Custom Gaming rig - Any good?

[ikilledkenny]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

@ 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]

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]

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

 

[Static]

@ 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.

Perfect help. Read thru it twice now and probably once or twice again when the time comes.

The only thing that really messes with my head is all the BIOS talk. But I assume that every mobo is different and I'm going to have to in depth research the one I buy.

For the most part for people that do this often, Without going into overclocking, if I plug a fresh Motherboard in and everything was installed properly, should most settings be the default settings? or are there for sure many things I'm going to have to change/set?

 

[weh]

Perfect help. Read thru it twice now and probably once or twice again when the time comes.

The only thing that really messes with my head is all the BIOS talk. But I assume that every mobo is different and I'm going to have to in depth research the one I buy.

For the most part for people that do this often, Without going into overclocking, if I plug a fresh Motherboard in and everything was installed properly, should most settings be the default settings? or are there for sure many things I'm going to have to change/set?

The BIOS allows you to turn certain features on/off, set absolute and/or relative speeds of some things, adjust timings, and change priorities. In most cases, default settings work perfectly. However, particularly with enthusiast gear, you may need to make a few adjustments to get best performance -- particularly, many current memory modules are designed to run at a default set of timings and can be switched to optimized timings. This is all standard fare.

Then there is overclocking (OC'ing): That's where you use the BIOS settings to push the envelope of your equipment's performance. Many computer parts can, with very careful attention of voltages and cooling, be pushed well beyond their rated performance. However, with OC'ing, you take risks. Over-do it and you can fry your system. The usual process is to push performance in small steps and then do stability testing using software that stresses your system. If all runs okay, then puch the envelope again and re-test. Keep going through the cycle in small increments until some of the tests fail. Then back off to your immediately previous settings and you've overclocked to a reasonable limit.

 

[jw12345]

And on overclocking: playing with voltage is much more dangerous than frequency. If you have too high of a frequency, it just won't boot or will overheat (honestly pretty safe because of built-in thermal protection mechanisms) and you simply reset the bios. Wrong voltages can straight out kill a part though.

 

[Static]

The BIOS allows you to turn certain features on/off, set absolute and/or relative speeds of some things, adjust timings, and change priorities. In most cases, default settings work perfectly. However, particularly with enthusiast gear, you may need to make a few adjustments to get best performance -- particularly, many current memory modules are designed to run at a default set of timings and can be switched to optimized timings. This is all standard fare.

Thanks. I understand the basics of it. And of overclocking. I understand the extremes (Default -------- Fully Overclocked). I guess I just don't know where I lie in this spectrum. I'm a gamer. and Am building a gaming rig. But I don't want to overclock. I'd just like optimal performace. so then the real only thing I need to worry about is mostly default settings and then trying to figure out memory timing corrects?

Then there is overclocking (OC'ing): That's where you use the BIOS settings to push the envelope of your equipment's performance. Many computer parts can, with very careful attention of voltages and cooling, be pushed well beyond their rated performance. However, with OC'ing, you take risks. Over-do it and you can fry your system. The usual process is to push performance in small steps and then do stability testing using software that stresses your system. If all runs okay, then puch the envelope again and re-test. Keep going through the cycle in small increments until some of the tests fail. Then back off to your immediately previous settings and you've overclocked to a reasonable limit.

I'm probably not going to mess with overclockings but thank you for the basic understanding. I think I need to just try and find the middle ground of making sure my equipment functions together properly and efficiently without over stressing them or risking anything.

 

[weh]

... the real only thing I need to worry about is mostly default settings and then trying to figure out memory timing corrects?

Correct. And that's usually very easy. For example, the memory I used in my current workstation is designed to run at DDR3 1600; however, to ensure compatibility, it defaults to DDR 1066 when first installed. It came with instructions which included suggested settings for DDR 1333 and DDR 1600 with appropriate timings. All I had to do was go into the BIOS and make changes from menu choices. Worked perfectly the very first time.

 

[Static]

Nice. Good to know. Thanks for all the assistance.

I've been kinda curious and hungry to try my hand at all this stuff but just really never knew where to begin and how to go about it. These forums are a wealth of information. Thanks to all so far and especially Weh.

 

[ikilledkenny]

I plan on overclocking, but I will refer to the ones at our forum for help.

 

[weh]

There are a plethora of really good computer-related forums on the internet, but two excellent starting points are AnandTech and the Tech Report.

 

[ikilledkenny]

I could also just ask my friend for help

He's built four, so I think he's got it figured out.

 

[weh]

I could also just ask my friend for help

He's built four, so I think he's got it figured out.

I've totally lost count; however, I think I'm well past the 400 mark and may even have broken 500 by now. Build my own first custom PC rig back in '91. (However, I've been building computers since the mid-'70's. My first was an Altair.)