dell poweredge t310 need graphics card

zachthun · Jun 22, 2014

I've recently got my hands on a dell poweredge t310 server and would like to try it out as a gaming pc. I got windows 8 to run it, now I just need help choosing a graphics card. It has a intel xeon x3430 processor, two 1 terabyte hdd's, 32 gig ram ddr3, and two 400 watt psu's.

Brunostako · Jun 22, 2014

Well, the overall performance of that Xeon is a bit low, I recommend R7 250X or R7 260 from the red side, from the green side the GTX 750.

Saludos

meat_loaf · Jun 22, 2014

zachthun :

You can game with a server CPU but the problem is that server CPU's are not really good at gaming because the instruction set is not optimize for it. You won't get very far in terms of FPS though.

Rationale · Jun 22, 2014

zachthun :

meat_loaf :

The Xeon x3430 is about the same for gaming as a Pentium G3220 or an FX-4100. You won't get great performance. Best ratio would probably be a GTX 750 TI or an R7 260x. Other options, if you want to start risking a CPU bottleneck or power supply problems, include a GTX 660 or an R9 270.

zachthun · Jun 23, 2014

Thanks for the help. Seems I might be better of using this server in a different way like a home theater. Prior to getting this I had been researching different hardware to build my own gaming pc. Any ideas on what i should buy for an entry/mid level gaming rig?

meat_loaf · Jun 23, 2014

Rationale :

zachthun :

For entry level the best performance for budget I would recommend getting AMD A10 7800k Kaveri series. It offers great performance and it has a pretty decent gpu. Some of them even comes with R7 260 which is good enough for entry level.

For mid-end (depending on budget) i5 3770k or FX 6300 or FX 8320, for a little extra oumph since its quite cheap now (overclockable to 8350). You can get gtx 760 or R9 270X.

zachthun · Jun 23, 2014

I'm just learning about all this so I don't know much about apu's except that I heard you'll want to spend a little more on ram seeing as apu's don't have onboard video ram but instead use system memory. That being said will building an apu setup affect upgradability if I decide I want get a little more serious with my gaming?

Rationale · Jun 23, 2014

zachthun :

It will, to an extent. APUs are primarily low cost solutions. The GPU that's built into them can be harmlessly disabled if you add a new GPU later, but on the processing side they're still weak compared to the FX series, and especially compared to the i5s and i3s.

Brunostako · Jun 23, 2014

For decent build without spending too much, I recommend an AMD Athlon X4 750K (Trinity) or 760K (Richland), a FM2+ motherboard with the A78 chipset at least, 2x4GB of 1600 MHz RAM and a AMD Radeon R7 260X. Or on the other side, an Intel Core i3-4130, a B85 chipset motherboard at least, 2x4GB of 1600MHz and a GTX 750 Ti.
Make sure that you have a good PSU so your components can work safer.

meat_loaf · Jun 23, 2014

zachthun :

If you get an APU it won't affect upgradability. You can always switch out parts if you want for a more powerful hardware. The only problem with APU's is the fact they are optimal solutions for low-end entry level, but once you want to get mid-high end, then it either has to be FX or i5/i7. APU's aren't that well optimized for multithreaded applications and gaming since its slower than dedicated CPUs.

zachthun · Jun 23, 2014

Thanks you guys are all awesome.

zachthun · Jun 23, 2014

So I decided that if I'm going to put this much effort in I might as well not be a cheapskate about it. I've come up with a setup which I hope works well.

Cpu: intel core I-5 4670k

Mobo: gigabyte ga-z87-ud3h atx lga1150

Memory: kingston fury series 8gb (2x4gb) ddr3 - 1600

Storage: pny optima 240 gb ssd
Western digital 1 tb 7200rpm hdd

gpu: sapphire radeon r7 265 2 gb

Case: cooler master haf 912 atx mid tower

Psu: corsair cx 500w 80+ bronze certified semi-modular atx

Rationale · Jun 23, 2014

zachthun :

You'd be better off with an i5-4590 and an R9 270X, to balance the CPU and GPU more. Even then the CPU would still be ahead.

zachthun · Jun 23, 2014

In you're opinion would you say that would be my best cpu gpu combination as far as price to performance ratio?

Rationale · Jun 23, 2014

zachthun :

Any Haswell i5 would be fine, really. Could even drop to a weaker i5, if necessary. The only thing you'd lose would be some future-proofing. Intel's CPUs in general are ahead of what games need right now.

Price/performance ratio is a tricky subject. Additionally, sometimes the best cost/performance ratio doesn't run games as well as people want, so they're willing to set aside the ratio and pay more.

AMD's best cost/performance cards are the HD 7850, HD 7870, R7 260X, R7 265, R9 270, and R9 270X.
Nvidia's best cost/performance cards are the GTX 650 TI, GTX 750, GTX 750 TI, GTX 660, and GTX 760.

AMD's best cost/performance CPUs are the Athlon 760K, FX-6300, and FX-6350.
Intel's best cost/performance CPUs are the Pentium G3420, i3-4130, i3-4150, i5-4460, and i5-4590.

You'll notice I didn't list any of the companies really low end, or really high end parts. The further away you get from the center, the worse the price/performance ratio gets, especially towards the top.

Really, the best cost/performance ratio I know of would be the i3-4150 and the R7 260X. However, despite having the best ratio, it may not offer the performance you want. In your case, I recommended the i5-4590 and the R9 270X because it would keep the cost similar to what you were already planning on, while maximizing the game performance at that price.

zachthun · Jun 24, 2014

You bring up a good point. I think maybe I should incorporate cost/performance, overall performance and future proving into my decision. That being said during my most recent hour long Newegg surfing (I'm spending way too much time on this website considering I'd never heard of it until last week). I saw this package deal. Does it seem like a good deal granted that I'd need to buy my gpu and ssd seperately.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1704332

Rationale · Jun 24, 2014

zachthun :

...Sort of. You'd need a different power supply though. Raidmax uses low quality components, and considering the GPU is normally expected to draw the most power of any component, that may be a problem.

zachthun · Jun 24, 2014

What gpu would match up best with the i7-4790?

Rationale · Jun 24, 2014

zachthun :

The Titan Z or R9 295 are the only things that'd match it, really. The i7-4790 is a ridiculously powerful enthusiast and professional CPU, and currently no game on the market comes close to using all its potential.

zachthun · Jun 24, 2014

Thanks a lot for the help. I'm going with your recommendation of the i5-4590 and r9 270x.

dell poweredge t310 need graphics card

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