Advice or suggestions?Post Date: 2008-03-31 |
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sargeman 
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Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20 |
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 Topic: Advice or suggestions?Posted: 31 Mar 2008 at 4:30pm |
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Hi all, first time poster here, this will be my first time buying a "non gateway or dell" computer, so I am trying to get things right the first time :P Here is my build:
Specifications:
Case: Digital Storm 850Si (Black Anodized Aluminum Finish) Power Supply: 850W Thermaltake (8800 GTX SLI Compatible) **CLEARANCE PRICE** Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz (1066MHz FSB) (8MB Cache) Motherboard: nVidia 780i Core 2 Quad (nForce 780i SLI) Memory: 2GB DDR2 Corsair at 1066MHz Dominator DHX (Extreme-Performance) Floppy / Card: - No Thanks Hard Drive 1: 320GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA) Hard Drive 2: - No Thanks Raid Option: - No Thanks Hard Drive 3: - No Thanks Optical Drive 1: - No Thanks Optical Drive 2: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) Network Card: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections) Video Card: 2x SLI Dual (nVidia GeForce 9800GTX 512MB) TV Tuner: - No Thanks Sound Card: Motherboard Multi-Channel High Definition Audio Physics Card: - No Thanks Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 2 (Silent Artic Cooling Heat-sink Upgrade (Copper Heatpipes) Case Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Blue Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes) Round Cables: - No Thanks User Manual: Personalized Platinum Digital Storm Binder (Includes Paperwork/Benchmarks/CDs/Manuals) Overclock Processor: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability Overclock Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s) Overclock Memory: Yes, Overclock memory timings (Includes Corsair Dominator Airflow Fan Upgrade) Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Enthusiasts) Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based) Protection: - No Thanks Office: - No Thanks Benchmarking: - No Thanks Pre-Install Game: - No Thanks LCD Display: - No Thanks Surge Shield: - No Thanks Speakers: - No Thanks Keyboard: - No Thanks Mouse: - No Thanks my keyboard comes with a mouse Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty Support: Lifetime Toll-Free Platinum Care Technical Support ____________________________________ So here are a few questions I have...first is the 9800gtx out? It seemed to do pretty well in the reviews ive seen. I had chosen the 8800gts but for $4 more this seems like a better choice. Also, i have no clue on the whole windows 32 and 64 bit systems. I want vista, just because thats the future, but I have no clue which vista to get. Thanks for any and all help, and any other suggestions anyone may have :)
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Thx
Newbie
Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13 |
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Posted: 31 Mar 2008 at 4:33pm |
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If you have 2 gigs, than you should go with the 32 bit.
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sargeman
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Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20 |
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Posted: 31 Mar 2008 at 4:53pm |
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How many gigs are needed to get the 64 bit version?
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SunfighterLC
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Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1527 |
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Posted: 31 Mar 2008 at 5:07pm |
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Generally people with 4GB or more will head the 64 bit route, though i dont see anything wrong with going that way if you have 2GB, vista is pretty memory hungry, and 64 bit makes it even worse, Id only recommend it if you plan to upgrade your ram in the future.
The 9800GTXs arnt out yet, so you are banking on them without knowing their benchmarks, but id assume theyd be alright. 2 of them should be very slightly faster then 1 GX2. Keep in mind the price though, if you dont ever plan to add a 3rd GTX, then a single GX2 would be cheaper solution overall for what im guessing will be a minor difference in FPS. (keep in mind this is before any benchmarks, so its just general guessing)
That saved 100 bucks could be used adding the extra ram, or even getting stage 3 air cooling. Rest looks alrighty though. I would of recommended an E8400 instead, but the price difference is only 6 bucks less now. It used to be 44..and while the E8400 gives superior gaming performance right now overclocked vs the overclocked Q6600, it isnt as future proofed as games will start to move towards supporting quad cores.
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sargeman
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Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20 |
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Posted: 31 Mar 2008 at 5:34pm |
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Thanks for the great suggestions! Now my head is spinning haha here is a link to a review of the 9800gtx
But then, if its not out yet, and i want to buy in the next day or two, i guess it wouldnt really matter... if they arent out, why is it an option in the builder? According to the review, the gtx hangs right in there with the gx2... Also would i be able to add another 9800gx2 down the road with this motherboard and power supply? Edited by sargeman - 31 Mar 2008 at 5:41pm |
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Thx
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Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13 |
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Posted: 31 Mar 2008 at 5:59pm |
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I read that review. It seams like the gtx has alot more bang for your buck, and the difference is only a few frames between the two. Also, currently the drivers for the gx2 aren't that good and sli in vista isent the best thing out there. Persinally, i think that the gtx is just as powerful (it was just as fast, if not faster in the low res) if not more than the gx2.
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SunfighterLC
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Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1527 |
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Posted: 31 Mar 2008 at 6:14pm |
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It says fairly even at the lower resolutions which is what you kinda expect. SLI and the GX2 really start to show their power in the higher resolutions (1600xwhatever on up) If you notice in those benchmarks once the resolution was shown around 1900xwhatever the GX2 starts to pull ahead farther as the GTX starts to get stressed.
A good example would be on this page of the review. On the half life 2 full AA/AF
The WIC below it shows much the same thing, but if you notice the benchmarked resolution its only 1280x1024. Which is why the lead of the GX2 is only slight. (still 20%)
That is why most people ask what the resolution the person plays at first, before they recommend SLI or not. 1280x1024 you wont notice a very large jump in performance over a single card which is exactly why the single GTX can keep up with a GX2 in that resolution. SLI and the GX2 is built around people that wanna play at large resolutions at high detail, if you want high detail and a 1024x1024 then a single card is good enough for most everybody.
Now to reguards to your question, ive actually been thinking about this myself, because in my build I currently i have i am going with a Single GX2 with future plans of upgrading by adding a second one. You might wanna ask around deeper, but right now im assuming that only a 1000W or a 1200W would be good enough for quad SLI which is exactly what 2 GX2s would be.
Im hoping the 1000W would be enough, im still waiting for an approved answer from a DS tech, the difference in price from a 1000W to a 1200W is a ton too.
The mobo is perfect though, youd be set using that.
To make it simple, 2 GTX's in SLI probably will be faster then 1 GX2, by how much, its too early to say, but by looking at it, im guessing it wont be very much. So the real question is, Do you wanna pay the 100 bucks more for something that might be only 5-10% faster? and as of right now, there is no benchmarks really to go on. So who knows.
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Harry
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Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 190 |
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Posted: 31 Mar 2008 at 9:04pm |
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I wonder how hot 2 GTXs will run? Would Stage 2 cooling suffice or would Stage 3 be better?
What about 2 GTX2s?
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Cool Master HAF 932
Core i7 965 DSO OC Water cooled CPU ASUS Rampage II Extreme 6 GB DDR3 1600 OCZ 1000 W Corsair HX GTX 470 300 GB Raptor tera 7200rpm Windows 7 |
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SunfighterLC
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Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1527 |
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Posted: 31 Mar 2008 at 9:22pm |
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Id definally assume the cooling on the GTX's will be much better. The GX2 has heat problems mainly due to its back vent being too small, which causes a lot of the combined heat to escape not out that vent, but back into the computer, which is a serious no no. I think itd be probably fine in a 950 or 850 case with stage 3 air cooling. As long as you have enough airflow that the heat being pumped in is taken out almost as fast, it should be okay.
I asked Kelly, and the 1000W Silverstone Strider should be alright with duel GX2s.
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Harry
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Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 190 |
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Posted: 31 Mar 2008 at 10:07pm |
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So the Stage 3 would be OK for the SLI GTX or the GTX2?
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Cool Master HAF 932
Core i7 965 DSO OC Water cooled CPU ASUS Rampage II Extreme 6 GB DDR3 1600 OCZ 1000 W Corsair HX GTX 470 300 GB Raptor tera 7200rpm Windows 7 |
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SunfighterLC
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Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1527 |
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Posted: 31 Mar 2008 at 10:12pm |
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Both,
Here is a tri, duel 9800GTX, quad GX2 early review.
Again take it with some grains of salt.
Honestly though, it seems like maybe the 9800GTX might have the upper hand over a quad GX2, namely because the GTX has a better core, so 3 of them together can be 4 in the duel GX2, since in all reguards the GX2 is just a couple 8800GTs...
As of right now though on DS systems, its cheaper to get a single GX2 over a duel GTX set up.
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Tyler Lowe
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Joined: 14 May 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0 |
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Posted: 31 Mar 2008 at 11:01pm |
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Heya Sargeman.
The build looks very good. As others have mentioned, a 64 bit OS is not really at an advantage over a 32 bit OS unless you intend on installing more than 2 GB of RAM. When it comes to the GPU's, the 9800GTX is a renamed 8800GTS with a second SLI connection. The 8800GTS is a great card, a slightly upclocked version should be a very solid choice as well. I also think you might want to consider the stage 3 air cooling. Better air flow in the case should keep the need for the louder, smaller fans on your GPU's and CPU from having to rev up to 100% as often. Better cooling is probably the single most cost effective way to improve overall performance. |
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Harry
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Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 190 |
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Posted: 31 Mar 2008 at 11:04pm |
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This is all very good and useful information, thanks everyone.
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Cool Master HAF 932
Core i7 965 DSO OC Water cooled CPU ASUS Rampage II Extreme 6 GB DDR3 1600 OCZ 1000 W Corsair HX GTX 470 300 GB Raptor tera 7200rpm Windows 7 |
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SunfighterLC
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Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1527 |
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Posted: 01 Apr 2008 at 7:58am |
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The 9800GTX was just released today, i can see some on newegg.com for 329.99. For that price it does seem worth it, just remember a duel set it will cost more then a GX2, but it is my belief that the GTX will have better cooling, and duels will be slightly to moderately faster then a GX2. Its tri sli get up is about equal in power to a quad GX2 right now, then again, i think that is just due to driver inefficencies right now.
But definally the 9800GTXs now that i know their retail price.
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Harry
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Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 190 |
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Posted: 01 Apr 2008 at 9:26am |
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Cool Master HAF 932
Core i7 965 DSO OC Water cooled CPU ASUS Rampage II Extreme 6 GB DDR3 1600 OCZ 1000 W Corsair HX GTX 470 300 GB Raptor tera 7200rpm Windows 7 |
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sargeman
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Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20 |
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Posted: 01 Apr 2008 at 7:53pm |
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Ok so my head is about to explode lol Way too many options, and every review i read on the 9800 gtx/gx2 is different, so here is another question. I have a 19" lcd monitor, plan on upgrading to a 22, no more than 24 at the most, im addicted to WoW mostly, and would like to not upgrade for quite some time. So someone tell me what to buy so i can order this damn thing and get it over with LOL thanks for all the great responses!
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SunfighterLC
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Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1527 |
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Posted: 01 Apr 2008 at 8:29pm |
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I think its a real toss up to be honest between 2 9800GTX and 1 GX2. Im going to do a basic assumption that youd have a 22inch monitor with a native resolution at 1600x whatever.
Keep in mind that on DS at least, 2 9800GTX are 102 dollars more expensive then a single GX2.
Ill use this review of 9800GTX sli vs GX2
The main differences are:
Power load:
GTX SLI: 419W
GX2 : 374W
Performance:(1600x1200)
Call of duty (4AA, 16AF, Max settings)
GTX: 95 FPS
GX2: 91 FPS
Crysis (0AA, 16AF)
GTX: 46 FPS
GX2: 45 FPS
ET: Quake Wars (4AA, 16AF)
GTX: 62 FPS
GX2: 67 FPS
So as you can see, its a total toss up on what you want to do. The 9800GTX SLI will eat more power, while the GX2 will pump out a lot more heat into your box thanks in part to its not so great cooling get up. (strangely, it idles hot, but under load it actually stays cooler then the older 8800 cards)
Also keep in mind upgrading the GX2 will be A LOT more expensive then the 9800GTX. As youll have fork over another 500+ bucks, that is, if you get one while they are fairly new still. While the 9800GTX costs less as a single card upgrade. A maxxed out triple sli GTX will run you roughly about 980 bucks over 3 cards. A maxxed out GX2 (2 cards total 4GPUs) at current prices will run you about 1150 bucks.
Quad SLI is also currently buggy as hell, I believe mostly due to driver issues, that may be resolved sometime in the future. If you look at the which GPU to choose thread, i believe I posted a link to a review of Quad SLI, and you can see that bug in action, where without warning the FPS and performance of the Quad SLI just suddenly tanks to unplayable levels and levels that are below that of a 8800GTX SLI. Which if i paid 1100 bucks worth, id be really pissed about that. But like i said, hopefully its just driver issues that will be (cross my fingers) resolved as some point in time.
So yea.....close your eyes, and make a random pick...either one youd probably be satisifed with.
Edited by SunfighterLC - 01 Apr 2008 at 8:31pm |
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sargeman
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Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20 |
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Posted: 01 Apr 2008 at 9:13pm |
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i dont plan on upgrading for quite some time. so maybe one gx2 for now, then go sli with a different series card or what not a few years down the road? if i go with one gx2 i could go with the stage 3 cooling :D
Edited by sargeman - 01 Apr 2008 at 9:15pm |
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sargeman
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Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20 |
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Posted: 02 Apr 2008 at 10:13pm |
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Well I gave up and just started clicking on stuff, and this is what i came up with and bought. Thanks again for all the help, makes this place much more enjoyable!
Specifications: Case: Digital Storm 850Si (Black Anodized Aluminum Finish) Power Supply: 1000W SilverStone Strider (Dual SLI Compatible) (Model: ST1000) (Silent) Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz (1066MHz FSB) (8MB Cache) Motherboard: nVidia 780i Core 2 Quad (nForce 780i SLI) Memory: 4GB DDR2 Corsair at 1066MHz Dominator DHX (Extreme-Performance) Floppy / Card: - No Thanks Hard Drive 1: 320GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA) Hard Drive 2: - No Thanks Raid Option: - No Thanks Hard Drive 3: - No Thanks Optical Drive 1: - No Thanks Optical Drive 2: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) Network Card: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections) Video Card: nVidia GeForce 9800GX2 1GB TV Tuner: - No Thanks Sound Card: Motherboard Multi-Channel High Definition Audio Physics Card: - No Thanks Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 3 WindTunnel (Copper Heatpipe Heatsink & Zalman Case Fans) Case Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Blue Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes) Round Cables: - No Thanks User Manual: Personalized Platinum Digital Storm Binder (Includes Paperwork/Benchmarks/CDs/Manuals) Overclock Processor: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability Overclock Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s) Overclock Memory: Yes, Overclock memory timings (Includes Corsair Dominator Airflow Fan Upgrade) Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Enthusiasts) Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based) Protection: - No Thanks Office: - No Thanks Benchmarking: - No Thanks Pre-Install Game: - No Thanks LCD Display: - No Thanks Surge Shield: - No Thanks Speakers: - No Thanks Keyboard: - No Thanks Mouse: - No Thanks my keyboard comes with a mouse Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty Support: Lifetime Toll-Free Platinum Care Technical Support |
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SunfighterLC
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Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1527 |
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Posted: 02 Apr 2008 at 10:31pm |
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heh thats about the exact same build as i have going on. Only difference is I might go with 2GB of 1066 and upgrade it later. And i dont have a CD/DVD burner (my printer has one). And i went with a E8400 core.Still trying to decide between a 950, 850, cosmos, and cosmos S
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Tyler Lowe
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Joined: 14 May 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0 |
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Posted: 02 Apr 2008 at 11:55pm |
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Looks good
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boeingme
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Joined: 03 Apr 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2 |
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Posted: 03 Apr 2008 at 10:19pm |
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You want to stay away from Vista 64 bit regardless how much RAM you have. I have the 32/64 Bit Vista Ultimate (loaded 64 bit) and have 4G Corsair Ram and it has a hard time running (granted my board contain an Athlon 64 3000+ not overclocked. Compatibility issues with 64Bit are known on Adobe Acrobat 7.0 so my additional thoughts right now are, why go to 64Bit when there is nill software out there to take advantage of it. Do yourself a favor, stick with 2G ram and use Vista 32. You'll have a few more bucks and a system much more reliable.
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Tyler Lowe
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Joined: 14 May 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0 |
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Posted: 04 Apr 2008 at 12:03am |
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Many users on this forum have reported excellent luck with Vista 64 bit. It is at least possible that the difference between a stock Athlon 64 3000+ and a Q6600 would yield very different experiences yes?
The two processors in question are in red on this chart  Again, I do not discount anyone's experiences, I simply point out that others, with systems more similar to the one Sargeman has selected, have reported satisfaction with Vista 64 bit.  
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