Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: HomeBoy on March 09, 2007, 09:24:41 AM
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Back in January, I put together this grocery list for a new computer after reading many posts here and doing research. I am now ready to place an order. I just wanted to run this by you folks one last time in case there are red flags or there is a better way to go. Please let me know. Obviously I'm interested in a machine that will run AH well.
Thank you!
1. Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz cpu $312 from zipzoomfly
2. Asus P5N32-E SLI MB $212 from zipzoomfly
3. Corsair XMS 2GB (2 X 1GB) 240-pin DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) RAM $159.99 from zipzoomfly
4. Nvidia eVGA 8800 GTS 640MB video card $389 from Newegg
5. ThermalTake ToughPower W0117 750W PS $179.99 from zipzoomfly
6. WD Caviar SE16 250GB SATA II 7200RPM HD $69.90 from zipzoomfly
Total cost: $1325
I am trying to stay under $1500
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I didn't like my thermaltake power supply. It turned out to be a piece of crap. I prefer seasonic. They're quieter and do very well in reviews. I own two, one with modular cables, and they're both great.
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Thank you eagl. Exactly the sort of feedback I'm looking for.
Just back from pricegrabber. I don't see a Seasonic 750w PS. All I find is a 600W. This Silverstone ST75ZF seems to get good reviews. Any comments on that one?
Thanks for the heads up.
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Check http://www.newegg.com and search for seasonic. I've heard good things about silverstone but haven't tried one myself. I think the silverstone ones are like most other psus, they're just rebadged from another company. The seasonics seem to be different, but I"m not sure who actually makes them.
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PC Power and Cooling is good too.,
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I decided to go with Newegg since all their stuff was in stock (cost me $9 more than zipzoomfly). Here is my shopping cart:
1. Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM $20.00 Mail-in Rebate $159.99
2. Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $74.99
3. EVGA 640-P2-N825-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SUPERCLOCKED HDCP Video Card - Retail $30.00 Mail-in Rebate $409.99
4. SILVERSTONE ST75F ATX12V / EPS12V 750W Power Supply - Retail $179.99
5. CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 - Retail $40.00 Mail-in Rebate $200.99
6. ASUS P5N32-E SLI Plus LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $199.99
7. Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail $313.00
Subtotal: $1,538.94
Shipping: $14.92
Grand Total: $1,553.86
BTW, I decided not to buy a sound card as I figure I can use my old one (SB Live 24bit). Do you think it is necessary to buy a new sound card or will this one be sufficient? Sound cards seem really tricky with particular microphones. This one works great with my mic so I don't want to get into the sound card/mic matchup business unless I have to.
Thanks for advice.
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The power supply is overkill for that system. 500W would be more than enough. I'm running 450W with a 6700 and the same video card.
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Thanks MD.
Actually, I know the PS is overkill but I tend to keep a case and PS for two or three upgrades and I just figured if I got this one, I wouldn't have to think about a power supply through several upgrades. Maybe that's not smart as who knows what the power cables and what-not will exist in five or six years. Oh well, it's an extra $50. I decided that was a better investment than spending an extra $50 on the 680i MB over the 650i.
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Homeboy,
I bought a very similar system about a month ago.
Same processor, gfx card, ram etc
It will fly just be warned about the 8800GTS nvidia only have 2 sets of drivers out to my knowledge and sometimes I get a gfx glitch now and again, which can be fixed by Alt-tabbing leaving it on auto pilot and then reloading the game back in. Don't have the problem in other games just AH.
Keep us updated on how you get on with it.
Bruv
~S~
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Hope this is not a can of worms...
650i vs 680i
I've decided to go with the 650i after reading about all the problems people have had with the 680 and because I am only going to run (initially anyway) with one vid card. Anybody have a strong opinion about this? The 680i board is $50 more and enough people have said they thought the 650 was so rock solid that I decided to go that route. Do you think this will turn out to be a bad decision in the event that I go SLI down the road?
Thanks for input
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Well, it seems nobody cares to discuss this; else nobody wants to talk to me. :)
Ok, well, I'm following my heart on this one and going with the hybrid 650i board. I doubt I'll notice any difference anyway.
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This purchase was not without a little regret....
I probably should have skimped on the PSU (500w) and gone with a Intel P965 based MB which would have saved me near $200. I could have applied that amount to upgrading to an 8800GTX instead of the GTS since I'm probably never going to SLI anyway.
Oh well.
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I would have gotten a 7950 VC and the seasonics PS .
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How are you getting on with the 8800 GTS homeboy?
There are some new drivers out for it 100x+ I havent had the time to test them yet.
Do you get any graphics glitches within AH?
Bruv
~S~
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Bruv,
I'm about a week out from being able to answer your questions. I'm still setting things up. I don't even have all the parts yet. I'll give a full report in this thread in the next few days.
Thanks for all the help I've received.
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How bout this for a longevity plan?
My wife is betting me I won't last three years on this purchase. I'm telling her I can go four.
As I review the trail of computer carcasses in my wake, the trend is always
1. "my cpu is not fast enough"
2. "my graphics card is not keeping up"
...so my plan of longevity:
1. Hold off on overclocking until software begins to edge past my hardware. Hopefully will buy me another year or so.
2. When frame rates begin to get marginal, buy another 8800GTS (on ebay or whatever) and go SLI. Hopefully will get me to the four year mark.
So, what do you think are my chances?
-mark
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All in all pretty nice. Keep in mind those Conroes overclock like mo--er.. um... like moles.
Moles are known for overclocking their computers. Yes, that's it.
I think they overclock on the order of 60% or more. You've got longevity, trust me!
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Dang it squaddy!Wish I read your post earlier.An AMD puter is the way to go.More puter for less money.Got a 5000 with all the goodies,and it cost me about $1200.I haven't found anything yet it wont tear up.Some guys are stuck on Intel,as I once was.I made the jump,and been happy every since.
Your Old Buddy;
IronDog
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I've been AMD for over ten years. Just made the jump to Intel. :D
It seems to me that nothing can touch Conroe right now. JMHO
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Originally posted by Bruv119
How are you getting on with the 8800 GTS homeboy?
There are some new drivers out for it 100x+ I havent had the time to test them yet.
Do you get any graphics glitches within AH?
Bruv
~S~
Bruv!
Only have about two hours of AH flying in but this is like a new game for me! The water is fabulous, especially the sun reflections off it. I have not noticed any graphics glitches at all so far.
I'm running the 9792 driver. This NVIDIA Control Panel took some getting used to. I've tried several ways of configuring it. I've (for right now) just set it for "Use my preference emphasizing: Balanced." I plan to get in there and dig out the individual settings but want to fly more than fiddle with settings right now.
Man, this 8800 sure runs hot! I'm going to have to do some cooling adjustments when I go SLI with this thing. The Zalman cooler is fantastic though. Glad I went that route. You'd better have a big case if you use it though. It requires 48mm of vertical clearance. I have 50mm! :)
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Glad they have the drivers sorted out now .
Sounds very good :)
Can't hardly wait till I get mine , hehe .
Sun reflections off the water ???? WOW
:aok
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Do you mean "animated water"? The check-box in the video settings?
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Well Homeboy try logging a big session of at least 4 hours and see if anything happens.
I'm going to swap for the latest 100.87 drivers in a minute.
Also going to try skuzzy's dual core stuff so i will no doubt break something.
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The water is fabulous, especially the sun reflections off it.
No I meant that , never seen that before .
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Originally posted by airspro
No I meant that , never seen that before .
My question was directed to HomeBoy. I think he might be talking about the animated water option, but I can't be sure.
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Originally posted by Krusty
My question was directed to HomeBoy. I think he might be talking about the animated water option, but I can't be sure.
Hey Krusty,
Yes, I am referring to the animated water setting. I guess that is the setting that is giving the reflections off the water. Whatever, they really look nice.
Bruv,
I have logged more than ten hours now and have not seen one single glitch with the graphics. It is perfect! I'm loving it!
BTW, thanks to everybody here that offered me advice. I believe I made a wise purchase.
-mark