Windows 7: Gaming Rig Advice - Also First Time Build

grouchpunk08 · 27 Jun 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by samstar1412

Well I would really like to be able to play GTA IV on higher graphics, as my Laptop doesnt really cut it for GTA IV it does surprisingly well but its still not good enough :).
Believe me every chance i get to make a little more $$ I will take, I am already negotiating with my parents to see if they will get me some of the parts for my birthday or give me a little extra money than usual, but you know fair is fair so if I have to do a little extra chores then so be it. It will be all worth it in the end, just to see something i built for less $2000 put $3000+ systems to shame

Yeah man building high end is cheaper than buying it. And its a lot more satisfying knowing you did it all, putting it together and whatnot.

samstar1412 · 27 Jun 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by smarteyeball

Then stick with 4GB. 6GB takes it out of dual synchronous mode and into asynchronous mode which is slower. It's also easier to overclock with only 4GB.

All those CPU's are good. They all overclock really well, so stock clock speed shouldn't be a huge factor in your decision.

The Corsair HX1000 is a great PSU, but a 750w-850w would be perfect for a single 4870x2.

What if i was to go with 8gb instead?

Quote: Originally Posted by grouchpunk08

Yeah man building high end is cheaper than buying it. And its a lot more satisfying knowing you did it all, putting it together and whatnot.

A lot cheaper some alienwares are like $10,000+ and the're not even close to being worth $5,000

smarteyeball · 27 Jun 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by samstar1412

What if i was to go with 8gb instead?

It depends. 8GB will run in dual synchronous but may not run at it's full rated speed. Then again, others have no problems.

For example I have 8GB of 1100mhz ram, but I simply cant get it to run stable past 896mhz at stock timings. With only 4GB installed, it will run at 1150mhz with lower timing.

But in real world usgae, the difference in speed is not noticeable, however it was slightly noticeable with only 6GB installed.

The majority of the time, especially in games, 8GB is overkill. But you notice the benefits elsewhere. But for budget considerations, 4GB is perfectly fine.

samstar1412 · 27 Jun 2009

Thank you for verifying that for me, if i do get 4gb there is always room for more if i ever need it since the board has 4 ram slots. Also what speed ram would you recommend if I was to overclock the CPU to say around 3.2-3.4ghz? Links would be appreciated thanks.

smarteyeball · 27 Jun 2009

For some headroom, I'd go for 1066mhz RAM. Ideally, whatever 1066 ram you choose, make sure it has a CAS latency of at least 5-5-5-15. preferably at 1.8 volts

Just a couple:

Corsair Dominator Black
Corsair DDR2 XMS2 PC2 8500 Memory Kit Review :: Introduction :: Motherboards.org

G.Skill PI
G.Skill Pi DDR2 PC2-8800 4GB - Introduction - DriverHeaven.net

I'd steer away from Kingston Hyper-X though. I couldn't get my board to post with Kingston.

Captain Zero · 27 Jun 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by samstar1412

@Captain Zero
Also i would like to see your build logs if thats ok?

Here's one that's basically what you're going for. My current workhorse.

brayway · 27 Jun 2009

LOL i just built the cheapest gaming rig i could get im also a 15 YR old but do have a job :) but get crap money so this is what i got wen i pulled a 100 bux out of my paents
E1400
2GB Kingston HyperX 1066 RAM
250GB seagate barauda
Asus P5KPL/1600
NVIDIA 9800GT 512MB DDR3 (like the best part of my system :) )
i just cant get the RAM to run at the 1066 cause my CPU's FSB is 800

samstar1412 · 27 Jun 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by smarteyeball

For some headroom, I'd go for 1066mhz RAM. Ideally, whatever 1066 ram you choose, make sure it has a CAS latency of at least 5-5-5-15. preferably at 1.8 volts

Just a couple:

Corsair Dominator Black
Corsair DDR2 XMS2 PC2 8500 Memory Kit Review :: Introduction :: Motherboards.org

G.Skill PI
G.Skill Pi DDR2 PC2-8800 4GB - Introduction - DriverHeaven.net

I'd steer away from Kingston Hyper-X though. I couldn't get my board to post with Kingston.

Thanks for the links and for the tips on r.

Quote: Originally Posted by Captain Zero

Here's one that's basically what you're going for. My current workhorse.

I read through that whole thread, it sure is a excellent build. I see you had a few dramas with the water cooling thats why i'll leave that for an upgrade in the future, other than that i bet its an amazing pc. Also are you running 2 HD4870x2's in that beast?

Quote: Originally Posted by brayway

LOL i just built the cheapest gaming rig i could get im also a 15 YR old but do have a job :) but get crap money so this is what i got wen i pulled a 100 bux out of my paents
E1400
2GB Kingston HyperX 1066 RAM
250GB seagate barauda
Asus P5KPL/1600
NVIDIA 9800GT 512MB DDR3 (like the best part of my system :) )
i just cant get the RAM to run at the 1066 cause my CPU's FSB is 800

Nice budget system for sure, if i dont get enough funds for my build i may go for a dual core but i'll be heading for an e8400 i hear you can overclock em to 4.0ghz on stock cooling and voltages

. Also if i have to cheap out more i'll get a 1gb HD4870 instead of the 2gb HD4870x2 that will save me another couple a hundred.

brayway · 27 Jun 2009

yea, that dual core was an emergency one lol
it only Cost me $59AU from Umart :)
i was going to use my P4 but then i found out that it wasnt compatable with the new Mobo so i had to get an emergency one, and that was the cheapest i could get LOLs only 512MB cache

but it is better than the P5
(that is now a css server :) )

samstar1412 · 27 Jun 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by brayway

yea, that dual core was an emergency one lol
it only Cost me $59AU from Umart :)
i was going to use my P4 but then i found out that it wasnt compatable with the new Mobo so i had to get an emergency one, and that was the cheapest i could get LOLs only 512MB cache

but it is better than the P5
(that is now a css server :) )

Haha the q9550 i want has a 12mb cache

the q6600 is my emergency (the e8400 is the same price but its dual not quad), and the 1gb HD4870 is my emergency graphics coz thats about half the price of the 2gb HD4870x2. I also have several backup motherboards, so if i went with all my backups its still about $900-1000au though