new build one week in

[combat goofwing]

Had my new build for a week now and already thinking i could have done things better and need to make a few mods

2 areas for mods cooling and graphics

Graphics

been told my system is beening held back by having a XFX HD4870 1 gig and to get the best out of it i should either fit another , or get a HD4870X2 ,or even wait for the 4890, as my power supply doens't have enough connections and room on my MOBO seems almost impossible to fit in another XFX HD4870 1 gig
see pic here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36125483@N06/3351397950/

so then i think the better option is sell my week old HD4870 and get either the HD4870x2 or wait for the HD4890, which is the better option whats your views, what would you do

cooling

my case is a bit on the small side and while the 2 case fans that come with it are fine on low mode on meduim which is needed to keep the case cool there are a little noisey

i fitted a 120mm fan at the front to draw cold air in over the HD and provide good air flow, so wha i think is remove the 2 stock case fane put one on the side of the case running low for extra GPU cooling, put the other at the front of the case running low for extra air flow, and then buy 2 new good silent(if possible) case fans for the top and back of the case.

think this is the beat possible way to solve both issues with out having to get new case, power supply and graphics card

 

[BarbaricSoul]

what size and resolution monitor do you use? If your not running a resolution higher than 1920*1200, the 4870 1 gig is fine. If your running higher than 1920*1200 resolution, then you might want to look into going crossfire, or buying a 4870x2

 

[Dice]

Are you using it for gaming a lot? I have the 4870 and it is a good card but i got it because i felt it was good value. You have a high spec machine and you sound like your a bit disapointed with the graphics so maybe you should upgrade. I dont have any experiance with the 4870 but i heard that there was still some driver issues. what games are you playing and at what settings?+what framerates are you getting?

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

You are not going to fit two cards in there. I think your 4870 should be enough for now, as long as you are not lacking performance in a game cause of resolution, but I doubt that.

 

[combat goofwing]

what size and resolution monitor do you use? If your not running a resolution higher than 1920*1200, the 4870 1 gig is fine. If your running higher than 1920*1200 resolution, then you might want to look into going crossfire, or buying a 4870x2

using 1920 X1080

 

[combat goofwing]

Are you using it for gaming a lot? I have the 4870 and it is a good card but i got it because i felt it was good value. You have a high spec machine and you sound like your a bit disapointed with the graphics so maybe you should upgrade. I dont have any experiance with the 4870 but i heard that there was still some driver issues. what games are you playing and at what settings?+what framerates are you getting?

playing far cry 2 which is fine @1920 X1080 everything high but been told things like crysis will laugh at it @1920 x 1080, using it for gaming

 

[JrRacinFan]

@combat

Crysis laughs at 99% of all hardware as it is. Wouldn't even bother upgrading for that game. Game on and be merry! Your 4870 should last you quite a while.

 

[Dice]

I had a 4850 before i got my 4870 but up graded cos it couldnt quite handle the 24" screen, though that could run crysis ok on med settings. I think you'll be ok with what you got, i'd suggest keeping it till your actually noticing problems otherwise you'll constantly be upgrading your gpu! in the meentime it may be worth getting a slightly bigger case-it looks a bit cramped in there! besides a gpu will be out of date in a year or two but a good case could last ages.
im looking at the Cooler Master ATCS 840 at the mo its VERY pricy but I want it. mmmm

 

[combat goofwing]

seems my ram maybe set up wrong in the bios also

this is my ram

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-151-OC&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1390

these are screen shots of CPU Z and HW monitor

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36125483@N06/

been told it should be 1.65v and settings need tinkered with

any advice on what to alter in the bios would be great, never had to set ram up before

 

[hat]

just overclock your processor and be happy. still a kickass rig

 

[solofly]

playing far cry 2 which is fine @1920 X1080 everything high but been told things like crysis will laugh at it @1920 x 1080, using it for gaming

Forget Crysis, no rig will play that game smooth at the highest detail... (if you ask me, for most a 4870 w/1GB would be plenty at that res)

 

[hat]

Forget Crysis, no rig will play that game smooth at the highest detail... (if you ask me, for most a 4870 w/1GB would be plenty at that res)

really getting sick of that... esp. when I can play Crysis with everything set to Very High on my rig, which is nothing close to as powerful as the OP's rig is.

 

[solofly]

really getting sick of that... esp. when I can play Crysis with everything set to Very High on my rig, which is nothing close to as powerful as the OP's rig is.

I have a 4870X2 + 4870 1GB + i7 965 + 12GB of RAM and Im not satisfied.

Still getting stick?

 

[hat]

well I get 20fps average and I find that very playable... you must either by lying about your specs or expecting 100fps solid

 

[combat goofwing]

so back on topic what about by ram, looking at the pics is it set up right running in triple channel

 

[solofly]

well I get 20fps average and I find that very playable... you must either by lying about your specs or expecting 100fps solid

I don't lie!

 

[KBD]

@combat

Crysis laughs at 99% of all hardware as it is. Wouldn't even bother upgrading for that game. Game on and be merry! Your 4870 should last you quite a while.

JR is spot on on this. HD 4870 1GB is an excellent card and is great for almost any game. If you are that unhappy try another in crossfire, id personally prefer that to getting 4870x2.

 

[hat]

I don't lie!

well then you're expecting some rediculous amount of fps you're just not going to get with today's hardware... because I find Crysis playable on my rig when it's maxed out.

 

[n-ster]

but you play at 1440x900..... I find crysis playable at 30 fps, but I don't mind sacrificing some settings for it... OP, stick with your 4870... THE ONLY GAME that might not play as you expect is Crysis, the rest of the games will be very playable at very high settings on 1920x1080, so don't worry, and OC your i7!!!

So, upgrade those case fans, and save up for watercooling

for 300$, you get a GREAT WC setup... and you won't regret it.... EVER