$2k rig help

Hi all.  I'm looking to get a new computer to replace this old dell that I would have to completely gut to upgrade, but I've been out of touch with the hardware side of it all so long I can't seem to get focus on one configration.

For the most part I play WoW and a few not-so-intensive 3d point/click adventure games, but at the moment that's all this pc can handle.   To give those that play WoW a bit of perspective, in Dalaran my FPS drops to 3-5 (so those of you complaining about 35-ish fps are making me jealous).

The room the computer is located in tends to get pretty hot during the summer with no way to relieve the heat other than waiting out nightfall.  The resolution is set to 1440x900.  I need the machine to run as quiet as possible and be upgradable as this has to last 4+ years.

My budget for this mess is set to $2,000 and everytime I reach in to configure what I think will work, I find my budget waving to me in the distance. 


Edited by Vanished - 12 Mar 2009 at 5:02pm

good build I would have configured pretty much the same thing

This unit is 1904.00 after you click buy now.

 

Edited by Sodius - 12 Mar 2009 at 6:05pm

its better to have the 1000w PSU then the v8, the GeminII has done 3.8GHz on air, with a 750w the future GPU upgrades might not be covered.

but its something to think about for the OP. Sodius's build is a good one also.

if you don't think you will ever go go pass 2 x 260+ for GPU then go with sodius's build.

if you see yourself upgrading to future GPUs then stick with the 1000w PSU.

IMO the best build would be to have both v8 and 1000w PSU, if you can go for that, then I'm sure all 3 of us highly recommend that.

check out my post in the review section, and also mine in the config section.. you are starting out in the exact same boat i was (3fps in dal heh).  

I may have to adjust my budget a bit then.   The power supply was the issue that started the whole "if you give a mouse a cookie" effect.  The cooling however is a huge concern for me and one of the reasons I kept going over budget fidling with the configuration.  I kept feeling that liquid cooling was a must for when the room turns into a sauna during the summer.   Is air cooling enough to keep things from frying or do you all think it would be wise to save up a bit more for a heavier cooling solution?

Is a liquid cooled pc rather technical to maintain?
I live in GA in an old house, and was wondering If I need to go that route?

I like my V8 but I think the LC will provide better cooling and the best opportunity to get a better overclock for a given chip.

Well I guess I'll have to save the liquid cooling solution for the next big computer down the line.  That sounds like something you should go all in on if you're going with it at all.   I've done some adjusting and I think this is what I'm going for, but I'd like to get opinions:
http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=260094

Chassis Model: Cooler Master HAF 932 Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish Processor: Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz (Quad Core) Motherboard: EVGA X58 3X SLI (Intel X58 Chipset) (Supports Triple SLI or CrossFire) System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1333MHz Corsair Dominator DHX (High-Performance) Power Supply: 750W Corsair TX (Dual SLI Compatible) Card Reader: - No Thanks Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA) Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: - No Thanks Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections) Video Card: CLEARANCE HOT SELLER: 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 1GB (Includes PhysX Technology) Add-on Card: - No Thanks Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 2: Cooler Master V8 (Compatible With i7 Processors) Liquid Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a H20: Stage 3 Cooling System Selected Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans Internal Lighting: Internal Chassis Lighting System (Blue) Enhancements: - No Thanks Chassis Mods: - No Thanks Boost Processor: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s) Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory 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) Virus 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 Exclusive T-Shirt: - No Thanks Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-10 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty

I opted to go for the 750w power supply instead, went with 6gb of ram and decided to go with the 280 vs the 260.   Is there a big difference between the 280 and the 285 in terms of performance?


Edited by Vanished - 19 Mar 2009 at 6:30am

"As you can see, the GeForce GTX 285 runs 7% faster than the GeForce GTX 280 it replaces, while its stream processors and memory are clocked 11% and 12% higher than the GTX 280 respectively. This basically puts it on par with many of the factory overclocked GeForce GTX 280 boards that are out there in terms of performance, and also helps to establish a little bit of separation from many of the 216-shader GeForce GTX 260 cards that are OC'ed. "

here you go Ticket# 261022 --- Price: $2378 (To see this build click here) Price after current promotion $2228

Copy of Specifications:
Chassis Model: Cooler Master HAF 932
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: EVGA X58 3X SLI (Intel X58 Chipset) (Supports Triple SLI or CrossFire)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1333MHz Mushkin (Highly Recommended) (Digital Storm Certified)
Power Supply: 1000W Corsair HX (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible)
Card Reader: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 896MB (216 Cores) (Includes PhysX Technology)
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 2: Cooler Master V8 (Compatible With i7 Processors)
Liquid Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a H20: Stage 3 Cooling System Selected
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: Internal Chassis Lighting System (Blue)
Enhancements: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
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)
Virus 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
Exclusive T-Shirt: - No Thanks
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-10 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty

price of above system with a 280 gtx: $2583 (To see this build click here) Price after current promotion $2408

as you can see the 260 system cost $2228 and the 280 system cost $2408, the price difference is not worth the performance gain to you.

Edited by DST4ME - 19 Mar 2009 at 10:45am

yes the 2 x 260 will run you high res for you