Author Topic: If money were no object... (Read 558 times)

popgun · « **on:** April 20, 2005, 03:35:43 PM »

...what would your ultimate game sys be ?

I'm looking to get a new setup myself so this is just a different way of asking what I should look for. No I'm not a millionaire but I'll see what y'all say and work backward from there.
Include everything but the monitor (I'm keeping my old 21" Nokia 445xi.

p
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...Thanks for now, definitely more questions later.

Paul · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2005, 03:49:54 PM »

How about if compatablilty weren't an object?

Because then I would buy a Dual 2.5GHz 64-bit processor, 8GB DDR400 SDRAM, ATI X800, quadruple 74GB SATA raptors, and 30" flat screen - apple computer.

But then again, you also have your supercomputers...

JB73 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2005, 03:50:08 PM »

see this thread:

http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=146357

the PC SkyWolf ended up buying is pretty well up there...

PROCESSOR AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3500+ operates at 2.2GHz, 1600MHz FSB, 512KB Cache
SYSTEM COLOR Jet Black
MAIN BOARD MSI K8N Neo4-F NFORCE 4 Athlon 64 2000MHz FSB DDR400 16X PCIE w/RAID
MEMORY 1024MB PC-3200 DDR 400MHz Memory (2 X 512 MB Modules)
HARD DRIVE 1 80GB S-ATA 150 7200RPM Hard Drive
HARD DRIVE 2 80GB S-ATA 150 7200RPM Hard Drive
RAID SETTING RAID 1 Mirrored Drives - For Security Purposes (SATA Drives Only)
VIDEO nVidia GeForce 6800 GT 256MB DDR3 w/PCI Express, DVI and TV Out
CD/DVD/RW 1 Internal DVD+CD Rewritable Combo Drive 16X52X32X52
CD/DVD/RW 2 None.
RECORDING SOFTWARE None or Bundled CDRW Software w/CDRW Purchase Only
SOUND Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS 7.1 Retail Edition
MODEM None.
NETWORK CARD Onboard Gigabit (10/100/1000) PCI Network Card
FLOPPY DRIVE 1.44MB 3 1/2 Floppy Disk Drive
CASE Full Tower Screwless AMD/Intel Certified 500W ATX Case w/TyphoonTM Cooling System
CASE MOD "See Through" Side Window bearing Vicious Logo and Red Cold-Cathod Lighting
CASE COOLING Level 2 TyphoonTM Cooling system w/Additional 8CM Front Case Fan
KEYBOARD Internet Multimedia Keyboard
MOUSE Optical Mouse with Hardware Scrolling Button PS/2
SPEAKERS None.
PORTS 1 Serial, 1 Parallel, 1 Game/Midi and 6 USB ports
MONITOR None.
OS Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
SERVICE Standard 3 Year Limited Parts and Labor Warranty

though id' say get a GF 6800 ultra for the best video card on the market

whels · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2005, 04:15:20 PM »

if money no worry, here is what id ge from Falcon Northwest. rate the best gaming rigs going.

whels

ICON Exotix Flag Paint
Silverstone 650Watt Power Supply 24 Pin
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe Motherboard
AMD Athlon64 FX-55 Socket 939
Corsair TwinX 2048MB 3200LL-PT (4/512mb)
2 x nVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB PCIE
Raid 0 - (Requires [2] identical drives)
WD740GD Raptor 74GB 10000RPM 8MB SATA
WD740GD Raptor 74GB 10000RPM 8MB SATA
WD740GD Raptor 74GB 10000RPM 8MB SATA
WD740GD Raptor 74GB 10000RPM 8MB SATA
Lite-On 16X Dual Layer DVD+-/RW
Lite-On 52x CDRW
Creative Labs Audigy II ZS Platinum Pro
Microsoft Natural Multimedia Keyboard
Logitech MX1000 Crdls/Laser rechargable
NEC 20 LCD 1600x1200 25ms 400:1 C/R
APC Personal 7T Surge Protector
Silencer 80MM Case fans
Windowed Side Panel - Icon Case

* Your ratio of COOLERs to CPUs does not match. Please verify you have a 1:1 match by either adding or removing a COOLER or CPU.

System Price: $ 8,291.41

Price with UPS Ground $ 8,431.81
Price with UPS 2-Day $ 8,528.53
Price with UPS Priority Overnight $ 8,671.01
Price with UPS Alaska or Hawaii $ 8,602.37
Price with USPS Service to Military $ 8,598.21

eagl · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2005, 04:16:48 PM »

Fastest mobo and cpu combo for right now would be one of those SLI capable nforce4 boards, an "FX" series AMD cpu, 2 1-gig memory sticks because the A64 boards seem to have troubles with 4 mem sticks, and 2 GF6800 Ultra boards running in SLI.

There is supposedly an nvidia based SLI solution for Intel cpus that should be available "soon", and an intel extreme edition cpu in one of those suckers would also be very fast. For gaming though, the A64 FX cpus would still be the fastest though.

I think ASUS has some good SLI mobos. Just the mobo and cpu alone would run well over $1000 for a rig like that, and 2 6800 Ultras would run another $1200-$1400. I dunno what the memory would cost but really high speed 1 gig sticks are not very common due to the cost and trouble getting much speed out of them. The real speed in gaming memory right now is getting 2 sticks of 512 meg memory that use the "TCCD" chips, and those can run upwards of $150 each for the absolute fastest stuff.

edit: That falcon northwest probably has it all. I'm not too sure about the 4 sticks of memory since I haven't read any reviews of NF4 boards that run stable with 4 sticks, but if a speed shop like falcon northwest will sell it configured like that, then it must work ok.

I'd probably skip the RAID array though.

Kev367th · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2005, 11:05:34 PM »

Eagle - you'll be gald to know the new AMD dual core support 4 sticks of mem at DDR400 and a command rate of 1T. Using standard 'single core' setting the command rate to 2T usually works.

Ultimate sys -
socket 939 board ASUS A8N
AMD dual core FX-55
4x512Mb fastest DDR400 available
Dual 6800ultras in SLI
Perc4 U320 SCSI RAID card with 128mb cache.
2x174Gb U320 SCSI in RAID 0 for games
2x40Gb U320 SCSI in RAID 1 for OS
3x174Gb U320 SCSI in RAID 5 for other stuff

Realistically-
Same board
AMD FX-55 (not dual core)
Same video cards
SATA RAID array using Raptor drives.

popgun · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2005, 03:47:04 PM »

Well good, I was thinking along the lines of Kev and eagl, proly skip the raid and go with a 200GB Raptor and 2 6800GT's instead of Ultras. Would I see a big difference between the GT and Ultra ?
Would I need at least 500 watts for the SLI ?
p
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...gettin' closer...

JB73 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2005, 03:53:51 PM »

yes big difference, and dont forget the ultras need their own power cable from the supply directly so get the biggest power supply you can find

38ruk · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2005, 08:51:59 PM »

i would just clock the 6800 GT's to ultra speeds and save the cash . The cards have the same amount of pipes and shaders , only difference is the clock speeds . From what ive read , most GT's are easily overclocked to ultra speeds . ultras are 50mhz higher on the core and 100mhz on the memory 38

edit ... btw the 6800 gt only needs one power cable from the power supply , the ultra needs TWO lol that over kill imho ....after looking at a few benchmarks , in stock form the ultra delivers on average 5-8 fps over the gt in most games . But when you move the clocks up on the GT its dead even . The GT stats i saw they actually overclocked them to 430 core 1150 memory , even higher that the 400 core 1100 memory clocks of the ultra . the GT's a better buy , even if you dont over clock , there just isnt that much of a difference . 38

Kev367th · « **Reply #9 on:** April 21, 2005, 09:02:55 PM »

Actually the SLI setup really only shines at very high resolutions and high graphics settings (AA,AF etc).

Silat · « **Reply #10 on:** April 21, 2005, 11:15:50 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by whels
if money no worry, here is what id ge from Falcon Northwest. rate the best gaming rigs going.

whels

Did you price this out if you were building it yourself? I know they give you a nice looking case.

Silat · « **Reply #11 on:** April 21, 2005, 11:58:42 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by whels
if money no worry, here is what id ge from Falcon Northwest. rate the best gaming rigs going.

System Price: $ 8,291.41

Whels I come up with about $5500 to build it yourself and I added $300 to my take to cover mistakes:)

Silverstone 650Watt Power Supply 24 Pin $175
Microsoft Windows XP Professional $139
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe Motherboard $166
AMD Athlon64 FX-55 Socket 939 $1000
Corsair TwinX 2048MB 3200LL-PT (4/512mb) $800
2 x nVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB PCIE $800
Raid 0 - (Requires [2] identical drives)
WD740GD Raptor 74GB 10000RPM 8MB SATA $178
WD740GD Raptor 74GB 10000RPM 8MB SATA $178
WD740GD Raptor 74GB 10000RPM 8MB SATA $178
WD740GD Raptor 74GB 10000RPM 8MB SATA $178
Lite-On 16X Dual Layer DVD+-/RW ? $60
Lite-On 52x CDRW ? $40
Creative Labs Audigy II ZS Platinum Pro $217
Microsoft Natural Multimedia Keyboard
Logitech MX1000 Crdls/Laser rechargable
NEC 20 LCD 1600x1200 25ms 400:1 C/R $1000
APC Personal 7T Surge Protector
Silencer 80MM Case fans

DeacBlue · « **Reply #12 on:** April 22, 2005, 12:45:07 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by whels
if money no worry, here is what id ge from Falcon Northwest. rate the best gaming rigs going.

whels

ICON Exotix Flag Paint
Silverstone 650Watt Power Supply 24 Pin
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe Motherboard
AMD Athlon64 FX-55 Socket 939
Corsair TwinX 2048MB 3200LL-PT (4/512mb)
2 x nVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB PCIE
Raid 0 - (Requires [2] identical drives)
WD740GD Raptor 74GB 10000RPM 8MB SATA
WD740GD Raptor 74GB 10000RPM 8MB SATA
WD740GD Raptor 74GB 10000RPM 8MB SATA
WD740GD Raptor 74GB 10000RPM 8MB SATA
Lite-On 16X Dual Layer DVD+-/RW
Lite-On 52x CDRW
Creative Labs Audigy II ZS Platinum Pro
Microsoft Natural Multimedia Keyboard
Logitech MX1000 Crdls/Laser rechargable
NEC 20 LCD 1600x1200 25ms 400:1 C/R
APC Personal 7T Surge Protector
Silencer 80MM Case fans
Windowed Side Panel - Icon Case

* Your ratio of COOLERs to CPUs does not match. Please verify you have a 1:1 match by either adding or removing a COOLER or CPU.

System Price: $ 8,291.41

Price with UPS Ground $ 8,431.81
Price with UPS 2-Day $ 8,528.53
Price with UPS Priority Overnight $ 8,671.01
Price with UPS Alaska or Hawaii $ 8,602.37
Price with USPS Service to Military $ 8,598.21

OMG you have no idea what you're talking about. If you did you would have picked the APC Net8N over the Per7T.

What were you THINKING, man?

Siaf__csf · « **Reply #13 on:** April 22, 2005, 06:32:21 AM »

Forget the lame aircooled cases, get an asetek instead.

http://www.hothardware.com/viewarticle.cfm?articleid=284

Sp4de · « **Reply #14 on:** April 22, 2005, 08:31:28 PM »

Click me

Drool.