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Configuration Advice

Post Date: 2008-06-23
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dtviper37 View Drop Down
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Posts: 10 		  Quote dtviper37 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: Configuration Advice
    Posted: 23 Jun 2008 at 8:32pm
 

I really don’t know very much about Hardware so I am looking for advice on two budget builds I slapped together as basic guidelines of what I may want. I would like to stay in this general price line and slightly lower if possible.  If you would like to give me entirely new build ideas I am open to those as well. I am just looking for something that is going to keep me in the RTS market for a couple of years as well as provide me with a speedy machine for everyday work (Microsoft office, mild programming, mild graphics software).

 

Configuration # 1:

 

Cost:

 

$2,033.00

 

 

Specifications:

Chassis: Digital Storm 750Si

Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish

Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish

Power Supply: 650W Corsair HX (Dual SLI Compatible)

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache)

Motherboard: CLEARANCE PRICED: NVIDIA 680i SLI Core 2 Quad (Chipset: nForce 680i SLI) (A1 REV.)

System Memory: 1GB DDR2 Corsair at 667MHz

Card Reader: - No Thanks

Hard Drive 1: 500GB 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-ROM/CD-ROM (DVD Reader 16x / CD Reader 40x)

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 9600GT 512MB)

TV Tuner: - No Thanks

Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio

Extreme Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 3 WindTunnel (Copper Heatpipe Heatsink & Zalman Case Fans)

Internal Lighting: - No Thanks

Modifications: - No Thanks

Boost Processor: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability

Boost Video Card: Yes, Overclock the video card(s) as much as possible with complete stability

Boost Memory: Yes, Overclock memory timings (Includes Memory Fan Kit Installed)

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

Install/Test Game: - No Thanks

LCD Display: - No Thanks

Surge Shield: - No Thanks

Speakers: - No Thanks

Keyboard: - No Thanks

Mouse: - No Thanks

External Storage: - No Thanks

Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty

 

Configuration # 2:

 

(I forgot to upgrade the memory on this one, any suggestions?)

 

Cost:

$2,033.00

 

 

Specifications:

Chassis: Digital Storm 750Si

Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish

Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish

Power Supply: 550W Corsair HX (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition)

Processor: AMD Phenom 9850 (2.5GHz) (Quad Core) (4 MB Cache) AM2+ (Black Edition)

Motherboard: Asus M3A (AMD 770 Chipset)

System Memory: 4GB DDR2 Corsair at 667MHz

Card Reader: - No Thanks

Hard Drive 1: 500GB 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-ROM/CD-ROM (DVD Reader 16x / CD Reader 40x)

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 9600GT 512MB)

TV Tuner: - No Thanks

Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio

Extreme Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 3 WindTunnel (Copper Heatpipe Heatsink & Zalman Case Fans)

Internal Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Green Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes)

Modifications: LCD Temperature Display & Fan Controller

Boost Processor: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability

Boost Video Card: Yes, Overclock the video card(s) as much as possible with complete stability

Boost Memory: Yes, Overclock memory timings (Includes Memory Fan Kit Installed)

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

Install/Test Game: - No Thanks

LCD Display: - No Thanks

Surge Shield: - No Thanks

Speakers: - No Thanks

Keyboard: - No Thanks

Mouse: - No Thanks

External Storage: - No Thanks

Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty

 
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dtviper37 View Drop Down
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Posts: 10 		  Quote dtviper37 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 23 Jun 2008 at 8:38pm
* actual price of the second config : $1,921.00
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SunfighterLC View Drop Down
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Posts: 1527 		  Quote SunfighterLC Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 23 Jun 2008 at 9:40pm
Do you know how to overclock yourself or are you willing to learn it? you can save a lot of cash by doing the overclocking yourself, that allows you to either save money or better yet dump that money into better hardware..
 
No real point either of trying to overclock 667 timings IMHO, youd be better trying for the basic 800 ram.
 
Id highly recommend a antec 900 over a 750 case.
 
Here is what id do for around 2 G's I kept your hard drive the same amount 500GB since i figured there was a reason why you kept that option stable inbetween both builds. Keep in mind this isnt with DS overclocking. If your afraid to try to do it yourself then probably gonna have to have DS do it. Most mobos DS offers are friendly to overclocking, my 790 for example, all i had to do was bump up the buss speed from 333 to 400...and ta da, 3.8 CPU, took all of 10 seconds to do. The only work part really is just making sure the CPU is stable afterwards.
 
E8500@ 4.03Ghz
XFX 790i Ultra
1000W Corsair HX
2 280 GTX EVGA FTW
4GB OCZ Reaper 1800Mhz
250-80-300GB VR HD
Logitech Z-2300 2.1 Speakers
Asus Xonar 7.1
Hanns-G HG 281D 28" HDMI Monitor
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!ender_ View Drop Down
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Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 23 Jun 2008 at 11:20pm
some great advice(click) for first time builders
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skyR View Drop Down
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Posts: 2220 		  Quote skyR Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 23 Jun 2008 at 11:32pm
I wouldn't use SLI for RTS games espicially if you are running at resolutions lower than 1600x1200. I'd recommend a single 9800 GTX.

I'd get at least 800MHz if you want to overclock the CPU or RAM.
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star.
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Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
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Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 23 Jun 2008 at 11:59pm

Hi dtviper37.

I'll start off by saying that the Antec Case is definitely the way to go, hands down. Had that case been available from DSO when I had my system built, there is no way I would have a 750i right now.

1. You will probably want a DVD writer, not just a reader. This makes backing up files to disk possible, and believe me, this is a good idea.

2. The 680i is a fantastic motherboard, but does not have support for the Yorkfield Quadcores. You will want to go with the 750i motherboard or the 780i if you want a Q9450.

3. I believe you are 100% correct in your choice of a quadcore for your machine if RTS is the primary game type you enjoy. I believe Supreme Commander is a sign of things to come, and future RTS will be likely to take advantage of quad core technology as well.

4. IMO, there is no point in paying for an overclock of 1 GB of 667Mhz RAM. Drop the OC, and grab at least 2 GB of 800MHz or better memory. Espescially for an AMD configuration. If the motherboard is socket AM2, you want 800MHz, if AM2+, then 1066MHz.

5. In my opinion, paying for GPU overclocking is simply not worth the money in any build constrained by budget. The performance gains are normally not that large, and the money is normally better spent elsewhere in the system. Aside from this, there are software options that make overclocking the card(s) yourself very easy.

6. If you are going to pay to have the CPU overclocked, the stock clock means little. Since the extra cache size in the Q9450 results in little real world advantage, you can save some money by going to the Q9300. Overclocking is far from an exact science and results vary from chip to chip. It's entirely possible that a chip that starts at a lower factory clock will clock higher in the end.

Taking all of this into account, and trying to stay as close to your orginal ideas and a budget of $2000:

Intel based system for $2030

 
For the AMD based system, I selected the socket AM2+, crossfire ready motherboard. DSO has not yet added the recently released HD4850 to their configuration options, but you can request the card. A single HD4850 should perform similarly to a pair of 9600GT's, and with this motherboard you will have the ability to add a second card later should you so desire.
 
Edit: I will also agree with SkyR about the 9800GTX when it comes to RTS. I love my 9600 pair, and it handles anything I can throw at it, but for resolutions lower than 1600x1200, SLI has no real advantage.


Edited by Tyler Lowe - 24 Jun 2008 at 12:02am
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