3 monitor gaming pc setup question.

[koolkatz]

I've been asked to build a rig that can run all the new titles mid to high graphics on a 3 monitor setup, would this rig do this ok? Or do I need a better cpu/gpu?

Intel Core i3-3220 Ivy Bridge 3.[COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]3GHz[/COLOR][/COLOR]
GeForce GTX 660 Ti
500W powersupply
16gb [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]ddr3[/COLOR][/COLOR] ram

[dmoney1980]

What kind of games are we talking here, and what resolution?

Please answer the following:

PLEASE when you POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
We can't be expected to scour the internet on your behalf, chasing down deals in your specific country... Again, help us, help YOU.

5. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Note that it is usually not cost or time effective to choose your build more than a month before you actually plan to be using it.

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?

[Pedroc1999]

You problably want a 3570k minium and a 7970/7950 seems a better choice

[Puppies04]

^ Answer these questions, in the mean time the answer is yes you will need a better CPU/GPU.

You will be looking to have as much power as possible in a triple screen gaming setup and assuming a minimum of 1080P resolution on the screens you will need at least a top of the line single GPU with 4GB of RAM if not an SLI/Crossfire solution. Also as games become more demanding and highly threaded I would imagine the customer would need at least an unlocked I5 OC'd to the 4.5GHZish range and would probably be better served with an unlocked I7.

[Pedroc1999]

You have underestimated your specs by alot. You will problably be better off with 7990 because of the 6gbs vram. And maybe add another 7970 to top it off with a tripple crossfire but by then you will be spending over 850watts including cpu

[koolkatz]

- Games would be current mmos like gw2, aion, future mmos that may come out. FPS old and new; COD series, dead space old and new, borderlands 2. Pretty much what its being built for is to play co op games online with me.

- The PC will be mostly used for gaming and regular task like browsing internet, email on those lines. No video editing or movie watching.

- US is where parts the parts are being purchased from, newegg tigerdirect or any other well known site works.

- Im not a fanboy of anything, If there good solid parts that perform well and are not super expensive that thats a plus.

- Fresh build not using existing parts

- I dont overclock, unless its automatic in bios or done with gpu software like msi afterburner.

- I'm not sure about the resolution the games will be played at. The monitors wouldnt be no bigger then 22''. Im not to knowledable with anything higher then 1920 x 1080 because thats what i play on with just 1 monitor.

- I dont need any additional software

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsMXRXj_Oso What do you think this guys specs are? He is just using that 1 gpu.

My budget is no more then a $1000, which I thought was probably impossible, why im asking for more input.

[Pedroc1999]

so rule out the 7990 as it is 750 alone, Overclocking is freepower and you can add 600+mhz with just one keyboard click, i suggest you consider it

[DSF]

I'm assuming the $1000 does not also have to pay for the monitors?

Is this person intending to run an Eyefinity setup, or have the game going on one monitor with other applications on the other two?

[Puppies04]

Originally Posted by Pedroc1999

You will problably be better off with 7990 because of the 6gbs vram.

As a dual GPU card the available VRAM on that card is effectively 3GB as the memory is mirrored per GPU. You would actually be better served by a card with a similar memory BUS and 4GB or VRAM (in games where VRAM is the limiting factor on such large resolutions or even a pair of 4GB cards as this is the main reason these cards exist)

[Pedroc1999]

Is the 690 4gb?

[Puppies04]

Too put is bluntly OP you aren't going to build a gaming rig that can play all modern games over 3 1080P monitors (with decent frame rates) on a $1000 budget. You could easily spend almost all of that amount on the GPU's for such a system.

I think your friend needs to tone down his expectations or be prepared to stump up a fair chunk more $ if he is unwilling to do that. Setting up a dual monitor setup to game over 2 screens or game on one while leaving the 2nd one for other tasks would be a lot more likely to happen assuming you aren't trying to buy the monitors out of the $1000 budget.

[Puppies04]

Originally Posted by Pedroc1999

Is the 690 4gb?

Yes (which makes it effectively a 2gb card as the memory is mirrored per GPU), I haven't seen a 6gb one advertised.

[koolkatz]

Thats pretty much what I thought when he told me his price range.

He did want to play the Eyefinity, not 3d. Just playing the game on all 3. It doesnt have to be full blown 1080p. He can't tell the different between 720p and 1080p on tv monitors, so the resolution doesnt have to be full blown. I don't even know what resolution would be stretch on 3 screens.

And im fine with overclocking, its just when I have to start diving into the bios to change voltage and stuff, where I rather not.

[Pedroc1999]

Still, it will be a challenge to keep prices down but i think it IS achievable...

[koolkatz]

What are ppls opinions about buying some parts off ebay used? To save money. I've never bought pc components off ebay before.

[koolkatz]

Radeon HD 7970
i5-2500K
Asus P8875-V MB
2x Crucial 8GB DDR3 1600
750w Powersupply

Would those core components work?

[mfenn]

Are the monitors included in the budget or not? If not, then grab my optimized $1000 rig from this thread. If the monitors are included in the budget, then what you want to do is impossible for $1000.

[Pedroc1999]

just to comment on the above build and u should get a 3570k for a tad morr

[koolkatz]

I tried clicking on your link mfenn, but it didnt take me to your topic.

[DSF]

This is the thread he's referring to:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2192841

[mfenn]

Originally Posted by koolkatz

I tried clicking on your link mfenn, but it didnt take me to your topic.

Sorry, fixed.

[koolkatz]

ok found out that monitors and hard drive is excluded out of the price. But need a case and the cpu cooler. Be nice to get it below $900. I configured something on newegg and got it to $972.92. There suppose to be a way to make my wishlish linkable or public, but it never works.

[mfenn]

OK, that makes things doable.

i5 3570K + ASRock Z77 Pro3 combo $287 AR AP
G.Skill DDR3 1600 8GB $44
Gigabyte GTX 670 4GB $420 AR
Reuse HDD $0
Lite-ON DVD Burner $18
Rosewill Hive 550W $50 AR
NZXT Source 220 $50
Total: $869 AR AP

I went with the GTX 670 4GB because you'll need the extra VRAM when running 3 monitors and because it let me drop down to a 550W PSU. This isn't going to do triple 1080p at all max settings, but it will handle lowered details and older titles well.

[koolkatz]

If power consumption isnt a issue is HD 7970 better then gtx 670 4GB?

[mfenn]

Originally Posted by koolkatz

If power consumption isnt a issue is HD 7970 better then gtx 670 4GB?

Somewhat yes, though the 670 will have more longevity since it has more VRAM. The overall price was pretty much a wash given that there were no good 650W power supply deals when I originally looked.

As of now, the 7970 and 650TX would save you $40 net.