Custom Gaming rig - Any good?

ikilledkenny · 22 Jun 2009

Ok, but what about the benefits of using this Dragon crap? Not the hardware, but the having a computer that fits the requirements for it?

weh · 22 Jun 2009

ikilledkenny said:

Ok, but what about the benefits of using this Dragon crap? Not the hardware, but the having a computer that fits the requirements for it?

Components making up the "Dragon crap" have been engineered to be "tweaked" so that you can customize the way they interact. This makes overclocking all aspects of your computer very easy (assuming that the system board BIOS takes advantage of the unlocked status of the clocks and busses of the hardware). It also allows for software overclocking withing Windows. AMD is specifically targeting those people for whom the computer is the best toy since blocks.

weh · 22 Jun 2009

Here's a pretty good rundown of four different motherboard implementations: 2 each based on the 790FX chipset and 2 based on the 790GX chipset.

Edited to add: High-end Socket AM3 chipsets under the microscope.

Asus & Gigabyte 790FX & 790GX motherboards @ newegg.

akash3656 · 22 Jun 2009

Btw, 'Dragon' does come with benefits like: AMD Fusion (stops all unnesecary proceses/services/etc. at the click of a button and a really good 'Windows' based overclocking tool... Well, Fusion link here: Drivers & Tools | GAME.AMD.COM

Fusion review here: AMD Fusion for Gaming Tested - 3D Graphics, Audio & HDTV by ExtremeTech

Well, thats 2 reason to with AMD...
Btw, if you are not overclocking MAX and don't require crossfire, get a AMD 770 Chipset + SB 700 mobo.
If you need the integrated graphics (it MUCH better than intel's integrated) and you are not overclocking MAX , get a 780 G + SB 700 Chipset
If you need Crossfire+MAX OC ability get the the 790*X+ SB 750...

smarteyeball · 22 Jun 2009

akash3656 said:

Btw, 'Dragon' does come with benefits like: AMD Fusion (stops all unnesecary proceses/services/etc.

But if you use an intel, then you don't have to worry about stopping unnecessary processes

Seriously though, it sounds like a good feature :)

Static · 22 Jun 2009

I am looking to do a very similar thing as the OP here, and build my own computer in a few months. While obviously the hardware I choose will be different and we can't pin anything down specifically...

Does anyone have any links to online walkthroughs that show step by step how I would build my own PC? I'd love some links to some good ones. I've got one a friend recommended and I googled a couple.

I think I can handle the hardware installation with what I've read and what not. But where can I go or who can I talk to to make sure that when I choose a MoBo, CPU, Etc... that they are all fully compatible.

Edit: on Newegg.com, under MoBo specifications it says

Supported CPU
CPU Socket Type: AM3/AM2+/AM2
CPU Type: Phenom II / Athlon X4 / Athlon X3 / Athlon X2 / Phenom X4 / Phenom X3 / Athlon / Sempron
FSB: 2600MHz Hyper Transport (5200 MT/s)

Does this mean these are the ONLY cpu's compatible? and If I bought this MoBo I'd have to get one of thos types of CPU's? and is newegg the best place to look or is there somewhere else?

ikilledkenny · 22 Jun 2009

Smarteyeball, what processor are you talking about? I've used Intel and AMD and I hate intel's older products (Core Solo, Pentium, Celeron, Centrino) because there was always tons of crap I didn't need running. AMD is the same way, but this Dragon thing sounds good to me!

weh · 22 Jun 2009

@ Static: Check this out: How to build a PC
A step-by-step guide to enthusiast system assembly.

And, yes, each CPU chip design conforms to a specific socket configuration. If you choose a particular motherboard, you must purchase a CPU which fits its socket. If you choose a particular CPU, you must purchase a motherboard which implements that socket. Generally, there are a wide range of CPUs with varying capabilities and prices for each socket configuration.

jw12345 · 22 Jun 2009

IIRC, some LGA775 motherboards wouldn't support all the newer LGA775 CPUs. But generally, socket is your main consideration. At least not without firmware updates.

ikilledkenny · 22 Jun 2009

I'm going with AM3, as I want to be able to put the latest AMD stuff in it.