£900 ($1700) - New build, opinions/advice welcome

[edward301]

Hi,

Im new to the forum but ive relied on THG for quality reviews for years.

Looking to build this:
Will be used for gaming, graphics and cad etc (very heavy multi tasking), Dual screen a must, I will be using XP pro for the moment but I mite go 64bit os/Vista at somepoint.

I already have spare screens and other accessories.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/

Processor Fan
http://www.tekheads.co.uk/s/product?product=609196
Xigmatek HDT-S1283 Heatpipe £25

Total
£805

Thanks
-Edward301

 

[Onus]

The only thing I'd definitely change is get some DDR2-800 RAM that will run at the JEDEC standard 1.8V.

 

[Derbixrace]

it seems like a very nice build, but id put a 4870 instead of 4850 if i was buying but thats just my personal opinion

 

[iluvgillgill]

get the 4870 instead and those OCZ ram is what you need for OC that processor. nice build.

 

[aevm]

I'd get a Corsair 750TX instead of a 620HX. You get 60A instead of 50A, four 6+2 PCI-E connectors instead of 2, and pay less.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-011-CS

+1 for the HD 4870

 

[aevm]

If you need to cut costs so you can afford the HD 4870 upgrade, get this case:

Coolermaster CM690 Dominator Black Mid Tower Case, 65 GBP, free delivery, 3 fans, room for 7 fans
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131551

 

[iluvgillgill]

^
good point!

just been browing in that website. now the GTX280 seem to be more attractive then 4870X2 because cheapest -£240 VS -£350.

you think?

 

[edward301]

Thanks for the advice guys,

Derbixrace and iluvgillgi ll, what does the 4870 do which the 4850 doesn't, it's an extra £50ish which is ok but would the performance be much better verses waiting 6mnth-year and putting that money to a new card altogether?

jtt283, whats the advantage of JEDEC standard 1.8V is it better for OCing?

-Edward301

 

[aevm]

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-4870-review--asus/10
HD 4870, at 1600x1200, in Frontlines, gets 56 fps. HD 4850 gets 39 fps. You can play all right at 39 fps, but 56 fps is a real treat. Ideally, if you have an LCD with 22" size and 60 Hz refreshing rate, you want a card that gets as close to 60 fps as possible at 1680x1050. You can use benchmarks for 1600x1200 to approximate 1680x1050.

In Crysis the difference is much smaller (44 fps, 48 fps).

It really depends on the games you play. I suggest you find more benchmarks (Google "HD 4870 review") and then decide.

 

[aevm]

jtt283, whats the advantage of JEDEC standard 1.8V is it better for OCing?

-Edward301

It's just that honest companies say things like "5-5-5-15 at 1.8V", while others say things like "4-4-4-12 at 2.2V". At first glance the second one has better timings so it's better and you're tempted to buy. But, some times the first one can do 4-4-4-12 at only 2.1V, so it's actually better. As voltage goes up you can tighten timings. Companies that show timings at higher voltage are inflating their results unfairly.

 

[iluvgillgill]

the 4870 have GDDR5 memory which will give much higher bandwidth then then GDDR3 in the 4850. this will matters alot when playing at high resolution and lots of AA/AF.