OK heres how it shook out.
1. ASUS P5WDG2-WS PRO Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 975X ATX Server MoBo
(Excellent Core2 Duo board, Software bundle will make overclocking and monitoring Temps a breez for noobs right from the desktop!)
2. Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz (Overclocked to 3.2 only raised Temps to 84 c. with stock cooler setup. But of course we didnt leave it there. An after market cooling solution of around $40 - $60 would likely let you overclock to +1 gig over default with ease.)
3. Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 ATX12V 650W Power Supply with Three 12V Rails . (Solid as a rock)
4.CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
(default ts to 4. 4. 4. 18. but tightened to 5.5.5.12 at default voltage of 1.8 with ease on the P5WDG2-WS)
5. MSI/ATI 100-435843 Radeon X1900XTX 512MB 256-bit GDDR4 VIVO PCI Express x16 (Overclocking utility is awesome and makes overclocking from deask top a snap all while monitoring Temps in the same control panel)
6. Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive. (fast and smooth.. a wee bt noisier that expected but very acceptable)
Ah2 settings
-------------------
(Video Settings)
1200x1600 res.
1024 Max Texture
Preload in sys mem "Checked"
Preload skins "Checked
Hardware vertex processing "checked
Optimize objects "checked"
Optimize terrain "checked"
Max frame rate "Unlimited"
( Graphic Detail )
Object Detail = Max Detail
Ground Detail Range = 3 Miles
Gama at 1.4
Disable other plane skins = off
Animated water = On
Horizon = On
Terrain Mipmapping = On
Optimize Objects = On
Disable weapon effects = Off
Disable Vehicle effects = Off
Transitions = On
Optimize terrain = On
AA is at 6x
AF is at 12x
Ah2 FR is a solid 80 FPS in all but the most taxing situations and even then only drops to 65+.
BF2 runs at a solid 60 FPS at MAX settings.
3DMark06 scores were 6100 to 6200 at default clocking’s. (Noted that CPU test scores were a little lower than expected around 2000.)
All in all a very nice system for around $1650
PS. used a Thermaltake Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133160 This is a very nice case for the money. The cooling solution is plenty, looks racy and is loaded with control features. Be warned...there are wire connectors out the yeng-yang!!! LOL
At first it looks rather overwhelming as to what the hell to do with all those wires... I actually made a shelf to lay all the connectors on right behind the PSU and just in front the back of the CD Rom bays. There was plenty of room for the CDrom connections.
Very happy with the value of the Core2 Duo system:aok
