My first rig and i need advice.

[farlex85]

I personally didn't like the RC-690, it didn't have enough air intake in my opinion..

No it certainly doesn't have quite the cooling of the tempest or 900, but it's cheaper, and I like the look better personally. I also like the perpendicular hdd cage, better for management. But airflow is much better on the tempest, I just wish the look was a little more refined and restrained, but for the money it can't be beat.

 

[Bluefox1115]

that's true. personally, the antec 900 is a little difficult to deal with in terms of wiring and stuff. theres little to no room for wire management unless you chop it up.

 

[Deimos]

Hmm. I like the cosmos and I like the idea of water cooling. It's something I do want to try some time. I have been considering the Antec 900/1200 as well as an alternative to the Cosmos S. That Tempest is nice too but i'm not too keen on it personally, just my little aesthetic tastes i guess.. I just have a thing for big ass cases. I'm not a lan-party goer so size isn't an issue and even then I'd enjoy lugging the big bastard around. And from all the pictures of the Cosmos i didn't see much in the way of noise canceling foam. I'd like to see the proof of the temperature increase if possible.

 

[Deimos]

On another side note i saw prices for the I7 chips. The lowest model is pretty reasonable at 260-ish. And is overclockable. I know it isn't necessary but future-proofing is one of my many concerns in this build for long term survivability.

 

[CDdude55]

Core i7 800@ 2.66Ghz $284.99 is one of them. Still for gaming, you dont need it, but if you just what to generally future proof(just get the latest of whats out) then Core i7 is you best pick.

 

[Deimos]

I feel a little retarded for having this thread being done for so long and still no PC to speak for it. But I would rather discuss all my options and get good feedback before i make a decision. And it seems that when I actually am able to buy my PC will correspond to when those CPU's hit the market. I'm becoming rather impatient, haha.


My goal is longevity and future proofing. Since the I7's are coming, technically won't that be the standard for things to come?? Future games will be set up for it and the performance difference between dual core and the quads isn't really that substantial is it? Of course I could be wrong. Which is why i'm here asking questions anyway.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

My goal is longevity and future proofing. Since the I7's are coming, technically won't that be the standard for things to come?? Future games will be set up for it and the performance difference between dual core and the quads isn't really that substantial is it? Of course I could be wrong. Which is why i'm here asking questions anyway.

The I7 have something called turbo mode where the CPU will shut down 2 of it's cores and OC the remaining 2 cores. The way I understand it, the I7s will do the job of a quad or a dual, it just depends on what kind of applications are running(multi threaded or single threaded)

I7 turbo mode

 

[CDdude55]

The I7 have something called turbo mode where the CPU will shut down 2 of it's cores and OC the remaining 2 cores. The way I understand it, the I7s will do the job of a quad or a dual, it just depends on what kind of applications are running(multi threaded or single threaded)

I7 turbo mode

Wow, thats awesome. But still the Core 2's are still great for future gaming.

 

[Deimos]

Hm.. Didn't know they could do that. Need to see some real reviews and tests to see just what the fricken things can actually do, as oppose to statistically and theoretically.

 

[deaffob]

Hmm I'm in the same place as you are Deimos. I was trying to decide if I should build my first computer with either Q9550 with P45 and DDR3, or I7 with X58. By looking at how things are going, I think I would wait for I7. Because Q9550(2.83Ghz) is $330 now but the new I7 2.66Ghz cpu is $260. Ofcourse the price of Q9550 will go down by the time when the new CPUs are out but I think $260 for starting price is very reasonable. I would assume I7 2.66Ghz will do just as fine as Q9550. The only thing I want to know now is the prices of new mobos.

I have one question. What's 'Retention Bracket?'
I saw that on the Deimos's wishlist.

 

[farlex85]

Hmm I'm in the same place as you are Deimos. I was trying to decide if I should build my first computer with either Q9550 with P45 and DDR3, or I7 with X58. By looking at how things are going, I think I would wait for I7. Because Q9550(2.83Ghz) is $330 now but the new I7 2.66Ghz cpu is $260. Ofcourse the price of Q9550 will go down by the time when the new CPUs are out but I think $260 for starting price is very reasonable. I would assume I7 2.66Ghz will do just as fine as Q9550. The only thing I want to know now is the prices of new mobos.

I have one question. What's 'Retention Bracket?'
I saw that on the Deimos's wishlist.

Just so you know it's unlikely the procs will come in the market at that price. That is intel's MSRP, but w/ new items of theirs they usually are over the MSRP initial, probably over $300 for this one. Depending on how sales and performance is, the prices will drop at some rate, but don't expect it to be $283 (projected MSRP) right out of the gate. DDR3 w/ the fsb is almost pointless (the bandwidth limitations negate the speed for a large part), so I'd definitely wait for i7 if ddr3 is in your future.

A retention bracket allows a heatsink to be fastened w/ bolts or screws as opposed to the twist way they often sell w/ on LGA 775.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

the retention bracket is a metal plate that goes on the back of your motherboard for securing a heatsink to your cpu

 

[deaffob]

: D

Just so you know it's unlikely the procs will come in the market at that price. That is intel's MSRP, but w/ new items of theirs they usually are over the MSRP initial, probably over $300 for this one. Depending on how sales and performance is, the prices will drop at some rate, but don't expect it to be $283 (projected MSRP) right out of the gate. DDR3 w/ the fsb is almost pointless (the bandwidth limitations negate the speed for a large part), so I'd definitely wait for i7 if ddr3 is in your future.

Why would DDR3 with Q9550 will be almost pointless? I read that 1:1 ratio is the way to go. Q9550 has 1333Mhz and if I get DDR3 1333 or get higher one and dial the timing down so that I get 1:1 ratio, isn't that better?

 

[farlex85]

Why would DDR3 with Q9550 will be almost pointless? I read that 1:1 ratio is the way to go. Q9550 has 1333Mhz and if I get DDR3 1333 or get higher one and dial the timing down so that I get 1:1 ratio, isn't that better?

Ok, you got me, I was exaggerating. No but really ddr3 is extremely limited b/c the fsb cannot keep up, it just doesn't have enough bandwidth, and the memory and cpu can only communicate this way in core 2. Hence the direct ddr3 memory controller of i7, which more than doubles this bandwidth, and a triple-channel set-up will increase it some more. Roughly. Plus the qpi will increase bandwidth as well. The fsb is a bottleneck, one that becomes huge when talking ddr3 speeds. Pointless? No. Inefficient and not fully utilizing that expensive ddr3? Definitely.

 

[Deimos]

I'm just curious to see what the cost of the new mobos are because at least this gives me an estimate at I7 costs. Along with some real performance numbers and comparisons to whats on the market now.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

I'm just curious to see what the cost of the new mobos are because at least this gives me an estimate at I7 costs. Along with some real performance numbers and comparisons to whats on the market now.

the new x58 motherboards are said to be priced about equal to what the nvidia 790 chipset motherboards cost($350 area). A I7 rig with the 2.66 gig cpu will cost about the same as building a q9450 quad/790i chipset system today(about $600-700 for motherboard cpu combo)

 

[Bluefox1115]

I'd say just wait and build a new AMD FX system

 

[Deimos]

I'd say just wait and build a new AMD FX system

And when is that supposed to happen?

 

[Bluefox1115]

I believe Jan or Feb?

 

[Hayder_Master]

my tips is change cpu and card
q6600
ati 4850

 

[Deimos]

I believe Jan or Feb?

Yeah, no way am i waiting that long.

 

[kenkickr]

If money isn't an issue why not go with the 4870 X2( or 2) or the 260(or 2)!? My only gripe is with Vista Ultimate!! Why? It's basically just Home Premium and Business thrown together so you get alot more bloatware, like Vista doesn't have enough already. I would say go with Vista Home Premium x64 unless you have a use for all the Business crap.

 

[Bluefox1115]

I'd say grab an E8500, overclock it to 4- 4.5GHz get some good memory to match the bus, and a 4870. My suggestion is on the 2nd page I believe...

 

[Deimos]

If money isn't an issue why not go with the 4870 X2( or 2) or the 260(or 2)!? My only gripe is with Vista Ultimate!! Why? It's basically just Home Premium and Business thrown together so you get alot more bloatware, like Vista doesn't have enough already. I would say go with Vista Home Premium x64 unless you have a use for all the Business crap.

I guess i need to update my post. I already swapped over to a 280 Gtx card. And i'm going back down to home premium.

 

[Deimos]

For those that missed it. This is the current setup i have going on.

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/P...ishListNumber=5135749&WishListTitle=GodGinrai

CPU/motherboard/ram are pending the prices/performance value of the new processors/mobos when they come out. I want to future proof, As in what will be the norm in a year, not right now. Even if that means along term future proofing. I don't see overclocking performances boosts to be the most necessary thing in my world in all honest. I'm not trying to strain myself for 10 fps in a game getting 50+ fps in a game. The whole dual core/quadcore/i7 thing still has me thinking.

I like big cases and I'm not worried about space so mid towers are out. I think this one looks the best and from what i can tell it performs more then adequate for the job of air cooling. (no proof otherwise so far) And allows for future tinkering with water cooling if I get the berries to do so.