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Opinions of my configuration

Post Date: 2008-07-25
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mcs07 View Drop Down
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Posts: 27 		  Quote mcs07 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: Opinions of my configuration
    Posted: 25 Jul 2008 at 11:49pm
Going to hook up to a 24 in monitor. Mainly going to be used for gaming (Supreme Commander/Sins of a Solar Empire/FPS here and there). Any opinions on whether I picked the best for the price would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

Cost: 2,589.00

Specifications:
Chassis: Antec 900
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Power Supply: 750W Corsair HX (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache)
Motherboard: Asus Rampage Formula (Chipset: Intel X48) (Supports CrossFire)
System Memory: 4GB DDR2 OCZ at 800MHz
Card Reader: - 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: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 2: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x)
Wireless Access: Linksys Wireless-N 300Mbps (Supports 802.11n/g/b)
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB
TV Tuner: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: Liquid Chilled FrostBite CPU Only
Internal Lighting: - No Thanks
Modifications: - 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)
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: Microsoft Multimedia Desktop 2.0 (Multimedia Keyboard + Optical Wheel Mouse)
Mouse: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty
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Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
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Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 26 Jul 2008 at 12:31am
Very solid picks overall. For RTS, the CPU and RAM will probably count as much if not more than the GPU. With this in mind, I agree with the liquid cooled CPU selection, whereas I might ordinarily advise someone towards air cooling. The only minor teak I would make, is to drop the keyboard and put the $30 into a lightscribe DVD RW since those are definitely SATA and will keep one of those bulky IDE cables out of your system. Other than that, I might go for the 500GB HDD, it's just not that much more. It's pretty hard to argue with the rest of the configuration. You have enough spare wattage in that PSU to support Crossfire down the road if you decide you want it, and everything else listed ranks at or near the top of my value for the dollar list.
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SunfighterLC View Drop Down
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Posts: 1527 		  Quote SunfighterLC Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 26 Jul 2008 at 5:55am
yea this guy did his homework..i got no advice...Though if you do get a keyboard somewhere else..like say best buy or something..avoid the lycosa...ive only had mine in use for a few months and already the rubber coating around the WASD keys is coming off...nice design...
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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mcs07 View Drop Down
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Posts: 27 		  Quote mcs07 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 31 Jul 2008 at 2:40am
will i get good performance out of the 4870 on a 24 in monitor for games or should i put in the extra cash and go for the dual 4870 set up?
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Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
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Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 31 Jul 2008 at 2:46am
For a 24" monitor, the crossfire is absolutely worthwhile. It's not that a single card won't support that resolution and provide a very nice experience, but once you get past a 22" screen, dual card setups really start to gain over a single card. If you can afford to, I would get the second card. This is more for your occasional FPS or action title than RTS. Whereas an RTS can feel extremely playable at 30FPS, the same framerate in something like Call of Duty would  not be.
 
 
In answer to Harleyman's question, yes, I would be recommending the liquid CPU cooling for the sake of a higher overclock.


Edited by Tyler Lowe - 31 Jul 2008 at 2:57am
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mcs07 View Drop Down
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Posts: 27 		  Quote mcs07 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 31 Jul 2008 at 4:21am
would this set up take care of me instead of the two 4870 or not?

http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=158317
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Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
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Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 31 Jul 2008 at 1:14pm
You'd be better off with the single 4870 than a 9800GTX. A 4870 is on par with a GTX260, the 9800GTX.... isn't. Your power supply may become a limiting factor in your ability to upgrade in the future as well. My original build had a 600W psu. Having spent two hours ripping all of the power rails out of my system and replacing that unit, I am going to recommend you spare yourself that experience if you have any designs on future upgrade to two GPU's. Your first build was exceptional. If you want to save some cash, IMO, drop to air cooling, or liquid cool the CPU in a 750i. With liquid cooling on the CPU and a dual slot GPU, the 750i case will work fine.

Edited by Tyler Lowe - 31 Jul 2008 at 1:14pm
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mcs07 View Drop Down
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Posts: 27 		  Quote mcs07 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 31 Jul 2008 at 2:26pm
ha my bad tyler I posted the wrong set up. I basically changed the 4870 to a GTX 280 and ran the 780i motherboard. I am going to go with my original set up and add another 4870 in the future if I feel the need too. Do you think I should change the case though if I keep my original set up and want to add another card in the future?

thanks for all the help tyler. this type of help is why I am going to buy from DS.
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mcs07 View Drop Down
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Posts: 27 		  Quote mcs07 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 31 Jul 2008 at 4:43pm
Yea
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widdlecat View Drop Down
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Posts: 840 		  Quote widdlecat Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 31 Jul 2008 at 10:47pm
The Antec 900 case has exceptional cooling capabilities. It is ready to mount an addition 120mm side case fan to cool the graphics card area, as well as an internal mid-case mount for another 120mm fan. So, cooling upgrade options are effective and hard to beat in a side window case design.
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Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
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Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 01 Aug 2008 at 1:10am
I agree with Widdlecat, the case cooling is exceptional for a mid range case.
 
Having said that, the HD3870 does run a tad on the warm side, and should you decide to upgrade to an 850i, the additional interior space in the larger case, combined with a more heat conductive material (aluminum for the 850i vs steel for the 900) will help in keeping the case temperatures lower, especially once you have two of those cards installed. This may yield a better overclock, if you are looking for a practical reason to spend more $$$ on the case aside from the convenience of working in a roomy environment when you need to install upgrades.
 
Final analysis: I would call a top end case like the 850, 950 or Cosmos S a nice thing to have (a very nice thing to have), but not neccesary. Unless one of the DSO techs has space concerns with the liquid cooling and planned crossfire GPU's, I think the 900 is a very solid case and will get the job done.


Edited by Tyler Lowe - 01 Aug 2008 at 1:12am
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mcs07 View Drop Down
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Posts: 27 		  Quote mcs07 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Aug 2008 at 7:40pm
Ok buying this week...would a single GTX 280 be better money spent than running two hd 4870s?

also the new 250 dollar savings special...how long is that going to last?

thanks for the help guys
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Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
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Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Aug 2008 at 8:08pm
That is entirely dependent on your resolution tbh. At 22" it's a bit of a tossup, meaning whatever you can get more cheaply. If you are looking at the same price, my feeling is the GTX280 is a slightly better buy if you are certain you will not go larger than a 22" screen as power consumption will be dramatically lower, and performance is very similar. Once you reach 24" and larger screen size, crossfire with two 4870's soundly beats a single GTX280. DSO's promotions tend to run for a very limited duration. If they are running a promotional sale, it is best to take advantage of it asap.
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mcs07 View Drop Down
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Posts: 27 		  Quote mcs07 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Aug 2008 at 9:16pm
I'm going with a 24 in monitor so I guess that answer my question..thanks tyler...also wont two 4870 be extremely hot for the antec case or should I be ok? (im getting liquid cooling for the CPU) don't know if that will affect the cards' heat
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Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
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Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Aug 2008 at 9:51pm
You may want to see if they still offer an a la carte fan addition. You would probably be well off to have the side fan and an additional fan added for exhaust from the standard to help push the heat from those cards out of the case. Your CPU won't be affected, but other motherboard components will be. Adding a couple of $10 fans might make a big difference in the level of performance you can get from this setup. Again, this is something to discuss with a DSO tech when you call. If it were me, I'd request it. $20 very well spent, IMO.

Edited by Tyler Lowe - 03 Aug 2008 at 9:52pm
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mcs07 View Drop Down
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Posts: 27 		  Quote mcs07 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 06 Aug 2008 at 8:32pm
well sh*t guys seems DSO raised prices for the crossfire 4870 set up and is now out of budget for me so I think I am going to change the mobo to a 780i and go with the GTX 280

will I still be ok for gaming on a 24 in?

Edited by mcs07 - 06 Aug 2008 at 8:33pm
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mcs07 View Drop Down
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Posts: 27 		  Quote mcs07 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 08 Aug 2008 at 1:43am
ok buying tomm or monday if I go to the actual shop to see all the components..talked to Kelly on the phone and he suggested I upgrade my memory from 800 mhz to 1066..so opinions on that if it will make a noticeable difference

thanks again Tyler+Kelly for all the help

bought the monitor and speakers today so its coming together



Edited by mcs07 - 08 Aug 2008 at 1:46am
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Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
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Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 08 Aug 2008 at 1:48am
Probably to give better overclocking results. One thing is for sure, Kelly doesn't reccomend upgrades for the sake of doing it. if he says you'll be better off with the faster memory, do it. Thumbs%20Up
 
And you're most welcome. Big%20smile
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