Advicings on a prospective build

[Ninth]

Simply put, I'm working on a new build. I have something around a 2.8-3k budget, and plan on buying within a month or so. Here's the build as is.



Case - COOLER MASTER Stacker RC-832

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E8500
Per consideration, I'm going to be watercooling, so any more preferrable CPU suggestions would be welcome.


Hard Drive - 2 x Seagate 500GB 32M Barracuda 7200.11


Memory - G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2-1000 CAS5 F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ Kit
Considering going with 2x2GB FB DIMM ECC DDR2 800 from Transcend.


Graphics - GeForce 8800 Ultra, 768MB PCI Express
I'm considering changing to the 8800 GT KO, perhaps going dual(if I get the striker), or waiting to see what the 9800X2 looks like.

Motherboard - Asustek P5K Premium WiFi Intel P35
Thinking about the ASUS Striker II Formula LGA 775. Thoughts?


PSU- Corsair HX-520 ATX
I'm thinking I'll need a much more powerful PSU, especially if I go full watercooling, this is post voltage calculations. Any suggestions?

System - Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit (perhaps dual booted with XP)



Sound card suggestions would also be welcome, as well as good fan controllers/similar expansions.


Thank you in advance for your helps,

Ninth

 

[LilBuddy]

You are going to need a bigger PSU to go with those 8800's. They need like 400watts each. I'd go with something like a 850+. Also why not wait for the 9800's to come out if you are willing to spend that much on a system?

 

[Ninth]

I thought that might be a problem... and when are the 9800's coming out? I actually do need the computer rather soon, my current box is -literally- on it's last legs. I do like, surgery on it on a daily basis just to get it to boot.

 

[LilBuddy]

9800GX2 is supposed to be out sometime this month.

 

[ScottinIndy]

I really don't think you will need a 850 watt PSU, I think the Corsair 620HX would do fine. I'm fairly certain that two 88gt's are not going to draw 400 watts each, I think you would be more in the range of 250 watts combined.

 

[ratbuddy]

You can build a much nicer rig for $3k or so. Rough numbers:

QX9650: $1000
2 9800GX2's: $1200
Nice 780i mobo: $250
Good 750w PSU: $140
HD's: $200
Vista Home Premium 64: $110
2x2GB CS4 DDR2-800 RAM: $100
Case: $100

If that stuff breaks the bank after figuring in cooling etc, drop 1 of the video cards for now..

Oh yeah, if you go with ATI cards, you can save more and perform close - figure $250 for a nice X38 mobo, and $800 for 2 HD3870x2 cards..

 

[Ninth]

A few questions so far. Would the QX9650 just be supreme amounts of overkill, or would it actually make a large difference, because the price gap between it and the E8500 is astronomical. Secondly, which is preferrable, the G.Skill or the Transcend ram? Thirdly, I can get dual 8800GTS's for less than a single 9800GX2. reccomendations? and finally, the 780i board is cheaper than the striker which I had previously been considering. Would I loose anything by going with that?

Thanks again all who have helped.

 

[ratbuddy]

Well, the E8500 isn't even released yet, and you said you wanted this thing soon. If you ask me, get a good X38 or X48 board, a pair of 3870X2's, a QX9650, and call it a day. It's all stuff that's available now. QX9650 isn't overkill if you have high end graphics hardware that needs good CPU support. If you were going to run an 8600GT or something, a $150 processor would be fine. If you want to get the most out of high end GPUs, you need some good CPU power behind them. When the E8500 is released, it'll be a good choice, and the E8400 is fine too, but good luck finding one. Last I knew, they were sold out all over the place..

 

[attack]

1000 for a CPU? Crazy if you ask me, get a 200 dollar Q6600, yeah it might be 10-20% slower which equates to 1 FPS in a game. Rat, your statement about needing a high end CPU for gaming IMO is unfounded. If your res is 1600x1200 or 1680x1050 or higher a faster CPU really doesn't do anything at all:
Firingsquad comparison:
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/intel_core_2_extreme_qx9650_penryn_performance/page6.asp

GPU is what your relying on when you crank up resolutions, AA/AF, and eye candy.
If your only gaming as well choose an E8400 and OC that, the E8500 has a higher multi, but the chip speed itself is gonna top out before the mobo with either one.

If your building now, I'd get a 780i board with 2 8800GT/GTS's in SLi, and later on (6 months, maybe a year) just plop in 2 9 series cards, sell the olds, upgrade CPU if you feel froggy and be done.

Or single card routes...P35 based board with a single 3870X2, and get the 9800GX2 when it's viable.

*edit*
For dual 88's vs a single 98GX2, hard to say, ATI's 3870X2 performs better than 2 3870's, and the 98 is supposed to be just a 88 G92 core renamed. I'd say the performance will very similar, and with 88's so cheap now I'd go that route as the 98GX2 will charge a premium since it will be top dog.

 

[ratbuddy]

You aren't talking about a high end $2800-$3000 machine in that case, which is what the OP indicated he was looking at. I'm just pointing out ways to better spend that much money. That said, if he's going to go with high end video hardware, he'll want as good a processor as possible to get the most from it. I'm not talking 8800GTs in SLI here. Your suggestions would be sound if he was in the market for a $1400 gaming machine..

Apples to oranges, as they say..

 

[attack]

Well if your just trying to get the budget up there that's surely a way to blow the money. I'd rather look into high end monitors and peripherals first. A 30" LCD, nice desk, chair, speakers/headphones etc.
RAID 0 4 150gb raptors, that'll crank cost up....I guess I just see a massive waste of money for minimal gains. I can build a rig for 1.5k that'll be practically just as fast as a 3k rig (5-10% slower, but only noticeable in benchmarks)

 

[Automata]

Not to butt in...but my processor at 4.0 or even 4.4 does hold my SLi back in all games. Monitors are 1920x1200 each.

 

[ratbuddy]

Well if your just trying to get the budget up there that's surely a way to blow the money. I'd rather look into high end monitors and peripherals first. A 30" LCD, nice desk, chair, speakers/headphones etc.
RAID 0 4 150gb raptors, that'll crank cost up....I guess I just see a massive waste of money for minimal gains. I can build a rig for 1.5k that'll be practically just as fast as a 3k rig (5-10% slower, but only noticeable in benchmarks)

I gotta call shenanigans here. At upper resolutions, a pair of GTs or even GTSs aren't going to compare with quad-SLI or quadfire, and massive CPU power will be needed to drive those cards. We're going to see more and more games using quad cores, and it's silly to build a system that can just play todays titles at reasonable settings. Like you say, a $1500 system can do that just fine. The difference is a hell of a lot more than 5-10%, that's for sure..

Even with dual 3870X2's and a nice 24" monitor included, he can come in under budget..

edit: Thideras, how about a little experiment if you got the time - bench Crysis or something modern at 1900x1200, CPU at stock and CPU at your normal OC. Bet FPS goes up..

 

[Automata]

edit: Thideras, how about a little experiment if you got the time - bench Crysis or something modern at 1900x1200, CPU at stock and CPU at your normal OC. Bet FPS goes up..

Done. I'm doing some testing tonight anyway. I'll run the cards at the same speed with the processor anywhere from stock to 4.4, sound good?

 

[ratbuddy]

Done. I'm doing some testing tonight anyway. I'll run the cards at the same speed with the processor anywhere from stock to 4.4, sound good?

Sounds perfect. Lucky for us a QX guinea pig happened upon this thread

If you get real ambitious, you could try it at say 1680x1050 as well as 1920x1200 to see how much difference processor speed makes

 

[Automata]

Sounds perfect. Lucky for us a QX guinea pig happened upon this thread

If you get real ambitious, you could try it at say 1680x1050 as well as 1900x1200 to see how much difference processor speed makes

I have a heatsink review to do, I'll only have time for 1920x1200 before I wipe my install and return that motherboard

 

[attack]

I'd be very interested in those results...just use FRAPS and run your quad at 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 at 1920x1200 and see what you get. And 1500 budget you can get 2 3870X2's or 3 8800's and a tri quad board.
I'm trying to find a review on high end GPU's but they're all run on a single chip with no OCing for a comparison (which makes sense).

 

[Ninth]

I honestly didn't expect this level of support from you guys, thanks a lot XD I'll also be quite eager to see what the outcome is.

And regarding budget, I'm not to worried about peripherals right now. I have a few functionally good monitors, a great sound system, ect, but I still do have a 2800 top budget. So shortly this. The best build IMO would be one that I can buy the top end parts now, but leave out a part or two to save cash to stay under budget (i.e. a second video card) and get later.

I have to run now, but I"ll probably post in with my read on what you've said so far when I get home.

Thanks all <3

 

[Automata]

I'd be very interested in those results...just use FRAPS and run your quad at 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 at 1920x1200 and see what you get. And 1500 budget you can get 2 3870X2's or 3 8800's and a tri quad board.
I'm trying to find a review on high end GPU's but they're all run on a single chip with no OCing for a comparison (which makes sense).

The crysis benchmark give me results at the end, no need for "guessing" like that

 

[Automata]

Running tests now. SLi with 8800GTS @ 775/2000/1000 on all tests.


4.0GHZ:

3/14/2008 5:45:53 PM -
Beginning Run #1 on Map-island, Demo-benchmark_gpu
DX9 1900x1200, AA=No AA, Vsync=Disabled, 32 bit test, FullScreen
Demo Loops=1, Time Of Day= 9
Global Game Quality: High
==============================================================
TimeDemo Play Started , (Total Frames: 2000, Recorded Time: 111.86s)
!TimeDemo Run 0 Finished.
Play Time: 52.64s, Average FPS: 38.00
Min FPS: 19.90 at frame 144, Max FPS: 50.94 at frame 960
Average Tri/Sec: -27097544, Tri/Frame: -713156
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -1.29
TimeDemo Play Ended, (1 Runs Performed)
==============================================================

Completed All Tests

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>>--SUMMARY--<<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

3/14/2008 5:45:53 PM -

Run #1- DX9 1900x1200 AA=No AA, 32 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Last Average FPS: 38.00

3.0GHZ:

3/14/2008 5:53:32 PM -
Beginning Run #1 on Map-island, Demo-benchmark_gpu
DX9 1900x1200, AA=No AA, Vsync=Disabled, 32 bit test, FullScreen
Demo Loops=1, Time Of Day= 9
Global Game Quality: High
==============================================================
TimeDemo Play Started , (Total Frames: 2000, Recorded Time: 111.86s)
!TimeDemo Run 0 Finished.
Play Time: 57.30s, Average FPS: 34.90
Min FPS: 20.44 at frame 138, Max FPS: 50.76 at frame 981
Average Tri/Sec: -24890228, Tri/Frame: -713164
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -1.29
TimeDemo Play Ended, (1 Runs Performed)
==============================================================

Completed All Tests

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>>--SUMMARY--<<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

3/14/2008 5:53:32 PM -

Run #1- DX9 1900x1200 AA=No AA, 32 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Last Average FPS: 34.90

Not holding back here as much as I thought.