Hi guys, yet another thread about newegg wishlists I've created... I'm REALLY hoping this will be the last one haha, but bear with me as I really do want your suggestions now.
I've narrowed down my potential computer build to two configurations. I will be using this system for playing first person shooters such as Crysis and the HL series, watching movies, and web browsing. I will be overclocking, but not too much as I'm still new to OCing (hence using unlocked processors)
NOTE: I currently have an Acer H223H monitor at home + a 1TB WD hard drive + a spare SATA DVDRW + basic PS2 keyboard and USB mouse, so the absence of these parts in any of the builds is merely to cut cost and can be worked around
Config 1, using the monitor I have already with slightly more enthusiast parts:
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=11991714
Config 2, cutting costs where I can to allow the purchase of 2 additional monitors for 3 way eyefinity:
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=15055752
EDIT 12/9: Config 3 added with NV Surround due to the much better performance in surround rather than eyefinity:
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=21766868
Main differences:
Config 1, no eyefinity
Processor: 1090t
Optical: Bluray/dvdrw combo drive
CPU cooler: Corsair H50 w/stock fan
Hard drives: 1tb Samsung F3 + WD 1tb I already have
Motherboard: higher-end 890fx chipset with an 8+2 power phase design + better cooling on VRMs for Thuban safety
Monitor setup: Single 23" 1920x1080 Acer H223h I already have
Config 2, with eyefinity
Processor: 955BE
Optical: dvdrw drive I already have
CPU cooler: Hyper 212+
Hard drives: WD 1tb I already have
Motherboard: Lower-end 870 chipset capable of x8 x8 crossfire
Monitor setup: Single 23" 1920x1080 Acer H223h I already have + 2 additional i similar monitors for 3 monitor eyefinity setup
Config 3, with NV Surround and 2 additional monitors:
Processor: i5 750
Optical: dvdrw drive I already have
CPU cooler: Hyper 212+
Hard drives: WD 1tb I already have
Motherboard: Biostar P55 chipset capable of x8 x8 SLi
Monitor setup: Single 23" 1920x1080 Acer H223h I already have + 2 additional similar monitors for 3 monitor eyefinity setup
Other changes: Well-rated $99 850watt rosewill PSU (no need for suggestions here, I know its not a Corsair but it received very good ratings online and can handle two 460s just fine), cheap case (nearly identical inside, just with a less flashy outside, one less fan and no fan controller), two overclocked 2gb GTX 460s in SLi (the VRAM is very important for 5760x1080 gaming)
My main questions I'd appreciate answered:
1) Are two 6850s enough to play Crysis with 3x 1920x1080 monitor eyefinity above 30fps on Very High settings?
2) Is 3 monitor eyefinity as beneficial for FPS games as it is for racing games (which I don't play? AKA is it worth the money?
3) If I don't buy the two slipstreams for the 212+, will my temps suffer and will it be louder than an h50?
4) Any parts I should change (providing they don't go over budget, I'm already pretty much over my limit of $1350 as it is when you account for shipping)?
5) Is the H50 that much better than the Hyper 212+ cooling-wise/noise-wise to justify the cost?
Thank you SO much for the help. I'd appreciate the most detailed responses you can give me, and as usual I can provide reasoning for all of my hardware choices if you need me to as I spent a lot of time deciding on each part.
Oh, and I'd appreciate if you don't suggest combo deals/limited-time specials. I may have to hold off buying for another couple of weeks (in which case I'll probably change the two 6850s to one 6970 or something), so they wouldn't be of much use. I don't have any Frys or Microcenters near me either, and I'm hoping to stick to newegg so I get all my parts at the same time + receive their awesome service in case something goes wrong.
Thanks again!
EDIT 12/9: How would the nVidia SLi setup I created compare to the 6850 crossfire one in regards to 3 monitor gaming? From some benchmarks I've seen, NV Surround performs considerably better across 3 monitors than eyefinity, is this true?
I've narrowed down my potential computer build to two configurations. I will be using this system for playing first person shooters such as Crysis and the HL series, watching movies, and web browsing. I will be overclocking, but not too much as I'm still new to OCing (hence using unlocked processors)
NOTE: I currently have an Acer H223H monitor at home + a 1TB WD hard drive + a spare SATA DVDRW + basic PS2 keyboard and USB mouse, so the absence of these parts in any of the builds is merely to cut cost and can be worked around
Config 1, using the monitor I have already with slightly more enthusiast parts:
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=11991714
Config 2, cutting costs where I can to allow the purchase of 2 additional monitors for 3 way eyefinity:
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=15055752
EDIT 12/9: Config 3 added with NV Surround due to the much better performance in surround rather than eyefinity:
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=21766868
Main differences:
Config 1, no eyefinity
Processor: 1090t
Optical: Bluray/dvdrw combo drive
CPU cooler: Corsair H50 w/stock fan
Hard drives: 1tb Samsung F3 + WD 1tb I already have
Motherboard: higher-end 890fx chipset with an 8+2 power phase design + better cooling on VRMs for Thuban safety
Monitor setup: Single 23" 1920x1080 Acer H223h I already have
Config 2, with eyefinity
Processor: 955BE
Optical: dvdrw drive I already have
CPU cooler: Hyper 212+
Hard drives: WD 1tb I already have
Motherboard: Lower-end 870 chipset capable of x8 x8 crossfire
Monitor setup: Single 23" 1920x1080 Acer H223h I already have + 2 additional i similar monitors for 3 monitor eyefinity setup
Config 3, with NV Surround and 2 additional monitors:
Processor: i5 750
Optical: dvdrw drive I already have
CPU cooler: Hyper 212+
Hard drives: WD 1tb I already have
Motherboard: Biostar P55 chipset capable of x8 x8 SLi
Monitor setup: Single 23" 1920x1080 Acer H223h I already have + 2 additional similar monitors for 3 monitor eyefinity setup
Other changes: Well-rated $99 850watt rosewill PSU (no need for suggestions here, I know its not a Corsair but it received very good ratings online and can handle two 460s just fine), cheap case (nearly identical inside, just with a less flashy outside, one less fan and no fan controller), two overclocked 2gb GTX 460s in SLi (the VRAM is very important for 5760x1080 gaming)
My main questions I'd appreciate answered:
1) Are two 6850s enough to play Crysis with 3x 1920x1080 monitor eyefinity above 30fps on Very High settings?
2) Is 3 monitor eyefinity as beneficial for FPS games as it is for racing games (which I don't play? AKA is it worth the money?
3) If I don't buy the two slipstreams for the 212+, will my temps suffer and will it be louder than an h50?
4) Any parts I should change (providing they don't go over budget, I'm already pretty much over my limit of $1350 as it is when you account for shipping)?
5) Is the H50 that much better than the Hyper 212+ cooling-wise/noise-wise to justify the cost?
Thank you SO much for the help. I'd appreciate the most detailed responses you can give me, and as usual I can provide reasoning for all of my hardware choices if you need me to as I spent a lot of time deciding on each part.
Oh, and I'd appreciate if you don't suggest combo deals/limited-time specials. I may have to hold off buying for another couple of weeks (in which case I'll probably change the two 6850s to one 6970 or something), so they wouldn't be of much use. I don't have any Frys or Microcenters near me either, and I'm hoping to stick to newegg so I get all my parts at the same time + receive their awesome service in case something goes wrong.
Thanks again!
EDIT 12/9: How would the nVidia SLi setup I created compare to the 6850 crossfire one in regards to 3 monitor gaming? From some benchmarks I've seen, NV Surround performs considerably better across 3 monitors than eyefinity, is this true?
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