Final Build - any changes?

feller · Sep 3, 2008

Hey there.
Im almost done creating a new system. This is what i've got so far:

http://download.feller.dk/nytsystem1.jpg

Those prices are in danish krones but that doesn't matter. Its more the setup, anything i should change? Maybe one of the new 280 gfx cards from nvidia? Another motherboard?

Thank you.

Proximon · Sep 4, 2008

Should work. A bit of a waste to put a 9800 on a x48 crossfire board though.

huron · Sep 4, 2008

Agreed. Why not get a P45 if that's your GPU of choice, or keep the X48 and get one of the new ATI offerings (4850/4870)?

Good luck

feller · Sep 4, 2008

huron: Well isn't 9800GX2 better than 4870?
Alot of people think i should grab the P45 board instead, but doesn't that board also have CF? i can't really see any difference between the P45 and X48 boards..

Wanker79 · Sep 4, 2008

feller :

There are really only two major differences. One difference is that the P45 will only do x8/x8 crossfire while the X48 will give you full x16/x16 crossfire. The other difference is the cost. You'll spend alot less on a P45 board than on a X48 board, and if you're putting an nvidia card in there's zero reason to spend a bunch more for something you won't be able to take advantage of.

feller · Sep 5, 2008

Wanker79 :

Will the nvidia card 'run' at 16x?

iluvgillgill · Sep 5, 2008

yes it will but not 2 of them because you will need Nvidia motherboard to do SLI.

iluvgillgill · Sep 5, 2008

and are you sure you really need that raptor?i know many people regrat or feel disappointed after getting the noisy hot raptor which gave them next to no benefit when loading windows or game since they are not in a hurry.are you in a hurry?

bdollar · Sep 5, 2008

i assume since only getting 2gb ram you have 32 bit os? that is ram is going to get eaten up pretty quick by any high end vid card that you use. highly recommend upping to 4gb even if you don't go 64 bit. but also recommend going 64 bit.

+1 to drop the raptor. 640gb wd is a great drive and cheap in US. Not sure where you are but can't beat it on price per gb here and the performance will not be too far behind your little warm raptor.

in fact you could probably get 2 640gbs for the price of your raptor and 750gb drive. could keep them separate or raid them but that would give you over 1.2tb space and plenty of speed.

i would get a different psu. corsair, pc power and cooling, even antec or ocz.

+1 to no point in x48 if getting a nvidia card gain nothing and pay more. would go with p45. before i can recommend what is the best gpu i would need to know what your system is used for. if gaming what kind of games and what resolution is your monitor?

feller · Sep 5, 2008

My 24" LCD monitor runs at 1920x1200, so a pretty high resolution.
Should maybe keep the x48 motherboard and go for two HD4870 cards instead?
And thank you all for the advices. I think i'll forget about that raptor, it was also getting too expensive.
Im gonna use the computer to play World of Warcraft, Call of Duty 4, playing around in 3ds max (rendering), video rendering in After Effects and Premiere.

feller · Sep 5, 2008

And what corsair PSU should i go for? ie. whick one of these:
http://edbpriser.dk/Products/Listproducts.asp?ID=159&Sort=&Soegeord=corsair&chkSoegSaetning=&searchArea=products
Another thing about the RAM. Should i buy 4 blocks of 1GB each which is CL4 or 2 blocks of 2GB which is CL5?

feller · Sep 5, 2008

Ah i can't edit my replies :S
I can also buy 2x2GB of RAM but those are not "Corsair XMS2" but "XMS2 DHX" any difference?
These are the one that i have on my list in the main post: http://www.edbpriser.dk/Products/Listprices.asp?ID=206422&Specs=true
I could buy two of those packs or i could buy these (the DHX RAM):
http://www.edbpriser.dk/Products/Listprices.asp?ID=427792&searchArea=&Soegeord=

bdollar · Sep 5, 2008

2x2gb is preferred. 1.8v if you can that is the standard voltage. but 2x2 is only using 2 slots then. less chance for problems and 2 open slots if you decide to add more later. if you get big into 3d stuff you may want to add 4 more gb at a later date.

that is a nice resolution monitor. you will be able tax most gpu's with that resolution. thing is that 1 4870x2 performs better than 2 4870s crossfired. So if you can afford it i would do that.

your psu is going to be determinate on what card(s) you end up with. if you stick with the x48 and are going to do 2 cards you are going to need more than if you do one card on the p45

Assuming you are using a good psu here is the breakdown:

500w ok for
1 4850
1 4870

650w ok for
1 4870x2

750w ok for
2 x 4870

around 1000w or a little less for:
2 x 4870x2

i tend to error on the side of more than you need so others may be able to get you a little closer to true minimum wattage.

So figure out your budget. then figure out what you can afford GPU. Then decide if you are going to add another of the same down the road. but it would have to be relatively soon because if it is going to be a year or more there will be much better single cards at that point probably. once you decide if you are going to get 2 cards relatively soon then that will help you on x48 or p45. p45 can do two cards but at your nice resolution x8/x8 will have some impact. if you resolution was lower i would say get p45 no matter what because at lower resolutions x8/x8 has virtually no impact.

hope i've given you enough to think about .

feller · Sep 5, 2008

Well is the 4870x2 even out yet? What is best: one (1) 9800GX2 og one 4870x2?

iluvgillgill · Sep 5, 2008

4870x2 its the current king.

feller · Sep 5, 2008

bdollar: Well i know 2x2GB is preferred, but should i also buy them even though they are CL5 and not CL4?

feller · Sep 5, 2008

I don't think im gonna go for the 4870x2, its too exspensive compared to my budget!
One 9800GX2 almost costs the same as 2x 4870. Which one should i go for? CF with 4870 or a single 9800GX2 card?

iluvgillgill · Sep 5, 2008

in that case get the GTX260 or 4870 which ever 1 fits your budget.

bdollar · Sep 5, 2008

1. ram - just about every cl4 you are going to find is that way because they upped the voltage. meaning the ram isn't any better. 1.8v is the standard and what you should get. if you overclock and need to then mess with voltage and timings.

2. gpu. i'm confused. you are saying the 4870x2 is too expensive but you are considering 2 x 4870? what are the prices where you are at? here in the states it costs just as much to get 2 x 4870 and those are only 1024mb (2 x 512mb) combined whereas the 4870x2 is 2gb (2x1gb)which makes a difference.

feller · Sep 5, 2008

bdollar: Well nvm the 2 x 4870, thats also too exspensive.
I'm gonna go for 2x 4870 og one 9800GX2.

I don't really understand what you are saying about the RAM, but should i go for:

Corsair XMS2 2x2GB CL5
Corsair XMS2 4x1GB CL4
?

bdollar · Sep 5, 2008

i don't understand your first part. you say 2x4870 is too expensive but you are going to go for 2x4870 or gx2?? why is it an option if it is too expensive?

ram - 2x2gb cl5 is what you should do. 1.8v. corsair, mushkin, OCZ are some good brands. Also, g.skill. That is the standard, will work just as well as 4x1g and leave you 2 open slots to add 2x2gb more down the road if you get big time into 3d stuff.

Wanker79 · Sep 5, 2008

The point bdollar was making is that it's difficult to compare RAM when their timings are achieved by different voltages. Alot of time, RAM manufacturers will increase the voltage to achieve lower or sometime just equal timings to RAM spec'd at the standard 1.8V.

The two sets of Corsair RAM you listed are Twin2X2048-6400C4 and TWIN2X4096-6400C4DHX. As you can see, they're both spec'd at CL4, and to reach that spec they've had to up the voltage to 2.1V. Here's a side-by-side comparison. But since the timings are spec'd at the same voltage, the two sets can be fairly compared.

If the price works out to about even, go with the 2x2GB set over two sets of 2x1GB. The "DHX" refers to the fancy heat spreaders on that RAM. You can see the difference in the link I posted.

rocka4him · Sep 5, 2008

bdollar · Sep 5, 2008

i think you need to start your own thread.

don't want a coolermaster psu

ram says timings but not voltage in the specs, that is strange. pqi i haven't used before. odd that they wouldn't put their voltage

also don't know your budget, your usage (gaming, etc), the resolution of your monitor, all of which are necessary to give good opinions. also what os and 32 or 64 bit?

feller · Sep 6, 2008

rocka4him: Ah don't hijack my thread

Nah well i think you have a better chance at getting some answers if you create your own thread.

Thank you Wanker79 and bdollar, i think i understand the voltage and timing things now.
Now about those graphic cards:
I have three options (remember my ress is 1920x1200 and i want to play a few NEW 3d games):
1x Inno3D 9800GX2
1x HD4870 now and another HD4870 later (maybe in 1-2 months)
1x GTX260

Which one should i go for? And how many watts will me PSU need for that card and the rest of my build?

Thanks

Final Build - any changes?

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