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Dear fellow [H] members,
(if you don't want the background info just skip to the question part.)
I have no idea what I'm going to do now. I joined this forum and started building my very first rig almost a year ago. It's been fun, and I've learned a lot, and had (at least I think I've had) a few good successes.
I started with an Abit IN9 32X Max 680i motherboard. It had SLI capability, and I threw in a 7600GT at first, then an 8800GT, then finally the 8800GTS (which I bought from EVGA in order to be able to step up later ... which I never did.)
The Abit board never could overclock my Q6700 beyond 3.33GHz, but was otherwise stable and overclocked memory well. I replaced it with a 680i from EVGA which overclocked my Q6700 100% stable to 3.65GHz, but temps were scary high. I upgraded from the 680i to a 780i also from EVGA. It wouldn't overclock my 6700 worth a CRAP, even with decent temps while using a TRUE with an amazing fan. It wasn't stable at all, even at stock, and fan control didn't work. I think it ruined one of my fans by overvolting it. Sounded like a jet engine, way louder than most fans normally sound even at 100%. Needless to say, EVGA was good on the support and RMA. The new board had fan control that worked flawlessly, and it at least overclocked my processor to 3.33GHz ... for a while. Then when stability started to suffer, I knocked it down to 3.2, then again to 3.0. Each time I had to downclock it because stability would start to suffer.
I wanted a better overclock on my Q6700. I wanted a rig that was more stable, and I was sick of nVidia chipsets. So I threw a 2.2GHz older Allendale on my $250 780i motherboard and used it in my wife's home office rig. I purchased the $120 Asus P5Q-Pro for my "mean machine." Most stable quad overclocker board I've ever used. I sold the 8800GTS to a friend and bought a 4850 (for the option of future crossfire.) I have been able to hit 4.0GHz windows stable. (very low vdroop compared to my previous nVidia's) I now run 24/7 settings at 3.6GHz with linked memory at 900MHz. Thing runs like a dream and temps are much more respectable. Never need more than 1.49v either. Vista is a LOT happier with this ASUS board.
I wanted more stability and a higher quad overclock because gaming isn't the most important thing for me anymore, but still VERY important. We recently purchased a Sony HD camcorder, and I have Pinnacle Studio. High def. editing and video encoding are now high priorities as well. I also like to rip and encode my DVD collection to my iPod, so the faster the processor the better, and the more stable I can make my system, the better.
Now that that's out of the way, time for the
QUESTION
What should I do about the video card situation? I have seen deals on the 9800GTX+ for $160 FS. I can also snag a 4850 to do crossfire for $140 after MIR. I can probably tweak the 780i to run my processor at 3.33GHz stable. And I also have a friend I might sell my 4850 to, as it is practically new, for $150 (he wouldn't have to send in rebates or anything, and I paid $190 for it - got it right after they came out.) Should I switch to the 9800GTX's on my nVidia platform, or just nab a second 4850 for Xfire?
Considerations:
My 4850 runs great, and performance is excellent, but in Supreme commander it hits like 90c and will occasionally shut itself off, even with all the fans in my case and on the card at 80-100%.
The 4850 has exceptional hardware acceleration for HD video encoding, rendering, etc., along with native HDMI support via the included adapter.
A second 4850 in crossfire will be an easy and economical performance boost.
My Q6700 runs a lot smoother and overclocks a lot easier and cooler on the solid P45 chipset.
The problem: Heat. With two 4850's heat worries me a LOT. I would have to (and am willing) to shell out about 80 bucks total for aftermarket coolers for both cards. The stock cooling is so poor that I will likely be able to overclock quite a bit and still be well under stock temps using the Arctic Cooling Twin Turbo (compatible with two 4850's in CF).
Stock cooling for the 9800GTX+ is superior and would allow overclocking out of the box.
I could do triple SLI with my 780i!!! (ROFL)
(I joke. I joke.)
The problem: Q6700 overclocking. I actually like the memory overclocking options better in the 780i, but I'm more concerned with the quad overclocking and stability.
So what do you guys recommend??? 9800GTX+ in SLI on my 780i?? Or just get a second 4850 and some aftermarket cooling for CF on my current rock solid rig??? Thanks, in advance.
(if you don't want the background info just skip to the question part.)
I have no idea what I'm going to do now. I joined this forum and started building my very first rig almost a year ago. It's been fun, and I've learned a lot, and had (at least I think I've had) a few good successes.
I started with an Abit IN9 32X Max 680i motherboard. It had SLI capability, and I threw in a 7600GT at first, then an 8800GT, then finally the 8800GTS (which I bought from EVGA in order to be able to step up later ... which I never did.)
The Abit board never could overclock my Q6700 beyond 3.33GHz, but was otherwise stable and overclocked memory well. I replaced it with a 680i from EVGA which overclocked my Q6700 100% stable to 3.65GHz, but temps were scary high. I upgraded from the 680i to a 780i also from EVGA. It wouldn't overclock my 6700 worth a CRAP, even with decent temps while using a TRUE with an amazing fan. It wasn't stable at all, even at stock, and fan control didn't work. I think it ruined one of my fans by overvolting it. Sounded like a jet engine, way louder than most fans normally sound even at 100%. Needless to say, EVGA was good on the support and RMA. The new board had fan control that worked flawlessly, and it at least overclocked my processor to 3.33GHz ... for a while. Then when stability started to suffer, I knocked it down to 3.2, then again to 3.0. Each time I had to downclock it because stability would start to suffer.
I wanted a better overclock on my Q6700. I wanted a rig that was more stable, and I was sick of nVidia chipsets. So I threw a 2.2GHz older Allendale on my $250 780i motherboard and used it in my wife's home office rig. I purchased the $120 Asus P5Q-Pro for my "mean machine." Most stable quad overclocker board I've ever used. I sold the 8800GTS to a friend and bought a 4850 (for the option of future crossfire.) I have been able to hit 4.0GHz windows stable. (very low vdroop compared to my previous nVidia's) I now run 24/7 settings at 3.6GHz with linked memory at 900MHz. Thing runs like a dream and temps are much more respectable. Never need more than 1.49v either. Vista is a LOT happier with this ASUS board.
I wanted more stability and a higher quad overclock because gaming isn't the most important thing for me anymore, but still VERY important. We recently purchased a Sony HD camcorder, and I have Pinnacle Studio. High def. editing and video encoding are now high priorities as well. I also like to rip and encode my DVD collection to my iPod, so the faster the processor the better, and the more stable I can make my system, the better.
Now that that's out of the way, time for the
QUESTION
What should I do about the video card situation? I have seen deals on the 9800GTX+ for $160 FS. I can also snag a 4850 to do crossfire for $140 after MIR. I can probably tweak the 780i to run my processor at 3.33GHz stable. And I also have a friend I might sell my 4850 to, as it is practically new, for $150 (he wouldn't have to send in rebates or anything, and I paid $190 for it - got it right after they came out.) Should I switch to the 9800GTX's on my nVidia platform, or just nab a second 4850 for Xfire?
Considerations:
My 4850 runs great, and performance is excellent, but in Supreme commander it hits like 90c and will occasionally shut itself off, even with all the fans in my case and on the card at 80-100%.
The 4850 has exceptional hardware acceleration for HD video encoding, rendering, etc., along with native HDMI support via the included adapter.
A second 4850 in crossfire will be an easy and economical performance boost.
My Q6700 runs a lot smoother and overclocks a lot easier and cooler on the solid P45 chipset.
The problem: Heat. With two 4850's heat worries me a LOT. I would have to (and am willing) to shell out about 80 bucks total for aftermarket coolers for both cards. The stock cooling is so poor that I will likely be able to overclock quite a bit and still be well under stock temps using the Arctic Cooling Twin Turbo (compatible with two 4850's in CF).
Stock cooling for the 9800GTX+ is superior and would allow overclocking out of the box.
I could do triple SLI with my 780i!!! (ROFL)
(I joke. I joke.)The problem: Q6700 overclocking. I actually like the memory overclocking options better in the 780i, but I'm more concerned with the quad overclocking and stability.
So what do you guys recommend??? 9800GTX+ in SLI on my 780i?? Or just get a second 4850 and some aftermarket cooling for CF on my current rock solid rig??? Thanks, in advance.
