cp_kirkley
Limp Gawd
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2012
- Messages
- 187
Hi guys, this is my first post on hardforums as a member, although I have been trolling your site for years to get info, reviews, etc.
I have just finished a new build. Specs are as followed:
Case: Corsair 550D
PSU: Seasonix X850 80 Plus Gold
Mobo: Gigabyte Z77X-UP4 TH
Proc: i5 3570k, Stock clocks - Cooled by H80
RAM: 16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600
GPU: Sapphire 7950 (950 OC Edition) x 2
HDD: Crucial M4 256GB, 150 GB Velociraptor, 120 OCZ Nocti in MSATA
DISP: Alieanware AW2310 bookended by two LG Flatron IPS235
MISC: Logitech G13, g9x, K800 keyboard and Wireless Touchpad
Overall I found myself very happy with this build. Rock solid temps, stable for a month - there isnt a game I cant run maxed on one monitor (or 3 when I feel the eyefinity itch) until I decided to run this in a dual boot/hackintosh setup. Basically the 7950's aren't, and may never be, supported by OSX. I could keep the 7950s in, but they would not support any type of GPU acceleration. Conversely I could use the integrated HD4000, but why the hell would I do that when I have such muscle at my disposal? I dont have the PSU (or the space, or the heat dissipation means) to carry a third card (660 ti, 670) specifically for OSX use. I have to replace the cards.
The goal of this system was to keep minum frames at vsync'ed 60fps in Eyefinity resolutions. That said, I have been researching the potential replacements, and am torn between a 2 and 4GB 670. Does anyone think I can at least get into the ballpark of the perf I get now in CF with a single 670, or is SLi pretty much a must if I want to keep my minimum framerate above 40 at 5760x1080? Does the bandwith disparity of the two cards pose enough of an issue to be concerned about? Does 4GB on make a difference even if its running on 256 bit? If SLI is the only solution to my problem, can I add a 2GB 670 to a 4GB down the road and still have the mem register as 4GB, or will it drop back to lowest common denominator? And then going further, is anyone interested in trading?
Furthermore, I am switching from eyefinity, which has MUCH looser rules regarding the 3 screens, to surround. My monitors are all 23" with matching resolutions, but I kept my AW2310 because I liked still having the option of running games at 100+ fps when I wanted to. From what I understand, I might get lucky with the sync polarity, but I have no idea how to check these things - the LG monitors make no mention of this in the physical manuals, nor have I found info on them online. Does anyone know this offhand, or point me in the direction of a repository for info like this? If not then I guess I've got to sell the Alienware, but then I'm pissed because I'll have to consider replacing all three screens. While LGs are solid IPS screens as side monitors, I would not want one of them as my centerpiece. Much rather find some u2311's if thats the case.
For anyone thinking I should not care about OSX, I am commited to having the hackintosh, as its my wifes preferred OS and her MacPro (which has been a piece of shit since I bought it several years ago) has died and she needs to use my rig for the time being until i decide what to do with her needs.
Thanks for listening to my rants/questions. If you have any constructive answers or suggestions, or offers for that matter, feel free to let me know. and to reward those of you who actually take time to read my drivel - some screens...
Edited for typos
I have just finished a new build. Specs are as followed:
Case: Corsair 550D
PSU: Seasonix X850 80 Plus Gold
Mobo: Gigabyte Z77X-UP4 TH
Proc: i5 3570k, Stock clocks - Cooled by H80
RAM: 16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600
GPU: Sapphire 7950 (950 OC Edition) x 2
HDD: Crucial M4 256GB, 150 GB Velociraptor, 120 OCZ Nocti in MSATA
DISP: Alieanware AW2310 bookended by two LG Flatron IPS235
MISC: Logitech G13, g9x, K800 keyboard and Wireless Touchpad
Overall I found myself very happy with this build. Rock solid temps, stable for a month - there isnt a game I cant run maxed on one monitor (or 3 when I feel the eyefinity itch) until I decided to run this in a dual boot/hackintosh setup. Basically the 7950's aren't, and may never be, supported by OSX. I could keep the 7950s in, but they would not support any type of GPU acceleration. Conversely I could use the integrated HD4000, but why the hell would I do that when I have such muscle at my disposal? I dont have the PSU (or the space, or the heat dissipation means) to carry a third card (660 ti, 670) specifically for OSX use. I have to replace the cards.
The goal of this system was to keep minum frames at vsync'ed 60fps in Eyefinity resolutions. That said, I have been researching the potential replacements, and am torn between a 2 and 4GB 670. Does anyone think I can at least get into the ballpark of the perf I get now in CF with a single 670, or is SLi pretty much a must if I want to keep my minimum framerate above 40 at 5760x1080? Does the bandwith disparity of the two cards pose enough of an issue to be concerned about? Does 4GB on make a difference even if its running on 256 bit? If SLI is the only solution to my problem, can I add a 2GB 670 to a 4GB down the road and still have the mem register as 4GB, or will it drop back to lowest common denominator? And then going further, is anyone interested in trading?
Furthermore, I am switching from eyefinity, which has MUCH looser rules regarding the 3 screens, to surround. My monitors are all 23" with matching resolutions, but I kept my AW2310 because I liked still having the option of running games at 100+ fps when I wanted to. From what I understand, I might get lucky with the sync polarity, but I have no idea how to check these things - the LG monitors make no mention of this in the physical manuals, nor have I found info on them online. Does anyone know this offhand, or point me in the direction of a repository for info like this? If not then I guess I've got to sell the Alienware, but then I'm pissed because I'll have to consider replacing all three screens. While LGs are solid IPS screens as side monitors, I would not want one of them as my centerpiece. Much rather find some u2311's if thats the case.
For anyone thinking I should not care about OSX, I am commited to having the hackintosh, as its my wifes preferred OS and her MacPro (which has been a piece of shit since I bought it several years ago) has died and she needs to use my rig for the time being until i decide what to do with her needs.
Thanks for listening to my rants/questions. If you have any constructive answers or suggestions, or offers for that matter, feel free to let me know. and to reward those of you who actually take time to read my drivel - some screens...
Edited for typos