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What upgrades should I spend on???

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Power Supply Corsair HX 1000 Platinum
I have 1000 AUD which is equal to 626 USD.

What upgrade would you guys recommend I spend my money on? So far I've thought of buying;

Second 4850:
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7601

Second HDD: (Western Digital Caviar 640GB WD6400AAKS Western Digital Caviar 640GB WD6400AAKS)
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7023

New Case(Antec 900):
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4228

And new RAM: (
OCZ DDR2 PC2-8500 Reaper HPC 2x2GB (OCZ2RPR10664GK))
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7670

Total of 769 AUD: Not even all of the grand lol.

What do you guys think?? Please refer to my current system specs under my avatar.
 
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Video Card(s) Gigabyte Aero 4080 Super 16GB
Storage 2TB Samsung 980 Pro PCIE 4.0
Display(s) Alienware 38" 3840x1600 (165Hz)
Case Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO White
Audio Device(s) 2i2 Scarlett Solo + Schiit Magni 3 AMP
Power Supply Corsair HX 1000 Platinum
Should I buy all of the above or would you guys think that a 4850x2 and a new case is better???
 

James1991

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4850:rockout:
(basing this on my experience)
 

Benno

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Definitely the 4850.
Think to yourself, do you need another 640gb? If so then get that lol.
 
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Well I use my computer for gaming and recording music so I'm kinda stuck with this decision lol.
 
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Gaming and music recording but you use onboard sound?
Invest in a decent sound card.
Can't recommend you one from personal experioence though as I'm still using a Audigy 2 ZS.
 

Benno

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Oh yes recording music. Probably a Creative x-fi card. I don't know anything about all the different types though, so somebody else will have to help you on that one.
 
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James1991

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Software Windows Vista Ultimate x64
Benchmark Scores boots into windows is that ok?
X-Fi Extreme Gamer Fatal1ty Pro:rockout:

i suppose the PCI-E card would be better but compared to my onboard i got an extra 20FPS in GRID:eek:

it's got a red LED Fatal1ty symbol too (looks good in my case:D)
 
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nzxt tempest with 6 fans 2 top 140mm, 2 front 120mm a side 120mm and a back 120mm
has plenty of drive bays and 2 hdd cages with the 2 front fans cooling them

i find myself reccomending this case a lot on tpu lol.

heres the tpu review but google for some more they vary from 7.5-10 in score so you know its a good case

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NZXT/Tempest

get another 4850 tho or if you can tri fire get a 4850x2 and do 3 way crossfire for fun
 
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Hi

Adding another 4850 or 4850x2 will give you a serious kick in gaming.

My opinion is that onboard sound vs. dedicated card sound quality difference is no longer so noticeable.
There used to be a difference between old AC97 and SB/Audigy cards.
Now (if you have a good mobo), HD codecs are as good. Mobo manufacturers now care to put some proper capacitors with them :} ...

On top of that, many people (including me) had SO MUCH trouble getting Creative drivers to work properly that we gave up.
Realtek crap gets updated constantly and works very well now.

Cheers,
 
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Storage 2TB Samsung 980 Pro PCIE 4.0
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Audio Device(s) 2i2 Scarlett Solo + Schiit Magni 3 AMP
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Yeah right now it pretty much depends if it stays under 900 AUD since I got 100 I owe to someone :p.

Combination 1:
Case = <$180AUD
SoundCard =<$200AUD
HDD = 1TB $216AUD
GPU = HIS 4850 <$260AUD

Combination 2 (Is ew):
Case = $180AUD
GPU = 4850x2 <$750AUD

These were the only combinations I came up with under 900 AUD or almost at least. I think I'm sticking with number 1, just need to know what type of case, sound card and hdd that may help me save a few more dollars or benefit me more in both gaming and recording :).

The tempest looks great, but the antec 900 and nzxt zero or the cm 690 stacker looks very tempting for air cooling too.
Do I really need a sound card? or should I spend less to get dual channel 2x2 4gb ocz reapers to reach 8gb on my 64bit OS.
The GPU no exception, buying another 4850 instead of a 4850x2 or say 260gtx black would keep my budget satisfied :).
The HDD stays since I really do need more room :), I can set my OS to 200mb pagefile(finally) and use the 1tb for media files instead of games.
 
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Benchmark Scores E8400 hardware rank 94th on hwbot in wPrime :D
combination 1 is best,
do you already have a 4850 ?
 
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Yep I have 1 4850 already, I had crossfire before but my normal HIS 4850 died. I'm left with the ICEQ4 version and an accelero s1 rev 2 that I have nothing to mount on.

EDIT: I'm gonna be getting these http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Corsair/TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF instead of a new sound card and turn down my HDD to 640GB instead of a 750gb one.
 

King Wookie

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If you are really serious about the music side, a suitable pro audio interface would make the world of difference. Creative doesn't fit the bill. I don't know any pro audio retailers in your neck of the woods, but brands like M-Audio, EMU (Creative's pro audio cards), Presonus, Edirol, etc, will be a better bet. They often come with better recording software bundled.

If you want a gaming card that can do some recording, the Asus Sonars are better quality.

Otherwise just use the onboard for gaming, and an external for recording. I currently use a Creative X-Fi for gaming, and a Digidesign M-box for pro audio.
 
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Combination 1 looks perfect to me.
Pretty much what I would like to upgrade on my system.
But new CPU, RAM and motherboard comes first.

Combination 2 just plain sucks.
 
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Video Card(s) Gigabyte Aero 4080 Super 16GB
Storage 2TB Samsung 980 Pro PCIE 4.0
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Case Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO White
Audio Device(s) 2i2 Scarlett Solo + Schiit Magni 3 AMP
Power Supply Corsair HX 1000 Platinum
If you are really serious about the music side, a suitable pro audio interface would make the world of difference. Creative doesn't fit the bill. I don't know any pro audio retailers in your neck of the woods, but brands like M-Audio, EMU (Creative's pro audio cards), Presonus, Edirol, etc, will be a better bet. They often come with better recording software bundled.

If you want a gaming card that can do some recording, the Asus Sonars are better quality.

Otherwise just use the onboard for gaming, and an external for recording. I currently use a Creative X-Fi for gaming, and a Digidesign M-box for pro audio.


Spot on to what answer I was looking for! Unfortunately PCCaseGear.com.au is the only comp shop i'm dealing with atm, they have auzentech for x-fi chipsets, creative sound cards and one razer brand. I guess I will just screw the sound card for now until I finish further research on this stuff.
I'm mainly going to be using a sound card for recording quality and fast latency through MIDI output on my electric drumkit, since this is my first time I'm going to be using a non-acoustic kit I don't have 1 single clue whats a good hybrid setup between gaming and recording on my computer. I will be seriously pissed if I end up having bad latency and response from my electronic drumkit using onboard sound.

Combination 1 it is! I've been dying to get one of those mad looking corsair ram coolers ::rockout:
 
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Hey randomflip. Have you tried Umart. Their prices are really good and they have quick shipping. Customer service isn't quite as good as PCCG though.

here is your $1000 spent. They didn't have a his brand 4850 though so I just chose a sapphire one.

1 HD4850
2 x 640gb WD's (awesome in raid 0 )
Asus Zonar high end sound card
Lian-Li case. The antec 90 is a piece of poo compared to Lian-Li


rig.jpg
 
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Video Card(s) Gigabyte Aero 4080 Super 16GB
Storage 2TB Samsung 980 Pro PCIE 4.0
Display(s) Alienware 38" 3840x1600 (165Hz)
Case Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO White
Audio Device(s) 2i2 Scarlett Solo + Schiit Magni 3 AMP
Power Supply Corsair HX 1000 Platinum
Hmm no I haven't going to surf their site now thanks.


Update: Boo they don't have HIS 4850's :(, they got nice price on the 4850 though Sapphire $239AUD compared to HIS $259AUD. They have the sound-cards may deal with them after.
 
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Hmm no I haven't going to surf their site now thanks.


Update: Boo they don't have HIS 4850's :(, they got nice price on the 4850 though Sapphire $239AUD compared to HIS $259AUD. They have the sound-cards may deal with them after.

You will also notice the WD6400AKS is only $99 compared to $139 at PCCG. Thats a big diff. :)
 
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Combination 1 it is! I've been dying to get one of those mad looking corsair ram coolers ::rockout:

My brother has a pair of corsair Dominators with the ram cooler but stopped using it.
He says its noisy so if your'e one of those people who are a bit fussy about PC noise then you may not want to use them.

EDIT:-
Just noticed you use a Scythe Kaze.
So the RAM cooler noise shouldn't be of any issue to you.
 
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My brother has a pair of corsair Dominators with the ram cooler but stopped using it.
He says its noisy so if your'e one of those people who are a bit fussy about PC noise then you may not want to use them.

EDIT:-
Just noticed you use a Scythe Kaze.
So the RAM cooler noise shouldn't be of any issue to you.

lol yeah I have it on 24/7 at 3000rpm, gets dusty but meh its a good intake.

Thanks for pointing that out drunken mafia :)
 
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