FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Please help with configuration!

Post Date: 2008-06-28
 Post Reply Post Reply
Page  12>
Author
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
schulni View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58 		  Quote schulni Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: Please help with configuration!
    Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 5:35pm
Hi all, I'm getting tired of my XPS (which I never should have bought in the first place) and I'm researching a new gaming rig. I don't know much about computers, but I've done some research and I'm trying to be as informed as possible. I'll be getting a new monitor, probably a 22-24 inch Samsung, and I'd like to be able to play Crysis, though I'm not obsessed with maxing out specs and frame rates. My only budget restraint is that I don't know much about computers (gaming will be by far the most taxing thing this computer does), so it doesn't really make sense for me to buy lots of fancy stuff that I won't understand or use. So, without further ado, here are two configurations, one from DS and one from Alienware. I'd appreciate as much input as possible:

Digital Storm (basic case)
Core 2 duo E8400 3 Ghz
Stage 1 cooling
750w
896 mb GTX 260
2gb extreme performance
nForce 650i
Vista Ultimate 64bit
80 gb, 320 gb HD
20x DVD RW
motherboard sound
Overclock CPU and RAM
$2013

Alienware
Core 2 duo E8400 3 Ghz
standard cooling
750w
896 mb GTX 260
3gb 800 mhz RAM
nforce 680 sli
Vista Ultimate
500 gb HD
20x DVD RW
standard sound (they say 7.1 HD performance)
$2022

I'd prefer to go with Digital Storm because they seem more reliable (Alienware has its ups and downs, and the Dell affiliation scares me). I'm not wedded to any of the components I've chosen; they just seemed like the best option for me based on the research I've done. I'd definitely appreciate suggestions on: the CPU, the GPU (don't want sli), the RAM, the OS, cooling, and overclocking - in other words, pretty much everything! Thanks in advance...
Back to Top
!ender_ View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran


Joined: 24 Oct 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 5:40pm

that config gets your on the right track, it depends a lot on your budget and your needs

here is a good readme to get you started
 
here is a good start on a config
 
i dont think id go with a 650 board, definatly not a dual core, and not stage 1 cooling if you are overclocking.
 
yes i copied this from another thread, but it seemed the exact same answers appliedSmile


Edited by !ender_ - 28 Jun 2008 at 5:40pm
Back to Top
schulni View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58 		  Quote schulni Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 5:43pm
Thanks for the reply. What's wrong with the 650 board, in your opinion? Also, I've heard that dual cores are better if the computer isn't being asked to do much multitasking, which mine will not...I'll upgrade the cooling to stage 3.
Back to Top
skyR View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie

Digital Storm Apprentice


Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2220 		  Quote skyR Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 5:49pm
You don't need all the Vista Ultimate extras if your primarily thing will be gaming.

You don't need to overclock the ram as there is little noticeable gain in gaming. There's also little difference between 800MHz and 1066MHz ram with the CPU you selected unless you will be doing some extreme overclocking on your own.

The GTX 260 isn't exactly a great card for ~$349. I'd recommend the HD4850, HD4870, or the 9800GTX.

The 650i motherboard isn't exactly great at overclocking so... The 650i and 680i also does not have native support for the E8400 CPU... so.

I'd personally recommend this.
http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=161865

You can add 2GB more ram and push it to ~$2055... I just stuck under your listed prices.
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star.
Back to Top
schulni View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58 		  Quote schulni Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 6:06pm
Ok, based on advice, I'll go in a totally different direction from the first configuration and see what people think...

Chassis: Antec 900
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Power Supply: 650W Corsair HX (Dual SLI Compatible)
Processor: AMD Phenom 9750 (2.4GHz) (Quad Core) (4 MB Cache) AM2+
Motherboard: Asus M3A32-MVP Deluxe (AMD 790FX Chipset) (Supports CrossFire)
System Memory: 4GB DDR2 OCZ at 800MHz
Card Reader: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 1: 80GB Western Digital (8MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Hard Drive 2: 250GB Western Digital (16MB 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
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 2x CrossFire Dual (ATI Radeon HD 4850 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 (Blue Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes)
Modifications: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my processor
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)
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty
Back to Top
skyR View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie

Digital Storm Apprentice


Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2220 		  Quote skyR Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 6:11pm
I would highly recommend getting an Intel CPU. They destroy the AMD processors in every way possible.
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star.
Back to Top
schulni View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58 		  Quote schulni Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 6:15pm
What intel CPU is your preference (can't afford the extremes), and do you like quad or duo? I started with duo, since I don't do any multitasking, but someone else suggested quad...
Back to Top
skyR View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie

Digital Storm Apprentice


Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2220 		  Quote skyR Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 6:23pm
If you don't do any editing, rendering, or multi-tasking then get a duo core. Doesn't matter which speed, just pick the one that fits your budget.

No reason to get a quad when most games are optimized for duo... and games will most likely not advantage of quads in 3 years time. I remember all the hype surrounding the quads back in like 2006 where people are like "everything will use quad core in the next 2 years" and games like Crysis, Age of Conan, etc amazingly still use two.

Anyways in 3 years time, you will probably be thinking about getting a whole new comp.
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star.
Back to Top
!ender_ View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran


Joined: 24 Oct 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 7:05pm
if your going for budget to the extent of not getting a quad core, then crossfire/sli is certainly not the way to go as you couldnt get a much worse cost:perfomance ratio... while quad cores may not be used to thier full extent, my multimeter is showing activity on all 4 cores 100% of my time on, granted im quite the multitaskwhore ie skype/winamp/aim/steam/_currentgame_or_art program
 
is there a reason you keep putting 2 HDDs in your config? its almost $50 cheaper for a single 320 (vs 160gb+80gb HDDs) and you get 80 more gigs of space...
 
as far as overclocking, i dont think the idea behind OCing the ram is so much its direct difference, but moreso its influence on the cpu OC, i saw tons of benefits when i OC'd my ram along with my cpu vs of leaving it at AUTO, and substantial benchmark differences too
 
if youre trying to stick around 2k click similar to sky's config with a few changes based on my exp with my rig i think the OC is quite worth it, however, that hardware will serve you well at stock settings(and save you around $170).
Back to Top
schulni View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58 		  Quote schulni Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 7:09pm
Would you recommend the HD4870 or the 9800GTX? Are there any major differences that separate them? Also, is 4gb of ram worth the upgrade? Would the 750i motherboard work well for overclocking?
Back to Top
skyR View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie

Digital Storm Apprentice


Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2220 		  Quote skyR Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 7:18pm
Originally posted by schulni

Would you recommend the HD4870 or the 9800GTX? Are there any major differences that separate them? Also, is 4gb of ram worth the upgrade? Would the 750i motherboard work well for overclocking?


Go with HD4870 if you don't play Age of Conan or Assassin Creed or some retarded nvidia fanboi game.
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star.
Back to Top
!ender_ View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran


Joined: 24 Oct 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 7:25pm

theres really no viable reason to go sli/crossfire with a budget build, and the 750 will support all you need without issue. you are much better off to pocket the cash and buy the next big gpu down the line

 
oh and go with the grain on GPU, nvidia is the way its meant to be played
 
haha, im kidding, but you should take the time to compare the 2 and choose for yourself, everyone has a side on the friendly radeon v nvidia field, so most opinions you get will be biased
Back to Top
schulni View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58 		  Quote schulni Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 8:27pm
I've always had ATIs, and I told myself I was finally going to get an nVidia this time around, but now I'm not so sure. It seems like their current cards aren't as good as the previous ones, and ATI's new cards, like the 4870 are better...Also, any preferences on RAM, given that I'll only be taxing the system with gaming?
Back to Top
schulni View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58 		  Quote schulni Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 8:48pm
Ok, so now I'm leaning toward something like this. I'm not totally convinced on the GPU, and I'm still thinking about going for the 9800GTX or whatever it is (I can't keep all of these numbers straight!)

Chassis: Antec 900
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Power Supply: 550W Corsair HX (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8200 2.66GHz (1333MHz Front Side Bus) (6MB Cache)
Motherboard: NVIDIA 750i SLI Core 2 Quad (Chipset: nForce 750i SLI)
System Memory: 2GB DDR2 Corsair at 800MHz Dominator DHX (High-Performance)
Card Reader: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 1: 80GB Western Digital (8MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Hard Drive 2: 250GB Western Digital (16MB 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
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 4850 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 (Blue Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes)
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: 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)
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty
Back to Top
!ender_ View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran


Joined: 24 Oct 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 9:23pm
Originally posted by !ender_

is there a reason you keep putting 2 HDDs in your config? its almost $50 cheaper for a single 320 (vs 160gb+80gb HDDs) and you get 80 more gigs of space...
 
i think youre going to want to step up to at least 620w PSU
 
still say go with the quad core
 
other than that i like this config
Back to Top
schulni View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58 		  Quote schulni Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Jun 2008 at 10:07pm
Why the quad core? I like the two hard drives in case I need to do a system restore on the OS (I've had to do it twice on my annoying XPS). I'll upgrade the power supply. Also, with the quad core, do you recommend 4gb of RAM and/or increasing its speed?
Back to Top
widdlecat View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran


Joined: 11 Mar 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 840 		  Quote widdlecat Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 29 Jun 2008 at 5:24am
The argument of quad core vs dual core for gaming has consistently shown that what will make the difference in performance is the cpu speed. If you are concerned with performance hits on your gaming with a dual core, just shut off background apps, keep your system clear of malware and have fun.

4GB of ram sounds good for vista 64bit.
Back to Top
SunfighterLC View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran


Joined: 18 Feb 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1527 		  Quote SunfighterLC Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 29 Jun 2008 at 5:44am
I never ran into any issues that i know of using 2GB of 1333 on V64 that i know of.
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
Back to Top
Kliebor2 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 22 May 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 659 		  Quote Kliebor2 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 29 Jun 2008 at 7:16am
Shuln, I have yet to see any advice on here that I like better that Skys and enders.

you just need to learn to take the best of both for you and leave the rest.

In the camp I am from, I heartily agree with ender, stick with the quad if you intend to do anything while you game. When I game  (multi player about 90% of my gaming) I constantly run ventrilo and my virus scan and firewall and I can tell you quad core vs dual core (my previous machine wat a 2.6 ghz dual core my new one a 2.66 ghz quad) the quad definitely is less of a bottle neck and the quad uses all four cores, the nice thing being that my game can eat two cores at 100% and my utilities can take their time off the two core not monopolized by the game and I do not feel the hit when I am screaming like an idiot at the top of my lungs at my guildies to take out whatever threat is about to kill us :)

As far as graphics cards, I will admit I am a nVidia fan and have not stumbled into the ATI camp since the mid nineties... I like the nVidia line and I am extremely biased to the 9800 GTX, it is a well balanced card, a good power card with budget pricing. If you have unlimited cash the 280 is amazing.

Performance vs ATI you can not even compare, every review I have seen the nVidia cards blow away the equivalent ATI rival dollar for dollar in pretty much every area.

Take it as you will. :)

Dave
Digital Storm 950Si - Q9450 Quad Core @ 3 Ghz
Dual PNY OC2 GTX 560Ti
8 Gigabytes DDR2/800
2 Western Digital 500 GB SATAII 7200 RPM HD
Back to Top
!ender_ View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran


Joined: 24 Oct 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 29 Jun 2008 at 8:33am
Originally posted by schulni

Why the quad core? I like the two hard drives in case I need to do a system restore on the OS (I've had to do it twice on my annoying XPS). I'll upgrade the power supply. Also, with the quad core, do you recommend 4gb of RAM and/or increasing its speed?
 
as far as the HDDs, you can partition a drive to handle the same thing, and if you partition the 320, you pay less for more GBs, less heat, and one less piece of hardware. I had an external HD left over from my first PC, i use that as backup, if your XPS is giving you trouble: get your new computer and use it for a month or so to allow for most easy issues to pop up should there be any that occur. then, rip the HDD from your XPS and drop it in an external HDD case (or keep it in your old comp if you have the room) and use that HDD to back up your most vital files, ie pictures, paperwork, saved gaems, etc. this way, you always have the most important things backed up no matter what happens. i update mine about once a week
 
as far as the quad, i believe that a 9450 and 4gb at 800 is the most you would need HOWEVER i have not worked with that and i must say that my 2gb of 1066 ram has overclocked quite nicely and im very glad i went with that speed.
in other words, if you are not going to overclock i would go with the 9450 and 4gig @ 800, if you are going to OC, you may consider going to 1066
Back to Top
schulni View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58 		  Quote schulni Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 29 Jun 2008 at 11:47am
Based on suggestions, here are the new specs:

Chassis: Antec 900
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: NVIDIA 750i SLI Core 2 Quad (Chipset: nForce 750i SLI)
System Memory: 4GB DDR2 OCZ at 1066MHz (SLI-Ready Edition)
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: 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: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 1GB
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 (Blue Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes)
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: 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)
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty
Back to Top
Kliebor2 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 22 May 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 659 		  Quote Kliebor2 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 29 Jun 2008 at 3:14pm
other than bumping to a 780i mother board, I would say you have got a hell of a winner.

The 750 I got steered away from by several people, especially with larger memory loads, apprently it is not a great board if you want to load up on memory.
Digital Storm 950Si - Q9450 Quad Core @ 3 Ghz
Dual PNY OC2 GTX 560Ti
8 Gigabytes DDR2/800
2 Western Digital 500 GB SATAII 7200 RPM HD
Back to Top
!ender_ View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran


Joined: 24 Oct 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4219 		  Quote !ender_ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 29 Jun 2008 at 4:14pm
i like it, no complaints, possibly consider a lightscribe optical or if they are starting to offer other drives in SATA instead of the bulky IDE
Back to Top
schulni View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58 		  Quote schulni Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 11:13am
Does anybody have strong feelings about the best GPU right now? I'm not sure if I should get a GTX 280, the 9800GX, the Radeon 4870, or even something else. I'm leaning towards the 280, even though it's expensive right now. It seems like the consensus is that it is a good card. I'm just wondering if I'll really notice the difference in performance. Also, will the demanding games of the next few years still perform well on the lower tier cards?
Back to Top
schulni View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58 		  Quote schulni Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 11:26am
I guess what I'm saying is, right now the 4870 is much cheaper with only 10-15% worse performance, but I'm wondering if down the road the 280's percentage gap will increase as more demanding games come out...
Back to Top
Kliebor2 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 22 May 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 659 		  Quote Kliebor2 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 1:02pm
Unapologetic nVidia fan here, I would recommend strongly sticking with the nVidia chipset. I have had nothing but good luck with it since the late nineties. They are generally quiet, fast and stable.

I am running 9800GTX in 2x SLI right now and it is running great. I find myself in my happy place almost all of the time, games run well, and I love to play because it is sweet and I can play without crashing.

I will admit due to Vista 64 I had to ditch my beloved Fallout Tactics and Fallout II while it runs, the game animations play so fast that my toon looks like a blur so I uninstalled it... but those were my only disappointments so far.

As I have stated elsewhere on these boards, I think if you have money to burn go with the 280 series, if like most of us you just want to play and play fast, 9800 GTX is a hot card and it has full DX10 support and lotsa nifty bonuses over the 8800 series cards it superceded.

Dave
Digital Storm 950Si - Q9450 Quad Core @ 3 Ghz
Dual PNY OC2 GTX 560Ti
8 Gigabytes DDR2/800
2 Western Digital 500 GB SATAII 7200 RPM HD
Back to Top
Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 14 May 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 1:14pm
The ATI cards are better performers for the dollar currently. For not much more than the price of a configuration including a single GTX280, you could crossfire two 4870's. I think it's a question of budget, and where you draw the line on spending. A 4850 will outperform a 9800GTX, a 4870 is on par with a GTX260 in many cases.
 
I have no particular affinity for either company, I have owned both, and both have done exactly what I paid for in the past. Personally, I would not be willing to shell out $1300 for a pair of video cards, so I would be more likely to opt for the 4870 given the current situation, possibly one card initially, with plans to crossfire as I could afford to.
Back to Top
schulni View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58 		  Quote schulni Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 6:41pm
Would crossfiring really make a substantial difference on a 22inch monitor? If not, I think I'd rather just get the best invidual card...Like I said, it's hard for me to come to terms with getting another ATI, because the ones I've had in the past haven't performed as well as expected...
Back to Top
schulni View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58 		  Quote schulni Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 7:10pm
Also, would I need to change the motherboard if I decided to crossfire the 4870's?
Back to Top
Kliebor2 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 22 May 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 659 		  Quote Kliebor2 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 8:14pm
Yes to crossfire you need a crossfire compatible MB, anything SLI (780, 680, 790 etc) will not allow crossfire.

On a 22" monitor, sli or crossfire is of debatable usefullness, you might see some benefit, but likely not a whole lot. Probably not enough to validate the expense
Digital Storm 950Si - Q9450 Quad Core @ 3 Ghz
Dual PNY OC2 GTX 560Ti
8 Gigabytes DDR2/800
2 Western Digital 500 GB SATAII 7200 RPM HD
Back to Top
schulni View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58 		  Quote schulni Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 10:42pm
This is my final build, unless someone savvy objects!
Thanks for all the help (funny how these things always get more expensive than when you start out!)


Chassis: Antec 900
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: NVIDIA 780i Core 2 Quad (Chipset: nForce 780i SLI)
System Memory: 4GB DDR2 OCZ at 1066MHz (SLI-Ready Edition)
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: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Optical Drive 2: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 1GB
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 (Blue Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes)
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: 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)
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty
Back to Top
Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 14 May 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 11:09pm
Originally posted by schulni

Would crossfiring really make a substantial difference on a 22inch monitor?
 
Yes, yes it will. At 1600x1050, you are absolutely entering the range of resolutions where XFire and SLI are worthwhile. Regardless, the GTX280 is still the fastest single card solution available. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with the performance one will bring.
 
Only one suggestion: Go to at least a 750W PSU, preferably a 1000W model on the ofhand chance that later, the price of the GTX280 plummets and you want a second card.


Edited by Tyler Lowe - 30 Jun 2008 at 11:10pm
Back to Top
SunfighterLC View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran


Joined: 18 Feb 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1527 		  Quote SunfighterLC Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 11:21pm
At 22inchs id still say a 98GX2 is a better value. There wont be many games pushing that memory bandwidth problem on it till a few years down the road at resolutions like that.
 
The prices of the GTX 280-260 cards probably wont be falling much if at all. Their cores are just too large for nvidia to be able to make a significant number of them per waffer.
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
Back to Top
schulni View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58 		  Quote schulni Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 01 Jul 2008 at 7:18pm
So, I guess the question is, crossfire 4870's with the Asus chip, or a single 280 with the 780 chip?
Back to Top
Tyler Lowe View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 14 May 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0 		  Quote Tyler Lowe Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 01 Jul 2008 at 11:17pm
If you're not going to add a second GTX280 down the road, my own sense is that a pair of 4870's will offer substantially more performance, with perhaps the exception of  a couple of titles in the "The Way it's Meant to be Played" program.
 
I do understand that multi GPU technology has it's detractors on these forums, but I will also say that my own experience with it has been extremely positive, and I game on a 22" monitor at 1600x1050. I think one of the primary differences today, versus days gone by when it comes to SLI and Crossfire, is that both NVidia, and more particularly, ATI have shown an ever increasing commitment to multi GPU profiles/drivers. For ATI, the multi GPU *is* their high end solution, so I believe the level of refinemant for multi GPU drivers can only increase. I also believe strongly that NVidia will do whatever it takes not to be outdone by ATI, so they too will be hard at work refining their own SLI technology.
 
People spend large sums of money to gain 10% to 20% performance increase when looking at a card like the GTX280. Look at the price difference between the GTX260 and the GTX280. You could nearly purchase two GTX260's for the price of a single GTX280, and gain that aforementioned 10-20%. SLI and Crossfire typically scale at least that well depending on resolution, yet many would argue the two card solution is somehow not a good value for the dollar.I would simply say that there is no blanket one size fits all answer to that question. Each situation must, IMO, be evaluated with care and an eye towards which of the available graphics solutions will offer maximum performance for the dollar spent.
 
Long time posters on these forums tend to develop strong opinions with reagrd to options offered in the configuration page. Many times, these opinions are based in extremely positive experience with their own Digital Storm system. I would not discount these opinions, but also would not, because one solution has been positively recieved, discount other possibilities. There are many valid roads to high performance.
 
I realize I have run a little long with this response, but I hope this has been in some way helpful.


Edited by Tyler Lowe - 01 Jul 2008 at 11:19pm
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.0859375 seconds.