An Extreme Gaming PC

[UMfanatic]

PLEASE when you POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

1. Gaming, Music, Movies, an the usual day to day

2. I am not too concerned with the budget

3. The US

4. I want Intel preferably quad core, unless the new Phenom II is really good
Definitely want to go with Crossfire or SLI, and I like seagate HDDS, I would also like to add a blu-ray drive
5.
6. II have but I want to go crazy

7. I will overclock if someone thinks it is necessary

8. as soon as possible

 

[Denithor]

You'll get a lot more responses if you present a basic layout of components and have us critique and/or make replacement recommendations.

Also, a budget really is necessary - even if it's like $2500 or something. Because there are some components (like Intel's new 160GB SSD, priced at a mind-numbing $970) that might get recommended otherwise.

EDIT: Forgot to add - we really need to know what size monitor you use (and resolution if not native) for gaming. There's a big difference in the GPU recommendation for gaming at 1680x1050 on a 22" versus 2560x1600 on a 30" screen.

 

[UMfanatic]

Well I would generally give a general idea of the components I want to use but it has been like 4 years since I built my last desktop and I have not really stayed up to date with whats out there.

I would like at least a 24 inch HD monitor, I prefer a resolution of no less than 1280x800 (I know that is a bit low but my last decent monitor was only 19 inch).

I will set the budget at say 3500

 

[zerocool84]

A 24" LCD would usually have a rez of 1920 x 1080 or 1920 x 1200

 

[Denithor]

Core i7 920 $295
Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4P $240AR
G.Skill 2x2GB DDR3-1333 $80 x 3 = $240
Intel X25-M 80GB $500 (boot drive)
WD1001FALS Caviar Black 1TB/32MB $120 (storage)
LG Blu-ray/HD DVD/DVDRW combo drive $120
Corsair 650TX $70AR
Windows Vista Home Premium OEM 64-bit $100

GPU: Read this review then pick one.
EVGA GTX 295 $505
Powercolor 4870X2 $400AR

At this point you're looking at $2100-2200 depending on which video card you choose.

Case: Here you're on your own. Do you like windows or not? Lights? Etc...just too personal for us to choose for you.

 

[UMfanatic]

I like windows XP, I am still iffy on Vista, I recently downloaded Windows 7 I just havent had a chance to test it out

 

[videogames101]

http://secure.newegg.com/WishL...WishListNumber=9498951

with $250 left over for a case.


(Man, it's fun working on a configuration with that much cash...)

 

[UMfanatic]

Well I took some your advice in terms of putting out a general format of components so I went to new egg and selected based on my ideas and ideas suggested here

MoBo - EVGA X58 Intel 299.99
CPU- Intel Core-i7 920 294.99
Memory - Corsair XMS3 12GB (6x 2GB) 294.00
HDD - 3x WD Caviar Black 1TB 129.99 (359.97)
Video Card - 2x Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 1GB 264.99 (529.98)
Sound Card - SB X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion Series 199.99
PSU - ABS Tagan BZ Series 1100w 299.99
Blu-Ray Burner - LG Black Supermulti 249.99
DVDR+/RW - LG 22x 24.99
Case - Thermaltake Spedo Advance Package 229.99
Display - Samsung ToC T260 Rose 25.5" 439.99
OS- Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit 179.99

 

[krnmastersgt]

Isn't this your third thread on the same issue? I hate to ask, but are you seriously asking for help or just curious what you could build if you had the money?

 

[UMfanatic]

asking for help, I have the money that is no problem, I think I went slightly insane piecing this out, but I wouldnt have to update for awhile

 

[UMfanatic]

there use to be a time on the forums where people would throw out suggestions left and right, now it is all about having a base idea

 

[UMfanatic]

there use to be a time on the forums where people would throw out suggestions left and right, now it is all about having a base idea

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: UMfanatic
An Extreme Gaming PC
I want something over the top and I would like to build it myself

2. I am not too concerned with the budget

Here you go
TechReport: The Double-Stuff Workstation

CPU: Core i7-965 Extreme Edition
MB: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5
RAM: Corsair 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3-1600
Video1: Zotac GeForce 260 GTX Reloaded
Video2: Zotac GeForce 260 GTX Reloaded
HD1: Intel X25-E 32GB (adjusted from TR guide)
HD2a: WD Caviar Black 1TB
HD2b: WD Caviar Black 1TB
DVD: LG GGC-H20L Blu-ray combo drive
SC: Asus Xonar DX
PS: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750
Case: Cooler Master Cosmos 1000
TV: AVerMedia AVerTV Combo PCIe

 

[ther00kie16]

If you are going to go with Samsung's TOC line, I believe the TOC HD line with an integrated HD tuner and all the other goodies a tv comes with has slightly better components and can be found at roughly the same price as the non-tv models.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Originally posted by: UMfanatic
there use to be a time on the forums where people would throw out suggestions left and right, now it is all about having a base idea

Because the prior suggestions are already solid, no need for 10 of us to give you the same build is there? If you have that much money, you can get the best stuff, simple as that. If you want to go all out, go with videogames101's build (except maybe swap the OS for something cheaper?) and you have basically the best money can buy, he had fun browsing for it and you'll have fun once you build it, what's so complicated?

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

The Xram on those sound cards cause game crashing in UT3 when using Hardware OpenAL

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
The Xram on those sound cards cause game crashing in UT3 when using Hardware OpenAL

I have run UT3 fine with my x-fi w/ Xram?


Admittedly though, it has caused me problems in other games, so I'm not saying the problems with x-fi's don't have merit, but sometimes they work without any problems.

Originally posted by: UMfanatic
Well I took some your advice in terms of putting out a general format of components so I went to new egg and selected based on my ideas and ideas suggested here

MoBo - EVGA X58 Intel 299.99
CPU- Intel Core-i7 920 294.99
Memory - Corsair XMS3 12GB (6x 2GB) 294.00
HDD - 3x WD Caviar Black 1TB 129.99 (359.97)
Video Card - 2x Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 1GB 264.99 (529.98)
Sound Card - SB X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion Series 199.99
PSU - ABS Tagan BZ Series 1100w 299.99
Blu-Ray Burner - LG Black Supermulti 249.99
DVDR+/RW - LG 22x 24.99
Case - Thermaltake Spedo Advance Package 229.99
Display - Samsung ToC T260 Rose 25.5" 439.99
OS- Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit 179.99

That PSU is overkill, the Corsair 1000HX I linked is cheaper and would power that build fine.

12GB of RAM is really complete overkill, you could go with 6GB and spend the extra cash on GTX280s over the HD4870s., or upgrade to an i7-940.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Originally posted by: videogames101

Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
The Xram on those sound cards cause game crashing in UT3 when using Hardware OpenAL

I have run UT3 fine with my x-fi w/ Xram?


Admittedly though, it has caused me problems in other games, so I'm not saying the problems with x-fi's don't have merit, but sometimes they work without any problems.

I have too. But when I click the Hardware OpenAL check box, the game will ultimately crash. There is a 27+ page thread in the UT3 forums about this issue.

EDIT: The Corsair PSU is a very good choice. Clean and stable power. Then the bomb is the CoolMax 1000+ models. Check jonnyguru for his review on the Coolmax. The only PSU that I've read up on with less noise ripple is the new Enermax Revolution on sale now at Directron & New Egg. Directron has the 950 model for 284. Thread here.

 

[Denithor]

Dump the 2 4870 cards in crossfire for the single 4870X2 I linked above.

More than $100 savings, lower power draw and in many cases the X2 cards scale slightly better than discrete cards in crossfire.

Otherwise, if you just want to spend $500 on a GPU grab the GTX 295.

 

[UMfanatic]

As for the power supply I picked it for modular cabling mainly, I have dealt with too many cables for too long. that is a shame about the sound card, they use to make decent sound cards. I choose the idea of 12GB of ram because I have a bad habit or running several programs at once, or using a lot of resources at once. Are the GTX 295 that much better than a 4870?

 

[Denithor]

GTX 295 vs 4870X2 - look at the review I linked above. That should answer your question.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: UMfanatic
Are the GTX 295 that much better than a 4870?

* You're asking about those cards in SLI & Crossfire, of course?
* Have you backed down from "something over the top" that you're "not too concerned with the budget"?
If so, please let us know so that we can suggest lower-end parts.

 

[UMfanatic]

no, I haven't backed down from it, but people seem to think that one GTX 295 seems to be enough than oh say two of them, although I really do like the idea of SLi or Crossfire

 

[Blain]

If you want "something over the top", aren't "too concerned with the budget" and "really do like the idea of SLi or Crossfire", then...

Go with 2 x GTX 285's in SLI.

 

[UMfanatic]

MoBo - EVGA X58
CPU - Core-i7 965
RAM - Corsair Dominator DDR3 1600 6GB
PSU - ABS Tagan 1100w w/modular
Video - Asus ENGTX295(2)
HDD - Intel X25-E 32GB
HDD - WD 1TB (2)
Case - Tt Spedo Advanced
Optical Drive - LG Blu-ray Burner
Optical Drive - Lite-on Blue-ray Drive
Tuner Card - AVerMedia Combo
Monitor - Samsung 24" T240 HD (2)
OS - Vista Ultimate 64bit
Speakers Gigaworks G550W

Can anyone suggest a aftermarket CPU cooler? and since I plan on having something that extreme so I go for over kill and use 12GB of RAM instead of just 6GB