revised new system

hi guys, i posted my proposed new computer a few days ago and got some pretty useful feedback.
Im posting the revisions now. I was debating whether to hold off and buy a single 4870x2 or buy two standard cards and run them in crossfire. I have decided to go with the latter, it isn't like it will be any slouch and if i am really not happy with it for some reason (or the 4870x2 ends up being a lot more powerful than proposed), selling the two cards really wont put me out of pocket too much if at some stage i decide to go the other way.

The other component which was questioned was the psu. A lot of posters suggested i change to an antec, however i have reviewed this and the store at which i am buying the zalman are doing a really good deal, it is almost 50 AUD cheaper than the other places i shop. It has a decent warrenty and i simply can't get the same power at a similar price if i change brand.

video card: 2 x 4870 XFX (crossfire x)
cpu: Intel Quad core Q9300 CPU LGA775, 2.5ghz, 1333mhz fsb, 6m cache
psu: zalman 850w low noise psu zm850-HP
ram: 8gb 800mhz ddr2
mobo: Gigabyte GAx48 DS5 (Dual Pci 2.0x16)
hdd: samsung 500gb sata
drive: pioneer dvd burner
case:antec three hundred gaming case
vista home premium 64bit edition OEM


I have read recently that cpu clockspeed effects the performance of the 4870 quite significantly. Should I be looking at alternate processors or looking to OC this current one.

feedback appreciated, lawrie34

Hey,

CPU:
Q9300 is poor overclocker. If you can afford Q9450, get it instead. Otherwise go with Q6600.

If you're going overclock (well, you should) consider getting CPU cooler, like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003
Get some arctic silver 5 thermal compound as well:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835100007

GPU:
personally I would not go with 4870 crossfired at the moment. It's powerful, but I don't see the point, You will run any game with single 4870 just fine (well, not crysis with maxed settings, but that's impossible even with crossfired setup). You could crossfire in future anyway.

HDD:
go with 2 x WD 320GB 0-raided. It's fast and quiet.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136074
Note: I hope you get single platter ones. Getting dual platter basically means you will not be able 0-raid them.

RAM:
I'd get 4GB of 1066MHz RAM, like this one, but there's cheaper alternatyves, this one is just an example (good one):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145214

Everything else seems ok, I guess.

Good luck,
Wieslaw

Actually, I don't know much about bottlenecking at this point. In any case, I'd would go with wise overclocking.
In my opinion, Q6600 > Q9300, unless you will leave it at stock.

I suppose you should get one first, try overclocking CPU as much as possible, keeping overall stability of system, and then consider getting another 4870. Really, you don' need so much power at the moment.

800/1066 MHz difference is not that big, but it will be better for Q9450 for sure (closer cpu:ram fsb ratio).
8GB of RAM sounds like an overkill for me.
I suppose you're getting 64bit system, right?

By the way, what are you going using this rig for?

So probably it's the way you go.

Save money buying one 4770, get Q9450, get that CPU cooling stuff, and try overclocking. Get someone who could help installing cooling stuff correctly, if you're not comfortable with it. Set BIOS warnings about CPU temperature (like 60-70 Celsius), and try raising clock speed to 3.2Ghz. Be confident about it, BIOS raises voltages itself if needed. In any case, make sure that voltage does not exceeds 1.3625V (Q9450). It should work just fine.

Even if you will not overclock CPU (at this moment), games should run smoothly anyway.

You don't need >4GB of RAM for power gaming, really.

For the time being, 8 gigs RAM is overkill gaming. Unless maybe you intend to run Crysis and AOC simultaneously Video editing and other tasks require more RAM than gaming actually.

RAM rated at 1066 or higher should be more flexible. It's not really so much the ratio as it is having lots of FSB options that will work with your CPU and RAM. It's always important to check both vendors website and make sure the RAM you choose will be compatible.

P45 chipset is really friendly to new overclockers.

I literally OCed my E8400 from 3.0 to 3.6 by changing ONE BIOS setting (well two, because I then had to readjust the RAM setting).

Did you see this comparison?

It should help in your decision on whether to crossfire or not:

Note also the relative differences in boards.... not so much between the two chipsets, but then these two games use CF well and this isn't true for all games.

My opinion:

I don't mind playing at stable 50 fps.
I don't mind playing without AF, if there's fps issues. Basically, you will not experience any struggling anything higher than 30fps.

X48 boards looks more stable for me.

i need you guys opinions on the 4870x2 or crossfire the two standard 4870, everyone has different opinions

so do u think it is a fair idea to just buy a single 4870 wait to see the reviews and then decide whether to buy another 4870 or swap the one for a 4870x2?

this board is really helpful, thanks to everyone who has suggested stuff
so i am now looking at;

video card: 1 x 4870 XFX (possibly upgrade to 4870x2)
cpu: Intel Quad core Q9450 (raising the fsb to 400 through the bios)
psu: zalman 850w low noise psu zm850-HP
ram: 4 gig ddr2 1066 (corsaire possibly)
mobo: Gigabyte GAx48 DS5 (Dual Pci 2.0x16)
hdd: samsung 500gb sata
drive: pioneer dvd burner
case:antec three hundred gaming case
vista home premium 64bit edition OEM

does that look a bit more rounded?

Why don't you take my advice about HDD?

Get 2x320GB (2xWD3200AAKS). Really.
Or if you don't want to raid anything (messing with single/dual platter lottery), get one WD6400AAKS.

Everything else seems good.

Q9300 multiplier is limited in best case to 7.5.
Q9450 stock multiplier is 8.

Why asking? There's no reason why proc could not be overclocked by raising bus speed.

ohk, i am a bit new to this wieslaw i was just making sure, so it is a similar process with the 9300?

thanks guys i rekon im pretty set now, appreciate all the help