Computer geeks. Little brother needs help

[dtmcnamara]

Ok so my little brother comes to me yesterday with a motherboard. Im like...wtf? He said he wants to build something new and he got this board for free from a friend. I need some help sorting out memory for it as for I honestly dont know much about matching everything to run the best. Here is what he has:

Asus P5Q

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?modelmenu=1&model=2164&l1=3&l2=11&l3=709&l4=0

* Intel LGA775 Platform
* Intel® P45 chipset
* ASUS 8-phase Power Design
* Dual-channel DDR2 1200/1066/800/667 MHz
* 100% High-quality Japan-made Conductive Polymer Capacitors! (5000hrs VRM, over 5 years operation lifespan)
* ASUS EPU-6 Engine
* ASUS Express Gate
* ASUS Drive Xpert
* VRD11.1 CPU support (backward support VRD10.X CPU)

We went to newegg.com and found this processor that he wants:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

and now its down to RAM. I see the motherboard supports DDR2 1200/1066/800/667. now he wants to run photoshop so I was suggesting to get the most ram possible. When we look under ddr2 1200 we only car get 1GB stick. when we look under ddr2 1066 we can get some 2GB stick which may do but when we look under ddr2 800 we can get up to 4gb stick.

I know as the numbers get smaller and smaller they get slower. but what do you think would be best for this setup? 4gb of ddr2 1200 with the processor? or 8gb of ddr2 1066? or 10-16gb of ddr2 800?

also when reviewing the motherboard everyone talks about overclocking the processor and or the memory to match speed ratios...i dont know how to do this or what they are talking about but any information would be great. I dont want to blow this thing up just build a nice setup for my little brother.

THANKS

[TheProfiteer]

Unless he is going to be running a 64bit system than anymore than 4gigs of ram would be overkill. a 32bit system cant even recognize all 4gigs of ram. It tops out at like 3.5gigs or something.

so If he has Vista x86 (32 bit) 2-3 gigs is all he needs.

But if he has Vista x64 (64 bit) than 8gigs would really help it a lot.

Also Go for the DDR2 1066, more wide spread than the DDR2 1200, which means much cheaper. Here is the ram that I would recommend. I love Gskill ram man, never fails and can handle at least 100mhz faster speeds than its rated for (thats for overclocking purposes) http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010170147%201052108080%201052420643%20105231579 4&bop=And&Order=PRICE

also a Q6600 is a great CPU, can go to 3.0ghz easy as pie, but overclocking is something i have to show you, its not that easy to explain. You can try going to www.overclock.net, good forum, and they would explain the overclocking process alot better than I can.

hope this helps

[TheProfiteer]

by the way, that P5Q is a great fucking motherboard man!! Overclocks like crazy. Seen alot of people take the q6600 all the way up to 3.8ghz on an air cooled setup.

[MongolPup]

Vista x32 can finally recognize all 4 gigs, I can boot into Windows if you want and take a screen shot. I remember in the beginning I was so pissed it only ever went to 3.5.

[TheProfiteer]

Vista x32 can finally recognize all 4 gigs, I can boot into Windows if you want and take a screen shot. I remember in the beginning I was so pissed it only ever went to 3.5.

oh thats right, with the new service pack they fixed that. But still 4gigs is the max.

[MongolPup]

To the best of my knowledge. Sads.

[WickedIXMR]

Hey was it the fat brother or the brother you throw paintballs at? LOL

[MongolPup]

Hey was it the fat brother or the brother you throw paintballs at? LOL

Sounds like a very emotionally/physically healthy family.

[EJ25RUN]

Last time i checked, 64 bit OS were unstable. I really doubt any modern game would even require all that. I say just get an 8800 video card and 2 gigs with that quad core.

[dtmcnamara]

what about with windows xp? we have access to all version of xp and vista but prefer xp.

how much is too much that way...


also its the only skinny brother other than me..lol the one that provided to paintball to throw

[TheProfiteer]

what about with windows xp? we have access to all version of xp and vista but prefer xp.

how much is too much that way...


also its the only skinny brother other than me..lol the one that provided to paintball to throw

Well there is XP x86 (32bit) and XP x62 (64bit)
XP 32bit recognizes a maximum of 4gigs, with SP3.
XP 64 bit which is still really unstable and does not have much support can go up to 16gigbytes. XP 64bit is really only good for servers, but even than Win 2000 Server edition is more commonly used.

If he is a gamer, than I would personally recommend Vista 64 (which is now very very stable, and much smoother than Vista 32bit) but you needa minimum of 4gigs of ram to run it well.

So here is how it goes, if you are using XP 32 bit, than you really do not need anymore than 2 gigs with a decent video card.

but the full potential of a Quad Core system will not be realized unless you use Vista 64bit.

If you need any help with this on a personal basis shoot me a PM, and you can call me, i'll try to explain everything so that you will not get confused by all the misinformation you find on the internetz.

[TheProfiteer]

Last time i checked, 64 bit OS were unstable. I really doubt any modern game would even require all that. I say just get an 8800 video card and 2 gigs with that quad core.

lol you Obviously have not played Crysis, and that game is now almost 2 years old.

[green91]

I use vista ultimate 64 bit on this computer and its as stable as vista can be. I really dont have any problems except 64bit device drivers are a pain in the ass.

[TheProfiteer]

I use vista ultimate 64 bit on this computer and its as stable as vista can be. I really dont have any problems except 64bit device drivers are a pain in the ass.

well its not really any more, 64bit support has shot through the roof in the last year.

Considering he is using the Asus P5Q, every device on that mobo has 64bit support. the Intel p45 chipset was designed with Vista 64 and Windows 7 64 bit in mind.

[WickedIXMR]

what about with windows xp? we have access to all version of xp and vista but prefer xp.

how much is too much that way...


also its the only skinny brother other than me..lol the one that provided to paintball to throw
Lol that was funny. We gotta hang out sometime, its been forever.

[Atlblkz06]

Why settle for the Q6600, get the Q8200 (45nm) or spend a little more and get the Q9400 for the faster bus speeds.

Memory: Buy 2 of these (might have to be two separate transactions for the rebate)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227347

[dtmcnamara]

i will talk to him. hes working on a budget and isnt a big fan of overkill so idk. i will run it by him and see what he says. THANKS