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Post Date: 2008-04-02
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Sugestions On Config View Drop Down
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  Quote Sugestions On Config Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: Config
    Posted: 02 Apr 2008 at 7:44pm
Hey, I plan on buying from DS and was hoping for some feedback before I went and decided. my current set-up is this
 
Specifications:
Case: Digital Storm 750Si (Black Anodized Aluminum Finish)
Power Supply: 750W Corsair HX (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.00GHz (1333MHz Front Side Bus) (6MB Cache)
Motherboard: nVidia 790i Ultra Core 2 Quad (nForce 790i Ultra SLI) (DDR3 Only)
Memory: 2GB DDR3 Corsair at 1333MHz
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: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Network Card: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: nVidia GeForce 8800GTX 768MB
TV Tuner: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer (Recommended)
Physics Card: - No Thanks
Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 3 WindTunnel (Copper Heatpipe Heatsink & Zalman Case Fans)
Case Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Red 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 XP Home (Includes Service Pack 2)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Protection: McAfee Internet Security (Includes: AntiVirus, FireWall and AntiSpyware)
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
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty
Support: Lifetime Toll-Free Platinum Care Technical Support
 
1. are there any other upgrades that would help me any? (I don't play at too high of resolution so I don't think ill be needing a better video card. If I ever do I can add another.)
 
2. The stage 3 cooling I know I don't need for this set-up, but if i get a higher level cooling that will allow more CPU overclock?
 
Thanks
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Bill the Cat View Drop Down
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Posts: 1150 		  Quote Bill the Cat Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 02 Apr 2008 at 8:08pm
Good choice on the CPU and OS.
 
It's significant bucks, but I'd consider an 850Si or especially the 950i case for air cooling the GTX and the overclocked CPU. Maybe with "Stage III" you don't need it. I'd consult the DSO techs.
 
It's dumb, but I'd get a floppy drive. They're almost free, and once in a great while they come in handy.
 
I wouldn't bother with a dedicated sound card. If I did, I wouldn't buy a Creative product.
 
Regardless, the configuration is looking good.
3.6 GHz E6850,       4 GB RAM, GTS 250,   TJ9, Win 7 64-bit
4.4 GHz i7 3930K, 16 GB RAM, GTX 670, 550D, Win 7 64-bit
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SunfighterLC View Drop Down
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Posts: 1527 		  Quote SunfighterLC Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 02 Apr 2008 at 8:13pm

Im not completely sure on this idea, so if somebody more technical can assist, i believe the larger memory buffer advantage in the old 8800GTX vs the GX2 and 9800GTX only has an effect on very high resolutions (1900x1200 +) with AA on. Thats when the GX2 and 9800GTX start to show their bottlenecks due to limited memory. While the 8800GTX begs for more.

Since you said you dont play at too high of a resolutions, you might be able to save some cash by going the route of less memory but faster overall single cards like the 9800GTX or even a 8800GTS512. The GX2 will cost more then a 8800GTX but it could also be a card to consider (you dont really say what resolution you play on).
 
The only thing higher then stage 3 air cooling is the watercooling selections, and overall watercooling tends to lead to bigger overclocks as an overclocked CPU is gonna be putting out tons more heat and water is a better conductor of heat then air....and as such will be much more able to keep the CPU running cool, giving room to turn it up a notch. How much though im not sure of, DS will never give a range of what their overclocking will do, i guess thats to keep people from being dissapointed or expecting of a certain degree of performance.
 
 
 
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SunfighterLC View Drop Down
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Posts: 1527 		  Quote SunfighterLC Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 02 Apr 2008 at 8:16pm

Creatives problems are with vista, hes using XP. Personally im not the type to punitively punish a company and myself if they do something I dont agree with. On a product line that isnt part of what im choosing.
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skyR View Drop Down
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Posts: 2220 		  Quote skyR Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 02 Apr 2008 at 8:43pm
The 8800GTX actually has the larger buffer and more ROPs..
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star.
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SunfighterLC View Drop Down
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Posts: 1527 		  Quote SunfighterLC Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 02 Apr 2008 at 9:11pm
yea but does that correlate into better performance over say a 9800GTX at say...22 inch monitor resolutions, or is it more game specific to only games that have extremely high amounts of textures?
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Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
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Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 02 Apr 2008 at 11:34pm
I would make a few minor tweaks.

I would:
case- 750--> 850: The 850 will offer far superior air flow which will have a large impact on your performance, especially the overclock
+ 3.5" Floppy drive: they are handy for BIOS updates and a few other tasks, especially if you intend to operate in XP only.
8800GTX-->9800GTX: The 8800GTX does offer a slim performance advantage, but nowhere near enough to justify the price difference (less than 5% performance increase for $123 more)
Sound card: If it means breaking a budget in light of other changes, I would drop it. Otherwise, it could stay. However, I second Bill's sentiments on Creative Labs.
McAfee: I had this once and uninstalled it 6 months into the one year subscription. I have been extremely satisfied with ESET security suite. SkyR turned me on to them, and I have to say, it's bar none the best security suite I have ever run (I have used Norton Pro, McAfee, Zone Alarm, and AVG prior to trying ESET).

On the overclock question, there are so many variables that go into your final clock number. All I can suggest, is that by increasing the system's cooling, you are eliminating the possibility that poor cooling will prevent the CPU from realizing it's maximum potential. I would point out that the components on your motherboard will benefit greatly from the additional airflow. You have at the least, a northbridge that will benefit, which in turn can have a positive effect on your overclock, as well as GPU performance. At the risk of being repetitive: improved cooling is the single most cost effective upgrade to performance you can make.
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Guest View Drop Down
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  Quote Guest Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Apr 2008 at 2:02pm
Okay, thanks for the quick feedback. Im going to make some modifications based on this
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Drakul View Drop Down
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Posts: 55 		  Quote Drakul Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Apr 2008 at 2:09pm
Just a quick note on the ESET suite, I run it also and as of the 4/1/08 update if you use the automatic filtering it may block your Ventrilo server. Took me an hour to track that one down . Ouch
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