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Bout time to upgrade

Post Date: 2010-07-09
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3Circles View Drop Down
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Posts: 27 		  Quote 3Circles Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: Bout time to upgrade
    Posted: 09 Jul 2010 at 12:14am
Hey Folks, New member here!
Been lurking the forums for the past few months now.

Been using a Dell 4600 since Summer of '03.  Upgraded the Sound card, video card, memory, and Power supply through the years.  It's served me quite well, but I think it's time to upgrade to a computer that's going to last the same, if not longer, amount of time.
Basically I'm looking for a system that is fully upgradable so I can just upgrade the parts down the road instead of buying a whole new computer every couple years.
I'm not a hardcore gamer, but I do game occasionally.  I do a lot of multitasking, and Listen to alot of music, and watch movies.  I do occasionally like to edit audio/video just for fun (not pro).

I'll be adding my own soundcard to the rig after I receive it.
I have a pair of high quality speakers to use with this system.
My current res is 1680 x 1050
But I'm looking to get a better monitor at 1900 X 1200

Here's the config I came up with:


Ticket Number: 420957
Total Price with Instant Savings: $2,336.00

Direct Load URL: http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=420957

Specifications:
Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Cooler Master 942 HAF X
Processor: Intel Core i7 930 2.8GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: EVGA X58 LE Edition SLI (Intel X58 Chipset) (Supports SLI or CrossFire)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series  (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 750W Corsair TX (Dual SLI Compatible)
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (80GB Solid State (By: Intel) (Extreme Performance) (Model: X25-M MLC Edition)
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: 1x (1TB Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS  (7200 RPM) (32MB Cache) (SATA) (Extreme Speed)
Optical Drive 1: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x)
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 1x NVIDIA EVGA GeForce GTX 480 1.5GB (Includes PhysX Technology)
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 2: Noctua NH-D14 Extreme Performance (Does NOT fit on the regular EVGA X58 3X SLI)
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Boost Processor: FREE: Stage 1: Overclock the processor between 3.3GHz to 3.9GHz (Cooling Upgrade Recommended)
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit Edition)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Warranty: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 1 Year Hassle-free Hardware Service

Now, I also had some questions,
1.  Apart from the "DVD Restore Disc" what other discs come with the system?  
2.  Can the LEDs on the fans be disabled?       I don't want any "bling" lights.

Thanks!


Edited by 3Circles - 09 Jul 2010 at 12:17am
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!ender_ View Drop Down
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Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Jul 2010 at 8:48am
the discs that come, at least came with my order, are any driver disks that match your hardware choices, ie mobo, gpu, sound card, etc
 
led fans can be turned off on some cases, replaced on others, for the needs you listed, id suggest the haf 932 and 470, save you a couple hundred for a nice monitor. your build is very overkill for the needs you listed already, but those are the only two things i would change if i was building it for you based on your needs and budget.
 
may even consider stepping down to the noctua u12p to save some more money, the 14 is overkill under 4ghz in my opinion, and you didnt say anything about overclocking on your own
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Posts: 27 		  Quote 3Circles Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Jul 2010 at 3:28pm
Do we get an OS disc as well?  I expect we would, but I figured I'd ask.

I'll probably get more into gaming once I have a system to support today's and future games.  My current system can't really support todays games without massive lag or vaporizing the video card LOL. 

As for the case, I like the look and functionality of the HAF-X than the 932.  I was thinking about the assassin because of the really clean front, but I think HAF would keep everything cooler.

here's a better list of my needs: (I ran out of space in the first post to properly list it)

Some Gaming, Probably more.
     --A mix of old games and new games
Multitasking
     --I do this a lot
Some audio/video editing
Some 3D stuff
     --Modeling, Animation, Rendering
Some photo editing
Listening to music
     --A lot of music
Watching movies


Budget: no more than $2400
This amount is only for the tower.   Monitor and other accessories are a separate budget.
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Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Jul 2010 at 4:03pm
yes you get an OS disk, a recovery disk and i think one more but i never used them i just reformat with a fresh windows so im not sure
 
if you play some older games consider getting vista pro for xp compatibility
 
even if you think you'll get into gaming, based off the vibe im getting from your posts i really think the 470 is better for you, to save money. but of course its your budget and the 480 is a good card, so it wouldnt be a mistake
 
then like i already said, id reccomend the u12p
 
the hafx is a lot of hype and a little improvement imo. from what i hear, some of the fan slots are considered optional and not filled, adding more dust holes and less value to its already overpriced build, especially compared to the haf 932. but again, its preference and its your budget
 
but the config doesnt have any real problems, as long as you dont consider the $330ish that you would save with my changes a big deal, then you are good to go!
oh and dont forget to add in your free game when you order
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Posts: 27 		  Quote 3Circles Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Jul 2010 at 10:31pm
I was a bit concerned about the XP mode in Win 7 pro.  In a lot of places I've read that the XP mode was not designed for games and won't perform well.  Is that true?

If you think the 470 will fit my needs, then I'll change to it. Honestly, I have no clue which would be more appropriate for my needs.

I don't plan on doing any overclocking myself, and as long as the u12p will be sufficient enough, I'll switch to that.

I think I'll stick with the HAF X.   I just don't like the look of the HAF 932. 

The new config:

Ticket Number: 421173
Total Price with Instant Savings: $2,111.00

Direct Load URL: http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=421173

Specifications:
Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Cooler Master 942 HAF X
Processor: Intel Core i7 930 2.8GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: EVGA X58 LE Edition SLI (Intel X58 Chipset) (Supports SLI or CrossFire)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series  (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 750W Corsair TX (Dual SLI Compatible)
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (80GB Solid State (By: Intel) (Extreme Performance) (Model: X25-M MLC Edition) 
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: 1x (1TB Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS  (7200 RPM) (32MB Cache) (SATA) (Extreme Speed)
Optical Drive 1: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x)
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 1x NVIDIA EVGA GeForce GTX 470 1.2GB (Includes PhysX Technology)
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 1: Noctua Dual 120mm Fans High Performance Cooler (Compatible With ONLY i7 Processors)
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Boost Processor: FREE: Stage 1: Overclock the processor between 3.3GHz to 3.9GHz (Cooling Upgrade Recommended)
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit Edition)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Install/Test Game: FREE: Hot-selling game with a NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 or above graphics card
Exclusive T-Shirt: FREE: Digital Storm T-Shirt - Black (Large)
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 1 Year Hassle-free Hardware Service
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Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 10 Jul 2010 at 12:04am
to be honest i have win7 pro 64 and i havent tried it, maybe someone else here has, i havent needed it yet. i guess thats a good thing?
 
im glad you went to the 470, this will help your budget for getting a good quality monitor too, and the 470 will push a 1920x1080 monitor well.
 
looking great, consider upping the warranty a little, dont forget to get some case lighting... dont get blue its so last year, green looks sick in my haf 932, see below =D
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Posts: 27 		  Quote 3Circles Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 10 Jul 2010 at 1:26am
How well does the 470 hold up with a 1920 X 1200 ?
In case I go for a really nice monitor...


Of course, I may just stick with the monitor I have now...

But anyways,  Thank you !ender_ for your help thus far!
I very much appreciate it!

Actually, what is the performance difference between the Noctuas?
is it significant?

I just want to make sure cooling is sufficient.


Edited by 3Circles - 10 Jul 2010 at 3:12am
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Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 10 Jul 2010 at 8:48am
the difference is not significant, dragoon says that with the 14 you get the option for extra cooling by adding another fan to something that already costs i think $50 more?
not worth it at all in my opinion, i would bet good money that the noctua 14 + another good fan, which would be at least 12 dollars, would not give more than a 3c difference at load based off of what i have personally read and assessed about it
 
like i said, im at 4.2ghz on my u12p, and granted, im at the temp ceiling (touching the mid 80s during prime) but thats expected given the 67% overclock during the hardest stability test
 
it will definitely fill your needs for overclocking in dso's range of 3.1-3.9
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Posts: 27 		  Quote 3Circles Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 10 Jul 2010 at 1:52pm
Ok, thanks for the info on the Noctuas.

About the other question in that post:

How does the 470 hold up a res of 1920 X 1200?

looking at monitors in the 24" area, a lot of them use that res, and I wanna make sure the 470 can handle that res with no problems.

Thanks!
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Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 10 Jul 2010 at 3:09pm
yes, the res is paramount to the actual real estate size of the monitor
 
as long as you are in the 1920x ____ a 470 is a solid choice
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Posts: 27 		  Quote 3Circles Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 10 Jul 2010 at 3:24pm
Originally posted by !ender_

yes, the res is paramount to the actual real estate size of the monitor
 
as long as you are in the 1920x ____ a 470 is a solid choice


Awesome

Apart from XP Mode, are there any other differences between Win 7 Home and Pro
I mean it's only $32 difference in price.

I'm just not sure if I'd actually use XP Mode, and unless there are other significant differences, I'll probably stick with Win 7 Home. I'd hate to pay extra for a feature I may not even use.
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Posts: 2312 		  Quote ablahblah Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 10 Jul 2010 at 3:56pm
Originally posted by 3Circles

I was a bit concerned about the XP mode in Win 7 pro.  In a lot of places I've read that the XP mode was not designed for games and won't perform well.  Is that true?



XP Mode is designed to run only if you really really really NEED to open something in an XP environment. It is unable to communicate as well with external devices, such as cameras. Keyboard and mouse appear to be okay, but I don't know. Don't game on it though, it's just...not built for that purpose.
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Asus Sabertooth X58
EVGA GTX 570
Mushkin 6GB 1414Mhz
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Posts: 7331 		  Quote Cretae Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 10 Jul 2010 at 4:39pm

ablah is correct. I just got thru replaying Deus Ex (ca. 2000, rev. 2002) on Win 7 without a hitch. I would guess many many older games would do well on Win 7. If you had to rely on XP mode, it would be a mixed bag, I'm sure.

If you were a hard core gamer, the 470 would not be your card for max settings at 1920x1200. For us more casual types, though, it's a lot of gpu power. The ATI 5870 could make you more comfortable, but $90 more.
 
I would go with the 470 and put that $90 toward this monitor:
 
I bought it here:
I think this is the definition of bang for the buck. This is an ips panel, 24" 1920x1200, and is the best I've ever seen, because they just don't have any ips panels on the showroom floor around here, or they'd never sell the TN stuff. So no LCD I've ever seen looked this good.
Coolermaster Storm Sniper
Intel Core i7 930 3.8GHz OC
EVGA X58 LE
6GB DDR3 1600Mhz Ram
750W Corsair
1TB HDD
1x ATI RadeonHD 5870 1GB
Noctua Dual 120mm
I can make my mind think... anything....
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Posts: 27 		  Quote 3Circles Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 10 Jul 2010 at 6:18pm
Excellent!  Thank you for you comments on Xp Mode.  It looks to be a feature that I'd never need to use.  I don't have any software that depend on XP, and if it seems that most older games don't have any issues with Win 7, then I'll stay with Win 7 Home.

Looking at the feature comparisons on Microsofts site and other sites, the extra features that Pro has wouldn't really apply to me.
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Posts: 27 		  Quote 3Circles Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 10 Jul 2010 at 6:28pm
So then, this is my latest, and probably, the config I'll go with:

Ticket Number: 421321
Total Price with Instant Savings: $2,111.00

Direct Load URL: http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=421321

Specifications:
Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Cooler Master 942 HAF X
Processor: Intel Core i7 930 2.8GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: EVGA X58 LE Edition SLI (Intel X58 Chipset) (Supports SLI or CrossFire)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series  (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 750W Corsair TX (Dual SLI Compatible)
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (80GB Solid State (By: Intel) (Extreme Performance) (Model: X25-M MLC Edition) 
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: 1x (1TB Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS  (7200 RPM) (32MB Cache) (SATA) (Extreme Speed)
Optical Drive 1: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x)
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 1x NVIDIA EVGA GeForce GTX 470 1.2GB (Includes PhysX Technology)
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 1: Noctua Dual 120mm Fans High Performance Cooler (Compatible With ONLY i7 Processors)
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Boost Processor: FREE: Stage 1: Overclock the processor between 3.3GHz to 3.9GHz (Cooling Upgrade Recommended)
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit Edition)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Install/Test Game: FREE: Hot-selling game with a NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 or above graphics card
Exclusive T-Shirt: FREE: Digital Storm T-Shirt - Black (Large)
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 1 Year Hassle-free Hardware Service
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Posts: 7331 		  Quote Cretae Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 10 Jul 2010 at 9:08pm
Sweet! As one who's had a comparable rig for 2 1/2 months, you will love that comp like never before. If you paired it with that monitor, it would be amazing! Cool
Coolermaster Storm Sniper
Intel Core i7 930 3.8GHz OC
EVGA X58 LE
6GB DDR3 1600Mhz Ram
750W Corsair
1TB HDD
1x ATI RadeonHD 5870 1GB
Noctua Dual 120mm
I can make my mind think... anything....
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Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 10 Jul 2010 at 9:47pm
looks great, maybe add a year to the warranty for 99?
 
other than that, i woudnt change anything, buy it!


Edited by !ender_ - 10 Jul 2010 at 9:47pm
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Posts: 27 		  Quote 3Circles Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 11 Jul 2010 at 9:11pm
Alrighty.  Order has been placed!

Ahhhh!Excited

LOL

And now I play the waiting gameAwesome


Edited by 3Circles - 11 Jul 2010 at 9:12pm
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Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 11 Jul 2010 at 10:54pm
woot!
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