Any advice would be great

[OCingsmurf77]

So... I don't want to know how many times this question has been posted here but I guess everyone has there own scenarios. here we go.

I am building my first computer, I have some parts already and some I still need to order.
my MAIN goal is to get a GPU that will last the longest (for Hardcore gaming/ maybe overclocking later) because this computer is a one time thing for me, my parents agreed to get me a computer for college. so this thing will have to last me as long as possible.

I had my selection down to a few cards, 4870x2, two 4870 crossfired, or maybe the 4850x2, or a couple Gtx 260s. My budget is 550, no higher. I was debating between the 4870x2 or two 4870s, because my screen is only 20" (1680 x 1050), and I heard a lot about the x2 being a waste on anything lower than 1920x 1200.

I made this post mainly because I'm sick of seeing so many benchmarks of different websites and the they are all different and who knows if the people that said the X2 is a waste with anything lower than 1920x1200 are idiots? maybe thats good for me because its future proof? IDK!!!!! help

I want to wait for the Core i7 release which isn't far away but my budget would blow up by the time I add in the New mobo, ram, and the cpu itself I could use all the help i can get!!!

I'm open to all advice on changes in my specs
System specs
Corsair 1000hx psu (already ordered)
Antec 1200 case (already orderd)
Asus Maximus II Formula
Intel Q9550 quad 2.8
Corsair dominator 4g ddr2 1066
WD VelociRaptor 300g
windows Vista 64-bit

 

[Zecow]

crossfire is a waste on 1680x1050 - at that res, a 4870 1GB is enough.
My rig:
Q6600 OC to 3.6Ghz
4850 crossfired Stock speed - I dont see much performance gain on 1680x1050 - but at 1900x1200 framerates do make a huge jump.

3Dmark06 single card 14k
3Dmark06 crossfire 19k (near 20k) <- I gotta do something about this as it seems too low. But it might be due to the resolution as well. Haven't had time to test.

Thats just my story.... but so far, my wife's rig is similar to yours but shes got a q9450 OC to 3.ghz with a 4870 1GB - perfomance is equal to mine at 1680x1050. at this res, you're not using the full potential of your card, thats why people say its an overkill.

 

[OCingsmurf77]

Getting the 1G 4870 would work I guess, then I could wait for the Core I7.
Another question I have now, would a 4870x2 or crossfiring be an overkill on next years games, or will I never be able to use the full potential on those options with a 1680 x 1050 screen?

 

[Peaks]

Seeing as they support 1080p you wont be able to use the full potential of the 4870x2 with a 1680x1050 res monitor. The 4860x2 in my opinion would never be overkill, but thats because i like to have top of the range components.

 

[gamerk316]

If you have no interest in replacing the GFX card every two years, get the 4870X2; it'll hold up far longer than everything else.

 

[huron]

I would say ditch the 1066 memory and get DDR2 800. You'll save some money, but will never notice a difference.

+1 to 4870 being enough for your res.

 

[OCingsmurf77]

As much as I want to keep up with new gfx cards, I just can't with the budget i'm going to have for the next couple years in college.

Yeah I was giving ddr2 800 mem some serious thought but it would limit my cpu to 3.4gh, and I know the EO versions can go way past that on air cooling, and water cooling may be in my system not too long from now

 

[Peaks]

Ditch water cooling and use that money to get a better GPU!!!!!!!

You can get some pretty suprising results from air cooling, it all depends on your set up and alittle bit of luck! Every chip is different.

You probably could get your CPU to around 3.5 with ddr 800, so ditch that too. Now you have loads of money for a 4870x2

 

[OCingsmurf77]

but thats just it, those system specs of mine are just at the limit of my budget. if I cut some of those things there isnt really another gpu that I could get, I'm just a little worried that i might be wasting my money if I get the X2.

I'm pretty far away from the decesion to get water cooling, with a antec 1200 and a artic cooling freezer 7 my cpu should be fine.the water cooling option for my cpu in the future wouldn't hurt my budget as much as getting a newer gpu.

I have been giving some thought to cutting the 300$ raptor. I'm not really worried about my HD speed, But I heard about your HD being a bottleneck if its not 10000rpm for my system specs, is that true?

 

[serpent1202]

I have a raptor as my windows/apps drive and it flies compared to my other system with a 7200 rpm 160 gig WD.

 

[cah027]

What if your monitor goes out in a year or so and you decide to get a new one with high res ? Then you would wish you had that x2... but there are infinite what ifs...

 

[daskrabbe]

Seeing as they support 1080p you wont be able to use the full potential of the 4870x2 with a 1680x1050 res monitor. The 4860x2 in my opinion would never be overkill, but thats because i like to have top of the range components.

I doubt you can find a graphics card that does not support 1080p.

 

[bobbknight]

System specs
Corsair 1000hx psu (already ordered) is ok I like PCPower

Antec 1200 case (already orderd) some day I might buy one. put alongside my 300 and 900.

Asus Maximus II Formula My condolences on the Asus. Buy DFI you will be better off if you need service.

intel Q9550 quad 2.8 it might be worth it, I go with the Q6600 myself.

Corsair dominator 4g ddr2 1066

WD VelociRaptor 300g waste of money, you can buy 2 1TB hard drives for the same money.

windows Vista 64-bit

video Meh I still run the 8800GT and prolly will for the next year.

 

[OCingsmurf77]

Having a 7200rpm HD won't be a bottleneck, if so thank god!

I was thinking about getting the q6600 and putting it at 3.0 but since I have the budget to fit in a bigger CPU I might as well get it.

 

[petevsdrm]

If you want a GPU that will last you a long time, and you have a budget of $550, you should definitely get the 4870x2. It is overkill for the games that are out right now at that resolution, but not for next years games and definitely not for the games that come out in 2010.

People who say it is overkill assume that you will upgrade next year (when you are a broke college student) to something else in the mid-range price category, because that is what a lot of people do.

Also I would go for the q5550, they are pretty cheap right now, and if you can wait until i7 comes out they will be even cheaper I would surmise.

 

[OCingsmurf77]

thank you everyone for the help and adivice, I am ordering the x2 today.

Hope to see you more on the forums!!!!!