New here, new build

[sup3rson1c]

Hi all,

new to the forums but a long time tom's article/review reader, even though the past couple of years i've been all work and no play...

i'm building a pc (first one in 5 years!) which means i've had some catching up to do. i want to get back to pc gaming (cuz i love fps) so i'd like something that will play the newest games either at full res or damn close to it.

the parts below i've picked out for value/performance. i don't have a budget, but that being said, i don't want some watercooled over the top box that's all about getting the extreme numbers in benches. i'm open to all suggestions/opinions on:

**Processor** Intel Q9550: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041 (seems to be a good value and easy to OC)

**Video Card** ATI Radeon HD 4850x2 (2GB): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102809

**Mobo** GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359

**PSU** PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W EPS12V SLI NVIDIA SLI Certified (Dual 8800 GTX and below) CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011

**Case** Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043

still need RAM and an OS. I'm thinking 64bit Vista Ultimate and 8GB of RAM or should i hold out with the OS and use 7 until it's released?

thanks ahead of time for any help!

 

[sup3rson1c]

almost forgot...

need a suggestion on a good cpu cooler since i will be OC'ing the 9550. ugh. i just saw this: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4376032&CatId=2306

is that worth another $60?

 

[theAnimal]

almost forgot...

need a suggestion on a good cpu cooler since i will be OC'ing the 9550. ugh. i just saw this: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4376032&CatId=2306

is that worth another $60?

newegg has a few GTX280 for $285-290 this weekend.

 

[sup3rson1c]

thanks, but i wasn't looking for a 280, mainly because of what i read here: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/sapphire-hd4850x2_18.html#sect0

and here:

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=642&type=expert&pid=10

the 285 though, may be another story. thanks for your suggestion.

 

[theAnimal]

Good cooler would be Xigmatech HDT-S1283.

 

[xthekidx]

The xigmatech is good, the best cooler you could get is the Thermalright Ultra 120 extreme.

 

[sup3rson1c]

the thermalright doesn't come with a fan? seems a bit silly. the xig seems to be just as good according to reviews.

 

[xthekidx]

The TRUE can be bought with or without a fan. The Xigmatech is a better buy cuz it does cool very well and is half the price. If you want better value, go with the xigmatech, but if you want the best cooling possible the TRUE is the best option.

 

[sup3rson1c]

cool, thanks for the clarification!

on another note i'm having some buyer's remorse (not shipped yet though) with the 4850x2. i see that a handful of games have issues with multi-gpu setups (albeit they seem like small issues). should i have gone with a single gpu solution ala http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130442 ?

 

[sup3rson1c]

also, if someone could recommend me a good oc'ing/sli mobo to go with the 285, i'd appreciate it.

 

[theAnimal]

cool, thanks for the clarification!

on another note i'm having some buyer's remorse (not shipped yet though) with the 4850x2. i see that a handful of games have issues with multi-gpu setups (albeit they seem like small issues). should i have gone with a single gpu solution ala http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130442 ?

It's always better to go single GPU if possible, due to poor scaling in some games.

 

[theAnimal]

also, if someone could recommend me a good oc'ing/sli mobo to go with the 285, i'd appreciate it.

Good OCing SLI is kind of an oxymoron. My advice is to stick with the Gigabyte mobo (it OCs very well), by the time you're ready to add a second card it may be very hard to find, so just upgrade to a newer better card.

 

[sup3rson1c]

ok....

got everything put together fine, but the display (before driver installation) is jacked. i've reseated the card and swapped monitors but it's still crap. i've installed the drivers on the CD but then it BSOD's before getting to the desktop after a reboot.

pic:

http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=crudhk4.jpg

 

[Why_Me]

ok....

got everything put together fine, but the display (before driver installation) is jacked. i've reseated the card and swapped monitors but it's still crap. i've installed the drivers on the CD but then it BSOD's before getting to the desktop after a reboot.

pic:

http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=crudhk4.jpg

Let me guess....you went with the ATI card eh? With ATI it's always; "the proper drivers are in the mail".

 

[sup3rson1c]

well i could understand this issue when in windows only but at startup thru post?

 

[Why_Me]

well i could understand this issue when in windows only but at startup thru post?

This post is probably going to start WW3 on here with the ATI fanboys. but it's not to late to send that card back and get an Nvidea. This way you know you have a card that works, and you won't be waiting weeks...even months for a proper driver fix/upgrade. Nvidea's are pretty much plug and play.

 

[sup3rson1c]

that means i'm sending the mobo back too. ffs.

 

[sup3rson1c]

so i need a recommendation for a mobo now preferably with sli but not necessary.

 

[Why_Me]

so i need a recommendation for a mobo now preferably with sli but not necessary.

That mobo you chose is a good one. If you think it's buggy, rma it for another one...same model. It's a kick arse board...seeing how I have that one.

A single good vid card rocks. And if and when it gets outdated....buy another kick arse vid card. That 285 you were looking at gets great scores by itself.

 

[sup3rson1c]

Ordered:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130446

 

[Why_Me]

Ordered:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130446

me drools looking at that card..... Ah that card is a beauty. Myself, I'm stuck with a 9800gt atm...but come tax refund time....

 

[sup3rson1c]

thanks for your guys' help. i'll let you know what happens.

 

[sup3rson1c]

and it works like a f*cking charm. a couple of small hiccups after the build (random shutoffs cuz of RAM seating, UPS was making vista think it's a laptop also) but now it runs like a champ. i can't believe i waited this long to build a new box *cries*

thank you for all your guys' help, i really appreciate it.