Ultimate Gaming Set-up

[Rebel Nugget]

To follow the completely cliche "ultimate gaming rig set-up" rules, I've had my eyes on this for a while and finally am going to buy it soon. First though, I'd like to see if you guys agree with my components (and to be honest, just want to feel your envy). Tell me what you think or where you think I've done wrong

Case: Thermaltake Shark (silver) $150ish
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...jsp?ProductCode=371215
This has been a bone of contention with my friend because I personally think that the silver case is quite sleek and sexy. However, he holds that silver is a "noob" color. Given that the other choice is black and I don't think that I need to even mention what company's cases are black "dude... it's a" I'm liking the silver. Plus, for some reason the silver case is cheaper, werd.

PSU: Antec True Power 480W $90
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=17-103-909&depa=0
or
Ultra X-Connect 500W $100
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...jsp?ProductCode=273002
I really don't know much about power supplies except what other people tell me. Anandtech says the Antec is snapping hot. Pcgamer says the X-Connect is snapping hot. The fact that it's some crazy cool looking chrome type finish and the detachable power cords makes me lean in that direction. I'm not quite sure though.

CPU: (939) FX-55 $some ungodly number around 850
http://www.monarchcomputer.com...mp;Category_Code=AMD64
Nothing really needs be said about that

Motherboard: Gigabyte K8NXP-9 $hopefully under 300
The only two things that make me hesistant on this board are when it is going to come out on the market. It was supposed to be sometime this week, but that obviously didn't happen (or I'm just dumb) and I'm tempted to wait for the SLI board. However, the somewhat inhibitive cost of buying two graphics cards makes me not really care too much for SLI.

Graphics: ASUS X800XT Platinum Ed. PCI-E $699
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=14-121-522&depa=0
This seems like an obvious choice since the 6800 Ultra doesn't exist in PCI-E format and even if it did... I like radeon. Because the actual ATI manufactured version of this card is sellin for near $800 it seems like getting the ASUS version isn't a bad idea. Anyone want to vouch for the $100 cheaper version by Sapphire though?

Memory: Corsair XMS 1gb (2X512mb) $250
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=20-145-521&depa=0
This was the hardest decision for me (well actually the case was, I was really gunning for the Temjin 5, but if I'm going to spend this much on a computer, I need some windows to show it off). I have almost no knowledge about RAM so I am completely flying blind on this decision. I hear that the OCZ is also very good, but from my limited knowledge getting RAM that is more expensive with worse latencies by far seems like unintuitive.

CPU Heatsink: Scythe Kamakari $50
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=35-185-112&depa=0
If I ever decide that for some reason my FX-55 is not fast enough (hard to imagine that day), I would be able to do a little more oc'ing damage with this bad boy. From the overclocking experts, this is the mother of heatsinks. Of course, I suppose I could always get Thermaltake's water cooling system that would fit oh so nicely into my case.

Harddrives: Two 36.7gb Western Digital Raptors $210
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=22-144-200&depa=0
I'll put those two in RAID 0 for any programs that I install and keep my current 120gb hard drive (and maybe another in the future) for storage. Say goodbye to load times.

That bout rounds it up. I already possess the keybaord and mouse for the job (stand dell keyboard and an MX500) as well as a nice headset (plantronic audio-90's so to not piss off my dorm floor next year). I might get a new monitor some year but I would rather have a rocking computer first. The grand total comes to $2610.

Please give me some comments/critiques/notifications of blatant acts of idiocy.

Rebel Nugget

 

[Blackjack2000]

My advice would be to downgrade to FX-53 and spend the money on dual 6800 GTs in SLI. Even if you stick with the FX-55, dual 6800 GTs would only be about $100 more than the asus x800 xt.

 

[NarcoticHobo]

one 74 gig raptor over two 36.7 gig raptors most definitely.

 

[Jojo7]

The 74 gb raptors are faster than the 36gb version.

 

[Rebel Nugget]

Could you explain the 74gb logice to me? I always thought that the smaller the partitions (or in this case the hard drives themselves) the faster the access. Plus, with two hdds in RAID0 configuration, it would be able to read and write to them at the same time which it couldn't do with a single 74 gb. Or am i horribly mistaken?

 

[Blackjack2000]

It has to do with the fact that the hard drives spend more time seeking than loading I think.

Here's a comparison of load times, they don't have the raptors in a raid 0, but raid 0 has little effect on that. http://www.anandtech.com/stora...oc.aspx?i=2073&p=9

 

[SkyBum]

I'm done with raid 0. Never again.

 

[NarcoticHobo]

All tests show little to no performance increase with raid 0 until you have like 5 drives doing it. Also the 74gig has tcq which is an extra little instruction set so it works a bit faster.

 

[Rebel Nugget]

Ok, I stand corrected about the Raptors. This kind of thing is why i made the post, thanks.

 

[Goi]

Well, you could always go with 2x1GB RAM, and yes, dual 6800Ultras in SLI configuration would kick the sh*t outta the single X800XT. You could also use a more powerful PSU, go crazy with a 600+W PCP&C while you're at it

 

[nealh]

Skip the antec PSU and get a OCZ 520w..it has better 12v rail with 33A...or a Seasonic

I found my 12v on the my Antec True Power 480 tends to be flucuate up/down a bit

My new OCZ 520w is more stable and has PCI-E 6 pin cable..5 yr warranty

Also why not get the thermaltake XP-90 for HS

 

[Mrvile]

Yeah I haven't heard anything about the Kamikaze yet, and I know the Xp-90 and the Xp-120s are VERY good hsf's.

I don't think Dual 6800Ultras would work with your budget, but dual 6800GTs still kick the ship outa a single X800XTPE.

Thermaltake Shark? It doesn't look too good (imo) and is an ok case I guess but costs a lot for a TT case. But if you like it whatever, it's your case.

EDIT: And I'm curious, what company's cases are black?

 

[Blackjack2000]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
EDIT: And I'm curious, what company's cases are black?

I think he's talking about Dell, but I thought Dells were gray..

 

[Goi]

nealh, you mean the ThermalRight rather than Thermaltake

Anyway, the Scythe Kamikaze is actually pretty good, but I don't think it can hang with the big boys such as the Hyper6, or XP90/120

Edit: it's the kamakiri he's talking about, not what I thought. I haven't heard about that one, but it looks mean...any reviews?

 

[Mrvile]

Scythe, maker of the worlds largest HSFs, and the Kamakiri is no exception...

http://www.hi-techreviews.com/nuke/kamakiri/page1.htm

 

[jpeyton]

Vapochills are cool.

$1000 is a small price to pay to have a AMD FX-60+ and a X800XT PE running at 600+/600+.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well i would definately go OCZ or PCP&C 600Watt PSU's

For memory i would go with the crucial ballistix IMO the best RAM on the market.

For case IMO the absolute best out there is the Coolermaster Stacker. Even supports BTX.

Also 74Gig Raptor is much faster than the 36. Probably cheaper than 2 of those also.

For Graphics, even dual 6800NU's should win against an XT. A single 6800U performs on par (sometimes better sometimes worse) than the XT. Get either or it is personal preference.

-Kevin

 

[Mrvile]

Did someone say BTX? I think I hear V1000 ringing in the back of me mind...

 

[jpeyton]

Here are my choices (some parts are announced but unreleased):

AMD FX-55
Thermalright XP-90/120 w/ Panaflo
Asus A8N-SLI
OCZ EL Platinum Rev2 PC4200 1GB (512x2)
2x 6800 Ultra w/ NV Silencers
2x 74GB Raptor
Creative Audigy 4 LE
Logitech Z-5500
Lian-Li V1000
OCZ PowerStream 520W
2x NEC ND3500A
Floppy + 7-in-1 Media Reader
Sony P234W/B 23" WUXGA LCD 16ms

 

[Gamingphreek]

I agree with Jpeyton, i personally like the cooler master stacker better than the Lian-Li but that is personal preference.

-Kevin

 

[stelleg151]

I also agree with jpeyton, but I would add vapochill for spice.

 

[AnnoyedGrunt]

Check out this site for power supply and heatsink reviews:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/

I personally have a Seasonic 400W SuperTornado supply, and like it very much.

If you look @ the power usage from recent AT CPU articles, you'll see that an entire SYSTEM with an FX-55 uses only about 160W under load:
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuch...c.aspx?i=2275&p=13

I'm not sure how stressed the video card is, but assuming it is @ idle, then the current gen card with the largest differential between idle and load is the X800XT or 6800U, which both have a change of about 45W. So, even if you have two cards in SLI, that's only another 45W for the one card, plus the full 75 watts for the second card, so at most, so you'd be looking @ 160W+45W+75W or 280W for the total system power.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...ti-vs-nv-power_10.html

I therefore don't see the need for anything over 400W for the supply.

I would avoid the Neo Power though, as it is quite loud according to the reviews I've seen.

For heatsinks I'd look @ the Thermalright XP-90 or XP-120. Both seem to have excellent capabilities but require you to add the fan on your own (which can be a good thing). If you want an all in one HSF, then I'm still a fan of the Zalman 7000A-AlCu. That's what I'm using and I've been quite happy with it.

A also agree with the single 74GB Raptor over the 36GB, although 2X 74 might be cool too. I know that some test have shown little to no gain with a RAID 0 config in a desktop environment, but I have seen a noticeable difference in going from 2X IBM 40GB drives down to one (when one of them crashed). The downside is that I lost all my data, but HDD tasks take much longer than they did before in many cases. It could be that I noticed a differene simply because those drives are pretty old, and therefore were taxed much more than a single WD Raptor would be, but it could also be that my usage patterns are different than those that were tested. Either way, I will probably go with a dual 74GB setup on my next computer (along with an external USB or Firewire HDD for backups).

Nice choices overall though and my suggestions are just additional options you may want to consider based on your priorities.

-D'oh!

 

[Rebel Nugget]

Thanks for the advice. As for the heatsink, I can't seem to find the site that I read the review on right now, but they compared the ThermalTake XP series to the Kamakiri and decided that the Kamakiri was better. So that is the rationale for my heatsink decision. As for getting dual 6800 ultras, I don't believe those exist for pci-e do they? I'm pretty sure that only the GT is pci-e. I think that getting duel graphics cards is a little much of an expense for the jump of 10-15 frames that seeme to accompany it in games like Doom 3 and whatnot. While that is a large jump, I just have a hard time convinving myself that it's worth it. Besides, that is why I'm going to wait for the SLI version of the gigabyte board so that when I do feel pain from my graphics card, I will be able to buy another one to stick in.

Oh yeah, and I was referring to Dell cases with blackness. I suppose they are sort of grayish, the one I have at my feet right now is cloaked in shadows (to disguise it's horrible identity) and I always figured it was black.

Thanks for the input.

 

[caz67]

Get rid of the Corsair.I would go with OCZ EL Platinum PC3200 R2, the best ram on the planet bar none.