My old p4 tower recently died(funny story) which made ai(cs347) a pain in the ass when all you have is an old mac.
So I'm looking to build a new computer to last me a while, play some games(bioshock) and some upcoming games. I generally run debian(so compatibility is an issue), but plan to dual-boot for some games.
Anyways I was thinking a quad-core and an 8800gts 320mb. I plan to reuse my old ide dvd burner.
If you're going run a computer like that, I'd just drop Linux for awhile. It's not very likely that there will be stable drivers available for most of that equipment.
Anyhow, I've never used GeiL ram before. However, I highly recommend the XMS2 series from Corsair. Very, very fast and stable.
I believe Quad core is not such a good idea. It turns out that quad cores actually diminishes the performance of some products. Most of the time, quad vs. dual has no noticeable increase in performance (except for benchmarking programs). So, unless you're going to do heavy-duty, workstation type tasks (ie 3D image rendering, running complex code, etc), it is not worth to get quad core.
I run an AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+, and it is super fast, inexpensive, and the stock cooler on the 6000+ is amazing (unlike previous X2 models).
Video card seems like a good choice. But, since I'm an ATi guy, I run an ATI Radeon HD2900XT. That along with the 6000+ gives me an average of over 40FPS on Medal of Honor Airborne (1280x1024, all settings on high, DX10).
Since I was very bored at work... I made up a quick build. It has higher-performance RAM and a better card (2900XT over GTS, but the GTX is better than 2900XT) over your build, but a dual core cpu instead of quad. Also, it is all AMD. I picked a random PSU w/ good rating and output, chose the case I currently own, and chose the HD I currently own (have 2). http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/wis ... er=7283428
The 2900XT runs hot, so make sure you have good airflow through your case or get an aftermarket cooler (I have a couple 40mm fans that run air nicely through the case.
_________________ "You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic."
Joined: Mon 08-14-2006 3:02PM Posts: 715 Location: Off Campus FTW
Source: TJ North
Looks like a pretty good build. Few comments.
No soundcard?
If you don't plan on going SLi you should get one of the newer chipsets by somebody other than Nvidia, they overclock better in general, and I am assuming you are going to do that, since you got the aftermarket HSF.
Joined: Sun 10-19-2003 6:38PM Posts: 418 Location: here and there at the same time
Source: Fidelity
just a few questions and then i'll piece together what i think would be a good computer for ya: what is your budget, and what monitor resolution will you be running at? i see there was no monitor in your build so i'm guessing you're sticking with your current one.
Few things to note for my list: they're not all from the same place. I know its convenient to get it all from one place, but if you shop around you can save a few bucks. With the MoBo, i chose one with the new Intel P35 chipset cause it's been getting good reviews and it supports the new 1333 FSB speeds and the upcoming 45nm processors, so its got a little more upgradeability down the road. The ram you chose looked good for me, especially for the price after the rebates. Same hard drive. DONT SKIMP ON THE PSU. Thats why i chose the corsair. It proved in testing to have good efficiency at higher temperatures and under full load, half load, 3/4 load, etc, and the current and voltages were steady. All around good PSU. Stuck with the ArcticSilver5 cause its pretty much the best stuff out. Picked the same heatsink/fan combo, just found it cheaper elsewhere. I also picked the ThermalTake Armor, but thats just because i like the looks of it better, but thats all personal preference. And finally, the video card. While the GTS 320MB version is good for current DX9 games, it didnt perform too hot in DX10 testing due the the lower memory amount. If you plan on playing the upcoming DX10 games like Crysis, FarCry2, Unreal Tournament 3 (BioShock), Alan Wake, you'll appreciate the extra memory amount 'cause DX10 will utilize larger textures.
So thats about all i've got. Spend a little more now to save yourself some regret in the future. Also, none of those prices include any rebates. I know a number of those had rebates with them to further reduce prices. Keep an eye on SlickDeals.net and ableshopper.com up until the day you purchase, cause you might catch some more rebates.
So the total, before rebates, comes to: ~$1,317. Thats why i asked you what your budget was.
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Last edited by [4N]Static on Mon 09-10-2007 12:03AM, edited 1 time in total.
As far as the monitor I'm sticking with my planar lcd 1280x1024. I may go for one of those nice dell 24" widescreens in the future.
I decided to skimp on a sound card for now until I can find a nice soundcard that is supported in linux as well as windows. I have a soundblaster live that I may use, though when I decided to mess around with vista on my old computer I found they decided to no longer support it(maybe it is time to update), though I still don't know how I feel about vista and will probably stick to xp for gaming. If you have an idea on a decent soundcard I'm all ears.
I probably won't do sli unless my roommate upgrades his card and sells me his gts at a reasonable price, as far as other chipsets were you referring to the p35?
Also can anyone explain to me the ram timings (ie. 4-4-4-12)? Some people at eggxpert recommended that geil or ocz or corsair.
instead go with a seasonic or a corsair (the 520W one is very good, and around the same price)
edit: also - i'd go with a different motherboard. the EVGA mobos i've heard bad things about. i love their gfx cards, but id say go with a good asus or msi for your motherboard.
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BigPeeOn wrote:
Here's the deal: chemistry is the devil. Anything beyond balancing an chemical equation is black magic.
Do you really need quad-core now? The E6600 is an overclocking beast for pretty damn cheap. Also, buck up now and get the GTX 640 MB. Don't settle for a lesser card now and SLi them later. Get the good one, and when you have enough, get another one. You'll have 2 great cards in there.
EDIT: Whoops, I mean the GTS 640MB.
Last edited by kjk437 on Mon 09-10-2007 12:03AM, edited 1 time in total.
-here is where I don't exactly know what I'm talking about-
I plan on doing a bit of overclocking. That evga could lock the memory speed and just up the fsb(i'm a bit of a newb when it comes to overclocking).
My old computer had an albatros motherboard with a similar feature of locking the ram speed.
So taking in mind that I plan to overclock a bit would that gigabyte be nice or are there better options?
Joined: Sun 08-24-2003 3:47PM Posts: 1049 Location: Behind YOU!
Source: Holtman Hall
Those numbers refer to the number of clock-cycles the ram requires to preform a specified operation. It is very convient that the they are listed left to right in an order which generally has the greatest impact on system preformance to those with less impact; those operations are in a standard order: CAS - RAS to CAS - RAS Precharge - Active to Precharge
CAS is the number of clock cycles to access a particular column of data.
RAS to CAS is the number of clock cycles between stages 1 (row access) and 2 (column access) of a read or write operation.
RAS Precharge is the minimum time needed close one memory access location and begin accessing a different memory location.
Active to Prechage is the ammount of time the memory needs from request recipt on the pins to the start of the process. This is only important during extreemly heavy periods of ram usage such as opening/closing a program. This number should not be smaller than the sum of the previous three numbers.
You may also see a T1 or T2 tag wich designates command rate. This is the number of clock cycles the ram needs to communicate internally. Buy T1 for anything but absolute budget builds.
In summary, the smaller the numbers the faster the ram with the first three numbers being the most critical to overall preformance.
Since you want to over-clock, look for the fast modules. It typically be "loosened up" at higher FSB speeds to gain an over-all increase in memory bandwidth.
_________________ "Why is it that we must always choose between certain death and probable death?" ~ Clank, Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
-here is where I don't exactly know what I'm talking about- I plan on doing a bit of overclocking. That evga could lock the memory speed and just up the fsb(i'm a bit of a newb when it comes to overclocking). My old computer had an albatros motherboard with a similar feature of locking the ram speed.
So taking in mind that I plan to overclock a bit would that gigabyte be nice or are there better options?
Gigabyte motherboards have been, in my experience, extremely good. I've been buying only Gigabyte for the last 8 years, and not on has caused me problems.
_________________ "You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic."
Gigabyte motherboards have been, in my experience, extremely good. I've been buying only Gigabyte for the last 8 years, and not on has caused me problems.
Yeah the old GA-7VAXP I bought from you last year is still running really smoothly and it's easily a few years old.
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