New rig - Extreme performance!

[VI3L]

Yep it's that time again for me! I plan on building a quad core system after core I7 releases (for price drops), so around the second week of November or maybe sooner.

I will primarily be using this PC to run new games on extremely high graphics :thumbsup: and watch movies.

I will not OC right away, but I will in a couple of months. I need something that is fast at stock speeds and faster when OC'd.

Budget: $2,800 - $3,200 and I will be buying in the US from newegg.com.

I already have a monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Here is what I have in mind so far...

Case - Antec 1200 - $179.99

Power Supply - Corsair 1000HX - $199.99

Motherboard - ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48 - $288.99

Video Card - HIS 4870 x2 - $544.99

CPU - Intel Q9650 3.0 GHZ - $549.99

CPU Heatsink - ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm - $54.99

Primary Hard Drives (Raid 0) - WD VelociRaptor 150GB - $359.98

Storage Hard Drive - WD Caviar Black 1TB - $149.99

Memory - CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) - $124.00

DVD Burner - Pioneer Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 10X - $42.99

Operating System - Windows Vista Ultimate - $179.99

I'm unsure about the Memory and DVD burner I have selected, will the memory be good for OCing?

I'm also unsure on which sound card and speaker setup to get.

If I left anything out please let me know!

Any advice, recommendations or comments will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance guys!

 

[Majic 7]

I have pretty much the same system except for CPU and no velociraptors. That's the memory I use, no problems. I haven't overclocked the CPU yet, so I can't comment on your question. The memory itself will probably reach 1120 or there about. You will probably have to disable legacy USB in Bios or you will get memory errors with Prime or even the internal Vista memory check. I'm using a XFi Extreme Gamer Fatal1ty with Creative's newest Vista drivers, no problems. I don't use the Alchemy thing. Got it, just haven't installed it yet. Didn't have much luck with Asus sound card that came with the board. So far pretty happy with the 4870X2, drivers are a little picky sometimes.

 

[DSF]

You don't need a 1kW PSU for the 4870x2 unless you're planning on adding a second card, and the Crossfire performance of the 4870x2 has been less than impressive from what I've seen. The same goes for the X48 motherboard.

No reason to spend so much on a CPU you're going to overclock when one that's only slightly slower at stock can be had for $200 less if you ask me.

Zalman heatsinks are overpriced for what you get. There are models that perform as well or better for less money, like the Xigmatek HDT-S1283, Scythe Ninja and Tuniq Tower to name a few.

Skip the RAID 0. Just get the 300GB VR if that's what you're after.

DDR2-1066 is generally overpriced. DDR2-1000 will work just as well and is generally less expensive.

Do you need something in Vista Ultimate that's not in Premium? If the answer is "I don't know" you could probably save yourself some cash there as well.

 

[MarcVenice]

I more or less agree with DSF, althought if you can afford it, I'd go with the HD4870X2 as well, crossfire is in fact pretty damn good with it and the 1024mb framebuffer is nice. If you're playing at a resolution below 1920*1280 than you could do with a gtx280 or even a gtx260/hd4870 ... No 1000w PSU is needed, I'd go with a nice 750w or something along that line, for $100-150 max ... Like this one for example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371009

The mobo is gross overkill too, you could do with a asus p5q pro for half the money and youll get the same performance ...

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
I more or less agree with DSF, althought if you can afford it, I'd go with the HD4870X2 as well, crossfire is in fact pretty damn good with it and the 1024mb framebuffer is nice. If you're playing at a resolution below 1920*1280 than you could do with a gtx280 or even a gtx260/hd4870 ... No 1000w PSU is needed, I'd go with a nice 750w or something along that line, for $100-150 max ... Like this one for example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371009

The mobo is gross overkill too, you could do with a asus p5q pro for half the money and youll get the same performance ...

When I say Crossfire I don't mean the onboard connection of the 4870x2, I mean dual 4870x2s. From what I've seen the scaling is poor, but I'm willing to be proven wrong.

 

[MarcVenice]

Originally posted by: DSF

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
I more or less agree with DSF, althought if you can afford it, I'd go with the HD4870X2 as well, crossfire is in fact pretty damn good with it and the 1024mb framebuffer is nice. If you're playing at a resolution below 1920*1280 than you could do with a gtx280 or even a gtx260/hd4870 ... No 1000w PSU is needed, I'd go with a nice 750w or something along that line, for $100-150 max ... Like this one for example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371009

The mobo is gross overkill too, you could do with a asus p5q pro for half the money and youll get the same performance ...

When I say Crossfire I don't mean the onboard connection of the 4870x2, I mean dual 4870x2s. From what I've seen the scaling is poor, but I'm willing to be proven wrong.

You're right, scaling with 2 HD4870X2's sucks. Scaling past 3 videocards simply sucks and is not worth it. Better to add a HD4870 to a HD4870X2 if you really want to, but I doubt it's necesary for today's games ...

 

[Denithor]

You do understand that Core I7 is a different socket type than the X48 motherboard you've chosen?

Boy, talk about a fool and his money...

 

[sonnygdude]

Well, in all fairness to OP it sounds like he's not planning on getting i7, just waiting for it on the hope that Core 2 CPUs will have price drops after it comes out

 

[VI3L]

Originally posted by: Denithor
You do understand that Core I7 is a different socket type than the X48 motherboard you've chosen?

Boy, talk about a fool and his money...

Of course I know I7 is a different socket lol.

I7's will be marginally better for gaming if at all but much more expensive with the new motherboards and DDr3 AND will have many more bugs in the first few months. I'm probably gonna stick with the Q9650 for my build it will just be cheaper after I7 comes out.

I will wait to see the final product of Core I7 before I build though and if it's a lot better for games, I will buy it.

Also, if you're gonna call someone a fool you should read their post before doing so.

 

[Denithor]

Well, it appeared that you are planning to build a Q9650/X48 setup but then wanting to upgrade to Core i7 in a month.

And I've been the "fool" in question many times over hardware, so don't feel bad.

 

[DSF]

I wouldn't hold your breath for significant price drops. The E6850 is still more expensive than the E8400, even though the E8400 is newer, slightly faster, and uses less power.

 

[Roguestar]

2 V'raptors in RAID-0, I see, it's one of those kinds of builds is it?

You ask if DDR2-1066 would be "good for ocing?"... have you read anything about overclocking yet? DDR2-1066 is more than you'd need to hit 3.6GHz.

 

[aclim]

I would probably get the Samsung SATA dvd-rw drive instead.

And the X-FI Extreme Gamer Fatal1ty sound card is a nice card.

Everything else looks really nice if thats how much you dont mind spending. Of course there are areas that you could cut back and get very similar performance. But I say if you got the money, and you want what you want, get it.

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
2 V'raptors in RAID-0, I see, it's one of those kinds of builds is it?

LOL, yeah, and an X48 motherboard with a 4870X2.

 

[greengrass]

Originally posted by: aclim
I would probably get the Samsung SATA dvd-rw drive instead.
.

That's good suggestion.

 

[akugami]

Consider the Q9550 for cheaper cost...especially if overclocking. Head over to Frostytech.com for some better HSF's. You can buy them on Frozencpu.com or Heatsinkfactory.com. Also, splurge a bit, get a Blu-Ray ROM for about $100-130. Still able to burn DVD's and stuff.

 

[Roguestar]

Pro tip: Don't RAID-0.


Or, do. I'll wait for your "halp how do i recover raid-0 data" thread! :thumbsup: