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Configuration Discussion (Preparing for AoC)

Post Date: 2008-01-26
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Nick View Drop Down
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  Quote Nick Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: Configuration Discussion (Preparing for AoC)
    Posted: 26 Jan 2008 at 7:22pm
Just looking to upgrade to a true gaming system, any cost-cutting tips would be greatly appreciated folks, thanks!
 
Total Price with Instant Savings: $2,554.00

Direct Load URL:
http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=116063

Specifications:
Case: Digital Storm Twister PRO (Black Anodized Aluminum Finish)

Power Supply: 750W SilverStone Olympia (Dual SLI Compatible) (Model:
OP750) (Silent)

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz (1066MHz FSB) (8MB Cache)

Motherboard: nVidia 680i Core 2 Quad (By: eVGA) (nForce 680i SLI) (A1
Revision)

Memory: 2GB DDR2 Corsair at 667MHz (Dual Channel)

Floppy / Card: - No Thanks

Hard Drive 1: 250GB 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: 2x SLI Dual (nVidia GeForce 8800GTS 512MB (By: eVGA)
(PCI-Express)

TV Tuner: - No Thanks

Sound Card: Motherboard Multi-Channel High Definition Audio (7.1
Channel)

Physics Card: - No Thanks

Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 2 (Silent Artic Cooling Heat-sink (Copper
Heatpipes)

Case Lighting: - No Thanks

Round Cables: Enhanced Interior Air Flow (Optical Drive & Floppy Cables
(Black Edition)

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

Overclock Memory: Yes, Overclock the memory clock speed (Includes
Corsair Dominator Airflow Fan)

Tweak Windows: Yes, Disable and tweak all of the non-crucial services
on the operating system

Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

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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Nick View Drop Down
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  Quote Nick Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 26 Jan 2008 at 7:30pm

Would upgrading the 2gb corsair 800MHz XMS2 RAM be worth it?

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Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
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Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 26 Jan 2008 at 8:43pm
One comment: Upgrade the case. Ask for a fan to be installed in the 5.25" bays, and and for a high cfm fan to be installed in the exhaust, or just drop one of the cards for now in favor of moving to one of the truly high end cases.

The Pro case can be made into a good cooling case, but stock, it's not the best. I have a Pro, and it's a very solid case. When I got it, my idles were over 50*C at 100% fan speed with an overclocked Q6600. With some OC tuning, and some case modifications, I idle around 34*C CPU / 40*C Core at 75% fan speed. Case temps will have a direct impact on the overclocking potential your system has, so don't take this lightly if you want a good overclock.

In answer to your question on the RAM, yes. If you are overclocking, being able to go past 667 and tighten up on the timings is worth it. While results do vary from CPU to CPU, PC6400 at a minimum is something I would not want to try and overclock without. Increased front side bus speeds are going to push RAM speed and you want to have options to keep latency down.

If it were me, looking to cut cost, I would probably go to a GTS and drop the SLI unless the monitor is going to be very large. SLI provides a boost in some titles, a better card provides a boost in every title. An overclocked (G92) GTS should give performance in line with a (G80) GTX or better. This is also going to assist with those case temps. If it something you can fit within budget, SLI the 8800GTS rather than the GT if you don't want to spring for an Ultra or Extreme case.
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Nick View Drop Down
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  Quote Nick Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 26 Jan 2008 at 8:58pm
Thanks Tyler, however i dont completely understand your last paragraph.  Your saying drop the GT? and pickup a GTS? I've got the SLi GTS setup now.  Should I instead drop one of the GTS and upgrade to an ultra or somthing?
 
I really like the concept of SLi, so I think its somthing I want to keep...  But in order to do this I need to upgrade my case for better cooling is basically what your saying, right?
 
Is there an option to add the additional fans when building your PC with the customize tool? Or is this somthing you have to ask while ordering.
 
I REALLY appreciate your help!
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Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
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Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 27 Jan 2008 at 2:57am
Yeah, sorry. I must have misread the configuration you linked. Could be the sleep deprivation, or maybe the 5 straight hours of BF2 LOL.
 
The second question: yes. I would seriously consider a case with better cooling.
 
Additional fans can be added by request. The Ultra and the Extreme both offer excellent cooling. The Ultra is a bit better for air cooling, but it's also a more open design so more prone to dust.
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Nick View Drop Down
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  Quote Nick Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 27 Jan 2008 at 7:13pm
Tyler, here is what i've come up with... any comments?
 
Total Price with Instant Savings: $2,641.00

Direct Load URL:
http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=116109

Specifications:
Case: Digital Storm Twister ULTRA (Black Anodized Aluminum Finish)
Power Supply: 750W SilverStone Olympia (Dual SLI Compatible) (Model:
OP750) (Silent)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz (1066MHz FSB) (8MB Cache)
Motherboard: nVidia 680i Core 2 Quad (By: eVGA) (nForce 680i SLI) (A1
Revision)
Memory: 2GB DDR2 Corsair at 800MHz XMS2 (Dual Channel) (Performance)
Floppy / Card: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 1: 160GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Hard Drive 2: 80GB Western Digital (8MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
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: 2x SLI Dual (nVidia GeForce 8800GTS 512MB (By: eVGA)
(PCI-Express)
TV Tuner: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Motherboard Multi-Channel High Definition Audio (7.1
Channel)
Physics Card: - No Thanks
Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 2 (Silent Artic Cooling Heat-sink (Copper
Heatpipes)
Case Lighting: - No Thanks
Round Cables: Enhanced Interior Air Flow (Optical Drive & Floppy Cables
(Black Edition)
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 the memory timings (Includes Corsair
Dominator Airflow Fan)
Tweak Windows: Yes, Disable and tweak all of the non-crucial services
on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
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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Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
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Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 27 Jan 2008 at 9:01pm
Only one comment: It looks great, I think you're good to go.  Wink

I would probably still install a couple of extra fans. The largest gains will be seen from exhaust, both rear and top, but a side fan will help with overclocking. Just ask about it when you call to place the order, I believe the fans are only $10 each.


Edited by Tyler Lowe - 27 Jan 2008 at 9:03pm
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Mythius101 View Drop Down
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Posts: 134 		  Quote Mythius101 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 27 Jan 2008 at 10:08pm
The fans are indeed $10 a piece, and at that price, it's very much worth it to get them installed with the rest of the system, due to the wiring management that DS handles so well.
Vista Home Premium 32
Core 2 Quad Q6600
nVidia 680iA1
2GB Corsair Dominator RAM
2x SLI Dual GeForce 8800GTS 512MB
Creative Labs X-Fi Fatal1ty XtremeGamer
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Nick View Drop Down
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  Quote Nick Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 27 Jan 2008 at 11:09pm
I really appreciate your help gents!!
 
Thanks again,
Nick
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SunfighterLC View Drop Down
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Joined: 18 Feb 2008
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Posts: 1527 		  Quote SunfighterLC Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2008 at 9:05am
Enchanced airflow cables -- You have only one CD drive, so in effect youd be paying that 22 bucks for only one cable. Youd get extras from them should you ever add another, but as your system is now, youd only have one airflow cable in your case. If thats worth 22 bucks to you, then alrighty.
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Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
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Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2008 at 11:18am
Shut up! Bloody Vikings! You can't have egg bacon spam and sausage without the spam.
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Bill the Cat View Drop Down
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Joined: 27 Aug 2007
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Posts: 1150 		  Quote Bill the Cat Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2008 at 12:55pm
Originally posted by Tyler Lowe

Shut up! Bloody Vikings! You can't have egg bacon spam and sausage without the spam.
 
Besides, the site is vaguely malicious, and most of the young ladies are ugly.


Edited by Bill the Cat - 16 Mar 2008 at 12:58pm
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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EdH63 View Drop Down
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Posts: 1826 		  Quote EdH63 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Mar 2008 at 3:28pm
Originally posted by Bill the Cat

Originally posted by Tyler Lowe

Shut up! Bloody Vikings! You can't have egg bacon spam and sausage without the spam.
 
Besides, the site is vaguely malicious, and most of the young ladies are ugly.


I'm Scandinavian, genealogically speaking, and I'm not ugly.  Oh wait, I'm a guy.

 
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