SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic

Posted: Apr 04 2011 02:18 am

so, I hate my computer, its an old dinosaur on its last legs and now with tax return time coming I can afford a new one Very Happy

I opted to build a computer as opposed to buying a brand name one and so far this is what ive come up with

Motherboard: Asus P8P67 WS Revolution: LGA 1155, Intel P67 Express

Processor: Intel Core i7-2600K: 3.4 GHz-3.8 GHz, 8 MB Cache

Memory: G.Skill F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM: DDR3-1600 C8, 2 x 4 GB (8 GB)

Graphics: 2 x XFX HD-695A-CNFC: Radeon HD 6950 2 GB, CrossFire

System Drive: 2 x A-Data S599 64 GB, SATA 3Gb/s SSD

Storage Drive: Samsung F3 HD103SJ 1 TB, 7200 RPM HDD

Optical: Lite-On iHBS212 BD-RE: 12x BD-R, 16x DVD±R, 48x CD-R

Case: Antec Three Hundred Illusion

Power: Seasonic SS-850HT: 850W, ATX12V v2.31, 80-Plus Silver

CPU Cooler: Scythe Mugen 2 Rev. B (SCMG-2100)

I'm looking to stay within a budget of around $2000, but I don't mind going over budget if I can get more bang for the buck. any suggestions or modifications would be much obliged from the kind folk here in the SydLexia general discussion forum.

Joined: Jun 08 2010 Location: Termina Field Posts: 1541

That looks neat. Not that I would know much, since I know more about software than hardware.

Posted: Apr 04 2011 03:29 pm

Looks good other than one issue: Why Crossfire?

I mean don't get me wrong, Crossfire and SLI are great... when they work. Not all games support them, and some run even worse with two cards vs one. To me, unless you are going for bragging rights by getting more than one of the top of the line, there is no reason to buy a CF/SLI setup at time of building the PC. It's better to CF/SLI when your system starts to bog down and your card gets older, to give the system a kick start for cheap.

Title: The Self-Titler Joined: Aug 14 2010 Posts: 598

I have a Radeon 6870 1GB, and haven't come across anything gamewise that slows me down even a litlle bit, at maximum settings. Pretty much what Knyte said. He basically built my system for me and it is amazing. Thanks again!

Posted: Apr 04 2011 07:18 pm

Those choices look solid, except that I would replace the graphics card with an nVidia equivalent out of personal preference. How many fans are you getting?

Posted: Apr 05 2011 12:18 am

Nobody could possibly be that fucking stupid... could they?

Dear Lord...

Posted: Apr 05 2011 12:34 am

He has $2000 to blow and he's getting his money's worth if it kills him.

Posted: Apr 05 2011 12:44 am

The-Excel wrote:

Those choices look solid, except that I would replace the graphics card with an nVidia equivalent out of personal preference. How many fans are you getting?

I second this. I don't think anything can top nVidia, and if you're gonna go all the way, you want the top of the line.

Posted: Apr 05 2011 01:13 am

Ive always been a fan of mvidia... thanks guys! Smile

I'll do some more research into my video/gfx card

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

I have been thinking about this...

First, I agree with Knyte. I don't think that Crossfire is worth the hassle or the money.

Additionally I think that you will be frustrated with a 64GB primary drive. I would double it at a minimum. That is unless of course you really enjoy Symlinks.

Posted: Apr 05 2011 10:24 am

Once this is completed, I need you to walk down this dark alley by my house with the computer tower in your hand and walk into the box that says "This is just a harmless box and not a Trap" on it.

Posted: Apr 05 2011 11:10 am

SoldierHawk wrote:

The-Excel wrote:

Those choices look solid, except that I would replace the graphics card with an nVidia equivalent out of personal preference. How many fans are you getting?

I second this. I don't think anything can top nVidia, and if you're gonna go all the way, you want the top of the line.

My friend would like to have a word with you:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125370&cm_re=6990-_-14-125-370-_-Product

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/geforce-gtx-590_11.html#sect0

I have jumped between Green Team (nVidia) and Red Team (ATI/AMD) many times. I think I lean towards Red Team has I have had less issues with them over nVidia cards. (I have had to do 2 RMAs with nVidia cards, and had a 3rd one died that was out of warranty. Yet, I still have my AGP 9600XT, which still runs like brand new.

If you do decide to go green team, then please go with EVGA. No one can touch their quality and customer service.

Posted: Apr 05 2011 11:18 am

Yeah I don't get all the hate on ATi... I have two HD3850's in my tower and they have lasted longer than any of the Nvidia cards I've owned with fewer problems. Plus I paid a lot less for them. I can't say I'd ever go back to Nvidia after having these, because they were close to 100 bucks each cheaper than a similar nvidia card, they have beaten my longest lived nvidia card by nearly a year now, and at close to 5 years old can still run some pretty demanding games with minimal slowdown.

Posted: Apr 05 2011 11:21 am

Excuse me. Is that a fucking FOUR GIG Video card?

Dear lord. I still remember when I bought my first 128MB Video card and installed it myself.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

I was thinking more about the graphics situation...

Radeon HD 6950 2GB - $234 (after rebate):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161355

Geforce GTX 560 (Factory OC'd) - $229 (after rebate):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565

Performance wise, these two cards trade off on price range and FPS. The question becomes AMD vs Nvidia.

So, why pick one over the other? If you have a specific game that you will play for then next few years that one of these cards works best with, then that is easy. However, I would say if you are looking for general gaming, the Nvidia card will offer you more due to three features:

1. CUDA is currently better supported
2. PhysX support will allow for some better graphics - http://developer.nvidia.com/object/physx_good_company.html
3. Nvidia is ahead when it comes to 3D gaming

If none of these matter, then the two cards are equal in my mind. If I were to choose, it would be the Nvidia card because why not have the edge if the next game or program I purchase takes advantage of one of those newer technologies?

So... what about multiple GPUs?

Thing very long and very hard about this choice. You can have a single GPU system that will play games in HD now with reasonable frame rates. You will not be able to run 8x AA without deterioration, and some very new games like Crysis 2 might want to be in the 720p range rather than 1080p. However, every single game you want to play will run because it is a DX 11 card that can pump out some serious power. The standard drivers will not give you technical trouble like a multi-gpu system, and you will find that 90% of games you buy over the next year will look amazing.

By saving $230-$250, you can buy a new card in 1.5 years when they have updated 2 additional generations. So when DX13 is out, you'll be rocking that shit with all of its features.

I truly believe that an SLI/Crossfire configuration is a mistake for anyone except for demonstration/competition computers that must have faster rendering on current games.

Posted: Apr 05 2011 11:35 am

PhysX is only good if you have a 2nd dedicated card for just handling the PhysX, otherwise it's hurts your overall FPS too much.

And, really you only need a 8800GTX+/9800GTX/GTS 250/GTS 450 (By the way, these are all the EXACT SAME FUCKING CARD!) for that, and these can be had for under a $100.

And, don't listen to nVidia when they say you have to have a nVidia graphics card as your primary to make a 2nd PhysX card work. There are hacked drivers for using an AMD primary.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Knyte wrote:

PhysX is only good if you have a 2nd dedicated card for just handling the PhysX, otherwise it's hurts your overall FPS too much.

And, really you only need a 8800GTX+/9800GTX/GTS 250/GTS 450 (By the way, these are all the EXACT SAME FUCKING CARD!) for that, and these can be had for under a $100.

And, don't listen to nVidia when they say you have to have a nVidia graphics card as your primary to make a 2nd PhysX card work. There are hacked drivers for using an AMD primary.

What games are you playing?

Posted: Apr 05 2011 11:55 am

Lately:
BF:BC2 Vietnam
Dragon Age I & II
Crysis Wars
Anno 1404
The Sims: Medieval

Why?

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Knyte wrote:

Lately:
BF:BC2 Vietnam
Dragon Age I & II
Crysis Wars
Anno 1404
The Sims: Medieval

Why?

I originally thought you were suggesting a 8800GTX+/9800GTX/GTS 250/GTS 450 in place of a modern card. I now realize that you were suggesting it for PhysX computation in addition to the modern card.

I was asking about the games because in my head the games I know and play wouldn't be worth the performance vs price drop to go with a 2-4 year old gaming card. Since I was wrong in how I read your post, the point is moot.

What is Anno 1404?

Posted: Apr 05 2011 01:48 pm

It's better know as "Dawn of Discovery" in the US. It's a very in depth and absolutely awesome RTS game. Though, it's not so much about war and fighting as it is about building colonies and supporting them. It is also an absolutely beautiful game.

In game shot:

Posted: Apr 05 2011 01:52 pm

that game looks impressive! must get computer faster!

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Knyte wrote:

It's better know as "Dawn of Discovery" in the US. It's a very in depth and absolutely awesome RTS game. Though, it's not so much about war and fighting as it is about building colonies and supporting them. It is also an absolutely beautiful game.

Wow... I'm not sure I understand what is going on completely, but it seems as though Ubisoft won't patch the US version of the game and therefore Steam refuses to carry it any longer.

Posted: Apr 05 2011 03:14 pm

UK version via Amazon: $9.99

http://www.amazon.com/ANNO-1404-Pc/dp/B002EVDU5A

Posted: Apr 06 2011 01:33 am

Oh amazon

okay so I think im heading to the local tech store tomorrow to get a quote, ill probably go with the Geforce GTX 560 video card and upping my primary drive to 128 mb... might go higher depending on the quote I get

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

bassguy252 wrote:

Oh amazon

okay so I think im heading to the local tech store tomorrow to get a quote, ill probably go with the Geforce GTX 560 video card and upping my primary drive to 128 mb... might go higher depending on the quote I get

You should price this on Newegg before heading out to a store. That way you'll have a general idea about how much it should cost.