New Build

Kelly, Alex... Crew,

This is the build I'm thinking about having done.  I'm not 100% yet if this is what I need though.  I don't game in clans or in multiplayer severs anymore so I won't be looking to compete or run with the pro crowds anylonger.  However, I do still play single player modes in FPSs and I do want my rig to rock if I do decide to re-enter the clan arena.  I would love to have the 8800 GTX 768s in SLI, but those things are outrageously expensive and are probably overkill for what I'm looking to do.  Check out my config and tell me what you'd recommend.  I want to stay within this price range.

 http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=77535

Specifications:

Case: Digital Storm Twister ULTRA (Black Anodized Aluminum Finish) Power Supply: 620W Corsair HX (SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition) (High-Quality Unit)

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 1066MHz Dominator (Dual Channel) (Extreme-Performance) Floppy / Media: Sony 1.44MB Floppy (Black Edition) Hard Drive 1: 160GB (Western Digital / Seagate) (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA) Hard Drive 2: 160GB (Western Digital / Seagate) (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA) Raid Option: - No Thanks Optical Drive 1: DVD-ROM/CD-ROM (DVD Reader 16x / CD Reader 40x) Optical Drive 2: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) Network Card: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)

Modem: - No Thanks

Video Card: 2x SLI Dual (nVidia GeForce 8800GTS 320MB (By: eVGA / Asus) (PCI-Express) TV Tuner: - No Thanks Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer (Up to 7.1 Channel) (Recommended) Physics Card: - No Thanks

Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 3 (Silent Artic Cooling (TwisterBoost Overclocked) Case Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Blue Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes) Round Cables: Enhanced Interior Air Flow (Optical Drive & Floppy Cables (Blue Edition) User Manual: Personalized Platinum Digital Storm Binder (Includes Paperwork/Benchmarks/CDs/Manuals) Windows OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Includes Service Pack 2) Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)

Protection: - No Thanks

Office: - 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

The GPU choice is the biggest dilemma for me right now.  Do I actually need SLI?  I would love to have one of those 8800 GTX Ultras.  Would one of those be sufficient.  Could I run Vista Ultimate 32bit?  Would love to have DX10. 

You have a great config, the single 8800GTX 768MB is better than 2x SLI Dual 8800GTS 320MB, you should go for this config. In future, if you interest for SLI Dual, you can add 1 more 8800GTX 768MB, but the 620W Power Supply is not support 2X SLI Dual 8800GTX 768MB, only 850W Power Supply or highter supports 2X SLI Dual 8800GTX 768MB.

Come on guys, help a bruthu out!  I need to get this rig on order today if possible.  I'm working off my laptop and it's driving me crazy.  Give me some answers to those questions and I'll get you an order quickly... thanks!

You can add up to 3 more fans to this case. One in the HDD area nad 2 more on top of the case. As fas as sound card you don't have many choice here. The built-in sound will work but i wouldn't even use it. You may have some problem with the soundblaster in Vista but it can be fix with newer driver. RAID 0 will give you better performance than Raid 1. Your RAM is the same type of RAM that i ordered. Some think it's overkill (1066mhz) but it's fine if you plan to OC your rig. OC can help you gain some performance but it will shorten your pc components life. Your video card shouldn't have any trouble running at max resolution on a 21 inch monitor.

Originally posted by commast You can add up to 3 more fans to this case. One in the HDD area nad 2 more on top of the case. As fas as sound card you don't have many choice here. The built-in sound will work but i wouldn't even use it. You may have some problem with the soundblaster in Vista but it can be fix with newer driver. RAID 0 will give you better performance than Raid 1. Your RAM is the same type of RAM that i ordered. Some think it's overkill (1066mhz) but it's fine if you plan to OC your rig. OC can help you gain some performance but it will shorten your pc components life. Your video card shouldn't have any trouble running at max resolution on a 21 inch monitor.

Thank you too, commast, for your reply! 

This question would go to DS, unless you work for DS, commast, then this is your question.  Can DS install more fans for me if I really need them?  Do I need them with the case the way it is now? 

As far as RAID goes, just keep RAID 0 and I'll be fine then?

What's the difference in the A1 Revision on the mobo from the standard?  Should I use it?


Edited by EdH63 - 04 Sep 2007 at 1:36pm

Thanks again, skyR.  Here is what I just placed on order...

Specifications:

Case: Digital Storm Twister EXTREME (Black Anodized Aluminum Finish) Power Supply: 620W Corsair HX (SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition) (High-Quality Unit)

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 1066MHz Dominator (Dual Channel) (Extreme-Performance) Floppy / Media: Sony 1.44MB Floppy (Black Edition) Hard Drive 1: 160GB (Western Digital / Seagate) (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA) Hard Drive 2: 160GB (Western Digital / Seagate) (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA) Raid Option: - No Thanks Optical Drive 1: DVD-ROM/CD-ROM (DVD Reader 16x / CD Reader 40x) Optical Drive 2: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) Network Card: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)

Modem: - No Thanks

Video Card: nVidia GeForce 8800GTX 768MB (By: eVGA / Asus) (PCI-Express) TV Tuner: - No Thanks Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer (Up to 7.1 Channel) (Recommended) Physics Card: - No Thanks

Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 2 (Silent Artic Cooling Heat-sink (Copper Heatpipes) Case Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Blue Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes) Round Cables: Enhanced Interior Air Flow (Optical Drive & Floppy Cables (Blue Edition) User Manual: Personalized Platinum Digital Storm Binder (Includes Paperwork/Benchmarks/CDs/Manuals) Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)

Protection: - No Thanks

Office: - 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

Originally posted by Alex Look's good. I am glad you went with the Extreme series case.

So am I.  After realizing the measurements I saw it was closest to the measurements of my Chieftech case that I have right now.  I like that size, plus I really like the venting platform of the Extreme.

I also changed my sound card to the Fatality after talking to Kelly on the phone today.  I'm glad he convinced me to upgrade that.

FYI - This goes out to any of you having problems with your speakers popping and cracking.  I read about that somewhere else in these forums and I thought I'd throw in my two cents about it.

This starting happening to me about a month or so ago right after I installed my Logitech BT mouse and keyboard.  I noticed all sorts of cracking coming from my speakers more often than not.  After talking with Kelly about this and confirming what I had heard it might be, it turns out that the BT technology, and any RF technology for that matter, will interfere with the sound card.  I not only have BT in my mouse and keyboard, but I have my cell phone synced to my computer by BT and I have a 5.8 GHZ wireless telephone operating next to my rig.  I might as well just plug in the nuclear reactor because I don't think it's going to get any worse than my setup right now.

Anyway, all that to say I'm ditching the BT mouse and keyboard, getting the cell phone out of the office and relocating the phone further away from my rig.  I think that should help the issue since I didn't have the issue until I bought that BT mouse and keyboard.  Take it for what it's worth.  Just my situation that you may relate to.

My rig is in stage one, so I read from my email, and I look forward to stage two then three.  It almost sounds like I have some disease, and while in stage one, I may need an ointment to help heal the open wound.  After the wound heals, stage two commences and I start radiation treatments.  After I've completed stage two radiation treatments I then proceed to stage three and begin the long road to recovery in rehab.  Or... maybe not.  Just a comparative example of the three stages from a different perspective.

Does anyone feel kinda like Kelly and the DS crew are like rock stars and we have backstage passes?  You come to the site and check out the eye candy while talking on the forums and on the phone to some incredibly knowledgeable pseudo-god that takes you for a ride through the chocolate factory like Willy Wonka.  By the time you're done building your rig in your minds eye and on paper, you're so juiced about the finished product that the threat of world war wouldn't phase you so long as the prospect of a brand new shiny rig was in your near and immediate future.  This concept of stimulative and instant gratifying marketing and purchasing is addicting and sucks you in deep... I like it!

Oh well, I've rambled on long enough now.  I'll just say up to this point I am pretty damn pleased with the service and response from DS.  As everyone else says that buys from you guys, I'm looking forward to getting my rig.  It won't come quick enough.  Well, actually it would've if I had just paid for an overnight.  But then it wouldn't have the anticipatory effect on my psyche.  Gotta have that!     

Originally posted by Kenny Your rig look great. The Extreme case, if you want to get more cooling for your system, you can add up 2 more fans on top (just add $10/each).

You know what?  I think I will do that!  Can you accommodate me through this venue?  If so, then add two on the top, please.

What size would the top fans be?

That is 120mm fan, you just call the customer service tomorrow(any time) and let them know, after they update your order, I will install these 2 fans for you. Also, your system build will be nice too.

Thanks Kenny for the clarification.  I left you a voice message about 1 minute ago (Texas time... 8:40am) about adding the two fans on the top.  Just confirm for me the cost ($10.00 per fan) and re-send me another email with my total again if you would.  Again, I greatly appreciate all your efforts in what you guys are doing! 

You can look on this => http://www.barrys-rigs-n-reviews.com/reviews/2007/hardware/tj09/images/photos/tj09050.jpg
The mesh grille on top of the case, This is what's underneath inside the case—a set of brackets to mount an optional pair of 120mm exhaust fans for even greater cooling power.
Remember, the case just has a set of brackets only, no fans so that you can add a pair of 120mm exhaust fans.

All is good with my changes now.  I called first thing this morning and spoke to Dave and he has made the changes to my order and recalculated the bill.

Thanks again for everything, DS!

The extreme case has a side windows, so that you can not install side fans, also there are no more place to install any more fans.

EdH63, even if DS can install a fan between the side-panel i failed to see why you want to do that ?? The fan is going to blow hot air to either the hard drive or the video card and then there's the other 120mm fan sitting back to back to it. It won't give you the optimum air flow. The case is big enough so you probably won't have any issue with heat and if you want more fans, the best places is to install the 2 fans on top so that it can draw the heat away from the CPU---heat always rise up. The more fans you install the more noise you're going to have, i know, since my current pc (soon to be a backup) has a total of 8 fans and it's really really loud. The TJ-09 can have a total of 5 fans and that's more than enough. Of course you can always modify the case to put more fans in but that's up to you.

I think we have a confusion about the side fans. There is a 120mm fan towards the front of the case, it draws in cool air from both sides and pushes it to the video cards. The case also comes with a 120mm exhaust fan.

Your welcome.

Finally, you got a great config.