Need help for an 3Nvidia Surround Gaming Rig

[MraK]

First things first, decided I wanted to try out the whole "Nvidia 3D surround" technology that's being shown around. just earlier today I pulled the trigger for 3 new Acer 120hz 23.6inch monitors from our local computer store. And I need some help in deciding if I made the right combination of parts for the build, please advise. Note: spent about a grand for the 3 monitors, my budget remains with around $2700 left, and yes I am the same guy with the other 2 gaming rigs mentioned in another thread, its just thought to create another rig to my collection.

So far the following below are on my list

CPU: Intel i7 930
MB: ASUS rampage III formula
Mem: Corsair Dominator 1600mhz (6GB ddr3)
HD : using old drive, might as well get an SSD
OD : using an old one
VC: (2) EVGA GTX480 for SLI
PSU: Antec TPQ1200 1200watt
CPU cooler: Thermalright Venomous X
Tower: Lian Li PC-X1000
OS: Windows 7 professional 64-bit

If I am missing something please let me know and if some parts wont work together please me know that as well. And please believe me for I am very soon going to pull the trigger on these components.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MraK]

I hope no one is thinking of spamming or what not, I really need to know if the combination of parts is pretty accurate or should I switch something. When I finally get all the parts in, I'm gonna make post a video on youtube to see how everything turns out. Oh I just noticed a pretty cool tower from Silverstone, the Fortress FT02B. Does anyone know if the cooling is top notch?

 

[mfenn]

Looks fine, though you could likely save quite a bit of money with an 1156 x8/x8 board and some non-crazy RAM. The performance hit for x8/x8 is negligible at high resolutions.

The FT02 is a very nice case, but it's tuned more for quiet operation than mass airflow. You'll probably want to go with a HAF.

 

[Zap]

CPU: Intel i7 930

Intel just did a price drop so you should be able to get a Core i7 950 for around the same price (assuming you are paying normal online pricing).

 

[MraK]

Looks fine, though you could likely save quite a bit of money with an 1156 x8/x8 board and some non-crazy RAM. The performance hit for x8/x8 is negligible at high resolutions.

The FT02 is a very nice case, but it's tuned more for quiet operation than mass airflow. You'll probably want to go with a HAF.

Hmm sounds nice regarding the 1156 platform, its just have been using the other platform and its just feels like I'm downgrading abit and since I'll be getting into the Nvidia surround was thinking that shifting to the 1156 platform would be a downgrade. if I decided now on the 1156 what MB and CPU should I get, since I havent really looked into this option.

Thank you btw for the feedback.

 

[MraK]

Intel just did a price drop so you should be able to get a Core i7 950 for around the same price (assuming you are paying normal online pricing).

just saw that the other day, I order from mwave.com, and the price was at 299.99 which is a sweet deal since at default its 3.06Ghz. Do you think this new set up is ok or not?

Thanks for the tip btw

 

[mfenn]

Hmm sounds nice regarding the 1156 platform, its just have been using the other platform and its just feels like I'm downgrading abit and since I'll be getting into the Nvidia surround was thinking that shifting to the 1156 platform would be a downgrade. if I decided now on the 1156 what MB and CPU should I get, since I havent really looked into this option.

Thank you btw for the feedback.

That's what Intel marketing wants you to think.

If you were to buy today I would get the i5 760 and the GA-P55A-UD4P for SLI.

 

[MraK]

Finally pulled the trigger again with the following below:

CPU: Intel i7 930
MB: ASUS rampage III formula
Mem: Corsair Dominator 1600mhz (6GB ddr3)
HD : Crucial 128GB SSD
OD : using an old one
VC: (2) EVGA GTX480 *Superclocked* for SLI
PSU: Enermax 1250WATT
CPU cooler: Thermalright Venomous X
Tower: Silverstone Fortress FT06
OS: Windows 7 professional 64-bit

will let you all know how the rig runs when all the parts come in

 

[MraK]

Hello all,

new update: pretty much most of the parts arrived in the mail and just wanted to make a correction that I did not get the duel superclocked version of the GTX480s just the stock versions. quick question though, Since I will be using a three panel display as mentioned in the beginning of my thread, would it benificial to add another GTX480 for tri-sli?? another thing also I accidently ordered another CPU cooler a few days ago (couldn't help but wanted to try it), its a CoolIT ECO liquid cooler, my question is should I use the Thermalright cooler that I have now or use the liquid cooler?

 

[mfenn]

Hello all,

new update: pretty much most of the parts arrived in the mail and just wanted to make a correction that I did not get the duel superclocked version of the GTX480s just the stock versions. quick question though, Since I will be using a three panel display as mentioned in the beginning of my thread, would it benificial to add another GTX480 for tri-sli?? another thing also I accidently ordered another CPU cooler a few days ago (couldn't help but wanted to try it), its a CoolIT ECO liquid cooler, my question is should I use the Thermalright cooler that I have now or use the liquid cooler?

The scaling for tri-SLI GTX 480s is not too bad actually, so it could be "worth it". I say "worth it" because you're already in the 99.99-th percentile as far as GPU power is concerned. But if you feel like dropping another $450, I guess from a technical point of view it is not as horrible of an idea as it was in previous generations.

As for the CPU cooler, try both and see which works better.

 

[MraK]

The scaling for tri-SLI GTX 480s is not too bad actually, so it could be "worth it". I say "worth it" because you're already in the 99.99-th percentile as far as GPU power is concerned. But if you feel like dropping another $450, I guess from a technical point of view it is not as horrible of an idea as it was in previous generations.

As for the CPU cooler, try both and see which works better.

quick question for you though, when I looked on newegg it stated it the motherboard that I got could do 16x/8x/8x but when I looked on the board itself it showed on the PCI-E slots at 16x lane 1 / 4x lane 2 / 16x lane 3. I just curious if am I reading something wrong and does it indeed run 3way SLI well? before I decide to shell out for 3rd card, just want to make sure that the motherboard I got could run 3way SLI.

thanks in advance!

 

[mfenn]

quick question for you though, when I looked on newegg it stated it the motherboard that I got could do 16x/8x/8x but when I looked on the board itself it showed on the PCI-E slots at 16x lane 1 / 4x lane 2 / 16x lane 3. I just curious if am I reading something wrong and does it indeed run 3way SLI well? before I decide to shell out for 3rd card, just want to make sure that the motherboard I got could run 3way SLI.

thanks in advance!

According to the manual, it operates in x16/x8/x8 mode when all 3 PCI x16 slots are populated.

 

[MraK]

According to the manual, it operates in x16/x8/x8 mode when all 3 PCI x16 slots are populated.

sweet, just to also let you know, I just ordered another GTX480 last night so I'm gonna see what 3 GTX480 are like, let's just hope that the PSU that I got has enough juice to push these cards, which brings me to another question, I read in some sites that the PSU that I got (Enermax EVO 1250watt) can handle 3 GTX480s while some say it can't and they suggest to get the Silverstone 1500watt psu, do you think 1250watt is enough?

Thanks in advance!

 

[mfenn]

sweet, just to also let you know, I just ordered another GTX480 last night so I'm gonna see what 3 GTX480 are like, let's just hope that the PSU that I got has enough juice to push these cards, which brings me to another question, I read in some sites that the PSU that I got (Enermax EVO 1250watt) can handle 3 GTX480s while some say it can't and they suggest to get the Silverstone 1500watt psu, do you think 1250watt is enough?

Thanks in advance!

1250W will be plenty.