Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > New 4870 X2 build. Final review please, before I buy.

New 4870 X2 build. Final review please, before I buy.

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - New 4870 X2 build. Final review please, before I buy.

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johnD   08-18-2008 at 01:10:07 PM

Hello all;

This is a new system designed to use the new 4870 X2 card. The entire purpose of this machine is to run games at 2860x1600.
I plan on running Vista 64 (professional).

Please review the following build and make changes / recommendations. My primary concerns:

  • Is the processor I've selected fast enough to support the video card?
  • Is the motherboard a good fit for this video card? Is there a better choice?
  • Given the absurd power requirements of this card, is there a power supply I could buy to one day support a second card?
  • Barring that, what is a good PSU to support just this one card?


As always, thanks for your assistance!

--------------

1 GIGABYTE GV-R487X2-2GH-B Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready
CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail $579

1 Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Retail $119.99

1 GIGABYTE GA-X48-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard $224.99

1 CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply $119.99

1 Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 $189.99

1 A-DATA 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model ADQVE1B16K $74.99

1 Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $84.99

1 Sony NEC Optiarc 20X DVD±R Burner Black SATA Model AD-7200S-0B $25.99

1 Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound $5.99

1 XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail $36.99

1 XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail $6.99

Subtotal: $1,470.89

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freezed1   08-18-2008 at 01:19:00 PM
- -1 +

johnD wrote :

Hello all;

 

This is a new system designed to use the new 4870 X2 card. The entire purpose of this machine is to run games at 2860x1600.
I plan on running Vista 64 (professional).

 

Please review the following build and make changes / recommendations. My primary concerns:

 
  • Is the processor I've selected fast enough to support the video card?
  • Is the motherboard a good fit for this video card? Is there a better choice?
  • Given the absurd power requirements of this card, is there a power supply I could buy to one day support a second card?
  • Barring that, what is a good PSU to support just this one card?


As always, thanks for your assistance!

 

--------------

 

1 GIGABYTE GV-R487X2-2GH-B Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready
CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail $579

 

1 Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Retail $119.99

 

1 GIGABYTE GA-X48-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard $224.99

 

1 CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply $119.99

 

1 Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 $189.99

 

1 A-DATA 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model ADQVE1B16K $74.99

 

1 Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $84.99

 

1 Sony NEC Optiarc 20X DVD±R Burner Black SATA Model AD-7200S-0B $25.99

 

1 Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound $5.99

 

1 XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail $36.99

 

1 XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail $6.99

 

Subtotal: $1,470.89

 


very nice built but try getting a full tower with many fans...it will help you cool down your videocard and will extend the life of your equipment..the processor is good but a little overclock will help....the motherboard is also good but try going with DFI they make the best and the most stable motherboards, in my opinion( i do like gigabyte boards but 2 of them quit on me as i pushed em 2 far apparently the model was 965p ds3..but my DFI is going far and beyond, your milage might vary).you can get better ram but it will cost a bit more...the powersupply is excellent and will handle your videocard :) hope it helps, also if you are going to get 2 video cards in future get a 850+ watt powersupply with >80% efficency


Message edited by freezed1 on 08-18-2008 at 01:21:12 PM
Reply to freezed1
Bronze Home Brew badge Proximon   08-18-2008 at 01:22:45 PM
- 0 +

I have read that overclocking the CPU will net you more frames per second with a 4870 X2, so yes it's a bit of a bottleneck. Once you overclock you should be good.

750TX is a fine PSU and will run the one card fine.

This will run both probably. It's an incredible deal on what would have to be considered one of the best if not the best 1k PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817703003

The corsair 1000W is usually a pretty good price and is good... not quite as good probably.

Reply to Proximon
Kaldor   08-18-2008 at 06:48:59 PM
- 0 +

* Is the processor I've selected fast enough to support the video card http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_card ?
It will run 1 card fine. However, 2 the CPU may bottleneck the 2nd card. An overclock to 4 ghz + will help with the dual core CPU. Another option is a use a fast quad core and give it a little overclock.
* Is the motherboard a good fit for this video card? Is there a better choice?
Motherboard looks fine and will support a second card down the road no problems.
* Given the absurd power requirements of this card, is there a power supply I could buy to one day support a second card?
Buy a Corsair 1000 watt. Cheaper than the rest and from all reviews Ive seen thus far its a very good PSU. As Prox suggested the PCP&C PSU is a fine PSU as well, just slightly more expensive.
* Barring that, what is a good PSU to support just this one card?
See last statement.

The rest of the build looks fine. Id consider changing the ram to maybe Corsair, Mushkin, or Kingston. Ive never used A-Data, so I cant pass judgment on how good a product your getting.

Reply to Kaldor
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