$4000 system build, Advice & Feedback!! :D

[MitchMan31]

Hi people,

I'm planning on building a gaming rig. I'll be playing crysis a little, assassins creed, Need for speed, RTCW. I'll be gaming on my 32" HD tv in 1920 x 1200. Heres whats planned:

• Motherboard - EVGA nForce 780i SLI nForce 780i
• Processor - Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 2.40GHz (1333fsb)
• Harddrive - Western Digital VelociRaptor 300GB
• RAM - G.Skill 4GB DDR2 PK PC2-8500C5 (2x2GB)
• Graphics - EVGA GeForce GTX 280 1024MB SSC Edition
• Sound Card - Razer IAS Barracuda AC-1 Gaming 7.1 Sound Card
• PSU - OCZ ProXStream 1000w SLI Ready ATX2 Power Supply
• Drive - LG GGC-H20L Blu-Ray Reader & HD-DVD ROM
• Case - Lian-Li PC-60B PLUS Aluminium Midi-Tower Case
• Cooling - XIGMATEK CPU Watercooler, VIZO VIZO Tri-Fan Ram Cooler, Thermalake Graphics Watercooler
• Extras - Killer Nic Gaming Card, Creative Inspire T3100 2.1 Speakers, Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Controllers, Alphacool Full Graphic LCD Display
• OS - Vista Basic 64bit

I'm really debating about the graphics for this system, feedback and suggestions are very welcome. Thanks everyone

 

[Pinchy]

Im not sure how much thats costing you, but I would personally go an X48 board and two 4850's or 4870's.

 

[Chewy]

Im not sure the price your getting a q6600 for but you should consider one of the newer 45nm quads, you should custom build your water cooling set-up, heres an idea of what to look for http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=52032.

I think you could drop the nic gaming card heard those are not worth it at all and do very little, you should consider getting a Auzen x-fi Prelude sound card you might find a deal on them like I did its a spectacular do everything well sound card, its very clear and is good upgrade over my Creative x-fi gamer card.

 

[btarunr]

• Motherboard - EVGA nForce 780i SLI nForce 780i EVGA nForce 750i FTW
• Processor - Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 2.40GHz (1333fsb) Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450
• Harddrive - Western Digital VelociRaptor 300GB two Seagate 7200rpm 500GB in RAID 0 (same price)
• RAM - G.Skill 4GB DDR2 PK PC2-8500C5 (2x2GB) - Good choice
• Graphics - EVGA GeForce GTX 280 1024MB SSC Edition two of the cheapest GTX 260 cards you can find in the UK (same price, EVGA 280 SSC sells for ~$800 last I checked (OCUK))
• Sound Card - Razer IAS Barracuda AC-1 Gaming 7.1 Sound Card ASUS Xonar PCI (avoid the PCI-E variant, has known issues with NForce boards)
• PSU - OCZ ProXStream 1000w SLI Ready ATX2 Power Supply OCZ EliteXStream 850W or Corsair TX750W (whichever is cheaper)
• Drive - LG GGC-H20L Blu-Ray Reader & HD-DVD ROM - Good Choice
• Case - Lian-Li PC-60B PLUS Aluminium Midi-Tower Case
• Cooling - XIGMATEK CPU Watercooler, VIZO VIZO Tri-Fan Ram Cooler, Thermalake Graphics Watercooler -- (but then you need video card blocks for your card(s) too, right? )
• Extras - Killer Nic Gaming Card,(waste of money, avoid it) Creative Inspire T3100 2.1 Speakers, Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Controllers, Alphacool Full Graphic LCD Display
• OS - Vista Basic 64bit Vista Home Premium 64-bit.

 

[alexp999]

+1 on the 750i FTW, Q9450 and Corsair TX750W

But one thing, is the Xigmatek CPU watercooler this:

 

[MitchMan31]

Yeah thats the cpu cooler I think, ok definately scrap the KNIC. Why is that Mobo better ? Does anyone else have some other line ups ? Thanks

 

[phanbuey]

that thing would get beat really bad by a good aircooler... it doesnt have enough surface area to take advantage of using water... its like having a real water setup but with a itty bitty radiator and less water.


try the Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer, it would kill that thing

 

[phanbuey]

sorry to double post, but heres the proof

The Xigmatec watercooler is the Xigmatek AIO-S80DP...
The sunbeamtech cooler is at the top... Frostytech review.

http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2287&page=5

That xigmatec is awful... dont waste ur money ~ its like having an intel stock pentium D cooler almost.

 

[alexp999]

that thing would get beat really bad by a good aircooler... it doesnt have enough surface area to take advantage of using water... its like having a real water setup but with a itty bitty radiator and less water.


try the Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer, it would kill that thing

I dont think we can get that in the UK (havent seen it anywhere) if you want air cooling get the Xigmatek S1283 and then the crossbox backplate for it.

I have no experience of WC if you are wanting that tho.

P.S

Im glad I asked, that all in one WC, is pretty SH*T and damn heavy.

 

[btarunr]

Yeah thats the cpu cooler I think, ok definately scrap the KNIC. Why is that Mobo better ? Does anyone else have some other line ups ? Thanks

750i FTW won't hurt two GTX 260 / 1 GTX 280, cheaper.

 

[phanbuey]

the S 1283 is an amazing cooler

 

[Chewy]

dont forget if your taking a big plunge into water cooling you might want to upgrade your case to a full atx or E-atx case. try finding the Silverstone tj-07 for a good price that a major WC'ing case which you can put 2 240mm rads in the lower section of it! I have the Tj-09 a pinch smaller of a case.

you have some $$ to play with so you can afford a case that could very well last you a lifetime of system builds! maybe raid0 2 samsung drives thier quieter than the Seagates 7200.10... or buy a 1tb Samsung F1 drive and Partition it into 3 parts, one for OS and daily use, one for storing stuff and one to install your games to, Ive had my raid mess up on me 2 times now.. atleast this time its still running just seems slower lol! glad I have a back-up drive though for this reason.

 

[alexp999]

How about something like this. (although I would still recommend the 4870X2 route. Hell you could probably afford two 4870X2's!!!)

 

[phanbuey]

get the OCZ core SSD if you can find it
same $/ GB as the raptor

 

[MilkyWay]

4870X2 or 2 hd4870

really get the ati cards they are just as good as the nvidia cards and 2 of them might be around the same or cheap and will trounce the 280, that means getting a crossfire board im sure some of the guys will be able to recommend an intel crossfire board

get rid of the VelociRaptor and get a 1 TB Samsung F1 OR even get a cheaper drive and a SSD

im not in the know about high end cases, generally aluminum is more expensive and you might be able to get a better steel case for cheaper

Blu-Ray Reader & HD-DVD ROM is a waste of cash id just get a really fast dvd burner or even 2 really fast dvd burners so that you can pop a disk in the top and hey presto the bottom one is a copy

i recommend the maximus keyboard LOL its about the price of that system you intend to make! no seriously get one of those logitech G keyboards or for a cheaper solution get a OCZ Alchemy Series Elixir Keyboard

mouse i recommend the Razer Lachesis for those that like top top gear, for me tho im happy with the cheaper razer diamonback 3g

vista ultimate 64 bit

Hook your cards up to the water cooling so there is no need to get a fancy graphics card

what about broadband do you intend on hooking it up using ethernet or wireless

 

[alexp999]

4870X2 or 2 hd4870

really get the ati cards they are just as good as the nvidia cards and 2 of them might be around the same or cheap and will trounce the 280, that means getting a crossfire board im sure some of the guys will be able to recommend an intel crossfire board

get rid of the VelociRaptor and get a 1 TB Samsung F1 OR even get a cheaper drive and a SSD

im not in the know about high end cases, generally aluminum is more expensive and you might be able to get a better steel case for cheaper

Blu-Ray Reader & HD-DVD ROM is a waste of cash id just get a really fast dvd burner or even 2 really fast dvd burners so that you can pop a disk in the top and hey presto the bottom one is a copy

i recommend the maximus keyboard LOL its about the price of that system you intend to make! no seriously get one of those logitech G keyboards or for a cheaper solution get a OCZ Alchemy Series Elixir Keyboard

mouse i recommend the Razer Lachesis for those that like top top gear, for me tho im happy with the cheaper razer diamonback 3g

vista ultimate 64 bit

Hook your cards up to the water cooling so there is no need to get a fancy graphics card

what about broadband do you intend on hooking it up using ethernet or wireless

Why vista ultimate?

My dad is running basic, if all your doing is gaming, its perfect.

 

[MitchMan31]

Plan on running wireless, are ATI cards just as good? I want an NVIDIA card so I'm gonna go for one of them. Before the EVGA 780I board I was thinking of an MSI P45 Platinum, what do people think?? I watched a video review once and someone mentioned there is a dvd drive that can play xbox games, is this possible??

Will the raptor drive not in turn create a much much faster system ?? Or isit just a waste of money? Thanks

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

go vista home premium

 

[farlex85]

Plan on running wireless, are ATI cards just as good? I want an NVIDIA card so I'm gonna go for one of them. Before the EVGA 780I board I was thinking of an MSI P45 Platinum, what do people think?? I watched a video review once and someone mentioned there is a dvd drive that can play xbox games, is this possible??

Will the raptor drive not in turn create a much much faster system ?? Or isit just a waste of money? Thanks

Ati curret cards are just as good, in some cases better, in some cases worse. All in all, the fact that the chipsets that support crossfire generally oc intel's procs better than the ones that are sli make the ati's a better way to go if using multiple cards. Never heard of that xbox drive. The raptor is fast, but the added performance probably wouldn't be that noticeable. You'd be better off going w/ a config like bt suggested, or I would say spend a little extra for 2 WD SE16 640gb.

 

[alexp999]

The drives I have posted are nearly as fast as the velociraptors, but only slower in the sense of a benchmark, they would both be as noticeably fast as each other, as the WD's I bosted have the largest platter density available.

If I were you with that amount of money, if you can wait get a 4870X2.

in terms of the rest of the system, P45's are great, I'm glad I got mine but the X58 and new bloomfield CPU's could be arriving as early as this sept/oct. If you could wait till then your money would be better spent.

however if you are looking at now, I say go for a P45, q9450 and wait a couple of weeks for the 4870X2.

i'll draw up another system a bit later this evening based on an Ati/intel combo.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

I would wait for Nahelem to be released(possibly in september), then build your system. If you don't want to wait, +1 to btarunr's build