The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Help Talon Build A New PC! So He Can Run STALKER! *now with quasi-final build*
Talonrazor
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Yes it's another "build a pc" thread. I love you guys that much
So as anyone who hangs out in the G&T IRC channel knows, my current PC is terrible and shitty. RAM sucks, harddrives need to be reformatted, wiped and Windows reinstalled, motherboard is outdated. I bought STALKER the other day and it couldn't run it. I have a 3d Animation class I need to do projects for and my machine can't render files. So I finally said "fuck it" and dipped into my emergency reserve of cash supplied by the generous oil companies since I have the good fortune of living in Alaska.
I have a pretty good idea of what I want to build but you guys are great at pointing huge gaping flaws in rig builds. I've been flipping through all the build threads and looking at Tom's Hardware guide so I have a rough idea of what I want. My main priority is 3d Animating (not MAYA, more basic stuff) and video editing (lots of Adobe Premiere and Adobe AfterEffects, so rendering is a big issue). A side aspect is sweet, sweet gaming. I want to be able to run Company of Heroes, Oblivion, Dawn of War, STALKER and Supreme Commander at the highest settings without a single flicker.
Price: $1500. I'm looking at building at the end of this month.
I already have harddrives, CD drive, DVD+RW drive, soundcard and twin monitors from the old rig. I'm currently thinking about the following:
CPU - Either twin Opterons or a Core 2 Duo E6600. Someone told me twin opterons won't make for good gaming but the golden grail of any video editing rig is twin CPUs. Should I do a Dual-Core instead? How will this affect renders?
Memory - I was planning on 2gb of high quality stuff but G&T IRC is telling me 4gb will make my dick bigger. What kind of RAM you think is really bitchin'?
Video Card - I am really not sure about this one. I know some of you have the 8800GT and like it. How are Radeon cards nowadays? Should I wait for the DX10 cards to hit the scene? Should I just pickup a DX9 for a good deal?
Mobo - Not sure here either. Might be a server board if I go with twin Opterons.
Case - Weretac0 linked to a really good case, real quiet. I'll probably go with that one.
What do you guys recommend and like?
CURRENT BUILD DRAFT:
CPU Fan: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118004
$50 ZALMAN CNPS 9500 AM2 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink
Power Source: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139002
$170 CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021
$120 Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150172
$310 XFX PVT80GGHE9 GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 GRAW Bundle HDCP
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131070
$150 ASUS P5B-E LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard
Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590
$130x2 CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
$260
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115003
$310 Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775
Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824014139
$280 BenQ FP222WH Black 22" 5ms DVI Widescreen HDMI LCD
Rig: $1500
Rig + Shipping: $1650
Total + Monitor: $1930
So as anyone who hangs out in the G&T IRC channel knows, my current PC is terrible and shitty. RAM sucks, harddrives need to be reformatted, wiped and Windows reinstalled, motherboard is outdated. I bought STALKER the other day and it couldn't run it. I have a 3d Animation class I need to do projects for and my machine can't render files. So I finally said "fuck it" and dipped into my emergency reserve of cash supplied by the generous oil companies since I have the good fortune of living in Alaska.
I have a pretty good idea of what I want to build but you guys are great at pointing huge gaping flaws in rig builds. I've been flipping through all the build threads and looking at Tom's Hardware guide so I have a rough idea of what I want. My main priority is 3d Animating (not MAYA, more basic stuff) and video editing (lots of Adobe Premiere and Adobe AfterEffects, so rendering is a big issue). A side aspect is sweet, sweet gaming. I want to be able to run Company of Heroes, Oblivion, Dawn of War, STALKER and Supreme Commander at the highest settings without a single flicker.
Price: $1500. I'm looking at building at the end of this month.
I already have harddrives, CD drive, DVD+RW drive, soundcard and twin monitors from the old rig. I'm currently thinking about the following:
CPU - Either twin Opterons or a Core 2 Duo E6600. Someone told me twin opterons won't make for good gaming but the golden grail of any video editing rig is twin CPUs. Should I do a Dual-Core instead? How will this affect renders?
Memory - I was planning on 2gb of high quality stuff but G&T IRC is telling me 4gb will make my dick bigger. What kind of RAM you think is really bitchin'?
Video Card - I am really not sure about this one. I know some of you have the 8800GT and like it. How are Radeon cards nowadays? Should I wait for the DX10 cards to hit the scene? Should I just pickup a DX9 for a good deal?
Mobo - Not sure here either. Might be a server board if I go with twin Opterons.
Case - Weretac0 linked to a really good case, real quiet. I'll probably go with that one.
What do you guys recommend and like?
CURRENT BUILD DRAFT:
CPU Fan: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118004
$50 ZALMAN CNPS 9500 AM2 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink
Power Source: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139002
$170 CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021
$120 Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150172
$310 XFX PVT80GGHE9 GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 GRAW Bundle HDCP
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131070
$150 ASUS P5B-E LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard
Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590
$130x2 CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
$260
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115003
$310 Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775
Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824014139
$280 BenQ FP222WH Black 22" 5ms DVI Widescreen HDMI LCD
Rig: $1500
Rig + Shipping: $1650
Total + Monitor: $1930
Talonrazor on
0
Posts
Cheers.
Anyway I hear those dual core cpus will be getting a price cut soon.
Theoretically April 9th for AMD, April 22nd for Intel. Both rumored, not confirmed.
Been there, done that.
I am calling in the SWAT team of computer knowledge.
Price: $1500. "
These two qualifiers don't mesh. Even dual cores have issues with SupCom... and the cheapest Quad cores are approx half your "budget".
With a budget like that, think moreso "decent settings with decent frames"
Well, decent settings with high frames or high settings with ehhhh frames.
to run them at the "highest settings" at smooth levels (north of 60) you're look at like quad cores and dual 8800 rigs, very expensive
of course that largely depends on how many pixels are being pushed (resolution of the monitor)
I was being slightly factious when I said that. I would settle for "running them without a slideshow".
Thinking about this RAM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590
Or this RAM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145168
The big question I have now is what is the advantage of a Dual Core vs. something like twin high-capacity Opterons. I know in theory that dual core is suppose to be like twin CPUs but how much is it really? I've been seriously out of the market for awhile.
Or hell, should I go with a Quad Core for major awesome?
ram is one of the least important factors on your performance
Because I'm sure that having shitty RAM will in no way bottleneck your setup. :roll:
C'mon, now.
most of all, most of all
someone said true love was dead
but i'm bound to fall
bound to fall for you
oh what can i do
What time do you expect these prices to drop at? Like, in a month? I'm kinda needing a rig around this month or so.
I probably wouldn't be able to upgrade again until at least winter.
EDIT: Wait what? RAM is least important factor? I don't think so, for good rendering I need a bunch of high quality.
I have no idea of what you're talking about. Both of my housemates have an E6600, 2GBs of RAM and an 8800GTS, and NOTHING makes their computers chug. Unless you're running some insane 4-megapixel resolution on two monitors at once and use 16x MSAA (not CSAA) even though it makes no difference at that resolution, quad-cores and dual 8800s are extreme overkill for any game out today.
Not before having a shitty CPU, shitty GPU, shitty MOBO and shitty PSU to power the above will do the same
READ : there are more important components than ram
Then why respond like you do?
Who said chug? Why is it always black or white with people like you? I said "cant do north of 60" and you equate this with "below 25". NOTHING you've seen perhaps.
I said it was dependant on resolution, and you dont have to be necessarily talking about 2560x 1600. And you're still wrong.
Yeahhhh. 30 FPS average is HARDCORE OVERKILLZ OMFG WHO NEEDZ MOR THAN THAT
Talon, there are numerous threads on the subject, Orikae's was within the last week and comes to mind, might as well just go through that, every thread of these are basicalyl the same
Having a quad-core or dual-core won't matter shit in terms of resolution.
I don't give a fuck about benchmarks. Unless someone's been slipping me acid, I've actually experienced what you're saying is impossible. TALK IN RETARDED SARCASTIC CAPS ALL YOU WANT, you're still a dipshit.
Edit: Your own fucking benchmark shows a 0.2 FPS increase going from dual->quad core. Fantastic.
Played an 8 way 81x81km the other day, I did not notice slowdown. At all, in fact.
Looking at these two PSUs - The Enermax Liberty http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194004
and the Antec Phantom http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194004
Looking at this case - Antec 900 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?It
And of course this CPU Fan - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118004
I'm thinking about a 8800GTX card with an ASUS P5B board, if I go with a dual core that is. Still not really sure what CPU to take.
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showpost.php?p=1043400&postcount=29
read through the thread beyond that, i have more posts near the end with orik
Still need a good idea for a PSU.
from the post. if the GTX, get the latter
CPU Fan: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118004
$50 ZALMAN CNPS 9500 AM2 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink
Power Source: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139002
$170 CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
$120 Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150214R
$540 XFX PVT80FSHD9 GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 XXX Version HDCP
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131070
$150 ASUS P5B-E LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard
Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134041
$230 Kingston HyperX 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400)
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115003
$310 Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775
All it needs is some super quality thermal paste. Entire build: $1570
EDIT: Had to refigure for a second
I'd be pulling it out this week. Its a 9500 LED (copper fins and clear LED lighted fan to match intel scheme)
it'd come with everything fully boxed in mint-y condition
pair it with some arctic silver 5
Hey I might be interested in that. It's in good shape? Hit me up with a PM, I like to see money go to forumers then some website.
I would skimp on either the fan (my intel stock fan is great, cools to 22C after 14hrs of prime95)
Maybe go for the 8800GTS and invest in a nice 19" LCD.
Putting all that into driving 2 CRT's (the video card will need 2xDVI to VGA adapters) is rediculous
EDIT: Also, this Corsair XMS2 RAM is much cheaper then Kingston and appears to be just as good. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590
Is that reliable RAM? It looks like a better deal then the Kingston and would allow me to afford the LCD monitor as well.
Yeah, that's good ram. To be honest though, with the Core2s the speed of the ram makes very little difference to gaming benchmarks unless you're going to start overclocking. I'd be more tempted to try and eek out a 20" widescreen monitor for the increased screen res, especially if you do any sort of art with it. Maybe by dropping the GTX to a GTS or going for an E6300 and overclocking it.
How much of a performance difference will I see in an GTS? Appears I'd save about a $100 then and Acer's got a 20'' monitor I could probably swing. From benchmark stuff, there is a bit of a performance difference between the two cards but I wonder if it'd even matter that much.
I think you'd see a less of a performance difference dropping to an E6300 than you will dropping to the GTS. Check this article out from firing squad and make a note of the resolutions being played at.
edit: fixxed link
Also, I'm looking at the $250 cheaper 320mb GTS and wondering if a GTX would really serve me all that well. When it comes to rendering and editing videos, do you think a GTX would make a major difference? For me, CPU is important since that's what really drives me video software.
Sorry, I've fixed the link now.
edit: as for 3d rendering, I believe the video card only makes a difference on bits like preview and that'd likely be not a lot anyways.
Mm... decisions, decisions.
EDIT: Well, current build is $1600. I actually should be able to swing that and still get a $200 LCD monitor, 'specially if I sell my old rig to someone for that much. I might even be able to get 4gb of RAM....
If however you are going to go no larger than 20 I would say the GTS is going to be just fine and it's a pretty reasonable price right now.
CoH runs perfectly, though.
I'd strongly recommend you match producers on your mobo and graphics card -- I recommend EVGA -- even though the price will likely be a bit steeper. The advantage is that each is tested with the other in-house to generate performance reports, so your results should be identical to the factory specs if you have the right drivers.
As far as monitors go...you can pick up a 19-20" LCD for $200 or so (check Tigerdirect, their monitor prices tend to be lower in my experience). I have a 21" BenQ that has served me faithfully for 3 years with no(!) pixel burnout, and a secondary 19" widescreen Hitachi that cost me almost nothing to pick up. The 8800GTX provides two DVI-D outs to simplify the typical gamer's dual-monitor lifestyle.
Is it possible to use the two other CRTs without having to get a secondary video card? Three screen setup would be bitchin'.
2GB OCZ platinum (got a good deal)
Geforce 8800GTS 320MB by xfx
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 (good board GREAT price)
seagate 320GB sata2 drive
Fear, stalker, COH, Dawn of war, wow all run well (40+ FPS) on max res and settings. Supreme commander runs great until there are thousands of units, at that point I get chunk, the graphics settings don't seem to have an impact at all, I think it is probably cpu/ram bottlenecking with that many units.
TLDR: the GTS is fine for Supreme Commander.
Honestly, if you're not overclocking the stock heatsink that comes with the E6600 is pretty good too.
I'm not, I just linked to the wrong one. I'm buying one off of a forumer that he had on his E6600. And I do plan to overclock the E6600 by a 1GHz, all the reviews I read said that's possible. Plus that heatsink looks bitchin and with the open-side case, I'm all for that.
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814161025
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145527
(I'm sorry I can't find Neweggs link for this at the moment, but here's the name) AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Windsor 2.0GHz Socket AM2 Dual Core Processor Model ADA4000CSBOX - Retail
This post is in no way to be taken as religion, just to give you an idea that the stuff about quad cores and dual 8800s is a little overstated to say the least.