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Runedrune

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 27, 2008
Messages
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Here's what I currently have planned out:

Processor: Intel E8400 - $270
Heatsink - Xigmatek HDT-S1283 - $45
Motherboard: Asus Rampage Formula - $238
Ram: Corsair 2GB XMS2 DHX Dominator @ 1066 Mhz - $100
Hard-Drive: 320GB Western Digital CAVIAR SE16 - $84
VGA: ????
PSU: Corsair HX620W - $131
Casing: Cooler Master Dominator 690 - $81
Optical Drive : Samsung SH-S203B - $31

Current Total: $980
Money Left For Video Card: $420

Ok so which video card to get now? (Don't ask where the prices were taken from)
 
The E8400 is a good choice. I want one :(.

The rampage formula... Well, FYI, my Maximus Formula is annoying as hell. Yesterday it decided it didn't like my overclock and 4 sticks, so it decided not to post. After a long talk we settled on stock clocks and all four sticks. I've since lapped my processor and hs/f and I'll take a run at hitting 3.7 again tomorrow. Anyways, currently the board is really wierd. If your going Nvidia I suggest P35. Lots of P35 boards have all the same support as X38, sans crossfire. You might be able to squeeze in two 8800GT's in SLI if you switch to a 750i SLI motherboard.

You dont want 2 gigs of 1066, you want 4 gigs of 800 cas 4. 90% of the sticks of 800 w/ cas 4 have an EPP profile for (2.2V :S) 1000MHz cas 5. This is true for Patriot, Corsair, and crucial at least.

HDD: care to be the first to jump on the Velociraptor bandwagon? lots of space, uber fast seek times and a like 80MB/s sustained read. I'm a supporter of putting more money then most would toward the hard drive setup, as when you boast about how great your rig is and it boots up just as fast as bobs P4, you don't really get too much credit. I noticed the difference between my 500gig 7200.11 cuda and my friends 150gig raptor in regular windows use and game load times. Thats a bit out of the budget. That said, I was running 2 gigs of system ram at the time, switching to 4 gigs has more then compensated. The next down on my list would be the Hitachi 7K1000 500gig. Thats faster then pretty well every other 7200rpm drive generally. The SE16 320GB is a good choice.

For a graphics card you want the 8800GT or 8800GTS 512mb. I doubt you'll get any arguement on this forum.

PSU: Corsair 450 for single card or 620/650/750W(considering it can be found for $110) for dual card.

Case and optical drive is up to you.
 
Mmkay.

1. Yeh I love the E8400 =)
2. I really like the X tbh lol. I don't plan on doing SLI. I dunno why but the p35 just seems too Ugh... Lol
3. I dont want 4gb. Dnt want to have to switch over to 64bit. Xpecially not Vista (Dn't like it)
4. Saw the velociraptor and it's too expensive for me right now. I might get one later.
5. Yeh I have to decide on which one of those two.
6. Yeh the PSU is overkill isn't it. Well I might get HX520w instead.
 
Actually, we gotta ask -- where are you buying everything from?

And: Which monitor/resolution are you (planning on) using?
 
I have another thread up on the LCD so I haven't decided yet.

Well I'm in Pakistan so it's from a shop over here.

The Rampage is coming from America though.
 
If you can find one that you like (with the features that you need), a P35 motherboard would suit your needs and save you some money (over the Rampage Formula). If you are getting a 19" LCD, then you don't need to consider CrossFire or SLI.

Speaking of which, you should try to look for either the 9600GT or the 8800GT (whichever one is available for you). If you change your mind and decide to pursue a 22-24 inch LCD, then consider the 512MB 8800GTS.
 
Well, if you end up going for the 22", definitely the beefier 8800GTS 512MB. For a 17", the 9600GT is right up your alley. Still, if you have $420 left for a video card, you might be able to strike the perfect balance a GPU solution and a nice new 22" screen. Perhaps cut cost by looking for a cheaper PSU. I recently went with this 550W modular Mushkin PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817812002 Going strong and I have a lot more going on than you.

I've been eying this Samsung 22" for a while: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001268

Runedrune said:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150253

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143118
Click to expand...

I'd go with the XFX. Double life time warranty (which means it's transferable), and IIRC, they also started a 100-day step-up program. Just make sure you register the card within 30 days of purchasing it to activate your warranty. Otherwise you'll be SOL if it craps out.

Read more about XFX's warranty here: http://www.xfxforce.com/web/support/showWarranty.jspa?regionId=1&productGenerationId=730964

I had a BFG 7900GT OC a while back that served me well. No qualms with them, then again I never had to deal with their customer service regarding a warranty.
 
^^^ You just made my day.

Can't seem to find anything on XFX starting a step-up program too. Linkage please?
 
It was BFG, not XFX, that had a new step-up policy... but I don't have any further details on it myself.
 
Aww great. Well then you just ruined my day lol.

Ok so now we're back to which one should I get?
 
tiraides said:
It was BFG, not XFX, that had a new step-up policy... but I don't have any further details on it myself.
Click to expand...

Oh wow, good call dude. It was BFG: http://www.bfgtech.com/tradeupprogram.aspx

Wish XFX would adopt such a program.

Runedrune said:
Aww great. Well then you just ruined my day lol.

Ok so now we're back to which one should I get?
Click to expand...

Well now I guess it really comes down what you value most. If nvidia releases a new product line wthin 100 days of your purchase do you think you'll want to "trade-up?" eVGA also has this "step-up" program, but for 90 days.

Or, do you think you'll ebay or sell your card to a fellow [H] member when the time comes for you to upgrade? The double lifetime warranty comes into play here and may be a major selling point for some people.
 
When were you planning on building your system?

With new cards from both NVIDIA and AMD/ATI expected to arrive starting around this summer, it may be best to wait.
 
you can get E8400 for only around 200$ these days, for 270 you can get a E8500.
Also do you plan to over clock? if not there is no need for DDR 1066, because FSB of Core 2 Duos are only 333 base (1333 with quad multiplier). So DDR2 800 is more than enough if you don't over clock.
With 400$ you can get 2 8800GTS G92 512 in SLi, this will be cheaper, speed wise will be comparable to or even faster than a single 9800GX2.
You want to have a bigger powersupply to run either SLi or 9800GX2 to be safe, there are some good deals for 700W-1KW often.
 
you do not need a 750W psu to run a single 9800GX2. You could get away with a raid-10 raptor setup and two 9800GX2s on a 750W psu.

the E8500 won't do much better of an OC than an E8400.
 
You said you're in Pakistan... are BFG or eVGA's step-up programs even available there? :( Unless you have somebody in the U.S. you'd trust enough to register it in their name and also eat shipping costs...
 
Yeh I have someone in America and anyways people are always going to America from here just to visit so I can send it with them if it ever needs to be fixed.

Oh yeh and I'm it in June. Well actually July since the mobo is coming from America and I have to order it on the 17th of June after I get my exam results.
 
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