Building Gaming PC.. Need some input with Video card

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

EVGA and XFX offer great warranties on their cards. Just MAKE sure you register it after you buy it. I found out the hard way with an expensive motherboard that ran the primary PCIe slot at 8x instead of 16. I found this out 8+ months after I bought the board because my build took that long. But make sure you register it

 

[massacre]

Yes.. thank you for that.. I will have to go with EVGA.. can't beat a lifetime warranty

and taltamir, do you mind giving me your input or links that is.. for exactly what items I should go with.. such as ram, mobo, psu.. etc.. that way I can get a better idea of what exactly I should be looking into.. I will be going with the GTX 480 tho. and the i7 960

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

For the MB, just get the board with the features you need or want. This takes a little planning ahead and knowing of what you'll need ahead of time for your particular needs. If it's overclocking your CPU, you can get most any X58 board ranging from 169$ Asrock X58 Extreme, which is a GREAT board Anandtech review this review convinced me to buy it.. after I bought a 400$ EVGA classified that pretty much can overclock the same as the Asrock for 169$

With RAM. Look for a low voltage kit. Gskill has some great kits that will run 1.35v Link The max voltage for your RAM should go no higher than 1.65v As a rule of thumb, always look for the tighter timings with the lower voltage. People will argue to no no end that timings make no difference. Personally I can tell the difference on normal every-day desktop apps. They just are more responsive when opening them. Also, you don't have to run 3 dimms. you can run a 2x2Gb kit in a 3 channel board.. This from what I've heard does Little on performance impact: Little to none! But if you want a little overclocking head-room go with a DDR3 1600 kit.

EDIT: if you decide to run 2 GTX 480's or 470's or Xfire 5870's You'll want to run at-least 650 and > The seasonic X 650 Gold is a great PSU as reviewed here. I look at the efficiency % between low 70w idle state to what my system will draw. You can go to home depot or lowes and get a watt reader. For example, with my i7 920 at stock, 1 5870 card, an SSD, 4 or 5 120mm fans, and a HDD, I was idling around 135-145 ~ at load I was pulling ~ 267w. The load pull was hitting > 500w with, now, two 5870s. The efficiency range on the 650 Gold stays above 90% all the way to around 588w, then slightly drops off as you'll see in the charts on the JonnyGuru page. You also do not want to get a PSU that spikes above 60mv, IMO that is getting too close for comfort.

 

[massacre]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256041


what do you think of that PSU? any better ones out there?

 

[Hydrox]

If u want a 1200W PSU i'd get this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=enermax%20evo

Review Here:http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=145

But i'd say 1200W is kinda overkill if ur not planning on Tri Sli & stuff like that..
I'd get one of these instead:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...rsair%20HX1000
Review:http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=89

OR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817194039

Review:http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=138

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256041


what do you think of that PSU? any better ones out there?

If it's going to be your only pc that you'll be running all the time then I'd search for one that has really good low idle efficiency. To do that, first you need to guestimate your watt usage from by what others report or say. But first you must give us a hypothetically built machine. The most important notes will be how many gpus you'll use and what level of over-clocking you'll be at; like give us a number.. 3.6Ghz or light overclocking like 3.2Ghz etc. That'll give us an idea based on what we've found on our machines. For example, my i7 920, Asrock X58 Extreme, and 6G of 1333 running stock speeds with 1 5870 would idle around 140w and run around 267w under gaming load. So 267w would be your target efficiency level. Generally adding another 5870 would put me up to the mid 500 watt level. Then on-top of that, if you add in overclocking, you'll draw more watts.
You can find a simple watt load tester from most any hardware store.

The Seasonic X 750 Gold would probably suffice for 2 5870s and mild overclocking. The 470s are a different story.

 

[massacre]

BTRY...do you mind taking the time to go over a bunch of things with me? I will list all my parts with links.. and go from there? if so that would be great.. here we go

As for the video cards.. I'll be going with two of these for now... will be going with 4 down the line sometime.. but not right now

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130551

as for the RAM.. I didn't get much help on peoples input with the RAM.. so right now this will be what I am going with

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145235

as for the processor I will be going with the i7 960

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115224

and as for the MOBO I still am a little shaky of it all.. here are my choices.. if you feel that you have a better one.. please do feel me in

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128446

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188059

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131642

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131641


I know the first one is a lot of cash.. but I am looking for something I can trust.. and it be there for me.. not mess up after 2 years..


as for the PSU it's still up in the air.. but this is what I found for now.. but I would like to get something better....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256041


once again thank you for your time and effort.. it really means a lot to me...

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

It seems like overkill. Give me a run down of your other parts you want and if you will be overclocking

 

[Hydrox]

BTRY...do you mind taking the time to go over a bunch of things with me? I will list all my parts with links.. and go from there? if so that would be great.. here we go

As for the video cards.. I'll be going with two of these for now... will be going with 4 down the line sometime.. but not right now

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130551

as for the RAM.. I didn't get much help on peoples input with the RAM.. so right now this will be what I am going with

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145235

as for the processor I will be going with the i7 960

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115224

and as for the MOBO I still am a little shaky of it all.. here are my choices.. if you feel that you have a better one.. please do feel me in

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128446

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813188059

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131642

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131641


I know the first one is a lot of cash.. but I am looking for something I can trust.. and it be there for me.. not mess up after 2 years..


as for the PSU it's still up in the air.. but this is what I found for now.. but I would like to get something better....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256041


once again thank you for your time and effort.. it really means a lot to me...

Getting an i7 960 is simply a waste of money IMO..

I recommend getting i7 930 or 920 D0 instead..

 

[massacre]

I don't really have any other parts.. that's pretty much what I was looking into.. I will not be overclocking.. not a fan of it.. plus don't know how to really do it.. and it kills the lifespan of your item correct?

and hydrox... why do you recommend those? any reason or just the price?

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

If you seriously will be getting 4 GTX 480 GPU cards then maybe ? and i'm not totally sure, but maybe you'll need the i7 980X 6 core

EVGA GTX 480 527.99$ x4 = 2119.96 (if you bought them all at once, WOW) - free shipping (currently)

12G Corsair XMS2 1600 329.99$ - currently free shipping

Intel i7 960 569.99$ - free shipping, currently
or
Intel i7 980X 6 core 32nm 999.99 - free shipping


*****************

If you will be going on 4 GPUs right now, then you need a Motherboard, Case, and PSU (maybe 2 PSUs) that can handle the requirements.

If NOT then your build options change right here; before we go any further.

Again, are you sure you are going to do this or are you keeping a 4 GPU system open as an option?

 

[tincart]

I don't understand why people are pushing the i7 980x for a gaming CPU. For the marginal performance improvement, you're certainly asking the OP to pay a ridiculous premium.

 

[taltamir]

I don't understand why people are pushing the i7 980x for a gaming CPU. For the marginal performance improvement, you're certainly asking the OP to pay a ridiculous premium.

I agree with you there.
I think it has to do with the op's original system design was 3000+$ and he said he wants a machine thats be top of the line for 10 years...
I did my best to explain why its better to upgrade every year or two, and buy significantly cheaper components that are almost as fast...

 

[bunnyfubbles]

If you seriously will be getting 4 GTX 480 GPU cards then maybe ? and i'm not totally sure, but maybe you'll need the i7 980X 6 core

EVGA GTX 480 527.99$ x4 = 2119.96 (if you bought them all at once, WOW) - free shipping (currently)

12G Corsair XMS2 1600 329.99$ - currently free shipping

Intel i7 960 569.99$ - free shipping, currently
or
Intel i7 980X 6 core 32nm 999.99 - free shipping


*****************

If you will be going on 4 GPUs right now, then you need a Motherboard, Case, and PSU (maybe 2 PSUs) that can handle the requirements.

If NOT then your build options change right here; before we go any further.

Again, are you sure you are going to do this or are you keeping a 4 GPU system open as an option?

I find it funny that you seem to be emphasizing the free shipping on parts where the cost of shipping would be less than 1% of the total.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I find it funny that you seem to be emphasizing the free shipping on parts where the cost of shipping would be less than 1% of the total.

@ bunny That's teh joke


..................
4 GTX 480s

Do you really think he's trying to watch what he spends? I'm really not aware of what he is thinking buying 4 GTX 480s. He could probably go with 2x 5970s and save on a 4 GPU motherboard. Not to mention the price of 2 PSUs to run 4 GTX 480s

 

[massacre]

We'll like I said.. earlier... it's not set in stone yet.. I know for sure 2 video cards.. but max maybe 3.. I think 4 would be out of line.... for just gaming... however.. I do understand that buying cheap and upgrading every year is the best way to do things.. I just don't want to buy cheap.. I want to buy the nice products and upgrade whenever it's time to upgrade.. the MOBO should last at least 4-5 years without over clocking? same with ram, video cards, psu? I don't see why not..

 

[taltamir]

if you don't see why not then you simply do not understand computers, you have no experience with those things and don't know how it works... it will not last 5 years, this is a fact...

The first question is... how many monitors will you be using, and how many pixels are they...

For a single 1080p monitor there is no point in getting anything more then 2 video cards... heck, its hard to justify even 2 video cards... 1 mid range video card is more then enough for most people...

I do understand that buying cheap and upgrading every year is the best way to do things.. I just don't want to buy cheap..

Cheap is not the right word for it...
There is cheap, there is "mid-high range", and then there is "ridiculously overpriced"... you are looking at the ridiculously overpriced range, where you pay TWICE as much for a 10% improvement.

To give you a car analogy, its like a guy who looks at a million $ car (those exist)... and when someone says "why don't you get a 30 to 40k$ car instead" you say to him "I don't want to buy "cheap" and I want a car that will be top of the line for the next 50-100 years" (computers "age" at least 10x faster then cars)...
A 20k car today is mainstream, a 10-14k$ is "cheap" (for brand new), a 30k to 40k is high end... 1 million is just ridiculously extravagant and it is NOT in any way that much better...
And a million dollar car is go be obsolete as hell 100 years from now. (likewise, so would a 10 year old computer)

 

[massacre]

I've had a dell xps 700 for 6 years now.. and it still runs smooth..but I get your point..

I am running a 32 inch dell monitor.. that's all I will be using...

my last question is the video cards...I don't know if I should go with the GTX 480.. or the ATI 5970 ...seems like the ATI 5970 are hard to get your hands on.. but I heard a lot of great things about those cards.. and how they blow the GTX out of the water.

your inputs?

 

[taltamir]

I've had a dell xps 700 for 6 years now.. and it still runs smooth

You can still find 60 year old cars (equivalent to a 6 year old computer) that are all still "running smooth" (i'd like to see your 6 year old computer perform some more intensive tasks... especially ram hungry ones).

Not because they cost a million dollars, and in no way are they equivalent to modern cars.

I am running a 32 inch dell monitor.. that's all I will be using...

can you tell us the native resolution on it? or at least the model so we can google it and find out the native resolution on it?

my last question is the video cards...I don't know if I should go with the GTX 480.. or the ATI 5970 ...seems like the ATI 5970 are hard to get your hands on.. but I heard a lot of great things about those cards.. and how they blow the GTX out of the water.

the 5970 is actually 2x 5870 (slightly underclocked to near 5850 speeds) GPUs on the same card with a PCIe splitter (splits 16x pcie to two 8x pcie lanes) working in xfire.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/2877
Note, that buying two seperate 5870 cards and putting them in xfire on two seperate slots WILL provide better performance, lower cost, lower noise and heat... but it will also require a more expensive motherboard.

nVidia is just about to release a GTX490 which would be 2x GTX470 GPUs on one card working in SLI.

two GPUs in SLI or xFire, whther on a single card or in two seperate cards, will indeed blow single GPU cards out of the water in terms of performance.

 

[massacre]

• 2560x1600 pixel resolution for clear, sharp images
• Offers 400 cd/m² brightness 700:1 contrast ratio
• 14 ms response time enables crisp and clear images
• Viewing angles of 178° vertical and 178° horizontal
• Digital DVI-D with HDCP connectors
• 4 USB 2.0 high speed ports for connecting peripheral devices

 

[taltamir]

Thanks for the info...
at this resolution you would benefit from xfire actually if you intend to play high end FPS on max settings then you would get quite a big improvement in FPS (and it would be noticable as well)...

check out this review http://www.anandtech.com/show/2877

 

[massacre]

No problem at all.. thank you for the input.. you've been very helpful.. but I have one more question for you.. I'm not sure exactly what company to go with for the ATI 5970...does it matter?

 

[taltamir]

there are a FEW rare cards for which the company makes their own PCB (printed circuit board)... Those vary by individual model as well. Some are the standard PCB, but with custom cooler, those are far more common.

most models are simply bought preassembled ATI card from ATI and then put a sticker on it and sell it. so for those the only difference is the warrenty and service, for which XFX is well known in. I thus recommend XFX.

I am not sure about individual models of 5970 cards though, I haven't investigated its various models individually as they are far too expensive for my tastes.

 

[massacre]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...&sku=P450-5972


2 of these are the winner looks like

 

[massacre]

Only problem is with the GTX 480... there is a lifetime warranty on it.. with the ATI.. it's only 3 years =/