Building a new computer - Need advice.

[Eminef]

Hello.

 

I'm building a new computer mainly for gaming and need to know if everything will work together.

 

Q1. Will everything work together fine or would do i need to change anything.

Q2. Will the PSU provide enough power to run Graphic card two way SLI.

 

New Stuff.

Tower - Gaming Case

PSU - ThermalTake 700W

GPU x2 - XFX Geforce GTX 260

MotherBoard - XFX S775 nForce 780i

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.00GHz

Ram - DDR2 PC2-6400

 

OldStuff from old pc.

HDD - 200GB SATA

Sound Card - Creative Live

DVD Rom - DVD RW

[Dalo Harkin]

Hi and Welcome to FPCH

Right with a set up like that you need to spend more on a case that can handle the cooling - I would go with the Antec 1200 case (its around £130) but you dont need 2, 260GTX' no game will give you an increase worth the extra outlay and I would not get the Thermaltake PSU - go for the corsair 750Watt one.

CPU is fine but I would go for the QUAD for the amount extra it will cost and I would then match it with some 1066Mhz RAM

 

So with the money you save by not getting the 2 260GTX you can get a much better case faster RAM and CPU and maybe have enough left over to get a 280 rather than a 260.

any questions please ask - I know that people have an idea of what they want to build but in terms of price vs performance, the setup you initially listed is not a good all round setup.

[Eminef]

Thx for the advice.

 

Well my plain was to just get the one GFX Card since its one of the best atm but i was thinking for the future, rather then tossing out my new GFX card in a years time and getting the next best one, i was thinking of getting one now then adding another when needed along with more ram.

 

I hate the thought of having to rebuild a new computer in a couple years time so i want to build a computer that i can upgrade in the near future.

 

Using some of your advice i've decided change the case/psu/ram.

 

Hows my rig looking now?

 

New Stuff.

*Tower - Antec Nine Hundred imo the Antec 1200 is over priced and pointless.

*PSU - CoolerMaster 700w

GPU - XFX Geforce GTX 260 x1 - but will be adding another when its needed.

MotherBoard - XFX S775 nForce 780i

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.00GHz

*Ram - PC2-6400 DDR2 Platinum x1 - but will add another when i get the second GFX Card.

 

So all i need to know really is.

Will this computer work fine.. and

Will it cope with the upgrade of Another GFX Card and more Ram!

 

Thanks for all your advice.. much help! ;)

Edited September 29, 2008 by Eminef

[Dalo Harkin]

Right - its starting to look better, but i cannot urge you strongly enough from cooler master for the PSU - go with the corsair.

and again the RAM - it may be cheap but will not be a good match in terms of speed for the CPU - instead of the 900 case have a look at the 300 in my sig - its a nice case and cheaper and more easy on the eyes.

[Eminef]

Ok, the reason i went for the CoolerMaster was because it said Sli ready so it has x2 6 pin PCI-E and x2 8 pin PCI-E which i can convert into 2 more 6 pins for my second gfx card when it comes.. but looking on the Corsair 750w i couldnt find out how many connections it had, all it said was (8 pin PCI Express power).. does it have all the PCI-E connections i need for the my 2 GFX cards which need x2 6 pin PCI-E connections each??

 

As for the ram is that not enough or is it not good enough?? i could easily put 4 GB's in instead of 2.. which i did plain to do.. or do i just need better ram??

baring in mind my motherboard only takes (PC2-4300, PC2-5300, PC2-6400)

if so what would u suggest?? using dabs.com

 

Again thank you for all your help.. as it seems i needed it. ;)

[Eminef]

Hey.. i just noticed looking at your building computer pics.. thats the same ram as mine lol.. isn't it?? OCZ Technology PC2-6400 DDR2

 

http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=11&pictureid=41

 

OCZ 6400 Crossfire Certified RAM

Edited September 30, 2008 by Eminef

[Dalo Harkin]

Hey.. i just noticed looking at your building computer pics.. thats the same ram as mine lol.. isn't it?? OCZ Technology PC2-6400 DDR2

 

http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=11&pictureid=41

 

OCZ 6400 Crossfire Certified RAM

 

lol - it is the same RAM yes - the reason I chose this one (its a friends build) and he is only using an E6600 chip and therefore in terms of speed - does not need 1066 RAM

If I were you I would look at other motherboards that just have 2 PCI-E GPU slots that can handle 1066 RAM as you will not be filling all 3 PCI-E slots within 2 years and by then adding 2 more GPU's to a setup will not be as good as the latest cards at that time.

Also have a look on the net for reviews of PSU's - the Corsair ones come as 4x6 pin PCI-E and then there are 2 additional ones that tag onto the end of 2 of the 6 pin ones - so in essence they can handle any 8+6 pin configuration.

 

Also I find dabs expensive and would opt for scan.co.uk or yoyotech.co.uk

 

Also as I mentioned about the MOBO - have a look at this model Biostar TPower I45 << Biostar have released an amazing MOBO here IMHO and it will take and QUAD or DUAL core chip and support 1066 RAM

Edited September 30, 2008 by Dalo Harkin

[Eminef]

Ok.. i'll get the Corsair 750w PSU.

 

As for the mobo and ram im not so sure now.. i couldnt find the one you montioned anywhere.. but i did find a slightly better version of the one i had NVIDIA nForce 780i SLi and it takes 1066Mhz but it dont say what type.. will that take this DDR2 PC2-8500 ?

and.. would that ram be enough?

 

i'll get 2GB to start with then add another 2GB later.. maybe when i get the second GFX.

[Dalo Harkin]

Ok - have a look here

MOBO Biostar TPower I45 from www.biostar.com.tw £100

RAM OCZ PC2-8500 1066 from Computer components pc systems, Hardware & Peripherals advance tec rochdale £42

 

So both for around the price you were planning spending on the MOBO

[Eminef]

I still couldnt find that mobo on that site lol.. and there seems to be no UK version of that site either.

 

But.. i found this Mobo on dabs nForce 790i Ultra Triple SLI DDR3 and this Ram OCZ PC3-10666 1333MHz DDR3

 

Its alittle more but if i need it then i have no choice.

What do you think about them???

Edited September 30, 2008 by Eminef

[Dalo Harkin]

Your missing the point - that 'new' board that you have now listed can take 3 GPU's - there is no point even SLI and CROSSFIRE are only 2 cards together and they at *MOST* give a 20% increase and even then thats over 1680x1050 - unless you are going to be getting a 30" pc monitor which are around 1k there is no point and that board also takes DDR3 and that is extortionately expensive.

Get a board like the http://www.electric-world.co.uk/indexid?MBBIO-TPOWER-I45 and the OCZ 1066 RAM and save yourself a FORTUNE and get a better GPU

[Eminef]

Hm.. that boards AMD.. if i get that i have to change everything else including GFX Card and i dont really wonna do that.

 

I totally donno what to do now... :(

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Where does it say that Eminef?

[Eminef]

Key Features:

 

Intel LGA775 Platform <<<< This is what CPU it takes

 

Support latest Intel Socket 775 Core 2 Extreme/Core 2 Quad/Core 2 Duo Processors

 

Support Intel 45nm CPU processors

 

Intel P45+ICH10R chipset

 

FSB 1600/1333/1066

 

Dual-Channel DDR2 -1200(OC)/1066/800

 

Support AMD CrossFire X Technology <<<This means that it will take 2 ATI GPU'S

 

Biostar Exclusive Tpower utility

 

Biostar Hybrid Space-Pipe Thermal solution

 

100% Japanese Solid Capacitors design

 

------------------------------------------------

 

Crossfire means ATI cards?? doesn't it??

 

Would a nVidia GTX 260 work on this mobo?

Edited October 1, 2008 by Dalo Harkin

[Dalo Harkin]

I have added <<<<< next to the areas you need to address :D

[Eminef]

Hehe.. yeah i've just learnt all about sli/crossfire from another forum, Sli is NVIDIA's dual GPU and Crossfire is ATI's dual GPU.

 

But my point was im know more about NVIDIA and i would much rather stick to NVIDIA.

So i want an Sli Mobo really.

 

So using advice from this forum and another forum and using bits from a ready built PC on ebay lol.. i've come up all this.

 

Eminefs Possable New Pc.. I hope.. hehehe!

Mobo - EVGA S775 nForce 790i

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo 3.16GHz

Ram - Corsair Memory DDR3 1600MHZ

GPU - GeForce GTX 260

PSU - Corsair 750W

Case - Antec Nine Hundred

 

Comes to £ 756.71 buts its a good computer.. from what im seeing.

 

All from dabs.co.uk cause its makes it so much easier having the one bill and postage.

 

What do you think?

Edited October 1, 2008 by Eminef

[Dalo Harkin]

I suggest that you have a read of the review on that mobo on the link you provided.

That mobo supports 3 way SLI and as I have previously said you are getting the best right now if you add 3 260GTX's - but by the time you come to put another 2 260GTX's in it 260GTX will be obsolete in terms of GPU's.

 

DDR3 as I said is expensive and not much benefit over DDR2.

 

The CPU you have chosen is only dual and not quad core - you can overclock a Q6600 to 3.3GHz per core on AIR, and the Q6600 is cheaper than the one you listed.

 

Its all down to personal preference - build the PC and then run 3d mark vantage and see what you get - you will be extremely disappointed.

 

That Mobo you listed has a 1600FSB so if you wanted get a 1600 chip or you are not taking full advantage of the board, and for £200 you want to be.

[Eminef]

Ok.. I'm starting to get the picture lol.. but now im more lost then ever.

Right.. from what im hearing Sli is pointless and expensive, so i think im just not gonna bother with it now, so as for what mobo/chip/ram to get im lost.

 

So i need a Mobo that can take (DDR2 PC2-8500) and a single/dual (NVIDIA GPU) right?

 

As for the CPU do i need Quad or Duo? Cause i heard Quad is pointless cause most stuff/games dont use Quad yet?

Bearing in mind this PC is mostly for gaming.

 

If its not to much trouble could you do a little search on dabs and pick out the best Mobo/CPU/Ram for me to go with my GTX260 GPU??

At a nice price.. im not loaded hehe.

 

Would help me out soooo much as im losts for ideas now, i guess i know less about computers then i thought. lol

 

And thanks for all your help.. your a star. ;)

Edited October 1, 2008 by Eminef

[Dalo Harkin]

Look at my signiture and use that, and I will tell you exactly how to get the processor to 3.3 if you want to go that route -

some games already use Quad core - Supreme Commander and Farcry 2 is due to support quad - you need to look at cost againt performance - there is no point spending £200 on a Mobo with lots of features that you will not use when you can buy a £100 Mobo if you know what I mean.

Asus P5K premium

Q6600

and OCZ 8500 RAM

This will be under £250 and offer the same performance as your £200 Mobo £100 RAM and £150 CPU

[Eminef]

Mobo - ASUS P5K PREMIUM

CPU - Intel Quad Core Q6600 2.4GHz

Ram - OCZ PC2-8500 Reaper

GPU - GTX 260 / maybe even GTX 280 with the money i save.

 

Hows that then? :D

Edited October 1, 2008 by Eminef

[Dalo Harkin]

That looks pretty good to me - amazing how you chose that setup :D

Its the exact same as mine :D

 

I would not buy a MOBO used though as they could have heavily overclocked it and potentially damaged the Capacitors or the Northbridge or Southbridge - always buy NEW as its not worth the risk to save £20

Edited October 1, 2008 by Dalo Harkin

[Eminef]

So it is.. no idea how that happend.. good minds think alike i guess. hehe. ;)

 

Well thank you so much for all your help, would have been easier if you just said 'copy me' from the start but oh well.. lol jk.

 

oh btw.. reading the info on that mobo is says "2 x PCIe x16 supports CrossFire Technology " shouldnt it be sli.. this mobo will work with my GTX260, and im guessing it will since you got the same.. but why does it say Crossfire?

 

If it is ok then i'll order it today seeing as theres only 2 on ebay and i cant find it on dabs.!

[Dalo Harkin]

As far as I know the board supports SLI and CROSSFIRE - I would seriously urge you to consider the 4870x2 (its an amazing card and will beat 2 260's in SLI anyway and costs far less.)

Again if you are getting off ebay make sure its new - as they may advertise as tested - plugging a CPU and RAM in and powering up is not testing IMHO.

[Eminef]

Well from what i've looked up the board is a crossfire board, but you clearly got one and your rocking the GTX 260, so this board definatly take both??

 

As for that eBay mobo it says "RETAIL BOXED AS NEW - FULLY TESTED & IN EXCELLENT WORKING CONDITION" you think i should look else were for a Brand new one?

 

And as for the GPU.. IF i can afford the extra £100 or so for the next one up i'll go for the HD 4870x2 if not i'll just stick with the GTX 260 or maybe the cheaper HD 4870.

[Dalo Harkin]

It will definately take the Nvidia single card - will check later on SLI -

 

Yes, get a brand new one - scan.co.uk are out of stock, but go on google shopping and type Asus P5K premium and I think Tekheads and Overclock have them in stock.

 

with the amount you have now saved opposed to the original setup you put together the 4870x2 should well be in reach - just go for the cheapest one as they are all the same reference - some are just preoverclocked by companies and if you wanted to the ATI tool will allow you to do that at no extra cost ;)

 

Phew - got there in the end :D