How Would You Improve My Setup?

[Bleu]

Hi,

I had been using a XFX HD 5870 1GB GDDR5 Dual DVI HDMI DP Out PCI-E for over a year 13 months to be exact and it died. I was not insured luckily the retailer I bought it from agreed to repair or replace it.

It was completely dead and they no longer stocked the original card, I opted for a Gainward GTX 570 Phantom 1280MB GDDR5 Dual DVI HDMI DisplayPort PCI-E with insurance as I didn't want to spend a great deal of money on a 580/680. As I'm in and out of hospital at the moment and therefore unable to work.

I'm in the mood for upgrading my computer a little nothing major I'd like to keep my CPU and mobo unless it would offer a significant improvement. Would there be away of improving my current system? Buying a second graphics card, more RAM, adding a sound card or even overclocking?

I use this machine mostly for games and my media playback (Blu-rays etc) If you don't think I need to that's fine but I'm open to all suggestions. Please let me know what you think.

Spec:

OS: Windows 7 64 Ultimate
CPU: Intel Core i7 950 3.06GHz Socket 1366 8MB Cache
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R Intel X58 Socket 1366 8 Channel Audio
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 12GB (3x4GB) DDR3 1600Mhz Non-ECC Unbuffered
GFX: Gainward GTX 570 Phantom 1280MB GDDR5 x 1

Case: Antec Dark Fleet DF-85 Case
PSU: Antec Truepower Quattro 1200W

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Bleu,
You have a very nice rig currently. I might consider your CPU cooling. Have you considered the great Corsair H100 and adding 4 premium fans in push pull?



Then of course adding an additional GPU would be killer but I might suggest going in stages buy enhancing the CPU cooling and investigating a modest overclock. Then look into a nice SLi set up.

 

[Bleu]

Thanks Linne, I'm sorry if this seems really lazy but this was my first build. I've tried to do it myself with help from the internet that is. I wouldn't know which fans etc to buy and have no idea about CPU cooling and how I would go about installinh this. If it's not to much trouble could you recommend something so I know what I'm looking for?

Grace

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Grace this is a very easy upgrade and yes the kit comes with almost everything you need except for the screws needed for the additional and recommended fans. Your case is ready to go for the H100 and the water radiator and pump are sealed and idiot proof. The pump even comes with paste already attached and all you need to do is remove the stock cooler, clean the i7 with various cleaners (we can help you with) and then mount the new unit, plug it in and your off to new low temps which the OC will need and like very much.

 

[Bleu]

Thanks again Linne, I hadn't really considered additional cooling at all. However when my boyfriend opened my case he could tell right away the graphics card had burnt out. You could smell it even though I hadn't played games in months due to being ill, all I did was restart the computer.

I was hoping moving to Nvidia would help with heat - I'm told they do not get as hot as AMD/ATI cards not sure if that's true - but I will definitely invest in additional cooling when I get things sorted out.

I haven't posted much on the Win7 forums but if you get to know me you will learn nothing is idiot proof. :sarc:

Thanks again!

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Yeah not real sure you can say Nvidia runs cooler than ATi, but the new DDR5 cards runs a lot cooler and use less energy than there DDR3 counterparts. We are all idiotic geniuses here ! You are in good company and please don't fear this in anyway. We work hard to give good timely advice that of course is up to you to take in of go your own path. But we do require pictures of your upgrades and tweaks so others and look and learn ! Suggest posting those in "Show us your rig"

 

[James7679]

Grace, something to keep in mind; regardless of how much cooling you have, if you aren't cleaning out your case and components, with canned air as needed, dust will build up and cook far more than your new gpu. On my phone, so I will have to verify, but if your mobo is sli compatible, you should eventually opt for the second 570. You have plenty of psu to spare.

 

[Bleu]

Grace, something to keep in mind; regardless of how much cooling you have, if you aren't cleaning out your case and components, with canned air...

Didn't know you were supposed to do this...

Thanks James I guess I'll have to start although I did take the opportunity to remove the layers of dust from inside my computer while it was out of action.

As for the second GPU I'm not normally as poor as I am now. I've been off work for six months and various other things have happened. Would it be possible to put in another card as long as it was Nvidia? I saw a lot of 2GB RAM Nvidia cards. I was going to opt for one of these but my Boyfriend doesn't approve of all the tech spending whilst I'm ill.

I had to just take a replacement for the same value as my old card. Couldn't get away with spending £200 on a new card and couldn't wait any longer.

Edit:

Just on the off chance anyone is looking for compressed air cans, I just ordered two from Amazon for £5.

Grace

 

[whs]

How about adding a SSD for the OS.

 

[irbullet]

How about adding a SSD for the OS.

I highly agree. on my laptop i have one in there and it feels like it runs 10x faster to me


off topic: whats wrong? what illness do you have? I have a illness too

 

[Bleu]

Whs and Irbullet thank you both but I have my OS running from a SSD. I have a Crucial 2.5" 64GB Real SSD for Windows 7 and another for Linux. Sorry for not making that clear in my OP.

To Irbullet, I'm sorry to hear you are sick. If you don't mind though I'd rather not discuss my illness on the open forum. I wish you a speedy recovery. :grouphug:

Grace

 

[irbullet]

Whs and Irbullet thank you both but I have my OS running from a SSD. I have a Crucial 2.5" 64GB Real SSD for Windows 7 and another for Linux. Sorry for not making that clear in my OP.

To Irbullet, I'm sorry to hear you are sick. If you don't mind though I'd rather not discuss my illness on the open forum. I wish you a speedy recovery. :grouphug:

Grace

No problem! I feel the same way I usually don't even tell friends

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Steps I would entertain,
1) Better cooling and air flow. ala H100, H80, NH-D14
2) Begin the slow learning processes of the art of the overclock
3) SLi another Nvidia card (frame rates will increase, but so will heat and power use, good reason to increase cooling)
4) Swap ram for faster over clockable 2200 ram (just went with G.Skills myself @ 2133)

 

[Bleu]

Thanks Linne if and when I get my computer working (having no signal problems) I'm going to buy some new fans to start. I have space for water cooling so may look into as well. I thought my RAM was quite good sad to hear there's better RAM out there.

Having issues with my GPU at the moment so won't be buying another one until I'm up and running again. Thank you for replying.

 

[James7679]

Would it be possible to put in another card as long as it was Nvidia?

I just checked and your board is ready for up to 3-way SLI. Which means that if you decide, you could add two more of the cards you just got. And your PSU should still be good for the 3-way setup.

Also, whatever it is that you are going through, I wish you a speedy recovery.

Regards,

James

 

[James7679]

I thought my RAM was quite good sad to hear there's better RAM out there.

Your RAM is just fine. You COULD step up to a faster speed, but TBH, your money will be better spent somewhere else.

In benchmark testing you MIGHT see around a 15% increase in memory speed and functionality.

In real world use and most gaming, you might see a percent or two increase. Is it worth the money?

 

[Bleu]

I tend to agree I'd rather spend the money elsewhere rather than replace my RAM. Truth be told I've had no issues with performance until I stopped working that is. icnic:

I think I'd add extra cooling at some point but I noticed on the new GPU that there is space for more memory. So I might be tempted to add some extra memory to the card rather than splash out for a new card just yet. Although I have to thank you again James I had no idea my mobo could do 3-way SLI. Once my computer is up and running I will have to have words with the other half.

 

[pparks1]

Thanks again Linne, I hadn't really considered additional cooling at all. However when my boyfriend opened my case he could tell right away the graphics card had burnt out. You could smell it even though I hadn't played games in months due to being ill, all I did was restart the computer.

In a case such as this one, your GPU didn't burn up because it was too hot so additional cooling inside of your case is not going to prevent this from happening.

To me, it sounds like you either had a short, or a power issue that fried your GPU. As far as power goes, it's important to have clean power for your machine to run on and the reason that I always run my machines plugged into a UPS. It's possible that a UPS could have prevented your video card issue....