3k build

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Posted: 12 Sep 2010 at 6:10am

Yea,

first of all, I personally don't agree with the 920 cpu, I would get the 950 for a number of reasons
second, no SSD? if you are spending 3k IMO it's a must have
third, I think you should go with one gtx 480 and maybe get another one later on
4th, get either of the noctua fans (the difference in performance is roughly 4 degrees Celsius)
lastly, if you have the time, it's best that you tweak the OS yourself, or not do it at all, as Windows 7 is already a featherweight and agile OS

PS I personally don't agree with the slightly outdated Hailstorm, I'd get one of the HAFs

PPS feel free to ask for justification for any of my sugestions

al3xLJ

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Posted: 12 Sep 2010 at 6:13am

this is what i would go for if i were u ;)

Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Black OPS HailStorm Edition
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i7 950 3.06GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: EVGA X58 SLI 3 Edition (Intel X58 Chipset) (Features USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s) (Model: 131-GT-E767)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 1000W Digital Storm Certified (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition Highly Recommended)
Expansion Bay: Internal Digital Media Card Reader (Black) (NOTE: Disables 2 Front USB Ports)
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (80GB Solid State (By: Intel) (Model: X25-M MLC Edition) (Extreme Performance)
Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: 1x (1TB Hitachi/Seagate (7200 RPM) (32MB Cache)
Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 1.5GB (Includes PhysX Technology)
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 1: Noctua Dual 120mm Fans High Performance Cooler (Compatible With ONLY i7 Processors)
H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: - No Thanks
Enhancements: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Noise Reduction: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: FREE: Stage 1: Overclock the processor between 3.3GHz to 3.9GHz (Cooling Upgrade Recommended)
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Boost OS: FREE: Yes, Disable and tweak all of the non-crucial services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (64-Bit Edition)
Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows 7 CD)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
Display: Acer 24 inch (Widescreen) (Black) (High-Performance Gaming Display)
Surge Shield: APC 700VA Uninterruptible Backup Surge Conditioner
Speakers: Logitech 2.1 System (Black Edition) (Model LS21) (Includes Subwoofer)
Keyboard: Razer Lycosa Gaming USB Desktop (Multimedia Keyboard)
Mouse: Razer Lachesis Gaming Mouse (High-Speed Gaming Grade)
External Storage: - No Thanks
Exclusive T-Shirt: - No Thanks
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty

load config number: 440246

!ender_

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Posted: 12 Sep 2010 at 9:25am

to al3x

there is absolutely no logical reason to get a 950 over a 920, its the exact same chips, as several of us have explained over and over

SSDs are hardly a must have for anyone, not only is it preference, but its impact is very specific to your use, for some people, they would barely ever know they had one, at the cost per GB its simply not worth it to some people

why 1 480 over 2 470s? that again i do not understand

i agree with al3x on avoiding the cooler you selected, both noctua choices are better

the hailstorm is very much geared toward water cooling, so if you are only doing stage 2 cooling i wouldnt get it becuase it simply cant cool that well and isnt worth the money

********************************************

to xard

not bad overall, i made some changes i think you should consider http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=440266

mainly the cpu cooler and the case

the case you chose is not the best air cooler, neither is the cpu cooler you chose

id also leave out as many periferals as possible, these will add to your shipping costs, are not covered under your digital storm warranty, and you can find much better prices and selections at online retailers than you can here

consider reading the guide linked in my signature for more tips/advice

dblecircle View Drop Down

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Posted: 12 Sep 2010 at 9:31am

For that kind of money you should have a SSD. Your accessories are eating up some cash, if you are not using a promo bundle you might want to look at getting those things cheaper somewhere. The expensive surge protector I don't think is necessary, the basic one will be fine without the battery pack. 1200 watts is better for 2 480s. Might as well get the free overclock on your video cards, its a modest overclock and its free, and if you are getting 2 480s it looks like you are interested in a lot of gaming power. You could save a little money on the case, and accessories and do a lot with it to increase performance by upping the processor and getting an SSD I think is the most important thing. Just messing with it and keeping the accessories besides the expensive surge protector I came up with:

I'm still a noob here though so I'd wait till some veterans weighed in.

Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Black OPS Assassin Edition
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i7 950 3.06GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: EVGA X58 SLI 3 Edition (Intel X58 Chipset) (Features USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s) (Model: 131-GT-E767)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 1200W Digital Storm Certified (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition Highly Recommended)
Expansion Bay: Internal Digital Media Card Reader (Black) (NOTE: Disables 2 Front USB Ports)
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 2x (40GB Solid State (By: Intel) (Model: X-25V Edition) (Extreme Performance)
Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: 1x (500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM)
Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 2x SLI Dual (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470 1.2GB (Includes PhysX Technology)
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: H20: Stage 2: Asetek Liquid CPU Cooler (240mm Radiator) (High-Performance Edition)
H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: - No Thanks
Enhancements: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Noise Reduction: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: FREE: Stage 1: Overclock the processor between 3.3GHz to 3.9GHz (Cooling Upgrade Recommended)
Boost Video Card: FREE: Yes, Overclock the video card(s) as much as possible with complete stability
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Boost OS: FREE: Yes, Disable and tweak all of the non-crucial services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition)
Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows 7 CD)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
Display: Acer 24 inch (Widescreen) (Black) (High-Performance Gaming Display)
Surge Shield: APC SurgeArrest Personal PER7 (7 Outlet) 120V Surge Protector
Speakers: Logitech 2.1 System (Black Edition) (Model LS21) (Includes Subwoofer)
Keyboard: Razer Lycosa Gaming USB Desktop (Multimedia Keyboard)
Mouse: Razer Lachesis Gaming Mouse (High-Speed Gaming Grade)
External Storage: - No Thanks
Exclusive T-Shirt: - No Thanks
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty

980x @ 3.9, SLI Dual 480s, 120 gig SSD, X-fi Champion, 1200w, 800d, 12 gigs RAM, RTS + CS5 Fun O Fun Oh My!

Xard

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Posted: 12 Sep 2010 at 5:25pm

Thanks for the help guys

anyways my absolute budget limit is actually <$3500..
would you recommend buying the same accessories at newegg or something?
also, with the money I saved in ender's setup, would getting stage 2 noctua be better? (and do I have to get the classified motherboard, since the cooler description says it doesnt fit on the regular one)

[[can anyone recommend good speakers, and a 24 inch monitor?]]

al3xLJ

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Posted: 12 Sep 2010 at 5:36pm

well ender, I must be honest, i thought 930 and 950 had the same chip >.<
so it turns out 920 has too. then the only reason to get a 950 is if you aren't OCing :P. also i guess it's better binned but meh

!ender_

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Posted: 12 Sep 2010 at 5:50pm

yea i have a hard time believing the binning process is too strict, all that really means is that the chip was capable of handling a +1 to the multiplier and stayed in required temperature/stablility ranges

plus it wouldnt matter, dso overclock says 3.3 - 3.9 free .. which is above both of them stock, and theres literally no reason, ever, not to overclock

al3xLJ

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Posted: 12 Sep 2010 at 5:53pm

oh forgot to say, the 470s in SLI will be watt hungry, hot whiners. but the power will in no way be negligible

Xard

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Posted: 12 Sep 2010 at 6:06pm

lol these are the accessories from newegg; am I really saving money like this?

Qty.	Product Description	Savings	Total Price
1	RAZER Lycosa Black Wired Standard Gaming Keyboard Item #:N82E16823114004 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$5.00 Instant	$79.99 $74.99
1	RAZER Lachesis Banshee Blue Wired Laser Gaming Mouse Item #:N82E16826153017 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy		$79.99
1	ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor Built-in Speakers Item #:N82E16824236049 Return Policy: Monitor Standard Return Policy	-$30.00 Instant	$249.99 $219.99
1	Logitech Z-2300 2.1 Speaker System Item #:N82E16836121122 Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy	-$46.00 Instant	$165.99 $119.99
Grand Total:			$494.96

Edited by Xard - 12 Sep 2010 at 6:09pm

al3xLJ

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Posted: 12 Sep 2010 at 6:25pm

not logitech, pleez
i highly recommend the audioengine 2's (A2), or if youre willing to shed the xtra bucks the A5
the A2's are the same price and trust me they will sound considerably better (I own the A2s and I have listened a lot to the logitech ones as my old room mate had em)

!ender_

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121019&Tpk=logitech%20LS21

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Posted: 12 Sep 2010 at 6:45pm

not sure about the logitech opinion, ive always used it and always heard good things, but i rarely use my speakers anyway, i use my heaphones

those speakers you linked are not the ones dso is offering you, these are

and acer has 6 different 24" monitors, so who knows which one you would get, it doesnt say

also, with the money I saved in ender's setup, would getting stage 2 noctua be better?

[[can anyone recommend good speakers, and a 24 inch monitor?]]

the difference betweent the stage 1 and stage 2 noctua is next to nothing, monitors i always suggest seeing in person, i personally prefer LG, but acer and asus has some good ones for nice prices... speakers like i said up there im no help with, im headphones all the way

as far as what products to get, im a big fan of the roccat kave(headphones) and kone(mouse) @ roccat.org

al3xLJ

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Posted: 12 Sep 2010 at 6:47pm

as ender said, the difference between the noctuas is very small (around 4 degrees celsius as i previously stated)

MagiK

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Posted: 12 Sep 2010 at 6:51pm

It's very hard to beat the Hanspree 28" for price and value.....they cost the same as many 24" monitors.... The HF289's are what I got, for duget monitors they are great.
havent used them for gaming but for my work purposes they are top notch and got good reviews.

Ancalagon, My Syndicate SubZero Build Review

al3xLJ

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Posted: 12 Sep 2010 at 6:55pm

here's a review from stereophile on the A2's you might wanna check out ;)
http://www.stereophile.com/budgetcomponents/1207ae/

neilkaz