The Quest for the Monster Computer.

[Tachyone]

Hello!

I finally found the right forum for posting this in. Here's the deal: I'm spending my money on a computer. 1500 USD will be spent on monitor/mouse/keyboard and things like that, which leaves 4000 USD for a desktop. I have posted this on many online forums, and have many people tell me "Not to spend this much" but build a computer myself. After trying to make a "Build-it-yourself" PC online on several sites, I've decided that the relatively small savings I'll make by building won't make up for the fact that I'll have to put it together myself. Really, the savings for the kind of computer I want are *not* worth the effort in Denmark. I beg you please not to discuss this, but to give your honest and objective opinion on which PC would be best suited for extensive gaming and video rendering/editing. Please give reasons for your choice, and if you can, help me pick out the customization I'd want for either PC (I've only included the possible custumizations that I found relevant). So without further ado, here are the PC systems:

Note: ALL CPU's are Intel Core 2 Quad processors.

"Føniks Ultimo+"

CPU: Q9300 2.5 GHz (6 MB L2-cache) OR Q9450 2,66 GHz (12 MB L2-cache)

GPU: SLI - 3x NVidia GeForce GTX 260 (3x 896 MB DDR3)

RAM: 8 GB DDR2 PC 8500 Corsair (1066 MHz)

Motherboard: ASUS P5N-T Deluxe 780i SLI S-775

Storage: 1 TB RAID SATA2 (2x 500 GB, 7200 RPM)

"Vision X-Force"

CPU: Q9450 2,66 GHz (12 MB L2-cache) and a Dual-Screen OR QX9650 3,00 GHz (12 MB L2-cache)

GPU: NVidia GeForce GTX 280

RAM: 8 GB XMS3 DHX DDR3 DualChannel Corsair (1333 MHz)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-P45T-DS3

Storage: 2 TB SATA2 (2x Samsung 1000GB)

PSU is 1000 W in both desktops. Personally I like the Vision X-Force better because of the better RAM and Processor (or Dual-Screen). But I need the opinions of you guys! Thanks to anyone who can help me, it's greatly appreciated.

 

[xSauronx]

$5500 for a computer to play games on?

Jesus fucking christ. I thought I was out of the loop on pc gaming but this is absurd....is there actually any game that is going to make use of that?

Hell, is there any kind of game *worth* spending that kind of money on?

/sorry, i clearly live a sheltered life

also... >> general hardware is probably a much better place for this. you may wanna pm a mod to get it moved.

 

[Tachyone]

xSauronx, I can say that I've certainly lived a sheltered life as well, seeing that all the computers I've ever owned (Five) were never able to play any of the games I was hoping they could run. This time around, I have the money to spend (Would take a while to explain, but I have nothing better to spend the money on - At all), so I want to get a computer that can, in fact, play the games I want it to. These specs might be overkill, but I want this computer to be "Decent" for years to come, before I upgrade parts and such. I'll rather get more than I need than less, which has been the cases earlier =(...
I'll bet there will be games that will take full use of my specs in half a year or a year. Not now, but in the future.

But would you be so kind to recommend one, WITHOUT thinking about the financial side of this purchase? Maybe you have experience with Dual-Screens? Or SLI Graphics? Thanks for replying at any rate

 

[zerogear]

SLI doesn't work with Dual-screens, if you're going to run SLI, better pick up a 30+ inch monitor, especially if you're running 3x SLI. As for CPU, QX are just not worth it. If you can wait, Q9450 is getting phased out, Q9550 is dropping to Q9450's price, and Q9400 is taking Q9300's place.

 

[Tachyone]

The SLI with Dual-Screen was never an option, only on the second computer, if I go for the Q9450. Is this a bad CPU? I've seen reviews and benchmark tests, and it seems to be doing quite well. If I get the SLI from "Føniks Computers", I'll get a big monitor. But what would you choose? And why?

Note: I can't wait for more than a week before ordering some kind of computer. These two are the best I've been able to find over the course of two weeks of searching.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Tachyone
xSauronx, I can say that I've certainly lived a sheltered life as well, seeing that all the computers I've ever owned (Five) were never able to play any of the games I was hoping they could run. This time around, I have the money to spend (Would take a while to explain, but I have nothing better to spend the money on - At all), so I want to get a computer that can, in fact, play the games I want it to. These specs might be overkill, but I want this computer to be "Decent" for years to come, before I upgrade parts and such. I'll rather get more than I need than less, which has been the cases earlier =(...
I'll bet there will be games that will take full use of my specs in half a year or a year. Not now, but in the future.

But would you be so kind to recommend one, WITHOUT thinking about the financial side of this purchase? Maybe you have experience with Dual-Screens? Or SLI Graphics? Thanks for replying at any rate

1) get a better hobby to spend money on other than video games

2) save for an apartment, car, education, home, or retirement. christ, travel somewhere awesome. 5 grand can buy a getaway to a once-in-a-lifetime vacation and still leave cash for a damn fine gaming rig.

dont overcompensate. unshelter

3) given that tech hardware loses value faster than a new car, it just seems like itd make more sense to build a damn fine gaming rig now for a sane amount of money...then sell it in 12-18 months and build a new one with new tech that will be better.

i dont keep up with pc gaming because its too costly. i used to love it. i cant speak on gaming hardware except to caution sanity. i stay out of gen hardware, but you posted this in a place i frequent, so nyah

anyway, get this moved to gen hardware, youll get good input there (probably from other people who have spent an insane amount of money on a gaming rig). and check the AV forum or video or whatever for display opinions. if youre really set on blowing your load you should get as much input as possible.

 

[Tachyone]

Okay sauron, it seems you're begging me to tell you...First of all, I'm 19.
I make 50 USD an hour at my job, and I'm working until March (Taking a year off from studying, and go see some family in South Africa, maybe take a trip to Australia. Next year: Physics at University). If I spend this insane amount of money on a computer, I'll have about 20k USD when I start University, and if I don't, I'll have 25k. And this makes no difference in the world to me, since I could never spend that much money in less than a few years.

Education is free in Denmark. No wait, we actually get money for studying =) (Seriously)
I don't need a car. My city has great public transport.

I can see what you mean, most people could never afford to spend 5k on "fun". But since I'm in a position where I can, and I desperately need a new, great computer, I decided to give it a shot, after considering it for a long time. And besides, I'm here (and on 5-6 other hardware forums) because I'm trying to get the most reliable and fast computer for my money

Oh, and video games was always my favourite hobby and I hope it remains so, although I have several others.

So, it seems this post needs to jump to General Hardware...I originally posted there, but only the moderator of that forum replied to my post, suggesting to spend less, much like you xSauronx. Maybe I'll get more suggestive feedback if I explain the situation?

 

[Cycad]

VISION X FORCE

Let the guy spend his money the economy needs it.

 

[ViviTheMage]

minus the video cards, those seem like mediocre machines...for 4 grand that is.

 

[Saint Nick]

I remain unimpressed. You can do better than that :roll:

 

[RESmonkey]

Can you SLi the GTX 280? LOL that would be insane.

But really, all you need is to is Crossfire radeon 4870 + any quad core that you can OC to 3.0Ghz.