A new rig incoming !

[ddrmanxbxfr]

Hi I'd like to have a few advice about a new rig that i'll be building as I'm currently looking to replace my current rig that is aging and feeling slow nowadays (See signature for specs).

Crossfire or SLi seemed the way to go to get the most 3d performance for the price. As I've read.

Think I can swap the CPU cooler for something like a Thermalright or a Noctua that would probably cool more than this small cooler.

Maybe the case for an Antec not quite sure if the video cards would fit in a 300.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing. : Mostly gaming (currently this year heading for BF3, Diablo 3 and Star Wars The Old Republic), virtualisation stuff (Virtualbox, vmware) and computer science university work (OpenGL programming and some C++ math. apps).

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread : Around 900-1200$CAD

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from. Canada

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads. : Yup see the two rig I made at the end of the thread.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds. : Yes I do, as much as I can get from it.

8. WHEN do you plan to build it? Pretty soon. Probably next week or in two.

9. What resolution do you use? 1920x1080

Here's the two rig I came up with...

First rig :

Cpu : Intel Core i5 2500k
Cooling CPU : Cooler master hyper TX3
Video card : 2x Crossfire Sapphire Radeon HD 6870
Motherboard : Asus P8P67
Psu : Corsair CX600
Case : RaidMax Altas
Ram : 2x 4 Gb dual channel kit from G.SKILL DDR3-1333
Optical drive : Lite-ON dvd burner


Second Rig

Cpu : Intel Core i5 2500k
Cooling CPU : Cooler master hyper TX3
Motherboard : EVGA P67 Micro-SLi.
Video cards : 2x SLi EVGA GTX 460
Psu : Corsair CX600
Case : RaidMax Altas
Ram : 2x 4 Gb dual channel kit from G.SKILL DDR3-1333
Optical drive : Lite-ON dvd burner


Thanks for looking into it !

[Mayoo]

Hi there.

I would up the PSU, 600 is not enough for SLI or CrossFire plus you only have 2 PCI-E connectors. Get at least a modular 800+. I also find the mobo choices rather basic even though it will enable you to use SLI/CF but that's about it. Don't forget that smaller = more heat.

What is your HDD/SSD choice?

Thanks!

[ddrmanxbxfr]

Originally Posted by Mayoo

Hi there.

I would up the PSU, 600 is not enough for SLI or CrossFire plus you only have 2 PCI-E connectors. Get at least a modular 800+. I also find the mobo choices rather basic even though it will enable you to use SLI/CF but that's about it. Don't forget that smaller = more heat.

What is your HDD/SSD choice?

Thanks!

I already have a 750 Gb Western Digital Caviar black that is laying around so I will use that drive.

Yeah, well mobo wise the only thing I was aiming was basically doing some oc with it which p67 seemed to perform well and enabling CF / SLi for those 2 cards I will have.

PSU Wise I guess I should up it. I'll lookup what I could get. Any advice ?

True for the heat. Most of the hardware that have stock cooling will be replaced with aftermarket cooling, so I'm not worrying about it...

[Beastylemon]

IF you REALLY wanna go dual-GPU

Go with nVidia,
yes, AMD does scale better on PAPER. CrossfireX has stuttering problems with low-med end GPU's (experience on 3 builds with med-high end AMD cards)

But since the new GTX600 Kepler are coming out like next month, I wouldn't waste money on 2 med/low end cards that is going to be 3 gens old by next month.

SO, if you have to buy your cards now, but 1 beefy card to sli later
OR
Wait 1 month.

And as Mayoo stated, make SURE, you're PSU has the adequate connectors for your needs. (mostly your cards)

Hope you have fun building!!

[JJThomp]

Originally Posted by Beastylemon

IF you REALLY wanna go dual-GPU

Go with nVidia,
yes, AMD does scale better on PAPER. CrossfireX has stuttering problems with low-med end GPU's (experience on 3 builds with med-high end AMD cards)

But since the new GTX600 Kepler are coming out like next month, I wouldn't waste money on 2 med/low end cards that is going to be 3 gens old by next month.

SO, if you have to buy your cards now, but 1 beefy card to sli later
OR
Wait 1 month.

And as Mayoo stated, make SURE, you're PSU has the adequate connectors for your needs. (mostly your cards)

Hope you have fun building!!

Kepler isn't coming out until late Q1,atleast that is the latest word.

Also you really shouldn't go crossfire or SLI, leaves you with no upgrade paths and driver headaches, pick up one card that is the best you can afford.

Also PSU is a little weak for CF/sli especially if you plane on overclocking anything.

[ern88]

Ya, PSU should be 750. But recommend 850. Like this one here:

Corsair Professional HX850W 850W ATX 12V 70A 24PIN ATX Modular Power Supply Active PFC 140MM Fan - DirectCanada

[redgarl]

Crossfire is the way to go. SLI use more power, produce more heat, is more expensive and scale around 80% while CF is around 90%

The 6XXX series is really good at scalling. I got two 6850 in crossfire and it is just handle anything I throw at it... and I still use a Phenom II 720 X3 BE --> Phenom II 20 @ X4 3.6GHz.

People telling you to not go multiple GPU have no idea what they are talking about. Like any games, sometime at launch you got driver problems. Being dual GPU or not doesn't change much. The PC game industry is like that.

As for the PS, I will go with an OCZ 750W fatality. Cheaper and as good. I got one for the last year and I don't have any complain. Also, if you got a problem, OCZ warranty rock, the best of the industry. My modxstream was making capacitor noise and for my RMA they send me a 750W fatality, a better quality PS.

Also, if you go SLI or CF, you need a better case. Get a HAF 922.

[Razamatraz]

I would stick with one of your builds but go with a single GTX 570 instead of SLI 460s or a single 6970 instead of Xfire 68XX. There is just something completely mediocre about the 6800 series...they run some stuff right where they are priced and completely stutter on other programs. The 460 is a nice card but is 2 years old now.

Stick with Corsair and go to the 850W which will give you room to SLI the 570 or Xfire the 6970 later if you want too. I have no experience with the suggested OCZ, but I have had issues with OCZ in general...as in they were very good...paperweights.

The P67 chipset is due for an upgrade too, but you don't seem to need the onboard graphics or SSD caching so you should be fine there.

Razz

[Beastylemon]

All-in-all, were too close to the next gen to spend money and an outdated card, so just get 1 beefed up card (GTX570) and SLI it later

Crossfire DOES scale better.. on paper.. micro stuttering is ANNOYING (phenomenon on mid/low range ATI/AMD Cards).. In which SLI does not have as much.
Crossfire 60FPS with microstutter feels like 40fps. SLI 60FPS feels like 60 FPS.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...re,2995-5.html
Please read whole article thoroughly, or at least read the game benchmarks, and not just look at the charts.
Most if not all cases, AMD suffers terribly in the CFX dept.

[ddrmanxbxfr]

Yeah looks like I better be wise and wait I guess :)

Grab a small 6850/6870 while waiting for the new gen gpus.

Or I could throw in either a 6970 or a 570...

Like this....

Cpu : Intel Core i5 2500k
Cooling CPU : Cooler master hyper TX3
Video card : 1x Sapphire Radeon HD 6870
Motherboard : Asus P8P67
Psu : CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650
Case : Cooler Master HAF 922
Ram : 2x 4 Gb dual channel kit from G.SKILL DDR3-1333
Optical drive : Lite-ON dvd burner