Witherance

Basically, i am trying to build a good gaming computer (Crysis, Assasin's creed, etc), i am trying to keep my budget below $1000.00.
So far i have a good list together, i'm trying to figure out if the system would go together and work well that way.
Basically, i would appreciate knowing if any of it will not work (or not work well) with the rest, and why that is.
So far i have:

Graphics: (Looking to SLI two together)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130403
Specs:
Model:
-Brand EVGA
-Model 512-P3-N871-RX
Interface:
-Interface PCI Express 2.0 x16
Chipset:
-Chipset Manufacturer NVIDIA
-GPU GeForce 9800 GTX(G92)
-Core clock 675MHz
-Stream Processors 128
Memory:
-Memory Clock 2200MHz (effective)
-Memory Size 512MB
-Memory Interface 256-bit
-Memory Type GDDR3
3D API:
-DirectX DirectX 10
-OpenGL OpenGL 2.1
Ports:
-DVI 2
-TV-Out HDTV / S-Video Out
General:
-RAMDAC 400 MHz
-Max Resolution 2560 x 1600
-RoHS Compliant Yes
-SLI Supported Yes
-Cooler With Fan
System Requirements:
-Minimum of a 450 Watt power supply. (Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 24 Amp Amps.)
-Minimum 550 Watt for SLI mode system. (Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 30 Amp Amps.)
-Power Connector 2 x 6 Pin
-Dual-Link DVI Supported Yes
-Windows Vista Certified for Windows Vista
-HDCP Ready Yes
Packaging:
-Package Contents 512-P3-N871-RX
-Driver Disk
-User's Manual
-HDTV Cable
-S-Video Cable
-Power Cable
-DVI to VGA/D-sub Adapter

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103249
Specs:
Model:
-Brand AMD
-Processors Type Desktop
-Series Phenom X4
-Model HD985ZXAGHBOX
CPU Socket Type
-CPU Socket Type Socket AM2+
Tech Spec
-Multi-Core Quad-Core
-Name Phenom 9850 BLACK EDITION
-Operating Frequency 2.5GHz
-Hyper Transports 4000MHz
-L1 Cache 4 x 128KB
-L2 Cache 4 x 512KB
-L3 Cache 2MB
-Manufacturing Tech 65 nm
-64 bit Support Yes
-Hyper-Transport Support Yes
-Virtualization Technology Support Yes
-Multimedia Instruction MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4a,3DNOW! Professional
-Voltage 1.20/1.25/1.30V
-Thermal Power 125W
-Cooling Device Heatsink and Fan included

MotherBoard
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...IN#detailspecs
Specs:
-Form Factor: ATX
-Processor Interface: Socket AM2 / AM2+
-Processors Supported: AMD Athlon 64
AMD Sempron 64
AMD Athlon X2, AMD Phenom X4, AMD Phenom X2, AMD Phenom X3
-Additional Technologies: AMD Cool 'n' Quiet, Supports 140W CPU
-Front Side Bus: 1600MHz
2000MHz
2600MHz (5200 MT/s)
-Northbridge: AMD 790FX
-Southbridge: SB750
-Number of Slots: 4
-Number of Pins: 240-Pin
-Maximum Memory Supported: 4GB - 32bit
16GB - 64bit
-Memory Supported: Dual Channel Supported
667MHz DDR2
800MHz DDR2
1066MHz DDR2
-Max. Memory Supported Per Slot: 4GB
-Channels: 8 Channels
-Supported Devices: 1- Ultra DMA
-Hard Drive Types: UDMA/133
UDMA/100
UDMA/66
-USB Version: 2.0
-USB Data Transfer Rates: 480Mbps
-LAN Type: 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit
-Port Type: RJ-45
-RAID Modes: 0
1
10
5
-PCI Slots: 2
-PCI Express X16 Slots: 4 - (PCIe 2.0)
-PS/2 Keyboard Connectors: 1
-USB Ports: 12
-USB Rear Panel Ports: 6
-FireWire Ports: 1 - 1394a
-LAN Ports: 1
-IDE Headers: 1
-FDD Headers: 1
-Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s Headers: 6
-ATX Power Connectors: 1 24-Pin Connector
-PC Power Connectors: 1 - 4 Pin
-S/PDIF Connectors: 1 - Coaxial

RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145197
-Model
-Brand CORSAIR
-Series DOMINATOR
-Model TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF
-Type 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM
Tech Spec
-Capacity 4GB (2 x 2GB)
-Speed DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
-Cas Latency 5
-Timing 5-5-5-15
-Voltage 2.1V
-Heat Spreader Yes
-Features DOMINATOR with DHX Technology and Airflow Fan

I already have a HD and my cd/dvd Drives, so they aren't an issue,
Also, what power supply would you recommend for this sort of build? as the graphics cards say, i need at least a 500w supply. Is that only for the cards? or is that MB/2 HDs/2 CD/DVD and the Graphics?
Thanks ahead of time! (Sorry if i made any noob mistakes, first post here >.<)

linderman

the power supply reccomendations is only for the cards ......... after all ....... think of it this way ????? the video card manuf has no idea what the rest of the system will be ? dual core 65watts or quad core at 130 watts ? not to mention water cooling or not ??? number of drives .......... number of fans //////// yeah you get the picture

your spec looks good ........

Thermaltake Toughpower 850 watt would be my power supply choice

Coolermaster Real Power Pro 800 watt ...... another keeper

Coolermaster UCP models are the cats meow (ultimate circuit protections - 6 of them to be exact !!)

I would really rather go with ONE 280 GTX than sli with 9800 GTX ............ there are alot of games that just plain dont SLI as well as people think they do or want to think they do !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Witherance

Okay, i did look into it and i think that i'd get more out of the GTX 260 than SLIing tow GTX 9800s... Do you think this is true?

The graphics card i am looking at atm is the EVGA GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130400)
Do you know of anywhere i can get the 280 for below 400? And how much of an upgrade would i get from the 280 versus the 260?

Also, i'm looking into processor a little more, and would you recommend a quad core or a dual core more for gaming? I'm looking around and the general consensus seems to be that INTEL > AMD for gaming... Your thoughts?
I'm looking into either a
AMD Phenom 9850 2.5GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103249)
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115036)
or
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017)

All three seem to be within the same price range that i'm willing to run to... what would you recommend out of the three? Or, if you know of another that is better for a similar price...


Thirdly, Do you know anything of the GIGABYTE company? I'm kinda nervous about buying a motherboard because it's the part i know the least about... i've bought almost all of these parts before other than the MB
I saw http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128359
reccomended on another thread and it seems to be perfect for what i want, looks like it would allow good space for a bulky graphics card.

linderman

yes the 260GTX would be better IMHO than the pairing of 9800GTX

dont overlook the ATI 4870 for about $300 (even a squeak less)

the 4870 keeps pace with the 280 and beats the 260

but with an SLI board you would want the 260 ?

as for CPU that would be hands down ...... E8500 ..... dont even look back of the three in contention

linderman

Gigabyte is one of the top two boards manuf's ......... its tuff to say who is king ...... Asus or Giga

the board you picked is an excellent one ...............and the overclock support is outstanding

wrench97

Go for the Gigabyte P45 board you listed good board.

Witherance

hmm... Am i reading this data wrong?
http://en.hardspell.com/doc/showcont.asp?news_id=4134
It shows 2x 4870s SLIed together keeping pace with the 280, but the 260 beats it out a single 4870 by a small amount...

So far i'm feeling pretty solid on:
Giga MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128359
E8500 3.16G intel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115036
DDR2 1066 Corsair (I like the idea of getting two for a total of 8g, thoughts?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145197

What wattage do you think (in a power supply) i would need with this hardware and a 260? i'm leaning towards the 260 because i'm hearing better things about it in benchmarks...

Also, thanks for all the help guys... i was sorta wandering beer goggled in a room full of bear traps >.>

linderman

its no secret crysis is optimized only for nvidia cards ......... look at the big picture

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/g...Score,794.html

linderman

750 watts


Corsair 750-TX is an awesome choice

pc power & cooling 750

coolermaster real power pro

thermaltake toughpower

OCZ has an awesome 800 watt

linderman

Coolermaster UCP models are the cats meow (ultimate circuit protections - 6 of them to be exact !!)

Witherance

Alright, you've convinced me... that chart does show the 4870 outperforming the 260,
so what manuf do you think?
Out of:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...04870&name=1GB
i'm leaning towords the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161247 , would you agree?

linderman

I would say either the Powercolor or asus ....... but they are all good ......

PRSF

this is the one I just bought, haven't received it yet unfortunately however I only ordered it a few days ago lol

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...801&Tpk=100259

Witherance

I donno, that HIS card seems to have a much faster memory clock than the rest...
- Memory
Memory Clock 3600MHz

Versus the rest that run at:

- Memory
Memory Clock 900 MHz, 3.6Gbps

Does that 3.6Gbps mean anything? im not familiar with memory clock speed