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Config questions/advice needed

Post Date: 2007-12-03
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cb View Drop Down
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  Quote cb Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: Config questions/advice needed
    Posted: 03 Dec 2007 at 3:42am
Hello,
 
I'm looking for a PC to replace my 4 year old Velocity Micro Pentium 4 3.2 and I've come the DS site and am impressed.  I'm not looking to go extreme bleeding edge but I want a rig that will keep up with the games for the next 3 years or so.  I have a budget of $2-3k (exluding monitor).  I'm not a techie but I know just enough to be dangerous.  While this is a Xmas gift to myself I can certainly wait a bit if needed.  My questions are:
  1. What config would you recomennd in this price range?
  2. What are the advantages duo core vs Quad  (Q6600 vs E8650)
  3. Single vs SLI vs Crossfire.  OMG what should I do?  I hear the 8800GT are highly rated but scarce and are  having motherboard issues.
    • Should I simply just get one 8800GT
    • Should I wait and go SLI?
    • Are there going to be newer topend cards to replace the GTX at the being of the year?
    • How does Crossfire fit in?
  4. I don't know much about overclocking/cooling.  Do you need liquid cool to have your PC overclocked?  What is usually recommended here?

Thanks for any help you can offer

Craig
 
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cb View Drop Down
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  Quote cb Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Dec 2007 at 3:47am

Oh yeah one other question:

Hard drive configuration.  Is it worthwhile to get 2 drives:  A 10,000 RPB for OS and an 500 for program files?

Thanks again

Craig
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sundowner View Drop Down
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Posts: 501 		  Quote sundowner Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Dec 2007 at 3:59am

Quad is future proof, most programs and games have yet to start using the dual cores so going quad will help you stay up to date for the next few years.

SLI/Crossfire all depends on how big you want to go with your monitor really.  The 8800GT is almost as powerful as the GTX at lower resolutions, and in SLI only add's 20-30% extra performance. The performance gain is also relatively the same for the ATI 3780 running in crossfire. Their will be no new cards to top the GTX/Ultra until the 9XXX series begins to come out in the spring.

My recommendation is either going with the ASUS motherboard and getting a GT now, and when the 9XXX series comes out buy whatever card that you think is worth the money unless you truly desire SLI, and if so then wait for the 780 motherboards to come out and go SLI with the GT, then the 9XXX series cards.
 
For overclocking you only need Stage 2 cooling, or if you want an even higher OC you can go liquid cooling.
Pro case with extra fan
Quad Q6600 2.4 OC'd 3.1!
Nvidia 8800GT
Asus Maximus Formula Mobo
2xgb 800mhz corsair

xfire - xuntiltheendx
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skyR View Drop Down
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Posts: 2220 		  Quote skyR Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Dec 2007 at 8:38am
With a quad core, you get more processing power so CPU dependent programs will perform better. If you don't do much editing or multi-tasking, I doubt you would need a quad.

8800GT is one of the best cards on the market right now =x So yes get one...

I think a single 8800GT will hold you off for couple years unless you play at a high resolution. You could put in another one for SLI when you feel that you need more performance.

Yes new top end cards are being released by both Nvidia and ATI at the beginning of 2008. The 8800 GTS 512mb is scheduled to release on December 12th while new flagships are rumored to be released in February.

I believe Crossfire is superior to SLI but ATI's cards are not up to par with Nvidia's =\

You don't need liquid cooling to overclock. If you have proper ventilation and good heatsinks, it can easily be done on air.
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star.
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cb View Drop Down
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  Quote cb Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Dec 2007 at 12:35pm
So I could wait till later this month(?) for 780 motherboards that could do SLI down the road?  Is there any advantage to the going with the ASUS board now versus waiting for the 780 (except waiting of course)
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p0ptart View Drop Down
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Posts: 29 		  Quote p0ptart Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Dec 2007 at 1:45pm

The current 680 boards can do SLI now.  They are just not compatible with the newer cpus (QX9560 & QX6850).  So unless you want to spend the ~$1,000 on the newer cpus (or plan on buying one) the 680 are a great board.  The only advantage is "future" proofing your purchase by getting the 780 boards.
680i Core 2 Quad A-1 Rev (GO)
Q6600 2.7GHz
Vista Prem. 64bit
8GB DDR2 G.Skill 800MHz
8800GT 512MB
150GB Western Digital Raptor
750W Thermaltake (Pro Case)
30" Dell 3007WFP-HC
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sundowner View Drop Down
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Posts: 501 		  Quote sundowner Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Dec 2007 at 9:08pm

Also by waiting to get the 780 boards your PCI slots will be 2.0 compatible unlike with the 680, another way to be future proof.
Pro case with extra fan
Quad Q6600 2.4 OC'd 3.1!
Nvidia 8800GT
Asus Maximus Formula Mobo
2xgb 800mhz corsair

xfire - xuntiltheendx
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Posts: 147 		  Quote pgs8113 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Dec 2007 at 9:50pm
the 680i is compatible with the QX6850, isn't it?
QX6850 Extreme 3.33 Ghz (OC)
nvidia 680i Core 2 Quad(A1)
2Gb Corsair Dominator 1066 Mhz
1x150 Gb Raptor (10k)
1x320 Gb WD
8800 Ultra 768 Mb
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skyR View Drop Down
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Posts: 2220 		  Quote skyR Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Dec 2007 at 9:53pm
Yes, the 680i is compatible with the QX6850.
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Cr8ton View Drop Down
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Posts: 96 		  Quote Cr8ton Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Dec 2007 at 11:57am
when are 780 boards scheduled to release? I have the Q6600 with the A1 Revision 680 Board but I want to upgrade to a 780 when they release.. I also dont plan to ever go SLI so I am wondering if I should have looked for a different Motherboard that runs really well without having to pay for the sLI.. i'm wondering if the A1 Revision will be as "future proof" as I would like it to be with running my single ULTRA. If not i'll probably switch it out with something else. You guys think if u dont plan to go SLI then u shouldnt get the 680?
 
then again when the newer and better cards are released i may just go SLI with my ULTRA + a top of the line new Nvidia card and go watercooling =P


Edited by Cr8ton - 04 Dec 2007 at 12:00pm
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 3.15 GHz
MB: nVidia 680i Core 2 Quad(A1 revision)
Memory: 2GB DDR2 Corsair at 1333MHz Dominator
Video: nVidia GeForce ULTRA 768MB
Sound: X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS
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skyR View Drop Down
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Posts: 2220 		  Quote skyR Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Dec 2007 at 12:02pm
If you aren't planning for SLI, I would recommend an Intel chipset.

780i is scheduled to release just before christmas but there won't be wide availability until Q1 08.
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Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
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Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Dec 2007 at 12:13pm
Originally posted by Cr8ton

then again when the newer and better cards are released i may just go SLI with my ULTRA + a top of the line new Nvidia card and go watercooling =P
 
Unless SLI has changed since the last time I looked into it, you still need two *identical* NVidia GPU's to run in SLI Cr8ton. The only cards I know of that will do otherwise as dual GPU's are ATI, and I am not certain if cards from different generations will be able to crossfire, or only same generation different series cards (i.e. HD3870 and HD 3850: both HD38XX cards). ATI cards are starting to look pretty good from a value standpoint, but in terms of raw performance they simply can't touch NVidia's high end products.
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skyR View Drop Down
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Posts: 2220 		  Quote skyR Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Dec 2007 at 3:26pm
For SLI, you need two cards that are from the same generation, family, and performance tier. They can be different brands or speeds.

EVGA 8800 Ultra & XFX 8800 Ultra will work in SLI
but...
EVGA 8800 Ultra & EVGA 8800 GTX will not work in SLI

For Crossfire, any card in the same generation and family will work.

HD3850 & HD3870 will work in Crossfire.
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Cr8ton View Drop Down
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Posts: 96 		  Quote Cr8ton Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Dec 2007 at 4:11pm
what intel chipset should i replace my A1 revision 680i with if i plan to not use my SLI?
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 3.15 GHz
MB: nVidia 680i Core 2 Quad(A1 revision)
Memory: 2GB DDR2 Corsair at 1333MHz Dominator
Video: nVidia GeForce ULTRA 768MB
Sound: X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS
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skyR View Drop Down
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Posts: 2220 		  Quote skyR Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Dec 2007 at 4:33pm
You don't really need to upgrade right now...

You already have a 680i with Q6600, so what's the point of upgrading =x

My suggestion would be wait until next December and than decide =p
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sundowner View Drop Down
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Posts: 501 		  Quote sundowner Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Dec 2007 at 8:22pm
I wouldn't upgrade until late '08 or early '09 as Intel will be releasing the Nehalem CPU's and you'll need a new motherboard for that, let alone the DDR3 ram that will be standard for those MOBO's.
Pro case with extra fan
Quad Q6600 2.4 OC'd 3.1!
Nvidia 8800GT
Asus Maximus Formula Mobo
2xgb 800mhz corsair

xfire - xuntiltheendx
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