Rate merit of various components for a $3K+ system

this forum is great for advice and DS looks to be a great PC gaming computer maker, I say seems to be because I have not had the pleasure of owning one.  But if this forum and the hardware they offer and the customer service is as good as it seems than it will have my support for a long time.

Edited by rai-zero - 29 Aug 2008 at 10:00pm

This is my recommendation:

http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=179109

Definitely a quad (FOUR) core for video editing. The Q9450, definitely one of the two quad core choices for a new build. You don't gain any benefits (except for multiplier increase [which only concerns the hardcore overclockers]) by spending $200 - $999 more

8GB of ram, definitely nice to have as the prices are so cheap now-a-days. No reason to buy DDR3 as the current processors can not use the memory bandwidth provided by it. 800Mhz will get the Q9450 overclocked to 3.2GHz, if you'd like a higher overclock, you can get the 1066MHz ram and end up with a 4.2GHz if you are lucky enough.

The best single PCI-E x16 slot card available is the AMD Radeon 4870X2.

SSD for OS and applications, I don't know how hardcore you are with editing or files so I just selected the 500GB and 1TB. One can be used for storage and the other backup.

The Q9450 (processor selected) can easily be overclocked to 3.6GHz+ on air so liquid is not needed unless you plan on going somewhere in the 4.4GHz+ range.

And the Antec 900 is sufficient for all these components.


Edited by skyR - 29 Aug 2008 at 10:49pm

thanks for the advice

Edited by rai-zero - 30 Aug 2008 at 2:38pm

Another reason to open your case is to occasionally blow the dust out of the system with canned air. It's best to do this with the pc turned off (turn off the power supply switch, but leave it plugged in for ground). Clear out any radiator fins and heatsinks. Make sure all your fans are clean and simply ensure there is no dust buildup anywhere. Dust layers can act as an insulator causing electronics to run hotter.

Originally posted by widdlecat Another reason to open your case is to occasionally blow the dust out of the system with canned air. It's best to do this with the pc turned off (turn off the power supply switch, but leave it plugged in for ground). Clear out any radiator fins and heatsinks. Make sure all your fans are clean and simply ensure there is no dust buildup anywhere. Dust layers can act as an insulator causing electronics to run hotter.

Originally posted by Tyler Lowe I looked for ways to improve on DST4ME's config, and didn't see much. If you go with 8GB of RAM, your OC is not likely to be as good as if you do a 4GB (2x2GB) kit.   The only game that is likely to suffer a little in performance from going with the HD4870x2 is Crysis, which you did mention by name. It is possible to get an SLI pair of GTX260 into a build, and well within budget if you can live without a raptor and do a normal 7200RPM HDD setup. Your gaming won't suffer, as you will not see many hardfaults with 8GB of RAM installed. I hardly see any with 4GB installed- maybe 6 in a session.

Edited by rai-zero - 01 Sep 2008 at 6:36pm

The more ram you have, the more strain you put on the memory controller. So you won't be able to overclock as good with 4x2 opposed to 2x1.

Sky said it. The less RAM you have installed the lower the strain on your memory controller, and the higher the OC you will be able to reach. As for the cards, the HD4870x2 is an oustanding choice, it's just that ATI does not do as well with Crysis as Nvidia, and since you specifically mentioned that game, I offered a configuration I felt would support a 24" monitor well, and provide a very good experience in Crysis, yet remain within your budget.

thanks all

Edited by rai-zero - 03 Sep 2008 at 1:52pm

go with dual 260 gtx

water cooling is great IMO, allows you to achieve speeds that air cooling can't, no maintenance really, you simply check it once a month and twice a year you may have to add a bit of coolant (pretty easy. but for gpu I would not get liquid cooling.

Warranty is always worth it, its been 3years and 2 month, your ram or processor dies for what ever reason, now you want that warranty or not? lol sure you do.

its worth it, if nothing else at all, you know for the next 4 years, no matter what your PC is gonna be in top shape you gonna have nothing to worry about.

I have not head DS say anything about customers having problem with the 790i and 4 sticks of ram

I agree with 4 sticks vs 2 sticks, but I don't see how this statement is correct

"the 790i board. Running 4 sticks seems to cause many users grief"

if we are configuring people 790i with 4 sticks and we have not heard anything from DS or the customers who have gotten 790i with 4 sticks.

Edited by DST4ME - 03 Sep 2008 at 9:58pm

DST here is one article to show you the point:

I am not going to argue with you.