Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.
I didn't know this thread went for Tass's bank.
I didn't know this thread went for Tass's bank.
-
Originally posted by XUioXOriginally posted by roundb0xOriginally posted by who_cares973 -
Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.
pretty much looks the same as mine although the two video cards are prob overkill -- i researched the singular model and it's going to chew **** out hardcore for a few years to come. By then it'll be cheaper to just get a better card than two of those cards now.Comment
-
He who angers you conquers you. ~Elizabeth KennyComment
-
Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.
I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Rubix. I'm assuming this PC is for gaming.
Super God machine gaming builds are horribly cost inefficient. I strongly recommend that you purchase a tower in the 1k-1.5k cost range if it's a premade, .7k-1.2k if you build it yourself. That will be more than enough for max settings on just about any game.
I don't really recommend SLI'ing two GTX 275's either, since a single card that's twice as powerful would be more efficient and probably generate a little less heat, which is always a good thing. Also it's ridiculous overkill unless your monitor is HUGE. One GTX 275 is pretty much more than enough for most monitors.
I'm divided on the use of i7's in gaming builds. i7's have more threads than any current video game can make use of. 4 cores, two threads per core. Most games utilize two cores (threads, really) to some degree, and maybe two or three games can utilize the four cores of a Core 2 Quad. So, as of right now, i7's just aren't cost efficient enough to be an obvious call. In the future, 8 threads will be great for gaming, and a good deal cheaper. But not yet. I think a upper-end Core 2 Duo would suit your needs just fine, although if you didn't downgrade anything else it would eventually become a bottleneck. As a side effect, the motherboard for a Core 2 Duo would be significantly cheaper. Dunno if CyberPower would find or have one for you. On the other hand, technology is advancing at quite a pace, and the recent trend in increasing cores leads me to believe that most games in the near future will use more than 2 threads, so Core 2 Duo is probably about to become outdated. In two or three years, maybe. They're much cheaper though.
Since it's a premade, you'll be all set on cooling and everything else that's really important like the power supply. 800W is probably barely enough for that setup, so if you want to upgrade to anything more power hungry in the future you'll have to upgrade the PSU as well.
12 GB of RAM is great, I'm of the opinion that since memory is so cheap getting as much as possible is a good idea. It's the only component you can really future proof with, and 12 GB will last like a decade or so.
I can't find any pics of the case with a quick google search, so I don't have any input on that yet. Trying to view images on an iBook G4 is pretty difficult anyway, so I didn't try hard.
EDIT: The first result from Grandia's search was kind of a ****ty site. It's also outdated, which makes it even funnier since it recommended a core 2 quad for gaming. Don't listen to it.
EDITEDIT: wall of TEXT
Went to the Raidmax site. Side vents r ghey. blue LED's help keep your system cooler, those are good.
The site doesn't really give me a ton of information, like if it has cleanable dust filters or other nice little things. Their idea of key features is that it has LED's, 120mm fans, and an e-sata port.
EDITEDITEDIT: rofls
I did a little more research, and I learned that Tom's Hardware compared two GTX 275's in SLI (Tass's setup) to a single GTX 295 (Rubix's setup).
What's interesting about this experiment is that a GTX 275 is exactly half as powerful as a 295. So, does 2 of them make one 295?
The conclusion was that two 275's are actually more powerful than a single 295. This is largely because of the increased PCI-e 16 bandwidth you get from using two slots, as opposed to the one slot the 295 would take up. The other reason is that 275's have a bit of a clock speed advantage over the 295. This easily makes up for SLI being an imperfect system. Who'da thunk it.
Unfortunately, two 275's use more power and generate more heat than a single 295, in addition to hogging a bunch of expansion slots that could be otherwise used for... stuff. They're also more expensive than a single 295, but only about $20 more.
Last edited by MrGiggles; 07-9-2009, 08:13 PM.
Comment
-
Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.
appreciate all the info. wish i had read it earlier. i went ahead and bought my machine listed above, with one difference. i did switch to the 1 295 instead of the 2 275s. it was 60 bucks cheaper, and it allows me to use 2 monitors instead of 1 (the SLI set-up apparently can only handle 1 monitor).
i would have upgraded the PSU beyond 800W though, had i read it. but i'll keep it in mind that if i upgrade something else, i should upgrade the PSU.
as far as my monitor... it's a 24" widescreen LCD by optiquest. it's pretty darn nice.
i'm perfectly fine spending 2500ish, because it'll last me 3 years. this machine lasted 3 years and i can still sell it for a few hundred, at least. which drops the effective cost lower than 2500 anyway. PLUS i found a 5% off coupon and the company is only 40 miles from where i live, so i'll drive and pick it up... save 130 on the coupon and another 70 bucks (and like 2-3 days) on shipping.Last edited by Tasselfoot; 07-9-2009, 08:47 PM.RIPComment
-
Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.
$2500ish is overkill..........
>_>Comment
-
Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.
My computer hasn't yet been purchased... I'm still contemplating if I should change things around.Comment
-
Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.
I definitely want the 295 video card. I definitely want the 12 GB RAM. Definitely want at least 2 TB HDD space. Definitely want the i7 950 or whatever it's called.Comment
-
Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.
Then keep the computer.
The submerged rig doesnt look all that hot, especially since you're paying out the nose for super duper water cooling.
You shouldn't talk down to people you don't know anything about, acting like you know more and then try to show them up in the forum. That's how you get absolutely no where.Comment
-
Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.
i like overkill. i'm comfortable with overkill. i'm sick of **** not working right, or lagging to hell, or my god damn video editing software taking 40 minutes to render crap or freeze and crash completely.
plus, overkill now equates to (hopefully) above average in 2-3 years. which is exactly what i want. i don't want to have to keep buying new **** every year or two and upgrading. that's way too much hassle. buy one thing now for 2500, and ride it for 3 years. that's 70 bucks a month... it's about 2.30 a day.
not to mention, it's completely tax deductible.RIPComment
-
Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.
I like the idea of my computer churning through whatever I throw at it for the next few years.Comment
-
Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.
To each his own, I suppose. There's something to be said for not having to upgrade components on a regular basis, if you have the cash to spare.
Going with a single 295 opens up the option of gradually adding more 295's (theoretically, up to 4 total) to the build in the future when you find that just one isn't getting the job done, which is always nice. By that time, though, they'll have cards that are cooler and more power efficient for the same amount of oomph. Which is good, since I'm pretty sure your case (any case, really) would have a tough time cooling 2-3 295's. You would also need a higher rated PSU. I think each 295 uses about 300-350W under load.
Whatever helps you sleep at night.Originally posted by MrRubixComment
-
Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.
In large part, it's mainly because life is busy, and I simply don't have the time to go out computer-part shopping in regular intervals. I just want to get something uber that'll last for a while, then I can upgrade parts then. The price premium is made up for in convenience.
I'm on the computer so much anyway -- I may as well get something I can rely on for a long time.Comment
-
Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.
nice buy Tass, and yeah if you got money to spend go with whatever you desire marcus, I'm a budget builder first and a power freak second."number 317"Originally posted by Panic4MeComment
-
Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.
Why do you want 12G of RAM? I bet you won't even use 3.Comment
Comment