Yet another computer advice thread :P - Page 2

spacemanc · 10-16-2008, 08:15 PM

Looks good to me Drew
Try getting the 4570 with the cooling shown on this:
Force3D ATI Radeon HD 4870 "Black Edition" 512MB GDDR5 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail
Notice the speeds compared to stock, plus theres much more room to OC if you wish and it will be much quieter.
Also the 4870 is hungry so youll need a good PSU - a 600w should do it - get a good brand and make sure it modular.
I dont know about mobo's, cos I was looking at them nearly a year ago so Im a bit out of touch.
What you've chosen so far will give you a seriously powerful PC though. ( Plus with the right cooling you could have a "silent" PC which is what I always aim for

)

Bamboo · 10-16-2008, 09:48 PM

If you are looking at the 4870, the tech site Anandtech, one of the best sites around, just posted this the other day:
The Radeon HD 4870 1GB: The Card to Get

MadTommy · 10-17-2008, 04:45 AM

This looks good.. good value - £633.31 inc VAT (inside your budget

)

"Titan Accelerator" Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40GHz @ 3.00GHz+ DDR2 System

Quote:

Including the blistering new ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics card this is at the cutting edge of technology! With the power of the Intel Q6600 Quad Core at this systems heart there is nothing this will not be able to tackle. With 4GB of Corsair memory, the latest Intel P45 Asus P5Q motherboard, a high spec LG Blu-Ray reader and HD-DVD reader with DVD±RW and a 500GB Seagate Barracuda the components are all the very latest in technology. Prepare for the best value gaming experience thanks to OcUK.

- Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "Energy Efficient SLACR 95W Edition" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) Overclocked to 3.00GHz!
- Asus P5Q Intel P45 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
- HIS ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI PCI-Express
- Corsair 4GB DDR2 XMS2 PC2-6400C5 TwinX
- Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler
- Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB SATA-II 32MB Cache
- LG GGC-H20L Blu-Ray Reader & HD-DVD ROM Serial ATA Drive
- OCZ StealthXStream 500w Silent ATX2 Power Supply

G.Drew · 10-18-2008, 11:50 AM

ok i have everything on my list apart from the all important motherboard

Quote:

Motherboard:

CPU: Scan Computers UK: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, Kentsfield Core, S775, 2.40 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, 9x Multiplier, Retail with Scan Computers UK: NorthQ Siberian Tiger Liquid Cooling All AMD/Intel with 120mm Ceramic NorthQ Fan control. Retail

GFX card: Scan Computers UK: 512MB Power Color HD4870 OC, PCI-E 2.0(x16), 3800MHz GDDR5, GPU 800MHz, 800 Cores, 2x DL DVI-I/ HDTV

PSU: Scan Computers UK: 700W Silverstone, ST70F, Modular, Quad +12V rails w/ 50A, 4x 6pin PCI-E, 1x 8pin PCI-E, v.1 RoHS

RAM: Scan Computers UK: 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2 Pro, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 4-4-4-12

Bamboo · 10-18-2008, 03:59 PM

Here are 2 great guides on how to pick a MB
PC Building Guide | NordicHardware
The 2008 PC Builder's Bible | GamesRadar

Pretty much you want to do a side by side comparison of some boards that have all the feature you want, like how many SATA connections or if you want some special sound output, etc. Then you want to make sure the board is not going to be a limit on your future upgrading path. That was the problem with the board someone listed on the first page.

Newegg is great for doing side by side comparisons, even if you can't order from them.

I threw this together for you:
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!

I have had really good experience with ASUS and their tech support. And in reviews, the ASUS boards usually come out on top, followed pretty closely by Gigibyte boards, then others like MSI. I just read an article that ASUS has about 50% of the market right now, and there is a reason for that. They make good stuff, and support to back it up. It may seem small, but the only thing I don't like with ASUS at the moment is a lot of times their website is very slow. Guess I'm spoiled with fast internet though.

Any of the boards listed in the comparison above would make you happy, and give you a good upgrade since they are the newest p45 chipset. The only thing really above it is x48, and the only thing that really adds is full 2x16PCI-E. I'm not a fan of SLI or Crossfire, as it is a pain in the ass that never fully works right with all games, you have to wait for new drivers or hotfixes when a new game is out, and you never get near 2x performance from it, even though you paid for 2 cards. Plus the extra power draw and heat they put out. With the great deals on cards out there, and something like the 4870 being as good as it is, I would rather just have one good card that keeps things fast for about 1.5-2 years, then upgrade and sell the old one.

Like I said, any of the boards above would be good, but personally I would go for one under $200, and I have seen all of them on sale cheaper than what is listed before. The boards over $200 pretty much just add overclocking and BIOS tweaks that most people don't need. Sure, going with the Maximus might squeeze an extra 2-3 FPS out of a game, but I don't think that is worth that much extra $$. I would rather spend it on a better GFX card or faster memory/ CPU.

By the way, I went last year with the p5k Deluxe Wi-Fi, which was $220 at the time. The only thing it really added was a built in WiFi AP, which is nice, but I think next time I would go with a board closer to $150. I got it so I didn't have to get a sep. router for my wife's laptop internet, but I didn't think about the fact that I would have to leave the computer on all the time for the WiFi to be up.

G.Drew · 10-18-2008, 04:09 PM

Aweomse bambooo thanks

Finally decided on one:

Quote:

Motherboard: Scan Computers UK: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3, iP45 Express, S775, PCI-E 2.0x16, DDR2 1066/1200/800, SATA II, ATX

CPU: Scan Computers UK: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, Kentsfield Core, S775, 2.40 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, 9x Multiplier, Retail with Scan Computers UK: NorthQ Siberian Tiger Liquid Cooling All AMD/Intel with 120mm Ceramic NorthQ Fan control. Retail

GFX card: Scan Computers UK: 512MB Power Color HD4870 OC, PCI-E 2.0(x16), 3800MHz GDDR5, GPU 800MHz, 800 Cores, 2x DL DVI-I/ HDTV

PSU: Scan Computers UK: 700W Silverstone, ST70F, Modular, Quad +12V rails w/ 50A, 4x 6pin PCI-E, 1x 8pin PCI-E, v.1 RoHS

RAM: Scan Computers UK: 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2 Pro, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 4-4-4-12

Total £592.85

(Actually £582.93 must be a discount or something)

spacemanc · 10-18-2008, 04:29 PM

I dont think you need as much as 700w despite the 4870 being hungry - you could get an Antec Sonata case with a 500w quiet PSU included, for less than the price of the 700w PSU. It would only be a problem if you went for crossfire later, but as Bamboo said its a pain in the ass, and by the time you consider doing it, youll probably be better off just doing a full upgrade again.

G.Drew · 10-21-2008, 04:33 PM

Update: Yeh, i think ive just blown my GFX card (7600GT-while playing a source game lol) and now windows will not start up, everything is all pixelated with patches or pruple and green in stuff.

Whoops

wooly-back-jack · 10-21-2008, 04:43 PM

LOL, I was thinking of enquiring what current DDR ram you had and what you'd let it go for but I think I'll leave it!

G.Drew · 10-22-2008, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wooly-back-jack

LOL, I was thinking of enquiring what current DDR ram you had and what you'd let it go for but I think I'll leave it!

afaik its only the GFX card that gone, managed to start it on safe mode and everything seemed fine, apart from the graphics, that is

10-16-2008, 08:15 PM	#11
spacemanc Join Date: Mar 2008 United Kingdom Location: Manchester Posts: 1,164	Re: Yet another computer advice thread :P Looks good to me Drew Try getting the 4570 with the cooling shown on this: Force3D ATI Radeon HD 4870 "Black Edition" 512MB GDDR5 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail Notice the speeds compared to stock, plus theres much more room to OC if you wish and it will be much quieter. Also the 4870 is hungry so youll need a good PSU - a 600w should do it - get a good brand and make sure it modular. I dont know about mobo's, cos I was looking at them nearly a year ago so Im a bit out of touch. What you've chosen so far will give you a seriously powerful PC though. ( Plus with the right cooling you could have a "silent" PC which is what I always aim for )

	Last edited by spacemanc; 10-16-2008 at 08:21 PM..

10-16-2008, 09:48 PM	#12
Bamboo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 625	Re: Yet another computer advice thread :P If you are looking at the 4870, the tech site Anandtech, one of the best sites around, just posted this the other day: The Radeon HD 4870 1GB: The Card to Get
Bamboo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 625

10-18-2008, 03:59 PM	#15
Bamboo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 625	Re: Yet another computer advice thread :P Here are 2 great guides on how to pick a MB PC Building Guide \| NordicHardware The 2008 PC Builder's Bible \| GamesRadar Pretty much you want to do a side by side comparison of some boards that have all the feature you want, like how many SATA connections or if you want some special sound output, etc. Then you want to make sure the board is not going to be a limit on your future upgrading path. That was the problem with the board someone listed on the first page. Newegg is great for doing side by side comparisons, even if you can't order from them. I threw this together for you: Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more! I have had really good experience with ASUS and their tech support. And in reviews, the ASUS boards usually come out on top, followed pretty closely by Gigibyte boards, then others like MSI. I just read an article that ASUS has about 50% of the market right now, and there is a reason for that. They make good stuff, and support to back it up. It may seem small, but the only thing I don't like with ASUS at the moment is a lot of times their website is very slow. Guess I'm spoiled with fast internet though. Any of the boards listed in the comparison above would make you happy, and give you a good upgrade since they are the newest p45 chipset. The only thing really above it is x48, and the only thing that really adds is full 2x16PCI-E. I'm not a fan of SLI or Crossfire, as it is a pain in the ass that never fully works right with all games, you have to wait for new drivers or hotfixes when a new game is out, and you never get near 2x performance from it, even though you paid for 2 cards. Plus the extra power draw and heat they put out. With the great deals on cards out there, and something like the 4870 being as good as it is, I would rather just have one good card that keeps things fast for about 1.5-2 years, then upgrade and sell the old one. Like I said, any of the boards above would be good, but personally I would go for one under $200, and I have seen all of them on sale cheaper than what is listed before. The boards over $200 pretty much just add overclocking and BIOS tweaks that most people don't need. Sure, going with the Maximus might squeeze an extra 2-3 FPS out of a game, but I don't think that is worth that much extra $$. I would rather spend it on a better GFX card or faster memory/ CPU. By the way, I went last year with the p5k Deluxe Wi-Fi, which was $220 at the time. The only thing it really added was a built in WiFi AP, which is nice, but I think next time I would go with a board closer to $150. I got it so I didn't have to get a sep. router for my wife's laptop internet, but I didn't think about the fact that I would have to leave the computer on all the time for the WiFi to be up.
Bamboo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 625

10-18-2008, 04:29 PM	#17
spacemanc Join Date: Mar 2008 United Kingdom Location: Manchester Posts: 1,164	Re: Yet another computer advice thread :P I dont think you need as much as 700w despite the 4870 being hungry - you could get an Antec Sonata case with a 500w quiet PSU included, for less than the price of the 700w PSU. It would only be a problem if you went for crossfire later, but as Bamboo said its a pain in the ass, and by the time you consider doing it, youll probably be better off just doing a full upgrade again.

10-21-2008, 04:33 PM	#18
G.Drew Join Date: Apr 2006 United Kingdom Location: Hamilton, Scotland Posts: 3,865	Re: Yet another computer advice thread :P Update: Yeh, i think ive just blown my GFX card (7600GT-while playing a source game lol) and now windows will not start up, everything is all pixelated with patches or pruple and green in stuff. Whoops
	[R-CON]Desertfox:Or just kick him in the nuts and run Polka: Thats me! Brummy I still have no penis TheSkudDestroyer: Rhino has a hard time getting it up. ZING!? [R-DEV]Nickbond: As it stands the Huey handles like my grandma walking to the shops.

10-21-2008, 04:43 PM	#19
wooly-back-jack Join Date: Jan 2007 United Kingdom Location: Wigan - NW England Posts: 942	Re: Yet another computer advice thread :P LOL, I was thinking of enquiring what current DDR ram you had and what you'd let it go for but I think I'll leave it!
	My Putfile bits & bobs! YouTube

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