Another "building comp 4 first time." topics.

[Deleted631007User]

IGNORE POSTS UP TO THE ONE I MARKED ON PAGE THREE

PLEASE RE-READ THE OPENING POST FOR SOME CHANGES

Not all of my questions have been answered yet. I have new ones now.

 

So yeah, I've never built a computer before so expect everything I say to be nonsense to your eyes. I also expect you to tell me stuff like "that setup will never work" or "you don't need that extra junk, SLI is retarded" or "you really don't need that kind of money to build a good gaming PC" etc.

 

I've got 3k to work with, and my biggest problem is finding a motherboard. I'm so confused at this point I'm pretty sure I should just play the waiting game on the new 2nd gen Processors and Motherboards.

 

I did initially have a Processor picked out but it's been a while since then and things have changed. So right now I'm trying to figure out if I should go next gen with the 2600k or the "so five minutes ago" 990x. This will also determine my motherboard.

 

Haven't checked towers in a while, I suppose I'll double back and see what's new.

 

Sound card = on-board only. With the exception of the portable USB ones I've heard of.

 

In regards to the graphics card, I'm looking at some of the best on the market and my primary concerns are cooling (especially when multiple cards are installed) and compatibility with Bethesda games. Due to the fact that Fallout 3 and New Vegas are the pickiest f**cking games in existence, I may end up picking a truly incredible graphics card that can play Metro 2033, but still have Fallout BSOD every time I load it up.

 

Well the current beasts on the market are as follows:

GTX580 EVGA reference model, EVGA Hydro Copper 2, SPARKLE Calibre and the ASUS ENGTX580.

Versus this HD 6990 (currently only the reference version exists).

 

Considering I hate all the careful maintenance behind liquid cooling I may side with the ASUS or SPARKLE cards. The 6990 is just waaay too hot.

 

Also I'd hoped to build a computer that can play most games on high settings for the next five years. If that's impossible, just give me a heads up.

Edited March 20, 2011 by Guest

[Nadin]

Here's the setup for my computer, which I built 2 months back and works without a hitch:

 

I've had an asus for two months with dual SLI and its' perfect. Not sure what people meant when they said it falls apart. The sole issue is that you only get two forward USB ports. It's even packaged with the most useful BIOS I've ever seen.

I use a corsair for my power supply, but I'm not sure which model. It, again, works great, power dual SLI and a RAID 0 configuration with a heavy CPU and 7 fans.

I use a thermaltake tower. It has a bunch of built in LED lights which might annoy, but the fan on the case blows directly onto the graphics cards, and it has room for just about everything to fit in nicely.

I use the 980 model for the processor. Beautiful speed, no issues.

The graphics card is the same as mine, I believe. It's good in a dual SLI, with no issues. It can handle fallout 3 with everything maxed out and hi-def texture sets installed and barely hiccup.

If I may make a suggestion, though, don't go three-way. The third card is really just unneeded. I've yet to encounter anything my dual 480's won't run--and that includes crysis.

I'm a tad worried about your budget. I built mine with 12K, but that include three new hard drives. I don't remember how big a difference that made.

I don't know what I have for a sound card.

I'd say that all in all, your setup looks good. Good luck!

[mcole254]

So far your selection looks good, great case, mobo, and processor. I have a question though, what are you doing for cooling? Also not sure what your prefrences are with heat and sound, but that video card (not saying its a bad choice) will be very hot and the fan will be very loud under load, if you don't mind some heat dispelled into your case (which the HAF will handle it fine) then I would suggest looking at a non reference card version of the gtx 480 (gtx 480) (just using it as an example look around, or it you are doing a water setup but a block on it and solve both heat and sound)

Another question is RAM, I would suggest Corsair Dominator 6GB or 12GB 1600MHz

[Deleted631007User]

Here's the setup for my computer, which I built 2 months back and works without a hitch:

 

I've had an asus for two months with dual SLI and its' perfect. Not sure what people meant when they said it falls apart. The sole issue is that you only get two forward USB ports. It's even packaged with the most useful BIOS I've ever seen.

I use a corsair for my power supply, but I'm not sure which model. It, again, works great, power dual SLI and a RAID 0 configuration with a heavy CPU and 7 fans.

I use a thermaltake tower. It has a bunch of built in LED lights which might annoy, but the fan on the case blows directly onto the graphics cards, and it has room for just about everything to fit in nicely.

I use the 980 model for the processor. Beautiful speed, no issues.

The graphics card is the same as mine, I believe. It's good in a dual SLI, with no issues. It can handle fallout 3 with everything maxed out and hi-def texture sets installed and barely hiccup.

If I may make a suggestion, though, don't go three-way. The third card is really just unneeded. I've yet to encounter anything my dual 480's won't run--and that includes crysis.

I'm a tad worried about your budget. I built mine with 12K, but that include three new hard drives. I don't remember how big a difference that made.

I don't know what I have for a sound card.

I'd say that all in all, your setup looks good. Good luck!

 

Some people do get lucky with Asus, some people get multiple DOA boards in a row. I know Asus boards look good on paper but more often than not they're gonna bust.

I already said in my first post that I'm not interested in extreme processors, what extra processing power they have does not justify the price IMO.

 

Twelve thousand!? I have never heard of a person spending that much on a computer before! I don't know why people keep telling me it's easy to go over 5k when I have a hard time breaking 4k!

 

So far your selection looks good, great case, mobo, and processor. I have a question though, what are you doing for cooling? Also not sure what your prefrences are with heat and sound, but that video card (not saying its a bad choice) will be very hot and the fan will be very loud under load, if you don't mind some heat dispelled into your case (which the HAF will handle it fine) then I would suggest looking at a non reference card version of the gtx 480 (gtx 480) (just using it as an example look around, or it you are doing a water setup but a block on it and solve both heat and sound)

Another question is RAM, I would suggest Corsair Dominator 6GB or 12GB 1600MHz

I think you may have misread my post a little as I said that the mobo I'm looking at does not please me at all. But thanks for bringing up the issue of cooling it.

 

Sound, I'm not much worried about, I'll just turn up the volume if it starts bugging me. And installing my own liquid cooling system is precarious and too scary for me to do, also it invalidates the warranty. So long as I can make sure that the whole system stays cool enough that it wont break I'm happy.

 

Ok, here's where my knowlage of computer parts stops. What the heck is a non reference card?

I'm also a little weary of these cards, since I was pretty certain that the EVGA model was the most powerful out of all the 480s. Am I wrong about this? *edit* Strike that, it looks like the specs on this card are better than the EVGA, though this has never be reviewed before so I'm not likely to risk it.

[mcole254]

A reference card is just that, the other manufacturers produce their card exactly like what nvidia first releases when announcing the card. Notice the card I linked has a different cooler on it, that is usually the major if only difference. Sometimes there is one with more memory or higher oc edition that would use better part binning (better quality)

With the motherboard ya I miss read it sorry how about this: evga FTW

As for cooling the cpu (if you are over clocking) these two are very good Megahalem however you need to buy your own fans, or Noctua

 

Edit: By the way are you opposed to ATI graphics all together or is the 480 at the price you want to pay?

[Deleted631007User]

A reference card is just that, the other manufacturers produce their card exactly like what nvidia first releases when announcing the card. Notice the card I linked has a different cooler on it, that is usually the major if only difference. Sometimes there is one with more memory or higher oc edition that would use better part binning (better quality)

With the motherboard ya I miss read it sorry how about this: evga FTW

As for cooling the cpu (if you are over clocking) these two are very good Megahalem however you need to buy your own fans, or Noctua

 

Edit: By the way are you opposed to ATI graphics all together or is the 480 at the price you want to pay?

Over clocking, again invalidates the warranty, so I wont be interested in doing that until y'know, the warranty runs out.

 

Not opposed, but weary. Compatability issues is what I've been worried about, since Bethesda games are really finicky about what card your using... Or, that's what I read on a gamefaqs discussion once anyway.

 

Feel free to tell me what ATI card you have in mind, though I'm pretty sure I know which one it would be.

 

*Edit* The motherboard will have to be big enough that it can hold 2-3 cards. I have no way of accurately figuring this until I have my motherboard in hand.

 

Also I'll be playing this on a 50" Samsung Plasma TV, if that information is at all significant.

[Nadin]

I wouldn't go ATI. They're the best when they work, but otherwise they're a pain in the arse. Or so I've heard.

[mcole254]

I own an nvidia myself by I was just wondering, it seems to be the drivers that set them apart (or so I've heard)

[Deleted631007User]

or so I've heard

 

Ok, I get the impression you're messin' with me now.

 

Nevermind, I'm updating this damn thread.

[Nadin]

It was him.