Intel DX38BT/DX48BT2 (Bone Trail)

[Sandog]

Not sure what I am going to be getting next but these are very opportunistic hardware times. There is the option of going DDR2 still which is very appealing when you can get 2x2GB sticks of Corsair Dominator PC2-1066 at CL-5 for $139.00. Some people who have both DDR2 and DDR3 systems say DDR3 feels faster though and if you can afford it you should probably get it. Current Penryn's are cheap when you consider the performance to watt ratio (they totally dominate AMD in performance and power so AMD is out for now). The new 45nm chips and associative chipsets are fairly proven tech. and offer plenty of performance to handle current software. Nehalem is going to totally change the hardware makeup but it will be awhile before they are proven and in supply. Gone will be the FSB and so will be OCing up to 1GHz above rated speeds. Power requirements and price will probably be high for Nehalem high-end desktop systems because of the jump to 1366 pins but the chipsets will should consume less power due to the smaller die. I am of the opinion right now that I don't need Nehalem at this point or before the end of 2008 but it should drive down prices of the later technology.

[onearmscissor]

Perhaps someone can help. Here are some of the inital components of the computer I'm building:

1) DX38BT
2) E6750
3) Corsair TW3XG1333C9DHX 4GB (2-2048MB) PC3-10600 DDR3 (1.7V)
4) video GeForce 8400GS

It never gets to the BIOS. Basically the Monitor gets a signal for a very short period and then goes back to no-signal.

Note : I also tried a single 1G Kingston stick (1.5V) and it still didn't work (though it seemed to get a bit further).

Does anyone have any ideas (could it be the video card?). THANKS!

[TQ]

If you can get into the BIOS with the Kingston try setting the memory timings really loose. Then reinstall the OCZ and see if you can get to the desktop.
(I'll assume that you meant two sticks of Kingston as I don't see how a dual-channel motherboard would get anywhere with a single stick of RAM....)
You could also try another video card, which is probably what I'd do first.

[TQ]

I've copied this text over from a thread I started today about my game machine upgrade. I'm really in need of some advice on my DDR3 choice.

Here's what I have planned:
An Intel DX48BT2 motherboard, an E8500 and a 2x2GB kit of some kind of DDR3.
There's the rub...I don't know exactly what DDR3 I want to purchase but it's pretty much down to some Corsair or OCZ PC3 12800. Much as I love Mushkin they're just too pricey right now. I'd certainly love to hear from anyone who has an opinion on RAM choice.
I'm going with Vista Business (64-bit) and I'll keep my Creative Elite Pro, the eVGA 8800GTX and the Antec case.

Here's what I'm looking at now:
OCZ 2x2GB Platinum and the CorsairTwin3X4096-1600C7DHX...is there anything else I should consider?

[zapionics<alt>]

Originally Posted by TQ

...Here's what I'm looking at now:
OCZ 2x2GB Platinum and the CorsairTwin3X4096-1600C7DHX...is there anything else I should consider?

I'm leaning towards the Corsair right now.
Btw, have you considered DDR2+X48?

[acuras]

Hey QT, I just got the dx48bt2. 4 gigs is a good idea. I am getting OCZ Reaper 1333 pc3 10666. The timings are really good on this ram. It's not too expensive on newegg right now either. About $310. I am interested in how you like the e8500. I have the e8400, cause im poor, lol.

Also for anyone else with this board, when you go to adjust the memory timings, there are more than the standard such as 7-7-7-21. There are like five or so other numbers that can be adjusted, here is an example :
7-7-7-21-13-36-6-4-6. Can anyone explaine these extra digits and tell me what good timings are for these? thanks

[Sandog]

Congrats TQ ,

One thing you might want to look for is RAM that has several selectable SPD profiles like NVidia EPP or Intel XMP. Also good RAM for a great price is Super Talent sold at EWiz.com.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by zapionics<alt>

I'm leaning towards the Corsair right now.
Btw, have you considered DDR2+X48?

DDR2 doesn't work in the Intel board. I know of the Taiwanese X38 boards that are DDR2 capable but I use Intel-built exclusively. What can I say? I'm an old man who likes a smooth ride.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by acuras

Hey QT, I just got the dx48bt2. 4 gigs is a good idea. I am getting OCZ Reaper 1333 pc3 10666. The timings are really good on this ram. It's not too expensive on newegg right now either. About $310. I am interested in how you like the e8500. I have the e8400, cause im poor, lol.

Normally I'd go for the E8400 but there's only a seventy-five buck difference between the E8400 and E8500. Since I don't have to buy a case, video card and sound card this time 'round I thought I could afford to spend that extra scratch. The E8400 is likely the better buy, though. I'm not a white-knuckle overclocker so I'd like to get all the stock speed I can. I'll likely do what I did with my gamer's E6600 and push it up 15% using the IDCC, where's it's now running at 2.7GHz (up from 2.4).

Because I don't know exactly what's coming as far as new CPU's I decided to go with PC3 12800 (1600MHz) and run it with my 1333MHz Wolfie. If any of the as-yet-unannounced 1600's look interesting I'll have the RAM to run them.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by Sandog

Congrats TQ ,

One thing you might want to look for is RAM that has several selectable SPD profiles like NVidia EPP or Intel XMP. Also good RAM for a great price is Super Talent sold at EWiz.com.

Thanks. I'll check it out.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by zapionics<alt>

I'm leaning towards the Corsair right now.
Btw, have you considered DDR2+X48?

Actually, I might be coming over to your way of thinking.
After going 'round and 'round all morning and especially in light of reevaluating
the DX48BT and its limitations, plus the hard cost of DDR3, I'm considering other options.

[Sandog]

I think the first decision you have to make is whether you want DDR3 or DDR2. The performance difference is negligeable between the two if you run DDR3 at 1333 memory FSB. DDR2 is very affordable, in fact you can get some of the best RAM available IMO for $139.00 (Corsair Dominator 8500 2x2GB w/Corsair Fan). But you will be stuck on a board that is going out quick. Intel will probably not be making any more DDR2 boards. I'm pretty sure the P45 will be DDR3 also. With DDR3 1600 you will be set for a long time after Nehalem comes out.

[TQ]

I've decided to stick with DDR2 for now. Even if I were to go with DDR3 and the DX48BT it would still be short term, as the X48 won't support Nehalem. Also, I would be limited to only 4GB of DDR 1600 with the DX48BT as only two of its slots support DDR3 1600 speeds and only in amounts of 4GB and even then - based on conflicting information in the board's documentation - there's not a guarantee that I'll be able to do even that.
That was the deal killer for me. There were a lot of deal killers once I began to seriously consider it. The premium price of DDR3, the fact that it's emerging technology, the short remaining lifespan of socket 775, it all adds up to the idea that staying with DDR2 right now makes sense. I still get to run an E84/8500 and I can afford to pig out on RAM for Vista-64.
I'd think I can get a good two years (or more) of great gaming out of this machine. By that time things will have ironed out on the DDR3 front.

[ATINUT]

TQ, I decided that in the fall, I will be upgrading the memory on my 975XBX2 to 8GB's. I personally see no need to go DDR3 myself, and I figured by going to 8GB's of DDR2 800 memory in the fall, I can get at least another 3 to 4 years out of my system for my needs, as my Core 2 Duo E6600 is still good for gaming.

I could have bought an X38BT Motherboard and DDR3 memory back in March, and I realized then, that for my needs there was no need for it, as my Core 2 Duo E6600 and at present 4GB's of DDR2 800 are doing just fine.

[TQ]

Say, ATINUT...are you using Vista64 for gaming?