Help needed for my new built

[Olorin2222]

Hello,

I'm about to build my new PC but I'm still hesitating on what it should be in the end. I already have the following components:

CPU: Intel Core Quad Extreme QX9700 2.66 GHz
Motherboard: Asus P5E3 deluxe Wifi AP
Hardrive: WD raptor 150 Go
Graphic card: sparkle 8800 ultra or twintech 9800 GX2 ( I have both but still have to decide which one I will run depending on the config)
SoundCard: Emu 1212M
Optical drive: LG GGW H20L

To this I should add a case. My preference goes to the Antec P190.

As for the memory and for now, I will probably go for the OCZ reaperX HPC 2x1 Go pc3 10666 1333MHz

My main concern is wether to run the 8800 ultra or the 9800 GX2, keeping in mind that I would like to have the highest performance/ problems ratio. For example, I have heard about a lot of issues concerning the 9800 GX2 excessive heat, compatibility with case, motherboard and power supplies. So is the 9800GX2 a good option with the antec P190 ( cooling, Antec Neo 650W power supply compatibilty etc...) and with the overall config? Or should I run the 8800 ultra which is suppose to perform closely to 9800GX2 and which comes with a more peace-of-mindish aura ( I will not encounter any compatibility problem, overheat and I will probably be able to overclock it well with the X38 chip). Any thoughts ?

 

[mihirkula]

Have you already BOUGHT all the components or have you shortlisted those components?

ALso which monitor do you have/yet to buy? What are you going to use the PC for..just gaming or anything else like vid editing? And what is your budget? Where do you live (eg. US, UK, Asia)?

 

[Olorin2222]

I have bought all the components (including the 2 graphic cards) except the case and the memory. I want a versatile system, I will do some gaming but also quite a lot of music recording. I also have vista integrale and I would like to run Vista as my OS. As for teh monitor, I would like a 24". I was thinking about the Dell 2408WFP, but it has some problems at the moment ( input lag being one). So, for short:
- 8800 ultra or 9800GX2 with Antec P190 and Asus P5E3 deluxe? ( money is not a concern as both are already in my possession)
- May I go for another case than the P190 ? and if yes, with which power supply? (I'll not spend more than 500 dollars for case plus supply)
- Which 24" monitor? ( not above 800 dollars)
thanks for your help.

 

[Raxus]

BenQ 24" , great monitor for the price and it has HDMI support!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824014158

 

[mihirkula]

Both the cards are awful hot....though you should keep the 8800 ultra...especially since its a single card and still performs very well....

Get the Antec 900 case if you want. Slap a Corsair 550VX or 650TX PSU on it.

Corsair/Crucial Ballistix DDR2 800 would do the job.

ps: I'm curious as to how you ended up buying that QX9700, an 8800GTX and a 9800GX2

 

[Olorin2222]

Thank you for your answers.

I think I will run the 8800 ultra only if it is projected that the 9800 GX2 is going to give me hard life in my future config, as i would prefer to run the card with the best overall perfs. So will an 9800 GX2 work well with the ASUS P5E3 deluxe mobo and the antec P190 case ( good enough cooling? appropriate PSU?).
On the other hand can an overclocked 8800 ultra outperform the 9800 GX2?

Concerning the case, why should I choose the Antec 900 over the P190? The P190 is Big and has unbeatable air cooling, and it has an overall robust design. In terms of cooling, is the 900 better than the P190? Or is it the PSU which is flawed for the P190?

Regards.

P.S.: I have a QX 6700 @ 2.66 GHz, not an QX9700 as I specified.

 

[jsc]

For cooling, the 900 over the P190. The 8" (20 cm) fan on top is great for pulling heat out of the case and the front fan in the middle bay blows directly onto the video card.

 

[Olorin2222]

Maybe I should go for the Antec 1200. This case looks really great! Will it fit the 9800 GX2? And also, I 've heard that the Antec Power Quattro 850W PSU is not compatible with the 9800 GX2. Does an adapter exist for the 8pinch PCI connector ? Or should I go for an another PSU?
Thanks.

 

[mihirkula]

Why the antec 1200? The antec 900 with a Corsair 550VX would do the job as mentioned earlier...saves you $$ too... you've already spent a lot of cash on that QX6700 and 98gX2...

Anyway 9800GX2 performs horribly when AA is turned on.....not the performance one wants after purchasing a $600 GPU. Check the benchmarks before sticking with any GPU

http://en.expreview.com/2008/03/19/Quad-CrossfireX-smasher-GeForce-9800GX2/21/

 

[Olorin2222]

Well, this is true for Crysis benchmarks, but there is no GPU which performs well with this game!!! And for all the other games, the 9800 X2 still gives the best results. So, maybe an overclocked 8800 ultra can approach a 9800 GX2, i don't know. As for the case, money is not a concern for the Antec 1200 , it enters my budget of about 400 dollars for the case plus PSU. Now, I'm undecided between the Antec 1200 and the cooler master Stacker 830 (and a cooler master PSU) , which is very good also. For the monitor, the BenQ FP241W (Z?) seems to have received only very good reviews, with no flaws yet seen. So if I can keep my system cool and if there's no compatibility issues, I would preferably go for the 9800 GX2 over the 8800 ultra. Apparently, the stacker 830 has a better overall cooling than the Antec gaming cases ( both 900 and 1200) and a Real power pro 750 is compatible with the 9800GX2.

So, for the moment, I'm opting towards:
-9800GX2 over 8800 ultra
-Cooler master Stacker 830 plus real power pro power supply (750W)
- BenQ FP241WZ 24"
- OCZ 2x1Go ReaperX HPC PC3_10666 1333MHz

IS This a good choice for my budget?

P.S.:Maybe I should wait for a Dell 2408WFP Revision A01 to come?

 

[Raxus]

Well, this is true for Crysis benchmarks, but there is no GPU which performs well with this game!!! And for all the other games, the 9800 X2 still gives the best results. So, maybe an overclocked 8800 ultra can approach a 9800 GX2, i don't know. As for the case, money is not a concern for the Antec 1200 , it enters my budget of about 400 dollars for the case plus PSU. Now, I'm undecided between the Antec 1200 and the cooler master Stacker 830 (and a cooler master PSU) , which is very good also. For the monitor, the BenQ FP241W (Z?) seems to have received only very good reviews, with no flaws yet seen. So if I can keep my system cool and if there's no compatibility issues, I would preferably go for the 9800 GX2 over the 8800 ultra. Apparently, the stacker 830 has a better overall cooling than the Antec gaming cases ( both 900 and 1200) and a Real power pro 750 is compatible with the 9800GX2.

So, for the moment, I'm opting towards:
-9800GX2 over 8800 ultra
-Cooler master Stacker 830 plus real power pro power supply (750W)
- BenQ FP241WZ 24"
- OCZ 2x1Go ReaperX HPC PC3_10666 1333MHz

IS This a good choice for my budget?

P.S.:Maybe I should wait for a Dell 2408WFP Revision A01 to come?

Olorin..I don't see a BenQ monitor with that model #. Got a link?

Also remember you gave us a budget of $400 for your 24", that hamstrings our choices. Otherwise yes if your budget for a monitor goes up to the $700 range you can get a pretty nice S-PVA panel monitor. I am looking at 2 at the moment. The Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP and the Samsung SyncMaster 245T.

 

[Olorin2222]

Here is the link for the BenQ:

http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/BenQ_FP241WZ_LCD_Monitor_Review.htm

It's certainly a little bit above my budget, but I can wait a bit to get more money and buy it if it's worth it.

The Dell 2408WFP was one of my first thoughts, but it seems to come with too many flaws for its price. It was reviewed as not good (Ghosting, black bleeding, huge output lag able to destroy any real gaming experience). I can still consider buying it if Dell tackles all these problems in their next revised model. But for the moment, I'm affraid.

 

[Raxus]

Dunno if you noticed it or not but they stopped producing that Benq Sep of 07, so it might be a tad hard to find.