Decision Help: 2x9600GT, 2x8800GT, 1x8800GTS, 1x9800GTX

[husmousa]

Hi Folks,

I am setting up a new gaming system that I would also like to hook up to an HD sound/TV.

So far I got the following:

ABIT IN9 32X-MAX
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450
RAIDMAX RX-530SS

I am debating the following video card setups (sorted by price)
1x 8800GT - $180
1x 8800GTS - $230
2x 9600GT - $280
1x 9800GTX - $300
2x 8800GT - $360

(these are newegg prices after any rebates collected on 5/25)

I know there's a $180 spread between the options, but essentially which setup is best bang/bucks.
Also, does it make sense to maybe go with a cheaper 1x setup then upgrade latter as more demanding games come about or when prices drop.

Also, would my 530W power supply be enough to support this setup or would I need to upgrade.

Thanks,

 

[angry hampster]

Wait a month or so. Nvidia and ATI are both releasing their new cards in June. Also, what Brand/model is your power supply and what's the 12v rail rating?

Welcome to the boards.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Is that a raidmax power supply? Return it and get another one. Raidmax power supplies suck, (poorly built, unreliable, unstable, prone to blowing up) and you should definitely not be putting any of your parts on the line with one.

On the graphics card end, I would either wait a bit or buy a cheap card to tide you over until next gen.

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: BlueAcolyte
Is that a raidmax power supply? Return it and get another one. Raidmax power supplies suck, (poorly built, unreliable, unstable, prone to blowing up) and you should definitely not be putting any of your parts on the line with one.

:thumbsup:

 

[themisfit610]

+1

Raidmax PSUs FTL

Waiting a month for next gen GPUs FTW!

~MiSfit

 

[HOOfan 1]

yeah just to pile on, get rid of that Raidmax PSU....I think it is one of their Solytech built hunks of junk.

Also wait and see the price and performance of GTX260...really they ought to be available in another 3 weeks.

 

[RallyMaster]

So by waiting, do you mean the 9600GT prices might drop to sub-100s?

 

[Jumpem]

You can still find 8800GTXs at the $300 mark.

 

[natty1]

Can we assume that you'll be gaming at 19200x1080?

 

[husmousa]

So consensus on the crappy Raidmax. it was a rebate offer anyway I picked up a few months back.

On the video card front, I can use the card from my old computer for now (its an ATI Radeon 1800 or something), however would I wait for the next gen of Nvidia because it will drop the prices or because there will be improved chips as far as performance/$$ goes?

I have a 22
now (1680x1050)
and I am watching for a good 24" inch offer (sub 300 ??)

Thanks for all your replies

 

[husmousa]

Oh,

And I was pleasently surprised that I am actually getting the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 and not the QX9450

I am getting the chip for gratis from my employer anyway

now would the Rosewill RCX-Z775-SL (which I also picked up on a MIR deal) be sufficient for that, after all the whole premise of 45nm is that it runs cooler.

 

[Quiksilver]

Originally posted by: husmousa
So consensus on the crappy Raidmax. it was a rebate offer anyway I picked up a few months back.

On the video card front, I can use the card from my old computer for now (its an ATI Radeon 1800 or something), however would I wait for the next gen of Nvidia because it will drop the prices or because there will be improved chips as far as performance/$$ goes?

I have a 22
now (1680x1050)
and I am watching for a good 24" inch offer (sub 300 ??)

Thanks for all your replies

I really hope you didn't spend any more than $10 on that power supply after rebate because it's hardly worth that. If you wish to replace it gives us a dollar range and we can make recommendations.

ATI's next-gen cards will be mostly target at the sub $350 range (with the exception being the 4870X2). Nvidia's next-gen GTX 280 is going to be in the $600 range, I don't know what the GTX 260 and below will be priced at.

If anything, if you can't sang one of those cards at laugh you'll be able to pick up a 9800GTX for cheaper than if you bought now.

Most people on here will probably tell you that monitors in the lower price ranges aren't going to be what they consider good. Most will be based on TN panels, which may generally be faster for gaming, but for color accuracy they are terrible and generally have a gradient effect (top being bright than bottom) to them and poor viewing angles. In any case HP, Dell, Gateway, Samsung, Acer, Viewsonic, and NEC generally make good monitors (in fact it's the only products I would ever purchase from dell/hp). So I would start looking at those first.

Originally posted by: husmousa
now would the Rosewill RCX-Z775-SL (which I also picked up on a MIR deal) be sufficient for that, after all the whole premise of 45nm is that it runs cooler.

45nm or not, quads generally run hot. I don't know how well the stock cooler performs, but the least you can do is try to use it and if the temps are too high for your tastes you would want to pick up something like an Xigmatek S1284, Zerotherm Nirvana, Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme, Tuniq Tower, Sunbeam Core Contact Cooler, and maybe a few others I'm forgetting. The Xigmatek, Zerotherm, and Sunbeam Core Contact coolers are probably the best you can get for the money though.

 

[Bateluer]

Good luck with the 9650 on the IN9, from reading the Abit forums, stability seems to be hit or miss.

 

[husmousa]

Originally posted by: Quiksilver
I really hope you didn't spend any more than $10 on that power supply after rebate because it's hardly worth that. If you wish to replace it gives us a dollar range and we can make recommendations.

I went back and checked. It was FREE after rebate with free shipping from Newegg back during the thanksgiving sales. I didn't have to pay sales tax either, so I guess I don't feel that bad now

Any recommendations on sub $100 PSU ?
how much power do I really need?

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: husmousa

Originally posted by: Quiksilver
I really hope you didn't spend any more than $10 on that power supply after rebate because it's hardly worth that. If you wish to replace it gives us a dollar range and we can make recommendations.

I went back and checked. It was FREE after rebate with free shipping from Newegg back during the thanksgiving sales. I didn't have to pay sales tax either, so I guess I don't feel that bad now

Any recommendations on sub $100 PSU ?
how much power do I really need?

IMHO, a power supply should outlast all the rest of your equipment before needing to upgrade. Doing so is relatively cheap and easy. Here are a bunch of suggestions around 600w that will be more than enough for a quad core + any new vid card:

PCPC 610 $85:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817703005

Corsair 650TX: $89:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139005

CoolerMaster 650RPP (I own this one and love it..completely silent and cool) $90:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817171023


You'd be fine with a good 500w PSU from any of these brands as well, but Nvidia's next-gen vid cards WILL be power hogs and 600w may be a good idea.

 

[Quiksilver]

To add to the list.

Xcilo GreatPower (CWT Based)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817189006

Silverstone ST50EF(FSP now I think)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817256008

Seasonic S12 (...seasonic based)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817151034

Corsair 550VX (cwt based)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139004

Antec Earthwatts 500 (Seasonic based)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371007

Antec Neopower 550 (I forgot)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817103941

buy.com usually has deals on antec & corsair psus so i'd check there too.
heck, check zipzoomfly.com and clubit.com as well.

I'll prolly add some more tomorrow to account for psus just barely above 100 but have rebates.

 

[biostud]

single fast GPU > 2 x slower GPU

 

[husmousa]

SO I ended up ordering the following from Newegg:

GIGABYTE GV-NX88T512HPV1 GeForce 8800 GT 512MB - $180
Thermaltake W0106RU 700W - 155
-2x $40 MIR (for each) - $25 combo offer
+10 shipping
= $ 240 for video card and 700W PSU
good deal?

I also ordered:
Thermaltake CL-P0401 110mm - $60
I figured no point in cheapening out on the cooling for a 1 grand processor

Now for the interesting part.
I decided I want to go with 1333 Memory and MB
so I looked out there and there's only 2 MBs that support this:
ASUS P5E3 - $280
Intel BOXDX38BT - #230

the ASUS is newer with less reviews but with more bells and whistles
I'll wait and try to check with my employer if I can grab one
Otherwise that's another ~$250-$300 but it seems for a good cause
I will ofcourse need to grab 4 gigs of 1333 Memory for an extra $200-$300

IS this a worthwhile endeavor for $500-$600 to replace my existing IN9 32X-MAX and
the A-DATA 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) memory kit I have?

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: husmousa

IS this a worthwhile endeavor for $500-$600 to replace my existing IN9 32X-MAX and
the A-DATA 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) memory kit I have?

Of course not. Core 2 Duo/Quad doesn't particularly benefit from anything beyond DDR2 800 unless you care about 2%. In any case, those gains are eliminated at HD resolutions due to gpu bottleneck.

Also if it's a gaming rig, not sure why you didn't go for EVGA so you could step up to GF GTX next month ?

 

[angry hampster]

I would've gotten a BFG or EVGA card to step up next month. Also, I don't trust Thermaltake PSUs. You disregarded a page's worth of suggestions. :laugh:

 

[husmousa]

I went for cost at this point.

I figured if I will upgrade in a month I might as well get the cheapest decent card at this point so I went by Newegg reviews (and combo deals). I have 2 other systems at home, so there's plenty of homes for my hand-me-down video cards.

As for PSU, Thermaltake isn't bad. I've personally had one before that's still working quietly (some 3 years now) and its getting ok reviews. Besides MIR + combo disc + modular, its a pretty good deal.

The one thing I am obsessing about now is the chipset. the Intel X38 seems to work pretty well with the QX9650, but what is the benefit from upgrading to it from my existing NF680i (which WILL will work with QX9650 after a BIOS upgrade)

a quick google search will verify that DDR2-800->DDR3-1333 is only 2% improvement

but what is the NF680i->Intel X38 benefit (assuming same memory - DDR2 -800)