Cutting corners...which component?

J

jcll2002

2[H]4U
Joined
Jan 28, 2006
Messages
3,655
Im finalizing my rig and i realized that i probably dont need as good of a gfx that i have configured. I realize that the 7900 series is coming out and ill probabaly wait to see how the performance is at what price.

Basically I realized that my rig was getting too expensive, and I need to cut some corners to lower the price. The rig is...

x2 3800+ w/ scythe ninja
2gb gskill extreme
x1900xt
150 GB Raptor (people have said that this is def worth and def not worth the money)
DFI Ultra - D
antec p160w case
enermax 535w psu
x-fi xtrememusic($66 i have a coupon...still worth it because the purchase of speakers ect will add up)
some random dvd+-rw drive
and the monitor Not sure which one to get but id like to stay around $350 or so

BTW, Ill be keeping this for 4 years or so. I will be gaming ALOT during the summer, but during the school year its pretty spotty. I just pretty much want to be able to play fear maxed out or close to it. (also play css, bf2, ect). I do all the other "regular" stuff with the computer also.

What do you think i should cut down on?

Thanks,
jcll2002
 
ditch the Raptor. Just get a 250GB SATAII. I boot XP in like 5 seconds (not counting the boot logo and stuff), and like 15-20 seconds when you count from the press of the power button. I don't see how a raptor can significantly help something that quick already :p

Plus you get an extra 100GB for a much cheaper price.
 
If I were you, I'd just get a WD4000YR. It's that RE2 drive with 16megs of cache, 400 gigs and performs to within, at least, 90% of the new 150gig raptor in all tests. It's almost 200 dollars cheeper, holds twice as much and is nearly as fast. It's a no brainer if you ask me
 
im using 30 gigs right now so a 400 gig drive is pretty overkill imo.

What do you think about the gfx?
 
If you want to play FEAR maxed out then cutting the gfx card is the dumbest thing you could do. First of all, you are only using 30gb right now.. why not just get the 74GB raptor? Second, get a SATAII 16mb Cache WD
 
yeah...sounds about right. Do i really need the xtrememusic card to get the whole gaming effect? (probably lol)
 
No you don't an Audigy2 would be sufficient, but I'd advise staying with that card.
 
I know... I thought that was alittle also.

I have only hl2+steam+css currently. No fear or bf2. I have music, but no videos. What else is there to have? (plus all the random apps and stuff)
 
I have an Audigy2 ZS and it effed up my system. I'm gonna RMA it and if that doesn't fix the problem, I'm getting a different brand.
 
well there have been so many good things reviewed about the x-fi...might as well.

Any other suggestions?
 
jcll2002 said:
I know... I thought that was alittle also.

I have only hl2+steam+css currently. No fear or bf2. I have music, but no videos. What else is there to have? (plus all the random apps and stuff)
Click to expand...

I personally have about 30gigs in apps, 20gigs in music, 60gigs in movies, and 30gigs in games, and did I mention this PC is only like a month old right now? (Haven't gone to a LAN yet)

Before my old one choked I had nearly 400gb filled up, and most of the [H] users here will tell you that I'm a lightweight in that division =\
 
I have about 5 gigs of music, HOW do you have 30gigs in apps? Also, i forgot how much bf2 and fear will be when i install them. How much doyou think?

I have no movies :(
 
My advice is to just get as much space as you can. Space is cheep and having it is a blessing. I say get something close to that raptor in terms of speed but with more space. You should limit yourself on space just cause you don't think you'll need it.
 
Whitebread said:
My advice is to just get as much space as you can. Space is cheep and having it is a blessing. I say get something close to that raptor in terms of speed but with more space. You should limit yourself on space just cause you don't think you'll need it.
Click to expand...
well, cant i always add another drive later?
 
There's some pretty beefy apps out there. Adobe Premiere/ Photoshop for example. Those alone take a couple of gigs. Fear needs 5gigs, can't remember about BF2 but only 3CDs. NO MOVIES?! Don't lie.. we know you got pron in there! lol I remember the 1+TB of pron floating around on DC++ at Qcon05(Dolphin pron keke)
 
jcll2002 said:
well, cant i always add another drive later?
Click to expand...

WD 250GB SATAII 16mb Cache, get it, use it, love it. ( and if you're determined on a 10k... get the 74gig raptor)
 
Rofl-Mic-Lofl said:
There's some pretty beefy apps out there. Adobe Premiere/ Photoshop for example. Those alone take a couple of gigs. Fear needs 5gigs, can't remember about BF2 but only 3CDs. NO MOVIES?! Don't lie.. we know you got pron in there! lol I remember the 1+TB of pron floating around on DC++ at Qcon05(Dolphin pron keke)
Click to expand...
I have a shit computer that runs like crap for pron. I try to keep the spyware ect to a minimum on my good computer :D
 
Rofl-Mic-Lofl said:
WD 250GB SATAII 16mb Cache, get it, use it, love it. ( and if you're determined on a 10k... get the 74gig raptor)
Click to expand...
I was JUST looking at that drive. If im only using so much space and I can *easily?* add another hdd in, should i just go for the high performance drive? I mean, will i really notice a difference between these two drives in operations such as opening up apps and musicect?(or is that cpu?)
 
I myself try to find a balance between the two, such as the drive I said earlier.. but if you don't need space, or to cut corners(which I thought you did..) then by all means get the Raptor.
 
Well, I originally had the 150gb raptor so the 74 gb one is infact cutting a corner in a way. I just keep saying to myself if i just cut this down (the hdd) then what if i cut this down and this down and this down and all of a sudden, the rig is a POS. You know what I mean?

Which component will help load apps faster? (cpu?, hdd?)
What im really asking is what will getting a faster hdd do to help overall performance?
 
Are you going to be overclocking?

If not, then stick with the stock cooling for the 3800+, get some normal ram (doesn't have to be value, but not extreme)

Personally, for a gaming machine, I would go with a single core processor. 74gb raptor is the better choice. A different case... You could save a little on the power supply if you wanted...
 
How much is that RAM running you?

Along with the raptor, it's giving you the least bang for buck among your components. Get mid range RAM (still 2gb though), and 7200 rpm SATA if you need to cut back on a gaming system.
 
jcll2002 said:
x-fi xtrememusic($66 i have a coupon...still worth it because the purchase of speakers ect will add up)
Click to expand...

Are you getting the X-Fi mainly for gaming or for listening to music? If you want the best quality music playback get a Envy chip, AV-710 if you're on the cheap. Don't ditch audio quality for FPS.

-pig
 
- 2GB Corsair Value for $150
- DFI NF4 Infinity for $90
- Chaintech AV710 for $25
- Raptor II 74GB for $150
- Antec TX1050 w/500w for $110

Personally I would cut corners in all those places before I would downgrade my video card or CPU. That's where your performance lies.
 
Rofl-Mic-Lofl said:
I personally have about 30gigs in apps, 20gigs in music, 60gigs in movies, and 30gigs in games, and did I mention this PC is only like a month old right now? (Haven't gone to a LAN yet)

Before my old one choked I had nearly 400gb filled up, and most of the [H] users here will tell you that I'm a lightweight in that division =\
Click to expand...

One would wonder why you would need 30 GB of applications that actually do anything for you. One would even wonder if you even use them at all. What profession are you? I only have 5 GB of apps that I actually use (from security to music production to OS'es to OS add ons, tweakers, etc...). You? 30 GB?

Then there's 20 gb of music that you have... That is about 5,700 songs which equates to about 476 albums (CD's) which cost about $10-20 dollars each and that makes... $7,000 dollars worth of songs. So, you actually own all that much...? I won't even ask where you got all the movies and games...

-J.
 
pigwalk said:
Are you getting the X-Fi mainly for gaming or for listening to music? If you want the best quality music playback get a Envy chip, AV-710 if you're on the cheap. Don't ditch audio quality for FPS.

-pig
Click to expand...
music and gaming...
 
GeForceX said:
One would wonder why you would need 30 GB of applications that actually do anything for you. One would even wonder if you even use them at all. What profession are you? I only have 5 GB of apps that I actually use (from security to music production to OS'es to OS add ons, tweakers, etc...). You? 30 GB?

Then there's 20 gb of music that you have... That is about 5,700 songs which equates to about 476 albums (CD's) which cost about $10-20 dollars each and that makes... $7,000 dollars worth of songs. So, you actually own all that much...? I won't even ask where you got all the movies and games...

-J.
Click to expand...

I'm a mechanical engineering major, and I take pictures. So photoshop, solidworks, inventor, autocad, matlab, ms office suite, nero ultra, plus a couple games... I use those programs fairly regularly. That is probably 15-20 gigs without the os.

As for the music... don't even act like everything that you have ever had is totally legit.
 
GeForceX said:
One would wonder why you would need 30 GB of applications that actually do anything for you. One would even wonder if you even use them at all. What profession are you? I only have 5 GB of apps that I actually use (from security to music production to OS'es to OS add ons, tweakers, etc...). You? 30 GB?

Then there's 20 gb of music that you have... That is about 5,700 songs which equates to about 476 albums (CD's) which cost about $10-20 dollars each and that makes... $7,000 dollars worth of songs. So, you actually own all that much...? I won't even ask where you got all the movies and games...

-J.
Click to expand...

dad :p ????

ps; cut the raptor if anything.

like you said, you can always buy another hdd later. buy a cheapo drive you can convert to a storage drive once you have no problem affording a 36-74gb raptor if you still feel like you need one then
 
TheTMan said:
I'm a mechanical engineering major, and I take pictures. So photoshop, solidworks, inventor, autocad, matlab, ms office suite, nero ultra, plus a couple games... I use those programs fairly regularly. That is probably 15-20 gigs without the os.

As for the music... don't even act like everything that you have ever had is totally legit.
Click to expand...

20 GB is sensible. But 80 GB? That's far out of range.

I act like this because everything I have is legit. ;) I don't touch what I can't afford. My music? I don't even listen to any other but mine. Free music at the expense of my energy. ;)

-J.
 
I'm a bittorrent maniac! No I don't frequently use nearly 1/10 of those apps, but hey they're nice to have aren't they, I like trying different companies programs, I think I got about ever single DVD ripper there is lol. plus it includes some different versions of the same app since some newer versions cut an option I need, and apps for windows/linux(and includes os.) Music/movies... yeah... The games, I own nearly all of them, I got 2x huge binders full of game CDs.. and if I like a game enough to have it, I want to give the creator money so I can get a sequel :) oh and I like playing MP :D

Edit: I also just realized I got my pictures on that partition too.. lol. that makes up for 5gb or so.
 
jcll2002 said:
I have a shit computer that runs like crap for pron. I try to keep the spyware ect to a minimum on my good computer :D
Click to expand...


Maybe you need a GF instead?


Ok...not to crap a thread...the hard driver is the biggest contendor to cut. Get a fast SATA2 drive and be happy.
 
get a friggin skyhawk case
don't get a raptor as you will never ever ever notice the difference
I read the whole thread and promise you the raptor has to go.
dont spend more than 80 bux on a hard drive.
and go with value ram literally you are talking hundredth of a second difference with ram its silly even though the g.skill is cheap stuff some crucial valueram is a much better deal especially for you and yoru uses.

additionally you say you wanna over clock the hell out of it but you want it to last 4 years.
those two generally dont go hand in hand, so then if I were you, I would swap from an x2 to an opeterown and count on about 2.5ghz to safely last that 4 years.

just my .02
 
alright.I thought that overclocking reduces the life of a component but not by 50%. I was told that the typical lifespan of a cpu is about 10 years and with ocing, i wont be able to get 4 years out of it? Say i do go with an opty instead of an x2. Should i go with the 165 or 170? (yes, i will oc the shit out of it)
 
Rofl-Mic-Lofl said:
What do oyu think he's doing? I just built me a new PC a month ago, I love my baby :)
Click to expand...
HOLY MOLY! That's sig material right there.

Ditch the Raptor and the X-fi. Most people won't even notice the difference between onboard and PCI sound (I sure don't). If it bugs you, get the X-fi later. The Ultra-D is slightly overpriced for what it offers. The only thing going for it is overclockability; I would settle for a less-expensive board.
 
whats the difference between the dfi ultra infinity and the dfi ultra d. They seem to have the same specs but the infinity is $30 cheaper

BTW, i wont notice the difference when playing music with the xfi xtrememusic over the regular onboard?
 
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