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Need help finishing my system!

L

lordoxide

n00b
Joined
Jan 24, 2007
Messages
2
Need some help here, I have been running for years on a AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ (3.01mhz), 4GB 1033, and a ATI 4950 for the last few years. It isn’t the fastest setup but it can play most games at 1920x1080 at mid or lower settings. I am typically an MMO player (WOW, SWTOR, DND, RIFT), a little SC2 and some FPS now and again. I also do a alot of MS Office work and little photoshop.

A friend bought a new PC, and sold me a few of his spare parts for $200:
Antec 900 v2
GIGABYTE GA-MA785GM-US2H (no SLI, no Sata3, no USB3)
Amd Phenom II X4 965 black edition (3.4Ghz)
8GB HyperX DDR2 PC1200
Zalman 9700
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W PS

I am purchasing a Samsung 830 256gb SSD, just because it tests so well, if there is a better deal for a SSD for my usage type please let me know (I am open to buying two 120gb as well).

So I am looking to complete the system, with 2 goals if possible in mind, I have done hours of research on this, and I just want to be able to get some clarification and advice.

Goal 1 (required): 3 monitor immersion setup (eyefinity or nVidia surround)
Goal 2 (optional): 3D gaming (in 3 monintor setup)
Goal 3 (not sure) : 3D out to 3D capable TV

So here is the first challenge I am faced with is Dual GPU card or SLI/CFX, I know I need horsepower to get the 3 monitors at high resolution/high settings:
1.) 6990/590 are both in 700 price range, which is a lot, but less headaches with configuring SLI/CFX, both have 3 monitor outputs, and I don’t need to buy a new motherboard (even though it might be suggested)

2.) 6970 CFX ($700) or GTX 570 SLI ($700) Either of these routes requires a new motherboard for around ($100), bringing the total to $800, while these might perform a little better, I don’t think the extra price is worth it. (I am omitting the GTX 580, it has a bad price point in my opinion)

3.) 6950 2GB CFX ($540) or GTX 560 SLI ($480) These also would required a new motherboard for around ($100), bring the total to $640 or $580

There is not a lot of difference in performance between option 1 and option 3, obviously option 1 has much more upgradable ability in the future, but just like I am not adding another 4950 to my system now, I am assuming in a few years I wouldn’t want to add another 6990/590, I would want the latest and greatest then. And while it is a little more of a pain to put the motherboard in (since this box is already assembled) it’s not really a problem. I am personally leaning towards option 3 AMD (looking for possibly unlockable cards) but is the 3D on AMD in eyefinity good at all?

My other major issue is monitors, I need 3 good gaming monitors (24” preferable, 27” is possible), which would be suggested for my system (both 3D and non-3D)

A few other things to consider:
Is my power supply good enough?
Is there room in my case for a 6990/GTX 590
Games perform differently based on memory cap, does the extra memory on ATI tip the scale?
Do both 3D providers require their own special glasses that are purchased separately?

I know this will be an open discussion, I welcome all the help I can get

Thanks
 
A few things I will point out.

I think you are shooting for the moon here,the setup is ok,but in reality I don't think your going to be able to push 3 screens at a decent resolution and settings with that phenom chip,its just too slow also AMD 3d sucks little to no support from what I can tell,Im not at all interested in it so I could be wrong,just based off things I heard.

If I were you I would take the cash you have for cards and a monitors and build a SB(I would think a 2500k) system with a single card,I would go with a 6970 and wait to see what the new cards bring to the table before dumping the better part of a grand on soon to be dated cards.

If you can not wait,it still would be beneficial to build a SB system and go with the SLI/CFX config of your choice,I just have a feeling you will be utterly disappointed with your current setup and trying to do the multi monitor/multi card thing.

A SB system will open you up to the world of bottleneck free multi screen gaming,for the most part,as well as being a very powerful system that will take you into the next few years with ease.
 
Stewie,

Thanks for the advice, a few questions for you though. I have read now on 2 or 3 reviews sites now that when testing things like STWOR, and Battlefield 3 there is no FPS change from anything as low as a dual core up to an i7. Basically in the gaming world the bottleneck even in 3 monitor output is 100% GPU, most new games are so heavily GPU reliant that it shouldnt be a problem to just upgrade the system i was given. I know the 965 is officially 2 years old, but it is 3.4Ghz QC.

So if 3D is a requirement, then that instantly makes my choice have to be nVidia? and If so would two GFX 560s stack up to two 6950s?
 
From my understanding, the higher the resolution the more VRAM you need to support it. Therefore if you are going for a 3-monitor setup make sure you get the 2GB version of the HD6950 or GTX560 Ti.

GTX 560 ~ HD6870
GTX 560Ti ~ HD6950
GTX 570 ~ HD6970

Oh yeah, for 3D gaming I'd go with NVidia's solution over ATI's but for a 3-monitor setup I am not sure if 3D is supported ..
 
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