EVGA SSC. Perhaps a bit of overclocking on my part will increase the power of it.

Looks like both the combo and the PSU have started shipping, they will be here either tomorrow or the day after (Wednesday). Then it is on to ordering the GPU and the CPU HS + CPU Fan.

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- Luke.

@Fred:
Good to know the onboard audio is good from a Asus motherboard. I've removed the sound card from the list. :).

@Sutaru Tsureku
Nice! Does it support dual monitors? If it doesn't, I cannot go with it, but if it does, I am more than happy to buy it.

@HAL9000
Good idea. I won't go with it for my main drive, because I am a movie junkie and store lots of HD, but I have added it as a product I might buy in the future for an upgrade!

My old computer was a 74GB raptor for the main system drive. Then 4 320GB drives striped.

This time I just went with 3 1TB drives striped & carved out an OS, storage, & swap partition from the single volume.

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SETI@home classic workunits: 93,865 CPU time: 863,447 hours
Join the [url=http://tinyurl.com/8y46zvu]BP6/VP6 User Group[

Here is my current build specifications. Some things have changed...

@Luke,
Don't know if they are available over there, but I get amazing sound quality from the Logitech Z4 (2.1) with the onboard from my Asus P5K.

F.

Nice speakers Fred. I'll definitely consider them for this build... they aren't the next product I am ordering so it does give me time to think.

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- Luke.

Here is my current build specifications. Some things have changed...

@Luke,
Don't know if they are available over there, but I get amazing sound quality from the Logitech Z4 (2.1) with the onboard from my Asus P5K.

F.

Nice speakers Fred. I'll definitely consider them for this build... they aren't the next product I am ordering so it does give me time to think.

Well worth considering when you get round to it. I've found elements of music in my mp3's that I didn't know existed from listening with my previous set-up.

F.

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Maybe some additional hints.. from my experiences..

The Thermalright heatsinks have a convex bottom because of the concave Intel CPUs.
I read about that sometimes this convex bottom is very convex, so no well contact to the CPU.

I lapped my QX6700, so he's very flat and because of this I bought the [Noctua NH-U12P]_german test) (these heatsinks have a flat bottom).
I couldn't believe how cool my QX6700 could be.
Stock TDP 130 W, after little OC (2.67 -> 3.14 GHz) without increase of the Vcore = ~ 150 W TDP.

Yes.. don't know if this heatsink would be well for your socket.

Also they released a new heatsink.. but very big like the IFX-14.. [Noctua NH-D14]_german test).

[Here]_also german) you can see the temp/cool performance of the new one..
With some fan settings he beat the Corsair H50..

[computerbase.de]_still german ) is a well site for to look to the performance of heatsinks.



Because of GPU..
Don't be surprised if you calculate CUDA on the GPU that you can't work very well with the PC. (video, or similar)
So you need to suspend the CUDA if working.
Or add a 2nd small GPU for to connect the display.

I as a 'crazy' SETIan have at my QX6700:
1st PCIe x16 slot: OCed GTX260-216 @ PCIe 1.0 x16 electric (for max. CUDA performance)
3rd PCIe x16 slot: stock 6200 LE @ PCIe 1.0 x4 electric (only here display connected)

For internet surfing and flash video it's enough..


EDIT: Ops.. I forgot.. my every year 'message end X-MAS greetings' for the forum..

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The Thermalright heatsinks have a convex bottom because of the concave Intel CPUs.
I read about that sometimes this convex bottom is very convex, so no well contact to the CPU.

...

Don't be surprised if you calculate CUDA on the GPU that you can't work very well with the PC. (video, or similar)
So you need to suspend the CUDA if working.
Or add a 2nd small GPU for to connect the display.

For internet surfing and flash video it's enough..

My Thermalright Ultra Extreme 120 was only slightly convex. It seemed sensible to me to lap that first - then I lapped my Q9450 to make sure both were flat. Didn't take more than an hour to do both.

With a GTX 2xx range card I would not expect to see any problem with the display whilst crunching unless you want to play demanding games. I have no video problems at all with the GTX 295 on my daily driver for any normal use including watching HD streamed video on my HDMI connected TV.

F.

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Maybe it's because of my system.. 4x OCed GTX260-216.. normally I manage this GPU cruncher with the BOINC Manager from the other PC, but sometimes I need to look personally..
And then if 4x CUDA the display is slow. If I suspend the CUDA crunching, it's normal.

Hmm.. maybe because of the old 190.38 driver?

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Maybe it's because of my system.. 4x OCed GTX260-216.. normally I manage this GPU cruncher with the BOINC Manager from the other PC, but sometimes I need to look personally..
And then if 4x CUDA the display is slow. If I suspend the CUDA crunching, it's normal.

Hmm.. maybe because of the old 190.38 driver?

Most likely because your GTX260's are OC'd. I run my 295 at stock speed to control the temps. That probably leaves enough headroom on the internal bus to cope with my video requirements.

F.

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Sutaru, the revision B of the Thermalright U2E fixed the convex/concave problem.
How to destroy your CPU by lapping it.

EDIT: BTW, the HS does fit, because the P6T deluxe is on the list of supported sockets & motherboards. SJ sent me that link.

Also, I'm pretty damn sure I won't be needing to suspend CUDA crunching to watch a movie/play FSX with the 260...

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- Luke.

Sutaru, the revision B of the Thermalright U2E fixed the convex/concave problem.
How to destroy your CPU by lapping it.

I guess he's not a fan of lapping, then... Mind you, there are so many holes in that article I could strain my wine through it.

"Judicious" lapping worked for me on my my previous (Scythe) and current (Thermalright) coolers. Made about a 5 degree difference to my overclocked rig - ahhhh - he would probably suggest that overclocking is equally mindless since Intel know best what speed their processors should run at??

F.

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Sutaru, the revision B of the Thermalright U2E fixed the convex/concave problem.
How to destroy your CPU by lapping it.

I guess he's not a fan of lapping, then... Mind you, there are so many holes in that article I could strain my wine through it.

"Judicious" lapping worked for me on my my previous (Scythe) and current (Thermalright) coolers. Made about a 5 degree difference to my overclocked rig - ahhhh - he would probably suggest that overclocking is equally mindless since Intel know best what speed their processors should run at??

F.

LOL. I've never heard the term used very much. I just googled it and linked it to the first article I got. I don't really have an opinion on it. The only nag I have with it is that it takes some of the looks of the CPU. :(...

Luke.

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- Luke.

[...]
EDIT: BTW, the HS does fit, because the P6T deluxe is on the list of supported sockets & motherboards. SJ sent me that link.

Also, I'm pretty damn sure I won't be needing to suspend CUDA crunching to watch a movie/play FSX with the 260...

I meant I don't know if my heatsink could be well for your socket '1366'. If now also bracket for '1366'.
I have the '775'.

Hmm.. you will see.. my system with upper mentioned equipment.. if I'm only in Windows Desktop the display is slow if CUDA crunching..

And that's (4x) EVGA SSC. You will buy the same..?

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Maybe it's because of my system.. 4x OCed GTX260-216.. normally I manage this GPU cruncher with the BOINC Manager from the other PC, but sometimes I need to look personally..
And then if 4x CUDA the display is slow. If I suspend the CUDA crunching, it's normal.

Hmm.. maybe because of the old 190.38 driver?

Most likely because your GTX260's are OC'd. I run my 295 at stock speed to control the temps. That probably leaves enough headroom on the internal bus to cope with my video requirements.

F.

Hi Fred,
Your GTX 295 appears to not be crunching too well. You might need to look into that.

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"Living by the wisdom of computer science doesn't sound so bad after all. And unlike most advice, it's backed up by proofs." -- Algorithms to live by: The computer science of human decisions.

LOL. I've never heard the term used very much. I just googled it and linked it to the first article I got. I don't really have an opinion on it. The only nag I have with it is that it takes some of the looks of the CPU. :(...

Luke.

Lapping is not something I would advocate for everyone. I just don't like to see half-baked bile published as serious comment.

In my case, I was trying to squeeze every last MHz out my Q9450 just to see how far it would go (and got a lot of good tips from msattler (kudos, Mark) on the way). It was quite plain to see, using a straight edge in front of strong light, that neither the CPU nor the copper foot of the cooler was flat so I carefully lapped them until they were. Result - about 5 deg C improvement in temps and stability for my 2.66GHz Q9450 @ 3.6GHz for many months.

For anyone that is not so insane about overclocking (and prepared to accept any consequences!!) then lapping is unnecessary.

F.

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LOL. I've never heard the term used very much. I just googled it and linked it to the first article I got. I don't really have an opinion on it. The only nag I have with it is that it takes some of the looks of the CPU. :(...

Luke.

Lapping is not something I would advocate for everyone. I just don't like to see half-baked bile published as serious comment.

In my case, I was trying to squeeze every last MHz out my Q9450 just to see how far it would go (and got a lot of good tips from msattler (kudos, Mark) on the way). It was quite plain to see, using a straight edge in front of strong light, that neither the CPU nor the copper foot of the cooler was flat so I carefully lapped them until they were. Result - about 5 deg C improvement in temps and stability for my 2.66GHz Q9450 @ 3.6GHz for many months.

For anyone that is not so insane about overclocking (and prepared to accept any consequences!!) then lapping is unnecessary.

F.

Well good on you for pushing it to the limits! But you won't see me taking that risk. LOL. No way am I sanding down my precious i7...

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- Luke.