- Joined
- Feb 29, 2008
- Messages
- 311 (0.05/day)
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
System Name | GAMING BEAST |
---|---|
Processor | i7 920 |
Motherboard | EVGA X58 SLi |
Cooling | Noctua NH-U12P 120mm |
Memory | 6gb OCZ Gold DDR3 1600 |
Video Card(s) | Sapphire HD6850 |
Storage | 2x640gb WD AALS Matrix RAID 0/RAID 5 (180mb/s, 7.2ms Access) |
Display(s) | Acer X233Hbd 23" Monitor (1920x1080) |
Case | Antec Three Hundred |
Audio Device(s) | N/A |
Power Supply | Corsair TX-750 |
Software | Windows 7 64-Bit |
Benchmark Scores | 3DMark06 (9600gt): 12,567 3DMark06 (HD4870): 16,587 3DMarkVantage: P4740 |
Okay, so here's the deal. Built the computer a little over a year ago now, need a little more umpf so I don't fall to far behind everyone else. Specs are in my spec sheet on the left. I play MMORPG video games daily, as well as do heavy graphic and cpu intensive programs creating maps, as I'm a cartographer. I haven't kept up with the best of the best news really bc of work/school keeping me busy, so I still have some reading to do but thought It'd be nice to get a head start on where to look. Here's some comments about what I have since I built it and what I want going forward:
1. After overclocking and setting up a year ago, the idle temps were 44, 44, 39, 38 approximately for the cores, high 60s stress tested 100% cpu. First of all, noticeable difference in the cores, which leads me to believe the cooler isn't 100% seated properly. Resat and same problem, so it needs to be lapped. Never got around to it, and with the new technology out there, I may as well buy a new cooler and lap that. Here's another interesting fact, computer runs 56 56 48 49 idle now with high 60s (closing in on my max) when only pushing 25% cpu (about my max for my gaming, haven't stress tested since it's been running this hot because it will most likely sky rocket temps). I've kept the dust out fairly well, so I don't think it's that, however it has gotten quite hot here in AZ, but it was just as bad in the Winter, so don't know whats up. So basically, what's a good cooler to get these days?
2. Memory needs to be upgraded. It's slow, overclocks poorly, and only have 4GB, of which I utilize almost all of it daily.
3. Video card is artifacting and couldn't get a chance to send it in before the warranty was up because I needed to use the comp everyday for work/school. Plus it's way behind the competition these days anyways. Need an upgrade, only one card because of what the mobo allows. Pretty much anything is better than this these days, shoot me something cheap but powerful.
4. Anything else you guys would recommend? Those are the big things that I can remember off the top of my head. Case/hdd/mobo/psu all seems gtg still.
Budget: $300 (Approx $200 for video card, $50 for cooler, $50 for memory)
1. After overclocking and setting up a year ago, the idle temps were 44, 44, 39, 38 approximately for the cores, high 60s stress tested 100% cpu. First of all, noticeable difference in the cores, which leads me to believe the cooler isn't 100% seated properly. Resat and same problem, so it needs to be lapped. Never got around to it, and with the new technology out there, I may as well buy a new cooler and lap that. Here's another interesting fact, computer runs 56 56 48 49 idle now with high 60s (closing in on my max) when only pushing 25% cpu (about my max for my gaming, haven't stress tested since it's been running this hot because it will most likely sky rocket temps). I've kept the dust out fairly well, so I don't think it's that, however it has gotten quite hot here in AZ, but it was just as bad in the Winter, so don't know whats up. So basically, what's a good cooler to get these days?
2. Memory needs to be upgraded. It's slow, overclocks poorly, and only have 4GB, of which I utilize almost all of it daily.
3. Video card is artifacting and couldn't get a chance to send it in before the warranty was up because I needed to use the comp everyday for work/school. Plus it's way behind the competition these days anyways. Need an upgrade, only one card because of what the mobo allows. Pretty much anything is better than this these days, shoot me something cheap but powerful.
4. Anything else you guys would recommend? Those are the big things that I can remember off the top of my head. Case/hdd/mobo/psu all seems gtg still.
Budget: $300 (Approx $200 for video card, $50 for cooler, $50 for memory)
