Just bought a Dell XPS 8300 from dell outlet: It has arrived!

[Mnaircckel]

Rig works like a charm. On it right now. Got everything installed and working. Plays Just Cause two on max settings at about 80 fps which is amazing compared to what I'm used to.

Thank you all so much for all the constant help on building the rigs, we got it done. Mostly thanks to you guys!

 

[Mnaircckel]

Great. I guess I'm going to go ahead and buy the dell since I didn't get any replies and I want to get this computer ASAP. In that case what graphics card should I get to go with a Dell Xps 8300:
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...el_id=xps-8300

 

[mnewsham]

Just give me about 15 mins or mfenn will be here in a few to sort you out.

 

[mnewsham]

CD/DVD
Case
HDD
GPU
PSU
RAM
Motherboard
CPU
OS
HSF

Total: $843.90

$30 MIR makes it $813.90

OR a lesser GPU

Total: $793.90

I would not advise going with the dell particularly.

 

[mfenn]

Just give me about 15 mins or mfenn will be here in a few to sort you out.

Am I really that predictable?

CD/DVD
Case
HDD
GPU
PSU
RAM
Motherboard
CPU
OS
HSF

Total: $843.90

$30 MIR makes it $813.90

OR a lesser GPU

Total: $793.90

I would not advise going with the dell particularly.

Pretty good overall, but the Kingwin PSU really jumps out at me. I know their higher end Lazer's are fine (if overpriced), but I'm really unsure about this one. Do you have a review link?

OP, I would probably sub the 430CX for $25 AR in for the PSU that mnewsham posted, otherwise it the build is solid.

 

[mnewsham]

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Kingwin-ABT-450MM-Power-Supply-Review/533/1

Review, and i was trying to stay away from rebates because i wasn't sure of the OP's preference.

 

[Doltmoopsie]

First of all, I'm new to building computers so bare with me.

If you are a careful person, you should be able to build a computer. If you can take things apart, and put them back into working order, you can build a computer.

My current computer is nearing 6 years old and needs to be replaced badly!

OMG! Is it a Pentium 3 or an Athlon XP?

I'm looking to spend around 800 dollars. That's what seems reasonable for the type of computer I'm looking for.

Your $800 is plenty if you don't need pro-quality A/V and you are not an extreme gamer.

My resolution is 1680 x 1050.

At that resolution, and medium settings, you could even use a budget card.

The 5670 or 6670 with GDDR5 (not DDR3) would do an OK job. They are selling for under $60 (after mail-in-rebates). These cards will not be future-proof, but will be cheap.

The next step up would be the AMD HD 6770 or 6750. This is the "lesser GPU" that people have linked to here. They are selling for about $110 after rebates.

The highest card that you would want to consider would be the AMD HD 6850. These cards are selling for about $150. You should wait until you have the Dell XPS 8300 and mesure the inside of the case, as some 6850 cards may be too long.

Although I have done quite a bit of research on computers etc and I like browsing through Newegg.. I've never actually built a computer before and I'm still wondering if I should just go with a already built computer from dell and then upgrade the graphics card.

If you do not enjoy tinkering, then you should just buy a Dell. You will be thankful if it brakes, as you can just send the whole thing back to Dell (after you switch back to the included video card). You can get an XPS 8300 with a i5-2400 at the Dell Outlet for $610.

You can then buy a card off Newegg for $50-150, depending on what option you like from above.

 

[Mnaircckel]

Thanks! Dolt that was great, I never even heard of the dell outlet before. That seems like a very good deal. So I could get a Xps 8300 http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnline...Search.aspx?rn=1694&SC=&c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh for $610 and then get a video card. I have a warranty if it breaks and I can go and get a better GPU to total it about to $750 also saving time on not having to build the computer.

Does anyone see anything wrong with this option?

 

[mnewsham]

yeah, you wont be able to OC and you limit yourself by getting the dell. But to each their own.

 

[Mnaircckel]

Ok, I just changed the thread completely. I went with dolts option, now I need a graphics card that is compatible with what I just bought and is a good deal. I can spend around $175. Less preferably.

 

[Blue Shift]

At your resolution, a Radeon HD 5770 (or 6770, which is identical to it) would serve you just fine at medium-high settings in most games. If you'd like a bit more future-proofing, you could definitely go higher (HD 6870 or GTX 460) with that budget as well. A 6870, in particular, would fit perfectly within your budget and provide a nice performance boost in some games:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/296?vs=290

Do you know which games you'll be playing on it? A non-TI GTX 560 might also be within your reach, if you prefer NVidia.

Edit: Example 6870: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948&cm_re=hd_6870-_-14-102-948-_-Product

 

[VirtualLarry]

If that Dell really included a 460W PSU, then I would second the HD6870 recommendation. It's a really sweet card. I built a computer for my BIL with two of them in Crossfire. Last Nov., I paid $240 per card. Now you can get them significantly cheaper.

 

[Mnaircckel]

How about a 6850? Cheaper than the 6870. Umm, also I assume all of them would fit in the computer and be compatible, not sure how to check. Also what are good brands to go with, don't want to get a card that breaks.

 

[DominionSeraph]

How about a 6850? Cheaper than the 6870. Umm, also I assume all of them would fit in the computer and be compatible, not sure how to check. Also what are good brands to go with, don't want to get a card that breaks.

The MSI looks good.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.657873

 

[mfenn]

How about a 6850? Cheaper than the 6870. Umm, also I assume all of them would fit in the computer and be compatible, not sure how to check. Also what are good brands to go with, don't want to get a card that breaks.

The 6850 is not significantly less expensive than a 6870. The 6870 does use a bit more power, but if the Dell truly does have a 460W PSU, then you should have no problem powering it.

So my recommendation is to go with a 6870 like this one. It is a Biostar, who are not known for their GPUs BUT it is very obviously a reference design straight from AMD. AMD's reference designs are generally rock solid, and the 6870 one is no exception.

 

[Mnaircckel]

Well, I guess it's probably worth getting the 6870 for 25 extra bucks... although on the Benchmark sites they score pretty dang close. Does the 6870 run cooler?
Also what makes you recommend the biostar over say the sapphire(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-913-_-Product) which got better reviews? Just the 5 dollar price difference or do you prefer biostar?

Right now I'm debating between the 6850 and the 6870 and chosing what brand so just post what card you think I should get and why. Also links to cards that you suggest would be great.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Biostar is overall a bad company. those are my 2cents

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Oop. readwhat mfenn said so i guessits okay.

 

[Mnaircckel]

I'm looking for just a tiny bit more feedback. Right now I'm leaning toward the 6870 sapphire because it seems to have good reviews. I decided to spend an extra 15 bucks for the better card. So.. do you think its a good idea to go ahead and get the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-913-_-Product

Will if work/fit with the computer I just ordered?
Will it run fine with my power supply?


I'm going to bed, if I can the go ahead from a few people I'm going to purchase it when I get up tomorrow.

 

[Blue Shift]

Part of what makes a "bad company" is poor Customer Support, which Biostar, Diamond, and HIS (the "bad" companies) have been known for from time to time.

If you could look at the side of your power supply and see if there's a model number on it, then that might help people here be more certain about whether or not you could power the 6870.

 

[Doltmoopsie]

So.. do you think its a good idea to go ahead and get the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-913-_-Product

Will if work/fit with the computer I just ordered?
Will it run fine with my power supply?

It should work with the included power supply. Dell sells these systems with a single high-end card, and I doubt that they switch out the power supply when they install the card.

This toms adware thread has a good picture of the inside of the XPS 8300. It is also really funny. IF you want to trust forum people, then it sounds like you should have 11.1 inches.

The reference Radeon HD 6870 is 9.75" in length. Some of the non-reference cards are 10.5" or longer. It sounds really likely that this card will fit. If you want to be sure about that, you could email Sapphire support/sales.

Finally, Dell uses "fully exhausting" GPU designs with the XPS 8300. The Sapphire design that you pointed to is an "open cooler" GPU. If you are not worried about noise, then you could go with the XFX HD-687A-ZNFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit DDR5 as it is exhausting. This should keep your case temperature down, and let you overclock the GPU.

If you are not worried about temperatures, and do not want to overclock the GPU, then the Sapphire card you linked to is a better choice. This is due to price, noise, and better included cables on the Sapphire.

I'm going to bed, if I can the go ahead from a few people I'm going to purchase it when I get up tomorrow.

You could also wait for the machine to arrive before you order the video card. That way you could measure the space you have, look at the power supply cables & label, and even try a day or two of gaming on the included card.

 

[mfenn]

I'm looking for just a tiny bit more feedback. Right now I'm leaning toward the 6870 sapphire because it seems to have good reviews. I decided to spend an extra 15 bucks for the better card. So.. do you think its a good idea to go ahead and get the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-913-_-Product

Will if work/fit with the computer I just ordered?
Will it run fine with my power supply?


I'm going to bed, if I can the go ahead from a few people I'm going to purchase it when I get up tomorrow.

In terms of power requirements, a 6870 is a 6870 (unless it it factory overclocked). I don't know for certain if it will fit, but Dell does sell it with a reference model card thus I'm fairly confident that it will.

Like I said before, I'd get a reference model like the Biostar that I linked or the XFX that Dolt linked over a custom PCB.

 

[Mnaircckel]

I finnally got to post a reply the forum servers kept lagging for me. Anyway I went ahead and got the sapphire card. I missed mfenns post. Anyway I hope it works I'll let you guys know on the 23rd or so when both my card and computer are here. Thanks everyone!

 

[mfenn]

Yeah, the servers have been taking a major shit the past few days. It's probably not a big deal that you got a non-reference one, it's just that the reference one would have been pretty much guaranteed to work.

 

[Mnaircckel]

Well ****, I may be in trouble. I was looking at the page to see the details and.. I just noticed that it says it requires a 500 watt power supply. The dell only comes with a 460. I thought you guys that would run the 6780 fine... well I guess I'll buy a power supply. Damn it gonna have to go over 800 now but my fault for missing that..



Edit:

So yea guys I'm gonna need your help finding a power supply to replace the one that comes with the computer.

Edit:
K how about this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016
Extra 65 bucks but I really don't want to ruin my graphics card.