Do I need water cooling?

[esntrk1]

Please Review my choices for a Windows Vista System w/SLI. I don't plan to overclock. Do I need water or any other additional cooling for this system? Any other comments would be appreciated. This is the first PC I have built in six years. Thanks.

MBO - ASUS P5N32-SLI PREMIUM
CPU - INTEL E6700
RAM - CORSAIR TWIN2X2048-8500C5D DDR2 1066 2GB
GPU - ASUS EN7600GT/2DHT/256M (2)
CSE - ANTEC P160W
PWS - ANTEC TRUE POWER TRIO TP3-650 ATX12V 650W
FAN - SILENX 120X25MM IXTREMA PRO FAN (2)
HDR - MAXTOR DIAMONDMAX 10 7200RPM 300GB SATA/300 (2)
DVD - PLEXTOR PX-755SA
DVD - LITE-ON SHD-16S1S-05
RDR - MITSUMI FA404M BLK - OEM

 

[esntrk1]

proz,
Thanks for the reply. I saw the performance on the X1800XT and you are right. It kills the 7600GT one-on-one. But I am planning to run dual 7600GTs in SLI mode. Won't this double the performance? I am thinking that dual 7600GTs should out perform any single card on the market.

http://www.slizone.com/page/slizone_learn.html

 

[clue69less]

All you need is stock cooling if you're not overclocking.

Watercooling is for extreme overclocking.

For sure. Some people WC just to get a quieter rig, for example for HTPCs. You could also go with a 3rd party HSF to get better cooling or a quieter fan. Numerous current and recent threads here discuss options.

 

[haywood]

Dual 7600's will not outperform the X1900 series or the 7900's in single card. You will get a 50% boost, remember that in SLI the PCIe drops to 8x for each slot. Nvidia will have new chipsets out later that will give 16x in each slot but those mobos will go for a premuim.

 

[esntrk1]

But the motherboard I chose does have 16x in each slot.

http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1325&l1=3&l2=11&l3=337

 

[cmptrdude79]

That's true, but just like anything else, there is always overhead to consider. Remember that when you hook those cards together in SLI, there is going to be more calculations done to split the screen (or render every other frame), and then to put all those back together into a coherent display on your monitor. Some games are able to take better advantage of SLI's capabilities than others, so your mileage will of course vary. But in general, what was stated above is correct. You will most often see a boost of 40-60%, depending on driver optimizations, by adding a second identical card in SLI. This is not a bandwidth limitation, as there are no graphics cards that will currently use more than the bandwidth provided by an 8X PCI Express slot (except maybe the 7950 SLI Card, not sure on that one).

Recommendations: Get the 1900XT, or the lower-priced 1900GT to hold you off until DX10 cards are available. Then go nuts.

Good luck.

-J

 

[Mondoman]

...
RAM - CORSAIR TWIN2X2048-8500C5D DDR2 1066 2GB
...

Since you are not OCing, this is way overkill. Get some DDR2-667 or DDR2-533 RAM, whichever is cheaper.

 

[esntrk1]

Thanks guys. Proz, thanks a lot for catching that video card. You are right. That 7600GT is no match for the 7900GT. So I am going to go with a single ASUS EN7900GTX for now and add the second one a few months down the line. I may get the Dell 24" LCD as well.

 

[esntrk1]

Since you are not OCing, this is way overkill. Get some DDR2-667 or DDR2-533 RAM, whichever is cheaper.

Thanks! Please have a look at the motherboard specification. The board appears to support DDR2-800, 667 and 533. I can save $80. by switching to CORSAIR TWIN2X2048-6400C4 memory.

 

[Mobius]

Do I need water cooling?

I dunno - how hot are you?

Hint: if water sprayed onto you causes a sizzling sound, or if it vapourises immediately upon contacting you, then YES: YOU DO NEED WATER COOLING!

 

[Assman]

Do I need water cooling?

I dunno - how hot are you?

Hint: if water sprayed onto you causes a sizzling sound, or if it vapourises immediately upon contacting you, then YES: YOU DO NEED WATER COOLING!

LMAO

 

[I]

No PC parts (AFAIK, certainly not those) "NEED" water cooling.

There is no such thing as "needing" it unless you have some very odd/unique part that expressly screams out at you in the instructions and warranty statement: "warranty void if included water cooler is not used".

The next generation of parts with their nuclear reactors for power might be a different story.

 

[chuckshissle]

I'd say get an E6600 and an aftermarket air cooler like Thermaltake Big Typhoon and do some overclocking. You should be able to overclock to 3Ghz with temps on the safe level. I agree with Prozac and scratch that 7600 dual, for $200 you get an X1800XT and would get better results or go for a DX10 card.

 

[esntrk1]

Do I need water cooling?

I dunno - how hot are you?

Hint: if water sprayed onto you causes a sizzling sound, or if it vapourises immediately upon contacting you, then YES: YOU DO NEED WATER COOLING!

Like your momma did last night?

 

[clue69less]

Do I need water cooling?

I dunno - how hot are you?

Hint: if water sprayed onto you causes a sizzling sound, or if it vapourises immediately upon contacting you, then YES: YOU DO NEED WATER COOLING!

Like your momma did last night?

No mothers, man... (George Carlin)

 

[Assman]

LMAO