your evaluation for my GPU and the rest...

[even]

Hello,

I try to built up a new PC. It will be for Gaming. So after reading some reviews, the PC that I will built, will like that..

I will not update my pc at least 1-2 years so, I have some doubts.

1. After one year, I think that I will have to OC my system. Because the needs of newer games would be higher. Is my GPU open to OverClock? Or o/c my CPU will be enough?

2.(it is an motherboard issue) but the GPU Palit 4870 have a good compatibity with MSI - P45..There is no DD3 in mb, is it bad?

3. Can you say your overall inputs for the system that I will built?

Thanks in advance


GPU: PALIT ATI HD 4870 Sonic 512MB 256BIT GDDR5 (DirectX 10.1) PCI-E x16 2.0 $264

HDD: SEAGATE 500 GB 7200 RPM 32MB CACHE NCQ SATA2 $57

Monitor: SAMSUNG SYNCMASTER 2232BW 22" 2ms DVI WIDE SCREEN LCD $269

Motherboard: MSI - P45 PLATINUM (no ddr3 ? pb in future?) $166

CPU: Q6600 Quad Core 2.4 Ghz 8 Mb Cache 1066FSB 65 Nm CPU $199

RAM: OCZ PLATIUM SLI 2 GB 1066 MHz CL5 DDR2 Kit (2x1GB) $50

Case+Psu: COOLER MASTER R 690 - with 600 watt psu.. $140


Sound: CREATIVE SB X-FI XTREME GAMER INT 7.1 $108

Speaker: LOGITECH X-540 70W 5+1 SPEAKER $92

DVD RW: SAMSUNG SH-S223F 22X SATA DVD RW $22

 

[MTDEW]

A lot is personal prefference, but if you wanna last 1-2yrs, i would go with a gpu with more than 512mb of video memory.
I'd go 4870 1gb or GTX260 896mb.

Dont worry about DDR3, you're fine with DDR2 and the Q6600.

Now hard drive, well as i said, thats a personal choice, i'd go with a WD black.

I'd go
Motherboard - Gigabyte UD3P
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128358

Q6600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115017

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (no need for 1066, since you're using a Q6600 and cpu will top out b4 DDR2 1000 will)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231145

ASUS EAH4870 DK/HTDI/1GD5 Radeon HD 4870 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814121291
OR
XFX GX260NADFF GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150329

Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136320

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?Item=N82E16829102188

spkrs and dvd-rw there are plenty that perform well, so thats just a personal preference for sure.
Overlock the cpu to 3ghz or more and you've got a gaming pc!

 

[MTDEW]

Oh and if you plan on going crossfire , stay with the Gigabyte ud3p listed above and the 4870 1gb. (so you can add another video card later for crossfire)

If you dont care about going crossfire in the future, then get
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128359
And either the 4870 1gb or gtx 260 core 216 896mb

note: i personally prefer the gtx260, but both are good cards.

 

[MTDEW]

Here are my pc specs.
Anyone on here will tell you this is a great gaming pc no matter how you look at it.

Vista Ultimate 64
Q6600 @ 3.4ghz
Tuniq Tower 120 hsf
4GB Gskill DDR2 1000
Evga GTX 280 1gb
Corsair HX 620 psu
X-fi xtreme music
Gigabyte UD3P
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB
Pioneer 111D DVD-RW
Cooler Master Stacker 830
24" LCD Dell 2405fpw
Logitech z-550's
Saitek Eclipse keyboard
logitech X518 mouse

what would i change if i could?
If i was building now...
I'd have a Q9550 and the velociraptor wasnt worth it, i'd grab a Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache.
The rest i'd keep the same.

 

[yh125d]

For a gaming rig I'd recommend a e8400 instead of the q6600. It will overclock better, run cooler, use less power, and is a couple bucks cheaper. Only a couple of games will take advantage of the two extra cores on the quad, so nearly all games would run faster on the e8400.

I'd also recommend a WD Caviar Black 640gb HD. you can get them for I think $70-80, and this series is one of the fastest HDD you can get (nearly as fast as the velociraptor drives, for alot less)

I don't know if it was a typo saying 2gb of ram or not, but get at least 4gb

For a GPU I'd recommend one of these 216 shader GTX260's. They're comparable to a 1gb 4870, but overclock quite alot from what I hear

 

[yh125d]

I'll also second the recommendation for the Gigabyte EP45-UD3P. Very good board

 

[MTDEW]

I have an e8400 @ 4ghz as well as a Q6600 at 3.4ghz.
While i'll agree the e8400 overclocks higher easily and i kept it im my main gaming rig for quite awhile now, he's not looking to upgrade for 1-2yrs, so i suggested the q6600 since games are starting to take advantage of the extra cores and they definately will in 1-2yrs.

I just recently moved my q6600 over to my gaming rig and my e8400 to my other pc, GTA IV plays way better on the Q6600 and since both cpu's are over 3ghz the quad is more future proof (so to speak).

I'd still buy a Q9550 if i was buying today though. :thumbsup:

 

[even]

Hello,

After reading your inputs, am I right: ?

-q6600 is ratherly for future games..

-Once I buy a hd4870 512, one year later I can buy and add another hd4870 512..
-But for this I need a motherboard which has an Crossfire unit: you recommend Gigabyte UP45.

- Also, you recommend Western D. Cavalier Hdd..
..

I have been reading other topics.. They also say that Asus P5Q Deluxe is also good..What do you think in comparison with Gigabye and MSI P45?

And, WD is more silent and fast regarding to Seagate?

 

[MTDEW]

Even if you add a hd4870 512mb later, you still only have 512mb of video ram.
It doesnt double with two cards, since both cards have to hold the same information in memory.

YES, if you want Crossfire the Gigabyte UD3P is an awesome board. (not the UD3R, that one only has 1 pci-e slot , its just for a single video card, thats why its cheaper)

Wester Digital Caviar BLACK drives are the way to go, theyre the ones that end in ALS

Yes the quad core will be more future proof.

This goes easier if you post your budget, then we'll piece together a pc making trade-offs if needed to fit your budget. :thumbsup:

I will try to stay unbiased on the video card, but ive owned both the new ati cards and the new nvidia cards and i wont lie and tell you i think they are equal, i think the GTX 260 core 216 is the better buy.
Regardless, SERIOUSLY, dont buy a 512mb card, you might be happy today with it, but that wont last long and you'll wish you had more video memory.


Edited for my horrible spelling today!

 

[MTDEW]

The reasoning on the quad vs the dual core is that once you pass 3ghz on the cpu, the benefits are minimal.
Its nice to have 4ghz overclock, dont get me wrong but it doesnt help much over a 3.2-3.4ghz cpu for gaming. (only benchmarks, even then most benchmarks favor a quad)

Its easy to see, look in the FS /trade forums , you'll see people asking to trade an e8400 for a q6600 but never the other way around.

Why do i own both?
Cuz i couldnt decide between "max overclock" or "more future-proof" at the time ,so i did both...LOL
So it is kind of a thing where no matter which cpu you have, you wonder if you should have gotten the other cpu...LOL

Now a Q9550 is like having the best of both worlds, a quad AND a high overclock.
But of course you'll pay more for that.

So yeah, "max overclock" or "more future-proof" is your personal choice to make, the e8400 and q6600 are two great choices at decent prices for whichever side you choose.

 

[MTDEW]

Just do this, go look at benchmarks for the 48701gb and the GTX 260 Core 216, and write down what cpu the sites benchmark the cards with.

You wont see the cards benched with a 4ghz overclocked dual core cpu, you'll see them benched with around 3ghz quad core cpu's.
Then ask yourself why.

And of course look at the benchmarks for the cards so you can choose one while you're at it.

 

[dguy6789]

I am a proponent of getting a quad over a dual in a new pc today. The 4870 512MB is just fine for a 22" LCD. I know because I run it. Every game runs smooth at maximum settings at the monitor's native resolution.

 

[even]

Firstly thanks..

My budget is 1500$ but, as I am not in US, the market is very expensive here.. So, we can talk a bugdet regarding to items that I have posed

For CPU, I think that, reading the explications, whatever I buy (8400 or q6600) I will not regret. But unfortunatl I can not afford for q9550..

For video cards, my eyes almost blowing reading a lot of reviews..SO I stopped and tried to ask to the experts like you Also I do not know all the issues, compatibility about these cards..

For instance,
http://www.tomshardware.com/ch...hmarks-Totals,795.html

here 4870 with 512 MB is very performer. But I will listen to you if you are sure about not buying 512Mb card. I will probably exceed my bugdet for buying a card 4870 with 1gb..
Which one would you recommend(sapphire or palit). You can please have a look at tomsharware review..

On the other hand, can you send a link which rates P45 crossfire motherboards like tomshw..

 

[MTDEW]

Here, look at the cpu's used, they are usually around 3ghz cuz after that, the benefits are minimal.
You really dont see the cards benched with overclocked 4ghz cpu's because it just doent help that much.

3.2ghz quad
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3408&p=2

2.66ghz quad Q9450
http://www.overclockersclub.co...xfx_gtx260_black/5.htm

3ghz e8400
http://www.guru3d.com/article/...-superclocked-review/8

3ghz dual core e8500
http://www.nvnews.net/reviews/..._core_216/page_3.shtml

3.33ghz
http://www.firingsquad.com/har...black_review/page2.asp

Anyway, you get the idea.

And the 512mb card vs a 1gb is about the same as dual core vs quad core.
Some games take advantage of the extra video memory and some dont. TODAY
Some games make use of the extra cores in a quad and some dont. TODAY

Nobody has a crystal ball, so it is really up to you how much you wanna "future-proof"

Cuz we could argue on here all day dual vs quad / 512mb vs 1gb and nobody would be wrong or right!

 

[MTDEW]

Originally posted by: even
Firstly thanks..

My budget is 1500$ but, as I am not in US, the market is very expensive here.. So, we can talk a bugdet regarding to items that I have posed

For CPU, I think that, reading the explications, whatever I buy (8400 or q6600) I will not regret. But unfortunatl I can not afford for q9550..

For video cards, my eyes almost blowing reading a lot of reviews..SO I stopped and tried to ask to the experts like you Also I do not know all the issues, compatibility about these cards..

For instance,
http://www.tomshardware.com/ch...hmarks-Totals,795.html

here 4870 with 512 MB is very performer. But I will listen to you if you are sure about not buying 512Mb card. I will probably exceed my bugdet for buying a card 4870 with 1gb..
Which one would you recommend(sapphire or palit). You can please have a look at tomsharware review..

On the other hand, can you send a link which rates P45 crossfire motherboards like tomshw..

LOL- I can't afford a Q9550 right now either or i'd own one too!

Are you in canada?
And where would you be ordering from?

You posted a Palit 512mb 4870 that is $264.00 in your post, so i linked to a 4870 1gb that was less at $250.00
I'm assuming you cannot shop at newegg?

 

[yh125d]

Based on mostly what I hear from others on this forum, I'd rank the Gigabyte as best, slightly ahead of the Asus, both a fair ways ahead of MSI.

Both the GTX 260 and the 4870 are closely matched. There's no wrong decision here. The GTX is quiet, cool, and efficient for a card of its class, whereas the 4870 can be had for cheaper. The decision will be for you to make (I went GTX)

As for e8400 vs q6600, the e8400 will outperform the quad in all but a handful of current games at both stock speeds and average overclocks, as well as most games in the next year or two(its not a rapid change to multithreaded games. C2D has been out 2 years and how many are there? not that many). You won't see the quad pulling ahead unless you play alot of multi-threaded games, or use multithreaded apps. Even under those circumstances, a 4gHz e8400 would be far from getting blown away by a 3.4 q6600. A screaming dual core isn't as good as a fast quad, in my opinion. Your mileage may vary

 

[MTDEW]

Originally posted by: even
Firstly thanks..

My budget is 1500$ but, as I am not in US, the market is very expensive here.. So, we can talk a bugdet regarding to items that I have posed

For CPU, I think that, reading the explications, whatever I buy (8400 or q6600) I will not regret. But unfortunatl I can not afford for q9550..

For video cards, my eyes almost blowing reading a lot of reviews..SO I stopped and tried to ask to the experts like you Also I do not know all the issues, compatibility about these cards..

For instance,
http://www.tomshardware.com/ch...hmarks-Totals,795.html

here 4870 with 512 MB is very performer. But I will listen to you if you are sure about not buying 512Mb card. I will probably exceed my bugdet for buying a card 4870 with 1gb..
Which one would you recommend(sapphire or palit). You can please have a look at tomsharware review..

On the other hand, can you send a link which rates P45 crossfire motherboards like tomshw..

Ahhh...now i see why you favor the 512mb 4870 over the 896mb GTX 260 Core 216, the link you posted to Toms doesnt have the GTX 260 core 216 on the charts, only the "regular" GTX 260.
The gtx 260 Core 216 896mb is faster and has more memory than the 512mb 4870 and regular gtx 260.

NEVER go by what you read on ONE site, you need to actuall read the testing methods and results of several sites to get the "full picture".

Some sites testing methods favor one card or another, only once you visited enough sites/reviews do you get and accurate idea of whats a better buy in your price range.

 

[even]

I am in Istanbul.. Here the prices are expensive 1,5-2 times in comparison to US..
Non, I can not shop from newegg. The link was for showing the item..

Yep, indeed, I would not argue about which one is better, because I did not read a lot of reviews.. But, I think you have reason : I should buy a video card having 1 GB..!
And 260 gtx is ecpensive for so, I will go for Palit HD4870 1 gb

 

[even]

If I can not find Gigabyte EP45-UD3P, which motherboard (who has crossfire and DDr2 spupport) would be the alternative?

 

[MTDEW]

Ok, wife is screaming at the tv, so im assuming Dallas is losing, so ive gotta get off here for awhile.

Youve got enough info.
WD BLACK series hard drive
4870 or gtx 260
Gigabyte UD3P or "R" if not worried about crossfire
Q6600 or e8400
You dont need more than ddr2 1000 for overclocking an e8400 or q6600, but yea, ram is so cheap get 4gb if you can even if you're running winxp and cant quite use all of it.


Palit is a good brand card. :thumbsup:

 

[MTDEW]

Originally posted by: even
If I can not find Gigabyte EP45-UD3P, which motherboard (who has crossfire and DDr2 spupport) would be the alternative?

The MSI you listed is a fine choice, its no slouch by any means.

 

[even]

Thanks MTDEW and yh125d
..

Now, I will search an alternative for the motherboard...I am not sure that I would find the Gigabyte EP45-UD3P here..I will renounce about MSI as you say Asus and GIgabyte is better..

 

[MTDEW]

Ok, im back.
GO Eagles! LOL
Cant believe they made the playoffs.

even, serioulsy the MSI motherboard is a great choice, it got an editors choice award in Maximum pc.
I wouldnt hesitate to put one of those in my machine.

As a matter of fact any of the parts discussed in this thread would build a great pc.
We are discussing ALL high end parts here in this thread, so you have to keep that in mind.

My biggest "peeve" is here on anandtech and other hardware forums is we get caught up in maximum overclocks.(mostly because its fun)
Yet most tend to forget to "pay attention" to reviews.
I do it too, I was legitamitely excited to have my 1st 4ghz overclocked cpu.
Theres nothing wrong with that, more performance is more performance.
But right NOW the extra performance you get going from 3ghz to 4ghz isnt much with todays GPU's.

If a 3ghz core 2 cpu (dual or quadcore) was holding back any of todays GPU's then it would be WELL known once someone reviewd the GPU's paired with a 4ghz overclocked cpu.
Then everyone would be screaming that any site that benchmarks with a 3ghz cpu paired with the latest cards is simply has no credibility.

I dont see that happening, do you?

luckily, im one who has both cpu's right here at home to test, so i can see it first hand.
So NOW i completely understand why you dont see statements in GPU reviews like
"you absolutely must have a 4ghz cpu to take full advantage of these new GPUs".

And ive never seen any current GPU review make that kind of statement either.

Anyway, if you go with the Q6600 , you can get by with DDR2 800 since that would be good up to 3.6ghz, which is pretty much max on a q6600 on air.
Not that going with DDR2 800 instead of DDR2 1000 will save you alot of money, but if money is tight and the price difference matters, then you're good with DDR2 800.

Anyway, as i said, we've discussed all great parts in this thread to build a gaming pc.
Mix and match those parts to fit in your budget and you're good to go.

NOTE: Once you have settled on the exact motherboard you are getting, it may be a good idea to post in the motherboard forum here and ask what namebrand of ram people with the same mobo are running.
Sadly there are still some incompatabilities with some certain ram / mobo combos.
So its always best to pair ram with the motherboard thats already known to work without issues just to be sure.
Nothing would stink more than assembling your new pc only to find out it wont even post because of a mobo / ram incompatability.

 

[even]

Hey,

I totally agree with you.. The tests are realizing with high-end systems that we could not buy all of the components...


After discussing with you my system will be like that :

GPU: Sapphire HD4870 1 GB

HDD: WESTERN DIGITAL CAVIAR BLACK 500GB 3.5'' SATA II 7200RPM

LCD: SAMSUNG SYNCMASTER 2232BW 22" 2ms DVI WIDE SCREEN LCD

MB: Gigabyte EP45-UD3P

CPU Q6600 Quad Core 2.4 Ghz 8 Mb Cache 1066FSB 65 Nm CPU

Ram: OCZ PLATIUM SLI 2 GB 1066 MHz CL5 DDR2 Kit (2x1GB)

Case+psu COOLER MASTER R 690 - with 600 watt CM psu

Sound: CREATIVE SB X-FI XTREME GAMER 7.1

Speaker: LOGITECH X-540 70W 5+1 SPEAKER SIYAH

DVD RW: SAMSUNG SH-S223F 22X SATA DVD

But unluckily Gigabyte EP45-UD3P does not exist here so I may choose:
Asus P5Q Deluxe P45 /DDR2 1200 S+GL+RAID+1394+16X(216$)

I will post a topic to Motherboard forum as you say.. Thanks again