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mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
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www.mfenn.com
Cool, glad you like it. Good choice on Windows 7 too. Windows 8 is a good base OS, too bad they had to ruin it by putting a useless interface over the top.
 

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
14
81
I'm not really sure there is a question coming in this post or just need computer building addiction support but I got this case on Newegg's shell shocker today:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811156254

I also got a 7970 today....and when Haswell gets here I'll more than likely grab a crossfire mobo and get another one, and considering I've already got a sturdy SSD and HDD and other stuff to cannibalize, I guess I'll only need (to summarize, bold is what I don't have):

Raidmax Helios
Corsair TX750
Haswell Mobo
Haswell CPU

RAM
Windows 7
DVD drive
Agi 3 60 gb
2x Vertex 4 128gb
1tb Spinpoint
HD7970
HD7970

And yes - I am indeed going to be doing resolutions like 5760 X 1080(thus the crossfire).

Of course, once my 7970 gets here I will bum my roommate's TV to set up a trial run of triple screens, who knows, maybe I won't do triple screens after all, but I will still be doing Haswell I guess, lol. Either way that seemed like a nice case for $30 AR so I guess it was time to start collecting deals for the Haswell build.
 
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Sleepingforest

Platinum Member
Nov 18, 2012
2,375
0
76
The good news: you'll have to wait until May-June to do that.

The bad news: you have to wait until May-June to do that.

The other thing I would do is get a single SSD (unless one of them is a scratch drive or something) of the 256GB variety; larger SSDs performer better than smaller ones in the same product line.

Also: 5760x1200p >>>>> 5760x1080p. If you have the money, go for 1200p screens instead. And maybe get a dedicated 3-monitor stand.
 

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
14
81
I'd just put the 7970 into your current rig and be happy for now. No need to let it sit on the sidelines.

Oh I am, I only bought the case to start saving for a new build. The 7970 will go straight towards Planetside 2 and who knows what else.

On a side note, I got a projector, but only one. It's AWESOME for movies, it's ok for games although it's 1280 X 800, but it is short throw which means at only about 6 feet away it makes a 9 foot screen. I did not get a 1080p projector because, so far as I know, there aren't any short throw 1080p, or if there are they are bleeding edge tech and cost too much.

What I will probably end up doing is a couple of years from now when I live somewhere with a spare room to make it in, get 2 more and make a triple projector setup on today's computer, which will probably be a second PC by then. I figure a 7970 should still be able to drive such a triple projector setup because, even 3 of them is still only 3840 X 800, that's not even as many pixels as 2560 X 1600.
 
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maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
14
81
OK, so my new 7970 arrived and I am having trouble enabling a third monitor. It has 2 DVI, 2 mini-display port and one HDMI.

If I am understanding what I am reading correctly, I can only have 2 monitors enabled through the 2 DVI/HDMI and I will have to get an active mini display port to HDMI adapter to do a third...is this correct? If so can anyone link one that's definitely active and not passive?
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
If I am understanding what I am reading correctly, I can only have 2 monitors enabled through the 2 DVI/HDMI and I will have to get an active mini display port to HDMI adapter to do a third...is this correct?

Yes, that is correct to the best of my knowledge. You can test this by checking to make sure that any two out of the three work. That eliminates the monitor itself as a possible source of problems.

If so can anyone link one that's definitely active and not passive?

Assuming a maximum resolution of 1920x1200, this $30 Startech will work.
 

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
14
81
Thanks! While we're at it, here's a question- suppose I have a single desktop across three monitors. Can I have a 4th connected that is separate? It might be a no-brainer either way but I figured I'd ask rather than spring for a second adapter for nothing.

Also, while in Eyefinity I notice that while you can maximize windows top-bottom easy by resizing vertically, you have to manually drag horizontally. Is there any way to set up, uh...what shall I call it...emulators of the screen edges that in a normal non-eyefinity extended desktop you could simply drag to another monitor and maximize?
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
Every screen has to live somewhere in the virtual desktop space. I don't think that Eyefinity lets you mix and match.

I don't really know what you're trying to ask with the second question.
 

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
14
81
What I mean is, when you have monitors not in eyefinity, and you hit maximize on say, Firefox, it will only maximize to the edges of the monitor/screen it's in. But when you're in Eyefinity, all 3 monitors are one screen and so it maximizes across all 3. So what I'm getting at is can you create screen partitions so that maximizing them will fill preset parameters?
 

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
14
81
Would anyone recommend this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...57&Tpk=sp-750m

It's at Amazon for $89.99. 62 amps so it ought to run any 2 SLI/CF cards. Don't need it right now, this just looks like a good buy to hold for later. Unless anyone knows one just as good for even less than $90?

I also like that this price is not after rebate. I didn't look TOO hard but I only found one review so thought I'd ask.
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
Should be a decent unit, seems to be made by CWT like many of Corsair's units.
 
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mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
Would anyone recommend this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...57&Tpk=sp-750m

It's at Amazon for $89.99. 62 amps so it ought to run any 2 SLI/CF cards. Don't need it right now, this just looks like a good buy to hold for later. Unless anyone knows one just as good for even less than $90?

I also like that this price is not after rebate. I didn't look TOO hard but I only found one review so thought I'd ask.

PSUs are not fine wines, they do not get better with age. $90 isn't a spectacular deal, certainly not worth taking a risk for. I'd wait until you have a need for the PSU before buying one.
 

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
14
81
I'd go with a Corsair CX750 for $90 ($80AR). It has the power you need, and modularity so you don't need to deal with cable clutter until you get the second 7970.

You know I saw that one, but I passed it up because the detail page said it only has 6 pin PCI-E, 7970s require at least one 8 pin. But now that you mention it to me, I looked at the actual pictures of it on Newegg and they seem to in fact be 6+2 pin. So that is a good one!

PSUs are not fine wines, they do not get better with age. $90 isn't a spectacular deal, certainly not worth taking a risk for. I'd wait until you have a need for the PSU before buying one.

Well, I'd say you're right but I have another question. How much does a non-voltage increase OC increase power requirements? I bumped my 7970 from 925/1375 to 1075/1575 and no voltage and it seemed stable. But how much does that increase the power? In other words...is 750watts enough to OC two 7970s like that?
 
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Sleepingforest

Platinum Member
Nov 18, 2012
2,375
0
76
The 7970 utilizes both a 6-pin and 8-pin (or 6+2 pin) power connector. That means it gets 300W at most. Your CPU is about 100W. The rest of your stuff together is roughly 25W at most(fans at 100% and HDDS/SSDs doing a huge write). 750W is enough, but if you desire safety, 850W is an option.

Personally, I don't know why you're trying to overclock CFX'd cards. They'll burn through any game and are hot/power hungry enough as is.
 

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
14
81
The 7970 utilizes both a 6-pin and 8-pin (or 6+2 pin) power connector. That means it gets 300W at most. Your CPU is about 100W. The rest of your stuff together is roughly 25W at most(fans at 100% and HDDS/SSDs doing a huge write). 750W is enough, but if you desire safety, 850W is an option.

Personally, I don't know why you're trying to overclock CFX'd cards. They'll burn through any game and are hot/power hungry enough as is.

I was just thinking ahead...I would have gotten two 7970s for my current setup if I'd had the right mobo and PSU, so I was just thinking ahead to expandability on the next. Basically, I'm thinking 4770k Haswell(if it's called that but you know what I mean), plus two 7970s.
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
Well, I'd say you're right but I have another question. How much does a non-voltage increase OC increase power requirements? I bumped my 7970 from 925/1375 to 1075/1575 and no voltage and it seemed stable. But how much does that increase the power? In other words...is 750watts enough to OC two 7970s like that?

The 7970 monitors its own power consumption won't let you increase it by more than 20% over stock (unless you make some truly heroic modifications). That's an extra ~50W per card at most. So yes, 750W is plenty.
 

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
14
81
I tried to use my microphone and it is not working. Unfortunately I have not tried to use it in a long time, before I buy a new one, is there a chance that installing the 7970 from an nvidia card is causing it via driver issues? I don't remember the model number but it's one of those $30ish Logitch supra-aural USB headsets.

I suspect damage as the USB plug is bent a bit, but the sound plays just fine.
 
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mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
The XFX XXX are Seasonic-made PSU, so that's a decent deal for $80 AR. It's not so stunning that I'd buy it just to sit it on a shelf for months though.
 

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
14
81
I'm thinking of getting this http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...-0704%20BUNDLE

What am I missing? Assuming they are talking about the same model number, it was recommended by JohnnyGuru and a couple of other review sites. But that seems like a good price for fully modular especially since it's bundled with a DVD RW, which I would need anyway.

I'm almost certain that I will make a Haswell build in June so I figure I should jump on this modular if it's worth it, especially considering the crap job of cable management I always do, doubly so since this will be a CPU OCing build where I didn't go for that before.