Absolutely at wit's end

E

ETPC

n00b
Joined
Jan 18, 2009
Messages
7
First things first, the template.

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
99% Gaming, 1% Browsing
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
I don't want to go above $3000, and no.
3) Where do you live?
London, Ontario, Canada
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
Just about everything. Unless someone has suggestions, I build to do a whole new rig and sell this one
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
The only things I will be reusing will be my external HDD and my Headset. Everything else will be sold.
6) Will you be overclocking?
Nope. I have no idea how to.
7) What size monitor do you have or plan to have?
I want to get a 1920x1200 monitor, ideally.
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
I hope to get this computer before summer.
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
Just standard stuff, really. Cost is more of a issue then features.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license?
Nope. The one my OEM gave me is only for 32-bit :/.

The problem is, I keep trying to build a system that will not make me worry about having to upgrade it 3 months later after I just bought it, so naturally, I'm going straight for a i7/LGA1366/DDR3 dealie, along with a GTX280. Those are the only things I'm set on unless someone can convince me otherwise. It's really driving me crazy.

At the end of the day, all I want to do is to be able to play the latest games at the monitor's native resolutions with no slowdown's on high settings.

If it helps, here's what I got to work with in the current rig:

OS: XP Professional
CPU: Pentium D at 2.80GHz
RAM: 4GB of DDR2 Crucial
Video Card: Geforce 8800GT 512mb
Monitor: ACER AL2016W at 1680x1050
HDD: Not sure of the brand, but it's 250GB.
Mobo: Intel D946GZIS
Power Supply: The brand is Rocketfish and I think the wattage is about 650w
On-board sound and Ethernet
Optical Drive: A standard DVD Burner. I forget the speed and I also forget how to check it.
Standard keyboard and optical mouse.
Standard Mid-Tower ATX (I think?)

I am open to suggestions on everything.

Thanks in advance :)

Edit: I almost forgot. I'm also considering a 5.1 speaker set and a good soundcard. As well as a new keyboard (ideally a G15/19), new laser mouse (again, ideally a G5) and maybe a Blu-Ray/HD-DVD combo drive.
 
i7 920 $295 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202
ASUS P6T Deluxe $285 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131346
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P $260-$20MIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128374
G.SKILL 6GB $145 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231223
EVGA GTX295 (hey, he said no slowdowns so I'd assume min fps for everything >30) $500 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130449
Silverstone ST70F $125-$25MIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256045&Tpk=st70f
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS $80 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319
Onboard soundcard, unless you want to feel like an audiophile then go ahead and get ripped off with an external :D
 
I recommend the GA-EX58-DS4 instead of the P6T Deluxe and a GTX 280\HD 4870X2 in place of the GTX 295. You can also go with the 620HX if you want a modular PSU.

The other parts recommended by lowteckh are fine.
 
ST70F is more modular than the HXs. I don't do cable mess :)
4870X2 = GTX295 price but is inferior. Max settings for every game (didn't mention what though) at 1920*1200 isn't doable by single cards, especially if you're not looking to dipping into low minimum frame rates. So perhaps 2xGTX280, but not a single one (again, what games?).

ETPC said:
Is NCIX cheaper then Newegg.ca?
Click to expand...
I don't know, why don't you look it up?
 
Then yea.. GTX295 or 2xGTX280 for highest settings at native res.
 
Thanks for showing me NCIX, lowteckh. You just saved me from having a nervous goddamn breakdown. I'm not even kidding.
 
Which would require more than a X2 (or different cards altogether since x2 X2 is shit) to run with highest settings.
 
Wow.. $295 for an i7 920? I didn't realize they were still that high. Microcenter (about 40 minutes from my house) has em for $229. I would be all over it but I am going to do my best to resist until the 32nm Intel processors come out later this year..

Quoted straight from Intel: Intel is betting on new technology to spur the market after reporting a whopping 90 per cent drop in profits in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Chief executive Paul Otellini told reporters that the company will not be cutting back on R&D spending, and will continue to invest in new developments. Intel intends to bring its 32nm production facilities online in the second half of this year.

"The best way to beat a recession is with new products rather than sticking with the old," he said.

"We are on track for 32nm production in the second half of 2009 and will not slow its introduction at all. We believe it will increase our product lead, lower costs and lead to whole ranges of new designs, especially on-chip products."

Not to mention, Intel is already working on a 22nm process.

-Ummmm, woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Octocore finally, here I come.. LOL!
 
So X2 - FC2 @ 2560 runs at min 25, avg 62, max 49.1 while GTX295 that runs at min 38, avg 75, max 59.1

And Crysis running for both cards are already dipping into 15/17 fps @ 1920.

While COD5 has the X2 dipping into min 20 fps @ 2560 and GTX295 at min 30.

Stalker CS has both cards running into 20 min fps @ 1920.

Doesn't look promising running 1 card on a 30", or do you claim 15fps as playable?
ETPC said:
At the end of the day, all I want to do is to be able to play the latest games at the monitor's native resolutions with no slowdown's on high settings.
Click to expand...
So in the spirit of what you just said, let me present to you - "Rightttttt".
 
What? I didn't say anything about getting a 30" monitor. I wanted a 1920x1200 24".
 
Person above was suggesting you get a 30" with that budget. Since OP said 24", lets leave it at that and play within it.
 
I think i'm gonna settle for a 1680, anyway. It's cheaper and I'm trying to save as much money as I can. Still might go for the 295 though.
 
A lesser card for 1680 is what I'd recommend but... since you're all anxiety-ied up already, just do the gtx295 to know you have the most kickass and [overkill] card out there. You seem to be on the edge of hospitalizing yourself over eye-candy >.>
 
lowteckh said:
I don't know, why don't you look it up?
Click to expand...

Its been a while since I've seen such bad suggestions, why has this guy even subbed to the thread?

NCIX can be cheaper, Newegg is more often though. The erratic canadian dollar means its hard for NCIX to nail down a price.

Anyways, if it were me I'd go with a watercooled Phenom II build and two XFX HD4870 1GBs, but then i'd OC the hell out of it, since you wont core i7 is probably a better idea:

Gigabyte X58 UD3R - $253
Core i7 920 - $360
Patriot DDR3 6GB 1600 (nice heatsinks!) - $202 ($25 MIR)
BFG LS 680W - $110 ($25 MIR)
WD 640GB - $90
MSI GTX295 - $595 (you save $6.20!!!)
Case is your choice, I'd budget $150 for it. If your not looking for anything special for $40 RC330 from CM is fine.
I wont even pretent to know as much as the guys in the monitor subforum. $500, but, I saw the Samsung "TOC" 24" at a friend of a friends place and it had some pretty impressive blacks. - $377
Vista 64 Home Premium - $148

Subtotal $2293
Tax/Duty (7% PST?): $290

$2583
before shipping and $50 MIR, and assuming the TOC 24" and $150 case.
 
Since you said it's horrible, what makes it so?

Oh and lmao, this is coming from you who would do a Phenom 2 and 2x4870s... instead of just 1 4870x2. GG, don't need you to reply back.

You're even blind enough to think the ram is 6gb when it's only 3x1GB. Not to mention recommending MSI over EVGA for a few bucks difference. Go watch the Canucks lose more.
 
lowteckh said:
Since you said it's horrible, what makes it so?

Oh and lmao, this is coming from you who would do a Phenom 2 and 2x4870s... instead of just 1 4870x2. GG, don't need you to reply back.

You're even blind enough to think the ram is 6gb when it's only 3x1GB. Not to mention recommending MSI over EVGA for a few bucks difference. Go watch the Canucks lose more.
Click to expand...

You claiming my eyesights bad is pretty ironic.

I didnt say its horrible I said they're bad. Dont get all worked up, you suggested a list of parts (which is a fine list for an american), but because you listed an american retailer the stuff you suggested is useless, and when someone suggests you change that you tell them to go look up the exact same parts on the canadian side, bad idea, as the same list would be grossly expensive thanks to wonky DDR3 pricing, the P6T costing $60 more than the UD3R, etc etc.

I fixed the 3GB link, thanks for catching me, total is an additional $67.

where did you see an XFX HD4870 X2? The reason I'd go with two cards over a single card is:
A) XFX doesnt ship the X2 version.
B) this PC would be mission critical, redundancy is always good.
C) airflow, and the overclocking abillity.
D) Canadian pricing on the X2s is erratic, finding one that isnt more expensive then buying two HD4870's is sometimes difficult.
... there is logic to my madness ;)

where did you see an EVGA GTX 295 for "only a few bucks more"? newegg.ca doesnt carry the EVGA card yet and NCIX has it for over $50 more.

and as you can plainly see on Sportsnet the canucks are up 3-2.
 
From your profile rofl.... @ post #3 or 4 or 5 I see he's talking about Canada. Not that hard to just match up products to the Canadian version. Better if I just left the links out?

A single 4870X2 has been said time and time again to be superior to 2 4870s. Not to mention you don't have to deal with scaling and shitty drivers. You're not going to want to overclock these cards much or at all anyways, unless you live near YVR. Single card is just better than 2 cards and the more revered system compilers (enginurd and tiraides esp) have time and time again recommend against 2 cards when possible.

Sorry, don't watch hockey; would be unAmerican of me and I'd get stoned.
 
The BFG PSU is inferior IMO in build quality to others units like the 650TX and the Enermax PRO82+ 625W. Some Jun Fu secondary caps and an OEM I have never heard of. Why would you recommend it for a high-end build over units built by Seasonic and Enermax? Is it the price?
 
Rage_3k_Moiz said:
The BFG PSU is inferior IMO in build quality to others units like the 650TX and the Enermax PRO82+ 625W. Some Jun Fu secondary caps and an OEM I have never heard of. Why would you recommend it for a high-end build over units built by Seasonic and Enermax? Is it the price?
Click to expand...

The BFG LS series PSUs are actually good PSUs.
 
Rage_3k_Moiz said:
The BFG PSU is inferior IMO in build quality to others units like the 650TX and the Enermax PRO82+ 625W. Some Jun Fu secondary caps and an OEM I have never heard of. Why would you recommend it for a high-end build over units built by Seasonic and Enermax? Is it the price?
Click to expand...

That, and it has received some positive reviews from the [H] and JonnyGURU.
 
Interesting how using garbage secondary caps does not affect the unit's output ripple at all.

However, I would still pick the 650TX, unless the LS series has the same warranty coverage as the ES-800, which is a very fine unit.
 
NCIX is more well known than the Egg in Canada. People ask if NCIX is legit here; over there they ask if the Egg is legit. Also, a lot of them Canucks hate the thought of supporting a USA based company so even with higher prices, they'll buy from NCIX (then again, where they hell do you ignorant fools think NCIX gets their stuff from? O WUT?).
 
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