Got a Dilemma! Need Help!

Soliex · Post by **Soliex** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:24 pm

Guys i got a dilemma im in, its with my new computer i plan on purchasing sometime in february. I will list the items that i plan to buy for sure.

im "Willing" to spend about $2000

AMD 64 4000 San diego
Hiper 580W blue Modular PSU (Sli Certified)
OCZ 2gb(2x1gb) DDR 400 Platinum Memory
LITE-ON DVD-DL Burner
Thermaltake CPU heatsink/fan

Now the problem is if i wanna go CROSSFIRE/SLI or get the big bad ATI X1800XT 512MB Video Card.

If i went SLI i would get Dual BFG 6800GT's 256mb and the DFI nF4 SLI Board and the total system would cost $1597.63

Or i could get the X1800GTX 512MB and the basic DFI nF4 Ultra-D and spend $1459.12

Or i might even think about getting dual 7800Gts 256MB and the DFI nF4 SLI Board and it would cost $1681.63

Or should i say feck it and go all out with Dual 7800GT's and a Athlon 64X2 4800 Toledo for $2140

But there also comes to descision to pick the BFG Nvidia 7800GTX 512mb and just stick with one but have the equipment for SLI for when i need another BFG 7800GTX 512. I also wanna go water cooling with Danger den equipment which will cost about $500. but im having a problem picking a decent case to hold the water cooling.

So i guess my real question is what Video set up do i wanna stick with? i want this computer to last me a good 5years.

:edited:Watch the language Pls!

Sovereign · Post by **Sovereign** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:36 pm

IMO it would be hard to make a computer "last" five years on that budget (assuming you demand TOP video quality and performance), for that you'd need twin 7800GTX 512s. It won't explode in five years, but it won't be good for gaming in that time on that budget sorry. Best option is SLi with twin 7800GTs. CrossFire isn't mature yet, and SLi is proven in its performance.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:39 pm

If you have the $$$....I suggest either an X2 4400+ with 2x 7800GT's in SLI.....Or go for an AMD Opteron cpu..they are cheaper and generaly OC higer.....

Dual core is the way to go....all new (and most current) games are getting support...drivers already do...and basic programs will be soon too....

The DFI board is super to use...BTW

Soliex · Post by **Soliex** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:46 pm

so you think i should cap myself out at the AMD 64X2 4400 and Dual 7800Gt's and leave no room for an upgrade aside from Watercooling to overclock?

BTW: how do the Dual cores overclock? i have never really overclocked anything to the point where i used it everyday.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:57 pm

my 4400+ stock is 2.2GHz (2x 1Mb cache)...The max I can get is ~2.65Ghz

The Opteron cpu's can normally OC a bit higher, but you need to remember they are not officially supported by some motherboard makers...AMD will only allow support when used in a workstation cpu....they still work (@ least on a DFI board)...Vstrom knows more than most about them....

Xbitlabs done an article which showed a stock 4800+ (2.4GHz) beating an FX57 (2.8GHz) in dual core enabled games....the next FX60 will be dual core with 2x 1mb cache @ 2.6GHz....

For the money you save on getting a 4400+ or Opteron you can use on cooling or something else....

What PSU and Ram are you going for?

Post by **Apoptosis** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 9:02 pm

If you are doing any video stuff go ATI Crossfire X1800XT's hands down now that 5.13 drivers are public. Leaps and bounds ahead of nVidia in terms of Video... If you are going just for gaming then toss a pair of 7800GT's or 7800GTX 512's in there.

Keep in mind buy the time you buy this R580 (X1900XT from what rumors say) should be out and also in Crossfire... Prices should be cheaper on the X1800XT's as they will be "old"

I personally disagree with the comment that Crossfire is not mature. The X800 series was never meant to be Crossfire ready and ATI went back and patched things together and it was too late and not good enough. Now that the X1K series has been launched Crossfire is performing how the designers wanted it to and it's pretty damn nifty.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 9:06 pm

Ohh good point...plus ATI have hardware support for HD video ;)
& 512Mb ram without having to re-mortgage ;)

Also wait until Intel and release thier next chip....between now and FEB alot of new hardware will be released!

infinitevalence · Post by **infinitevalence** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 10:13 pm

First off it sounds like you like to game, or you would not be looking at SLI and 512mb cards. So there is no such thing as a future proof system when you want top of the line gaming.

Now I think your best stratagy would be to go dual core either the X2 3800+ or 4400+ (if you can find them the opteron 170 or 175) with the single X1800XL card. My reasoning is this, thats high end graphics and cpu, but not quite to the point of paying out the noes to get it. If you spend less now but still get top end parts that means in 6-12mths when a new generation of videocards rolles around you can upgrade again with out feeling like you have to junk $650 worth of SLI 7800GT's. Yes if you buy an SLI board and one 7800 512 card then in 6 months you can add a second one. This is not a bad idea in your case as by then the cost will have come down on the card. Any way thats my $.02.

The reason i suggest this is because im still runing on an overclocked X2 3800+ with an overclocked x800gto2 and i can still play all my games at the full size of my screen (1920x1200x75) with most if not all the eye candy on full. ATM im still playing HL2, Farcry, Need For Speed, and Civ4 i have not tried Black or White, or Fear yet, so not sure how they would do on my system.

Soliex · Post by **Soliex** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 11:01 pm

kenc51, im getting the Hiper blue 580W modular powersupply and OCZ 2gig (2x1gig) PC3200 Platinum.

So from my understanding get the 64X2 4400 and the single 7800GTX 512mb to leave room for upgrade in the future.

Now id like to ask another question, its about water cooling. Id like to go watercooling sometime in the near future after i purchase my computer but im having a problem deciding which case to buy to have enough room to house all of the equipment, if i could get some suggestions that would be great.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 11:15 pm

First things...It's Ken!!

How serious are you about Nvidia?
You said Feb is when your gonna buy? ATI will have their new chip by then....It's supposed to blow away current competition....Nvidia's next chip might be 1-3mths later....who knows what that can do!

I Don't trust the hiper series PSU's (for SLI/Crossfire with high-end parts)...
They are great for the average user, even with hi-end parts....
Your eventually going Ultra high

If/when you H2O cool.....look out for a case with 120mm fans ....that's the standard size for watercooling radiators..... The Antec P160 / P180 cases are nice....If you want to go extreme...you'll want a dual 120mm Radiator....they are BIG....the coolermaster stacker case is a good choice, or some Chieftec tower cases are good.....
Swiftech make some very nice kits! I suggest going via the kit route when starting with watercooling.

Soliex · Post by **Soliex** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 11:39 pm

I already purchased the Hiper, i looked at several review websites and they only had good things to say about it, it has a continues flow of 580W and can peak at 630W so i thought it was a good buy along with the modular things which makes it really cool.

I am only considering Nvidia because SLI is currently better than crossfire and Nvidia seems to be on top right now. I have used my current 9800pro for a good 3 years and its done good so i would consider buyin another ATI, about how much is that new ATI processor going to cost?

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 11:56 pm

If the PSU can do 580W and peak 630W then your sorted......
IF I had to decide now, then SLI is the way to go...

BUT your buying in 2-3mths...ATI will have the next-gen card...Crossfire will be refined (as Apop. said)...It doesn't look like Nvidia will have their new chip by then....games/progs/drivers will have support for dual core....

ALSO...Intel will have the new Presler chip out then....
+ think are you sure you can afford this? or need this?

Your asking this question too soon....

Soliex · Post by **Soliex** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 12:24 am

Well im asking now because i want to plan, and research. Id like to spend around $1500-$2000 AT MOST. i decided im going to stick with my old case its one of those Chemng or chieftec ones that im going to clean up a bit and reuse because its perfect size for when i want water cooling. And im sure ill be lookin at computer parts up until i actually buy it simply because i enjoy doing it. I am asking this a bit early but i wanna get thinking in my head what i want. thanks for the help tho

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 12:29 am

Watercooling is a expanding market....who knows what kits will be out in 2mths....the same goes for alot of the parts....

If it was me I'd be saving.... ;)l

It will be 1 sweet system......

Soliex · Post by **Soliex** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 9:40 am

Well im going fulltime at work in 2 weeks, and i have very low monthly payments and im sure ill be doing some 14hr days. so ill be saving all up until feb and hopefully have around $2000. or i wont have a problem waiting another month to get something better.

Pesto · Post by **Pesto** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 7:43 am

Which Mobo are you going to use? if you are definetly going to run SLI with video cards as expensive as a 7800's i would ensure you're getting every last drop of performance out of it by getting a motherboard that has PCIe SLI with full 16x on each channel like this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813131568

The next thing i would look at is your power supply, definetly something a lot of people overlook. i didn't actualy check all the specs to the one you had listed, but as far as i know the best for overclocking, or just pure power (for dual 7800's especialy) check out PC Power & Cooling.