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General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Reschke on December 02, 2006, 02:13:39 PM

Title: New system specs
Post by: Reschke on December 02, 2006, 02:13:39 PM


I should have everything here and ready before Christmas.  The only thing I am waiting on is the CPU and the video card.  They had to be ordered by my local shop since I didn't want the wife to know how much was going into those two items.
Title: Re: New system specs
Post by: SkyChimp03 on December 02, 2006, 03:43:58 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Reschke
  • Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 Conroe 2.93GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557X6800 - Retail
  • BFG Technologies Nvidia nForce 680i SLI Motherboard
  • CORSAIR XMS2 DOMINATOR 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
  • Thermaltake ToughPower W0117 750 Watt ATX Power Supply
  • BFG Technologies GeForce 8800 GTS Video Card, PCI Express, 640MB GDDR3


I should have everything here and ready before Christmas.  The only thing I am waiting on is the CPU and the video card.  They had to be ordered by my local shop since I didn't want the wife to know how much was going into those two items. [/B]



:aok Wife ack ehh?? lmao Why not go with ati x1950xtx?
Title: New system specs
Post by: Reschke on December 02, 2006, 11:42:06 PM
Never been an ATI fan. Even way back in the beginning when they first started making video chipsets and such.
Title: New system specs
Post by: SkyChimp03 on December 03, 2006, 02:45:31 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Reschke
Never been an ATI fan. Even way back in the beginning when they first started making video chipsets and such.

Nvidia overheats lot more than ati (not that it matters if you have good cooling).

I myself hate nvidia ATI FTW :):aok


IMO 1950xtx is better for the price. You spend 650 range on BFG 8800gtx  you spend 340-450 on ati 1950xtx 512mb and dd4... IMHO id get a few people that have it tell you..

:aok  Good luck tho
Title: New system specs
Post by: Schutt on December 03, 2006, 04:42:52 AM
Good luck with your stuff, let us know when it runs :)

PS i hope you orderd a BIG power supply for that...
Title: New system specs
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on December 03, 2006, 06:18:34 AM
Quote
Originally posted by SkyChimp03
Nvidia overheats lot more than ati (not that it matters if you have good cooling).

I myself hate nvidia ATI FTW :):aok


IMO 1950xtx is better for the price. You spend 650 range on BFG 8800gtx  you spend 340-450 on ati 1950xtx 512mb and dd4... IMHO id get a few people that have it tell you..

:aok  Good luck tho


The 8800GTX blows the 1950 away in performance. I used to be a diehard ATI fan too but changed my mind after seeing test results and news that the 8800 series FINALLY fixed the 2D desktop quality problems that plague nvidia.
Title: New system specs
Post by: SkyChimp03 on December 03, 2006, 06:33:50 AM
Quote
Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
The 8800GTX blows the 1950 away in performance. I used to be a diehard ATI fan too but changed my mind after seeing test results and news that the 8800 series FINALLY fixed the 2D desktop quality problems that plague nvidia.


Mind linking me to that bfg 8800gtx v.s. x1950xtx proformance chart?


Thanks...
Title: New system specs
Post by: Nomak on December 03, 2006, 06:53:31 AM
Here ya go chimp.

8800 Pwns 1950 (http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/11/08/geforce_8800/)
Title: New system specs
Post by: Krusty on December 03, 2006, 01:04:04 PM
1x 8800 blows away a 2x SLI 7900 setup. THAT's how fast this card is!
Title: New system specs
Post by: SkyChimp03 on December 03, 2006, 04:45:39 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Nomak
Here ya go chimp.

8800 Pwns 1950 (http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/11/08/geforce_8800/)


Ok... Maybe it does still i would never pay so much :)
Title: New system specs
Post by: Nomak on December 03, 2006, 05:42:56 PM
Quote
Originally posted by SkyChimp03
Ok... Maybe it does still i would never pay so much :)


Just my opinion of course.........

Nvidia has been the card to have ever since the 6 series came out.  I was an ATI guy.  I ran a 9800 pro forever.  It was a great piece.  Then I went to a 6800 GT and havnt looked back.

The 1950 is actually closer to a 7900 than an 8800 in many of the tests.

Dave
Title: Re: New system specs
Post by: Nomak on December 03, 2006, 05:44:31 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Reschke
  • Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 Conroe 2.93GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557X6800 - Retail
  • BFG Technologies Nvidia nForce 680i SLI Motherboard
  • CORSAIR XMS2 DOMINATOR 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
  • Thermaltake ToughPower W0117 750 Watt ATX Power Supply
  • BFG Technologies GeForce 8800 GTS Video Card, PCI Express, 640MB GDDR3


I should have everything here and ready before Christmas.  The only thing I am waiting on is the CPU and the video card.  They had to be ordered by my local shop since I didn't want the wife to know how much was going into those two items. [/B]


It sounds like a great system.  What type of hard drive set up?  please post some pics if ya have time.

Dave
Title: New system specs
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on December 04, 2006, 08:59:39 AM
The blurry 2D picture kept me far far away from nvidia for years. If my new 8800 will have a blurry desktop at high res, I'm never ever going to buy nvidia again.

Reports say it even beats ATI in IQ. Let's see.. I'm highly sceptical.
Title: New system specs
Post by: NOT on December 04, 2006, 04:13:16 PM
i have 7900gtx 512 card, and i love it. it runs everything I've put at it full blast with no issues. my desktop is crystal clear, no blurry.
Title: New system specs
Post by: Krusty on December 04, 2006, 04:18:02 PM
My 7600GT doesn't have any 2D desktop blur problems. Neither did my old Ge4400 that I upgraded from. Neither did the Ge256 DDR before that. I've never had a problem like that, with any GeForce card I've owned.
Title: New system specs
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on December 05, 2006, 09:53:09 AM
Funny because several tests have reported similar problems I witnessed with Geforce series. Tube screen + 1600x1200 or higher resolution and nvidia screen looked like totally out of focus where Ati produced crystal sharp images.
Title: New system specs
Post by: Nomak on December 05, 2006, 09:58:01 AM
This is from the article I posted a link to for Chimp....

"Here are two images from our testing. The first is the image we get on the ATI X1950XTX at 2560x1600.........

The second (below) is with the 8800GTX with the same settings......

This image is far superior in quality compared to that of the ATI. It looks like the tables have turned in that department. That brings us to other advances Nvidia has made with G80."


Dave
Title: New system specs
Post by: SkyChimp03 on December 05, 2006, 11:21:12 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Nomak
This is from the article I posted a link to for Chimp....

"Here are two images from our testing. The first is the image we get on the ATI X1950XTX at 2560x1600.........

The second (below) is with the 8800GTX with the same settings......

This image is far superior in quality compared to that of the ATI. It looks like the tables have turned in that department. That brings us to other advances Nvidia has made with G80."


Dave


Oh but did you know they were about to be release and recalled for repairs? I still will never trust nvidia end of story...
Title: New system specs
Post by: Krusty on December 05, 2006, 11:31:35 AM
Historically, Nvidia has outperformed ATI in the long run. I'm not bashing ATI cards at all, mind you. I consider both to be fair game when looking for a new card.

However Nvidia has the better track record for performance, despite the terrible 5000 series. The 8800 will blow ANYTHING in the world away, at this point and time, and for some time to come (unless ATI already has a card in the works -- unlikely on such short notice) because it has about 40 processors on the card.

It just doesn't compare. It's like comparing a solar-powered calculator to a Texas Instruments graphing calculator. One just has WAY more raw computing power over the other.
Title: New system specs
Post by: Nomak on December 05, 2006, 12:54:12 PM
Quote
Originally posted by SkyChimp03
Oh but did you know they were about to be release and recalled for repairs? I still will never trust nvidia end of story...


Dont be so hard headed Chimp.

I remember when the ATI 9700 series came out to directly compete with the GeForce 4 series.  The GeForce 4 was a great card.  I still have a Ti4200 laying around here somewhere.  However is was no where near as good as the ATI.  Then IIRC the 9800Pro surfaced around the time the GF 5 series was released.  Thats when I bought a 9800 Pro.  I cant say enough about that card.  I used it for a long time and was always pleased with its performance.

Than the GF 6 series emerged.  It was obvious...... Nvidia was back big time.  I bought a 6800GT that is still in my wifes machine and is a better card than the 9800 pro it replaced.

I now have a 7900GT overclocked.  I dont think a better card can be had for the money I spent.

I was ALWAYS an AMD guy.  Had multiple puters and always ran AMD processors.  Than it became obvious that Intel was back big time.  I went with Intel on my current rig and couldnt be happier.

The point is......  why be brand loyal?  Why not just buy the product that is the best for the money?  Nvidia has the best right now.  So I use them.  I wouldnt hesitate to buy an ATI in the future if I felt it was the best product for the money.

Just my opinion of course.

Dave
Title: New system specs
Post by: Krusty on December 05, 2006, 01:16:47 PM
Well put, Nomak. I agree completely.
Title: New system specs
Post by: SkyChimp03 on December 05, 2006, 02:47:12 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Nomak
Dont be so hard headed Chimp.

I remember when the ATI 9700 series came out to directly compete with the GeForce 4 series.  The GeForce 4 was a great card.  I still have a Ti4200 laying around here somewhere.  However is was no where near as good as the ATI.  Then IIRC the 9800Pro surfaced around the time the GF 5 series was released.  Thats when I bought a 9800 Pro.  I cant say enough about that card.  I used it for a long time and was always pleased with its performance.

Than the GF 6 series emerged.  It was obvious...... Nvidia was back big time.  I bought a 6800GT that is still in my wifes machine and is a better card than the 9800 pro it replaced.

I now have a 7900GT overclocked.  I dont think a better card can be had for the money I spent.

I was ALWAYS an AMD guy.  Had multiple puters and always ran AMD processors.  Than it became obvious that Intel was back big time.  I went with Intel on my current rig and couldnt be happier.

The point is......  why be brand loyal?  Why not just buy the product that is the best for the money?  Nvidia has the best right now.  So I use them.  I wouldnt hesitate to buy an ATI in the future if I felt it was the best product for the money.

Just my opinion of course.

Dave



Ok my point now. Why spend $300 more on a CPU when you can overclock a amd dual core to the spec of a intel? At that you can overclock it with STOCK heatsink lol... Wow i wasted $300 for nothing i could of bought my kid something better for Christmas with that money huh?

Again with the video card why spend 250-350 more when you can overclock to 8800 spec and still not overheat as much as a stock 8800? Maybe even further if you get a better VGA cooler and if you get a decent water cooling kit or even make your own from DD gear you can go well over intel and 8800. Goes both ways intell and 8800 can be OC'd  but why spend so much on something you can get for 500 less?
Title: New system specs
Post by: Krusty on December 05, 2006, 03:04:46 PM
Chimp, you don't get it... You really don't get it..


The 8800 is NOT a typical vid card, but with faster speeds. It's not even comparable to typical vid cards, that have 1 GPU, 1 HS/fan, and 12 pipelines, and 6 shaders. It has LITERALLY over 100 processors on the card (128 for the GTX), any one can process a shader, a material, a whatever!

There is just NO WAY to overclock any other card out there to do this, because they still only have 12 pipelines and 6 shaders. No matter HOW fast they run.

Your AMD overclock analogy doesn't work, either. AMD chips overclock, yes, but not without big heat costs, and Intel chips overclock way way more (for the same price) and at a fraction of the heat (using stock heatsinks). Also, you get any AMD dual core and get a Conroe of the same price, and the conroe overclocks better, cooler, using less juice. So I wouldn't be too fast to rush to the "AMD only" or "ATI only" camps. Nomak's right. Go with what's best, ignore brands for the moment. The 8800 can't be beat until ATI totally forgets everything they ever knew about designing vid cards and starts from the ground up like Nvidia did.


EDIT: For the record I can't afford either card. But you can't say "get this card, overclock it, and it's the same" -- especially since those high-end cards don't overclock, and overheat at load already. Not to mention you fry the card you have to get another.
Title: New system specs
Post by: Skuzzy on December 05, 2006, 04:32:26 PM
SkyChimp, you really have not been keeping up with the times.

You can buy any desktop AMD CPU you want right now, overclock the stuffing out of it, and it will still be slower than the fastest Conroe available.

You can pay the same amount of money for any AMD desktop CPU and a Conroe, and the Conroe will start out faster, then overclock better, and run much cooler.

Intel has the edge right now.  That is not my opinion, that is just the way it is right now.
Title: New system specs
Post by: AKDogg on December 05, 2006, 04:51:38 PM
Check this website out.

http://www.rojakpot.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=88&pgno=0

I use this site for any video card ever made for comparison.  Goes back even to the matrox, s3 and even the trident chipsets.  This site is constantly updated with the latest and greatest video cards.  Lots of spec info on every card.

Th site may take alittle to load as it has a large table to view.  1st page is all ATI, 2nd page is all Nvidia etc..

Just for comparison:

ATI x1950 crossfire has a 10400 MTexels/s fill rate and 64 GB/s bandwidth in memory.  It also has only a 256 bit memory bus width.

The GF8800GTX has a 36800 MTexels/s fill rate and 86.4 GB/s memory bandwidth.  It also has a 384 bit memory bus width.
Title: New system specs
Post by: SkyChimp03 on December 05, 2006, 06:03:46 PM
Hmm ok odds on your side but ill stick with my amd and ati. :D Good luck with new system!
Title: New system specs
Post by: MOIL on December 09, 2006, 04:04:37 AM
I use the 8800GTX and the x1950 is not even in the same ballpark, this is not opinion or preference, it's fact.

Not saying the x1950 is not a good card, it is, it just can not compete with the 8800

Title: New system specs
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on December 10, 2006, 06:01:36 AM
Heh I'm talking about image quality not rendering speeds here.

My 8800GTS is obviously much faster than the ATI card but the 2D desktop image quality _is_ inferior and the drivers are the buggyest piece of crap I've witnessed in the last 5 years. Obviously they were in a great rush to introduce the 8800 and didn't have time to finalize the drivers.

Also the new command window of the drivers sucks royally (the html based). Settings get reset by their own etc.
Title: New system specs
Post by: Schutt on December 10, 2006, 06:54:00 AM
Hey Reschke, you have your system yet?
Title: New system specs
Post by: 38ruk on December 10, 2006, 11:07:25 AM
Quote
Historically, Nvidia has outperformed ATI in the long run. I'm not bashing ATI cards at all, mind you. I consider both to be fair game when looking for a new card.


I would have agreeded with that statement until the 9700 series came out , before the 9700's nvidia had an big advantge but that is no longer the case . Now it goes by which games you like to play and who releases what and when .
Title: New system specs
Post by: Krusty on December 10, 2006, 03:42:56 PM
Ripley, in the menus you can tell it to use the classic interface (not the icons, the menu bar menus). I think everybody everywhere agrees the new interface is a POS. I wonder why they're even bothering with it? Big mistake on their part.
Title: New system specs
Post by: Skuzzy on December 10, 2006, 04:50:03 PM
They, like ATI, have to move to the new .NET API, required by Vista.  That is the reason for the new interfaces.
Title: New system specs
Post by: Krusty on December 10, 2006, 09:42:24 PM
Bah, that sucks. Vista sucks. MS sucks in general for making ATI and Nvidia suck by proxy!!!!!


Title: New system specs
Post by: Reschke on December 11, 2006, 10:42:57 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Schutt
Hey Reschke, you have your system yet?


Only parts of it. The rest is coming in this week since the CPU was on backorder by my local shops vendor. I have that mobo and the 8800 sitting there just chomping at the bit to rock and roll. It should be a kick butt system come Christmas morning.

I am giving my son my old system which is an AMD64 3200+ skt 754 with 1GB DDR3200 and an 80 GB HDD and a BFG 6800OC. Its a good system but I wanted to get something different since his MP3 player from Creative will only work with my Intel based work laptop.
Title: Re: Re: New system specs
Post by: Reschke on December 11, 2006, 10:48:30 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Nomak
It sounds like a great system.  What type of hard drive set up?  please post some pics if ya have time.

Dave


I bought two of these about 6 weeks ago in preparing for this system upgrade:

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

This will be my first shot at a Raid setup. It should be relatively painless.
Title: New system specs
Post by: Connection on December 11, 2006, 02:07:18 PM
Reschke,

I would get a E6600 or even a E6400 processor. They will still overclock beyond E6800 speeds. The only advantage to the 6800 is the unlocked multiplier. I dont think its worth it paying such a premium for that.

The other parts are great, you will love the Geforce 8800GTS.

I'm running an E6400 on a EVGA 680i motherboard, running at 400 x 8 = 3.2Ghz. Very, VERY fast. Also my PNY 8800GTS is overclocked to 600/1000. I can run Oblivion maxed out at 70FPS average, and LOMAC with everything maxed out and 8xFSAA above 50fps all the time.

If you plan to overclock, get a good cooler. I use a Tuniq Tower 120 and love it, but its hard to find a place with it in stock.


SkyChimp,

I would suggest you lurk before you post in topics were other people know what they are talking about. Also, brand loyalty is idiotic.
Title: New system specs
Post by: Reschke on December 11, 2006, 02:32:31 PM
That's just it I don't overclock anything now. I used to do it back when Celerons first hit the market and I ended up with a few paper weights for a couple of hundred bucks each. Now I buy as close to leading edge and hold on for at least 18 months before starting my upgrade research.
Title: New system specs
Post by: Connection on December 11, 2006, 03:58:21 PM
Alright, but the E6800 is very expensive. If I were you I'd still get a E6700 or E6600 and with the money you saved move to a Geforce 8800GTX instead of GTS. Better performance improvement there.
Title: MY NEW RIG
Post by: DAVENRINO on December 14, 2006, 02:32:11 PM
I have had my sig rig running for 2 weeks now and love it.  I am using an Antec 900 Gamers case. At stock speeds and no aircon it idles at 35 deg and is Very quiet. I have 2 Seagate 320 SATA2 drives in Raid 1 and another backup IDE 160. Also have Plextor and Samsung DVD burners.

I turned off V Sync just for grins and ran AH at 450 fps looking up, 200-250 fps average and never below 90 fps.  AH settings are maxed with 1024 textures and 1280x1024 with 6xAA.  I don't monitor fps but I am sure it never drops below my display's refresh rate of 60 now with V Sync on and certainly never stutters.  The ATI card puts out excellent graphics with all flight instruments crystal clear.  Text is also crystal clear on my 58" display. :D

This thing multi-tasks like crazy.  Other apps run at normal speed while burning a DVD.
Title: New system specs
Post by: Wingnut on December 16, 2006, 05:11:44 PM
Not like all that hardware would help you fly better.   ;)


Saw your thread and thought I'd say high m8.  Been a few years.
Title: New system specs
Post by: Reschke on December 17, 2006, 04:06:31 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Wingnut
Not like all that hardware would help you fly better.   ;)


Saw your thread and thought I'd say high m8.  Been a few years.


Yeah but the rust is so thick on these wings right now it doesn't matter what I do. Shoot me PM when you get a few minutes.
Title: New system specs
Post by: Reschke on December 20, 2006, 03:06:52 PM
Ended up swapping the motherboard out to the same basic board by EVGA (the 122-CK-NF68-AR since the BFG was a little on the unstable side when they were testing it in a friends system. Also ended up with the EVGA 640MB 8800GTS since my BFG that I ordered was on persistent back order. Also bought the ANTEC 900 case. I am thinking about canceling the order I have for the Core 2 Extreme X6800 since it is on constant backorder with my local shop but they have a  E6600 sitting there calling my name and it will be ready to roll on Friday night since I am going to take the day off an build the system if all goes well. That ANTEC case simply rocks the way the PS sits in the bottom of the case and it has 4 120mm fans in the case plus a 200mm fan drawing air out of the top of the case. The biggest selling point of this case aside from the fans was the fact that all the hookups for headset, mic, USB and switches sit at an angle on top of the case.
Title: New system specs
Post by: SkyChimp03 on December 20, 2006, 03:32:44 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Connection
Reschke,

I would get a E6600 or even a E6400 processor. They will still overclock beyond E6800 speeds. The only advantage to the 6800 is the unlocked multiplier. I dont think its worth it paying such a premium for that.

The other parts are great, you will love the Geforce 8800GTS.

I'm running an E6400 on a EVGA 680i motherboard, running at 400 x 8 = 3.2Ghz. Very, VERY fast. Also my PNY 8800GTS is overclocked to 600/1000. I can run Oblivion maxed out at 70FPS average, and LOMAC with everything maxed out and 8xFSAA above 50fps all the time.

If you plan to overclock, get a good cooler. I use a Tuniq Tower 120 and love it, but its hard to find a place with it in stock.


SkyChimp,

I would suggest you lurk before you post in topics were other people know what they are talking about. Also, brand loyalty is idiotic.







Yawn.... Say what you want i'll go my  way you go yours dont insult me over a post i made.. Only posted because i've herd a few driver/hardware problems and the price... Just saying ati has always worked fine and cost half what 8800 does.
Title: New system specs
Post by: Swager on December 22, 2006, 09:53:20 PM
I just upgraded my computer.

Athlon 3200 with a MSI 6600GT!!   WOOT!!
Title: New system specs
Post by: nickf620 on December 27, 2006, 10:25:18 PM
please post some pictures when you get the chance Reschke
i would really like to see your progress
Title: New system specs
Post by: Reschke on December 27, 2006, 11:30:46 PM
I should have some pictures to post by this weekend. I ended up swapping out cases again today and went to a Thermaltake Armor Jr. series. So that pushed me back a little bit but other than that everything else well. I had one minor snafu with a video cable to my LCD monitor from my 8800 GTS card.
Title: New system specs
Post by: nickf620 on December 27, 2006, 11:44:08 PM
the thermaltake armor series cases are really nice
i had never heard of JR. tho
i assume that they are the same basic thing just smaller
Title: New system specs
Post by: Reschke on December 28, 2006, 05:35:36 PM
Yep its just a little bit smaller. Its almost identical in every other way. The panel on the side is a little bit different than the full size Armor.
Title: New system specs
Post by: nickf620 on December 28, 2006, 09:30:22 PM
still got the plexiglass to see inside right


and a lock on it so no little ****head can come in and screw with your components