Impact of 30" monitor on upgrade choices

[fingersmcknee]

I recently decided to replace my budget-priced Olevia 27" TV and purchase a legitimate monitor for my computer. A small upgrade doesn't make much sense to me here since a new monitor should last me 5+ years. I am particularly fond of the 30" LG W3000H model and expect to put in an order very soon.

Since I do a decent amount of gaming and play some first-person shooters, I take it I will need a medium to high end video set-up to get decent framerate on the LG at native resolution. This is my key question: just how much computing power is needed to support gaming on that kind of monitor? Running the 30" at less than native seems silly--why not get a smaller monitor in that case and upgrade later?

Anyway, here is my current rig:

E2180 OCed to 2.75Ghz
X1900XT
Gigabyte P35-DS3R MB with just one PCI-E slot
4x1GB DDR2-800 PC2 6400 GSkill
OCZ 650W Power supply
2xWD Caviar 250GB
CPU, Graphics, HD, and Northbridge are Water cooled

The furthest I could upgrade the GPU without needing to spring $100 for a new water block is to a 9800GT or a 4830. My concern is that games like Dead Space and Project Origin might not run too well on the new monitor and one of those GPUs. Native resolution with med to max options would be great--I don't need everything maxed.

The other hardware components look viable to me for now, possibly with the exception of the CPU. There I could go for something like an E8400 and OC with good results without having to replace the MB.

While I am not tight here on budget the money isn't burning a hole in my pocket either. I want to be confident that I can play games native on the monitor with med to high settings (with some longevity for components if I upgrade them) and will pay more if necessary to achieve this.

So I'm fishing for your comments on what you would do in my situation:
Just monitor and video? A 9800GT/4830 or something better?
Monitor, video, CPU? OCed E8400 or better?
Monitor, video, CPU, MB? Go for a dual PCI-E and two GPUs?
Another option?

I appreciate your views!

 

[Viper GTS]

You are VASTLY underestimating the video requirements. I upgraded to a 30" about a month ago. I had a single 4850, which I knew would not be enough but I figured I'd put up with it as long as I could before upgrading. Last night I installed my new GTX 295.

A 30" monitor is basically a commitment to top of the line graphics cards. For single card solutions 4870X2 or GTX 295. SLI'd GTX 280/285, etc. is even better.

So if you want to play at native resolution with medium to high settings you should be looking at a minimum of a 4870X2.

Viper GTS

 

[IanY]

I have been using 30 inch LCDs for about 15 months now. I don't think you understand the onerous requirements.

You would realistically need at least a 4870 x2 (if ATI/AMD is your cup or tea) or GTX 295.

Due to a dilemma situation, I currently have a GTX 260 Core 216. Its not good enough, and some form of SLI is needed.

Otherwise, you will be playing with no AA/no FSAA and the eye candy switched off. Can you withstand switching off the eye candy ?

Eye candy comes] at a steep price. Even though 30 inch monitors may be getting cheaper, think of everything else you need.

Don't take the plunge into the pool unless you understand the expenditure. For every dollar of LCD you spend, plan to spend a similar amount if not twice the amount on video cards, and a similar amount on mobo/cpu.

Plan to have a Core i7 920, a X58 mobo, 6 GB DDR3 and a 4870 X2 or GTX 285/GTX295... at a suggested minimum.