The (new) Official PC building thread!

If youre a multitasker then go with the quad core(option 2)

To save a bit extra, just download the OS from torrents

Why don't you just put the corsair 520w PSU in the 2nd option aswell?

 

Russ, I'd expect that to be the case with most 1066 modules really, not just the Dominators. It may be that other brands don't need so much of a voltage increase to get to that speed, but I highly doubt PC8500 is the speed they started at.

Novadrago:
The HX power supply is better than the VX, I'd recommend you use that if you can. Editing 3D graphics may require a half decent graphics card (the ones you've chosen aren't half decent), depending on which programs you use. If you do it professionally, then the quad core is the CPU you want.
You can save nearly £30 by going for this motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131173
Still an excellent board, with pretty much al the features of the expensive Asus one.

 

He_Man I would remove that d/l comment.

I think either cpu is fine but like sam said if you're a serious multitasker then the Quad may be the answer.

To me the first computer is basically the one to go with BUT changing a thing or two. sam already mentioned one thing (2 really, gpu & mobo) You get a hsf with the retail version but if you notice a problem with heat you can get an aftermarket one.

...gm

 

Oh and while we are on quad cores, is the new 95w edition compatible with the Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R?

 

Yep.

 

Is this too good to be true?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GIGABYTE-GA-P...yZ108978QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Seems like a nice saving on mobo

 

Not at all, because look how much it costs here:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131173

 

Shipping Charge: £8.99
Subtotal: £70.26
VAT: £12.31
Total: £82.57

To £68.00 on that Ebay Shop. Even if we take away postage costs it's still cheaper. I may haggle with that guy on Ebay, he has the corsair ram im after aswell.

 

Oh, my bad. Didn't spot that was without VAT.
I'd still rather buy from ebuyer than ebay though...

 

I am just looking at e-buyer prices and they are rather expensive(about the same as overclockers)

Scan seems the best bet.

 

Crossfire only gained 2000 3DMark06 points. Nvidia SLI gave me a much better two card increase over one. The single card score with this Phenom 9500 PC was 10,340, non OCed. When I tried non OCed crossfire I was getting around 12000. Overclocking the cards and the Phenom would score 12,300 or so.

I may not have the crossfire set up correctly though so I may find a way to get more of an improvement. The way it is now, crossfire is a waste of money. I'll search around a bit and see if there is something wrong with the way I have it set up. There is really not a lot to doing it though... Add the second card, add the jumper, open Catylist Control Center and click the Enable Crossfire box.

I can always use the extra card in something else.

It does look rather cool though:

 

That cable management is "1337"

Ill serach for 3870 crossfire problems, as far as i have found is,

http://forums.amd.com/game/messageview.cfm?catid=262&threadid=89578

The dude goes on about BIOS settings,

"have you checked in your BIOS to see if you have your second PCI-E slot disabled or something? there must be something wrong with your settings"

Alos check you are in PCIE mode.

Later, they go on about

"The GPUZ says that the Crossfire mode is not active, and the results that I obtain with 3DMark06 and Crysis are equal than with a single card...
I have changed the Catalyst drivers to 7.10 and 7.10 without Crysis Fix, I have checked a lot of times the BIOS settings, but I can't find nothing that solves this problem."

Oh and here is real 3870 crossfire,



Anyway, what do you think of this ATI 3850?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-088-HT

 

I recieved my CM stacker 830 evo case yesterday. man that sucker is huge. it is loaded with a lot of nice features. I don't see how the egg could have shipped it for free. the box was about 30" x 24" x 16". when I do get around to using it, I doubt I will set it on top my desk on the right edge like my mystique is now. I'll probably park it on the right side on the floor and then wheel it out when I need to get behind it (it comes with wheels if I choose to use them).

 

He_Man,
That 8800Ultra looks pretty good for a single card! At 14,537 3D Marks, I'd love to see what two of them could do in a good SLI MB. A bit expensive though, to do it, even with this one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130090

Anyone here know anything about 2 of these in SLI?

Best Regards,
theone :<)

 

If i am not mistaken, the numbers 23,000-24,000 come to mind from reviews i have glanced at. I could be wrong.

Edit - Ah yes here we are,

http://www.nordichardware.com/image3.php?id=3373

 

He_Man,

WOW!! 24,604 3D Marks Of course about $1320 to get it! LOL!!! I'm impressed!

theone

 

Now let's all gaze in stardom at two 9800GTX's in SLI. Anyone fancy breaking the 50,000 mark?

 

I think the record is over 38,000 on 3D mark using 4 video cards...and CPU's at -364F...on a 3 stage cascade cooler...done in San Francisco...

 

And here's me with my lowly 6900. Oh well!
Fasfrank: I love the cable management job, top notch man!
I'm puzzled by that chart. 3850s in crossfire get pretty much the same score as using 3870s?

 

Sam, I remember when I used to be jealous of your score. Hah!