Got a request from fizi a couple of weeks ago. Just this week I manage to look into it. He gave me a budget of maximum RM1.5k for a PC.

The Picture:

The Spec I have checked out:

1. Pentium Dual Core E5200 2.50 2MB 800 RM 280
2. Asus P5QL- Pro P43 16x ATX+GL+S RM320
3. Kingston PC6400 DDR2 800 2GB RM83
4. Asus 4670 512MB DDR3 128 RM340
5. Seagate 500GB SATA 3GB 32MB RM205
6. Asus 20x (SATA) 20x/8xDL/14xD-Ram RM85
7. ATX I-CUTE 450 WATT RM180

Roughly I got to the total of RM1493

With the limited budget I got there, I can only put in a Dual Core processor. But make no mistake about this chip. Even though it just a DualCore, it usually use for the budget gamers system. It can also be overclock to a certain level. With that budget I can get an AMD processor. The request is to use Intel. So we go for it then.

As usual, I will use a lot of asus. It is the most reliable hardware maker to date. It is consumer friendly also. Having use one myself I have no doubt in them. My style of usage, no air cond, 24/7. Still running great. Tested.

Seagate offer the best price for 500GB hdd. Even got the 32MB buffer. Just pump it up.

DVD drive with back letter writer. It not that important for a normal user. Anything will do.

Casing will look at ICute. Don’t know witch one yet. But the price range will be within RM180.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Intel Launches Fastest Processor on the Planet

Intel Corporation introduced its most advanced desktop processor ever, the Intel® Core™ i7 processor. The Core i7 processor is the first member of a new family of Nehalem processor designs and is the most sophisticated ever built, with new technologies that boost performance on demand and maximize data throughput. The Core i7 processor speeds video editing, immersive games and other popular Internet and computer activities by up to 40 percent without increasing power consumption.

Broadly heralded by the computing industry as a technical marvel, the Intel® Core™ i7 processor holds a new world record of 117 for the SPECint_base_rate2006* benchmark test that measures the performance of a processor. This is the first time ever for any single processor to exceed a score of 100 points.

“Intel has delivered the fastest desktop processor on Earth to the most demanding users on Earth, the ones who are using their PCs for video, gaming and music,” said Patrick Gelsinger, senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s Digital Enterprise Group. “When you couple what is Intel’s biggest leap in chip design with other incredible innovations like Intel’s solid state drives, the Core i7 processor has redefined the computer of tomorrow.”

Tech Web sites have been extremely positive in their product reviews. Anandtech states that “Core i7 continues to fuel Intel’s beacon of performance.” “The Core i7 is everything they promised it would be,” says PC Perspective. “Nehalem is a masterpiece,” says the Lost Circuits Web site. The Tech Report calls it “one of the most consequential shifts in the industry.”

Intel’s unique Turbo Boost Technology accelerates performance to match a computer user’s needs and workloads. Through a sophisticated on-die power control unit and using new “power gate” transistors based on Intel’s advanced 45 nanometer, high-k metal gate manufacturing process, Turbo Boost automatically adjusts the clock speed of one or more of the four individual processing cores for single- and multi-threaded applications to boost performance, without increasing power consumption. The Core i7 also has the latest Intel power-saving technologies, allowing desktops to go into sleep states formerly reserved for Intel-based notebooks.

The Core i7 processor more than doubles the memory bandwidth of previous Intel “Extreme” platforms, speeding the transfer of computer bits and bites in and out of the processor with Intel® Quickpath Technology. Designed with Intel’s Hyper-Threading Technology, the processor also allows multiple computing threads to run simultaneously, effectively enabling it to do two things at once. As a result, the Core i7 quad-core processor delivers 8-threaded performance.

The Intel Core i7 processor also offers unrivaled performance for immersive 3-D games – over 40 percent faster than previous Intel high-performance processors on both the 3DMark Vantage CPU* physics and AI tests, popular industry computer benchmarks that measure gaming performance. The Extreme Edition uses 8 threads to run games with advanced artificial intelligence and physics to make games act and feel real.

The Intel® Core™ i7 processors and Intel® X58 Express Chipset-based Intel® Desktop Board DX58SO Extreme Series are for sale immediately from several computer manufacturers online and in retail stores, as well as a boxed retail product via channel online sales.

The Core i7 processor is the first member of the Intel Nehalem microarchitecture family; server and mobile product versions will be in production later. Each Core i7 processor features an 8 MB level 3 cache and three channels of DDR3 1066 memory to deliver the best memory performance of any desktop platform. Intel’s top performance processor, the Intel® Core™ i7 Extreme Edition, also removes overspeed protection, allowing Intel’s knowledgeable customers or hobbyists to further increase the chip’s speed.

Source from Lowyat.net

Popularity: 8% [?]

Sam has asked me to setup a PC system for him. He give me a budget of Max RM3k. Just for the Desktop alone. No keyboard & mouse, and no LCD. Got me really excited about it. It has been a long time I setup a PC with this budget.

Now we get straight to the PC Specifications:

Main Component:

Intel 45nm wolfdale processor Core 2 Duo E8400 = RM595

E8400 is famous for its capability to over clock. There this one post I’ve read that the processor was clocking at 5ghz. The cpu-z shows it. I don’t think they false it.

ASUS P5QL PRO = RM320

This is a mid range Asus motherboard. I’m using Asus board at home and does good things for me. So I’m sold with Asus.

Kingston 2GB 800MHz KVR800D2N5/2G (x2) = RM88×2=RM176

I was thinking of dual kit Corsair XMS2 6400C4 4GB. But after reading the mainboard QLV, I don’t think it support it. It may support 2GB kit. Which is 1GB each piece. So I went with Value ram instead.

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 SATA 3Gb/s 500-GB Hard Drive (x2) = RM210×2=RM420

Sam asked me to put in as much hdd in this machine. I put only two of them. 500GB seagate 7200rpm. The board can support up to 6 SATA drive. I’ve counted the PSU supply for 6 SATA. And it is about 398w including other stuff.

Palit GeForce™ 9400GT Super = RM175

You may think I’m cheap with this graphic card. Sam prefer the system to be more storage than graphic power. At least this card can support HDTV. If he want to hook it up to a 32″ lcd tv, there is no problem at all.

ASUS DRW-2014S1T X Multi DVD±R/RW DRIVE = RM85

Why Asus. Just keeping the name. I don’t really care about optical drive. As long they can stand the test of times.

ASUS WL-160N = RM70

The price for this I’m not sure. Just a guest. Asus again, I know

Cooler Master CM 690

Cooler Master CM 690 Black Midsize Tower = RM289

I just fell in love with this. The simplicity of the case and the potential expansion on it. If you have more bucks, you can easily put in a water cooling system in it.

Corsair VX550 PSU = RM389

I’ve said earlier, after counting the potential watts for this system. I went on with 550W Corsair VX.If in full capacity meaning 6 SATA. Sam need to replace it. 4 SATA at most if it’s me. Never run the full capacity of a PSU. Making it last and run longer.

Air Cooling Accessories:

Cooler Master Hyper TX (Intel version) = RM139

Yes again. Fan of ASUS and a fan of Cooler Master. Never use a stock cooler if you going to make your baby run overtime.

CoolerMaster 90 CFM Blue LED Silent Fan 120mm (x2) = RM35×2=RM70

The case already comes with three 120mm fan. Figure just add another two. At the top casing and the bottom. Having more air in and out.

Cooler Master NanoFusion = RM25

You will have to use the thermal compound. Better use more delicate one. It can transfer heat better.

Deepcool Memo 4 DDR Memory Cooler with Heatsink (x2) = RM45×2=RM90

Deepcool. Why? I can’t seem to find the price for a Cooler Master ram heat spreader. This one is kind of fancy. Never test it before.

Total Price: RM2,843.00

The price and the item I’m going to use maybe changing as I don’t visit the store yet. Maybe it’s there maybe it’s not there. Basically this are the items I’m going to put in Sam’s PC.

p/s: You can click on the item name to know it better….

Popularity: 22% [?]