New Gaming Rig

[Jon_di2]

Hey. Just looking to get opinions on a new gaming rig. Here are the specs:

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Mid Tower Gamer Case 900
Motherboard: EVGA Nforce 780I SLI
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450, 2.66GHZ, 1333FSB 12MB Retail
Video Card: Evga E-GEFORCE Gtx 260 Superclocked 602MHZ 896MB 2.052GHZ
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200RPM 32MB Cache
PSU: Corsair TX750W 750W ATX Power Supply w/120MM Fan
RAM: OCZ SLI-Ready Dual Channel 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory
Optical Drive: Samsung 203S Trudirect 20X Sata Dvd Writer Lightscribe
Mouse: Logitech G5 Laser Gaming Mouse 2000DPI USB Blue Black ENG/FR
Keyboard: Undecided (Possibly Razer Lycosa - I like thin keys)

Extra: Antec TriCool 120MM Blue LED Case Fan

Any opinions welcome. I am looking to future-proof my system.
Thanks.

[1Tanker]

Originally Posted by Jon_di2

Hey. Just looking to get opinions on a new gaming rig. Here are the specs:

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Mid Tower Gamer Case 900
Motherboard: EVGA Nforce 780I SLI
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450, 2.66GHZ, 1333FSB 12MB Retail
Video Card: Evga E-GEFORCE Gtx 260 Superclocked 602MHZ 896MB 2.052GHZ
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200RPM 32MB Cache
PSU: Corsair TX750W 750W ATX Power Supply w/120MM Fan
RAM: OCZ SLI-Ready Dual Channel 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory
Optical Drive: Samsung 203S Trudirect 20X Sata Dvd Writer Lightscribe
Mouse: Logitech G5 Laser Gaming Mouse 2000DPI USB Blue Black ENG/FR
Keyboard: Undecided (Possibly Razer Lycosa - I like thin keys)

Extra: Antec TriCool 120MM Blue LED Case Fan

Any opinions welcome. I am looking to future-proof my system.
Thanks.

Looks like a great setup, with one exception. IMO, the 260GTX is an "unworthy" purchase. You're better to

1. Get a 9800GTX/GTX+
2. Get a 280GTX
if you must go nVidia. If not, an HD4870 would be a much better bang/$ card to get, and will beat the 260GTX in most situations.. and hang with the 280GTX in some.

Other than that, it looks like a pretty solid build. GL

[Companion_Cube]

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Mid Tower Gamer Case 900
I like it, but most people think otherwise (bad cable management, dust trap).

Motherboard: EVGA Nforce 780I SLI
nVidia chipsets are eww.

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450, 2.66GHZ, 1333FSB 12MB Retail
I would go E8400, but that's just me.

Video Card: Evga E-GEFORCE Gtx 260 Superclocked 602MHZ 896MB 2.052GHZ
Not worth it.

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200RPM 32MB Cache
WD Caviar SE16 640Gb.

PSU: Corsair TX750W 750W ATX Power Supply w/120MM Fan
Modular FTW?

RAM: OCZ SLI-Ready Dual Channel 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory
Mushkin Ascents.

Optical Drive: Samsung 203S Trudirect 20X Sata Dvd Writer Lightscribe
Pioneer 215D?

Mouse: Logitech G5 Laser Gaming Mouse 2000DPI USB Blue Black ENG/FR
IMO it looks fugly.

Keyboard: Undecided (Possibly Razer Lycosa - I like thin keys)
Logitech G15.

Extra: Antec TriCool 120MM Blue LED Case Fan
Real men only use Deltas.

[1Tanker]

Originally Posted by Companion_Cube

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Mid Tower Gamer Case 900
I like it, but most people think otherwise (bad cable management, dust trap).

Motherboard: EVGA Nforce 780I SLI
nVidia chipsets are eww.

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450, 2.66GHZ, 1333FSB 12MB Retail
I would go E8400, but that's just me.

Video Card: Evga E-GEFORCE Gtx 260 Superclocked 602MHZ 896MB 2.052GHZ
Not worth it.

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200RPM 32MB Cache
WD Caviar SE16 640Gb.

PSU: Corsair TX750W 750W ATX Power Supply w/120MM Fan
Modular FTW?

RAM: OCZ SLI-Ready Dual Channel 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory
Mushkin Ascents.

Optical Drive: Samsung 203S Trudirect 20X Sata Dvd Writer Lightscribe
Pioneer 215D?

Mouse: Logitech G5 Laser Gaming Mouse 2000DPI USB Blue Black ENG/FR
IMO it looks fugly.

Keyboard: Undecided (Possibly Razer Lycosa - I like thin keys)
Logitech G15.

Extra: Antec TriCool 120MM Blue LED Case Fan
Real men only use Deltas.

Is there anything that you did like?

[Jon_di2]

Hey thanks for the imput, and I've seen many people say to get the 4870, but there are some concerns with that now that the price of the Gtx 260 and 4870 seem to be about the same ($10-20 more for gtx 260). Expecially since future games might need (or at least support physx)

EVGA E-GEFORCE GTX 260 Superclocked $308.88 (278.88 after mail in rebate)
EVGA E-GEFORCE GTX 280 Superclocked $463.22 (433.22 after mail in rebate)
Diamond Radeon HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 $268.32
no physx on HD4870 (looking to future proof system)

@Companion Cube - I think its funny that you like the Logitech G15 but not the G5 Mouse. And the keys on the G15 look like they stick out, but the Razar Lycosa looks more like a laptop keyboard (which I like) - My previous gaming system was a Dell XPS M170.

[1Tanker]

Originally Posted by Jon_di2

Hey thanks for the imput, and I've seen many people say to get the 4870, but there are some concerns with that now that the price of the Gtx 260 and 4870 seem to be about the same ($10-20 more for gtx 260). Expecially since future games might need (or at least support physx)

EVGA E-GEFORCE GTX 260 Superclocked $308.88 (278.88 after mail in rebate)
EVGA E-GEFORCE GTX 280 Superclocked $463.22 (433.22 after mail in rebate)
Diamond Radeon HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 $268.32
no physx on HD4870 (looking to future proof system)

@Companion Cube - I think its funny that you like the Logitech G15 but not the G5 Mouse. And the keys on the G15 look like they stick out, but the Razar Lycosa looks more like a laptop keyboard (which I like) - My previous gaming system was a Dell XPS M170.

Apparently Physx is going to work on ATI as well.

[Jon_di2]

Originally Posted by 1Tanker

Apparently Physx is going to work on ATI as well.

But why take the chance for about $15?
And I think that the 260 and 4870 are so close in performance that it wouldn't make a big difference.

Oh and a couple other things for the suggestions by Companion Cube. I'm thinking that I might stick with the OCZ ram (due to price) and is there a reason you reccomend the Western Digital Caviar over the Seagate?

Mushkin Ascent PC2-6400 4GB 2X2GB - 104.99 (after rebate)
OCZ SLI-Ready Dual Channel 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory - $64 (after rebate)

Western Digital Caviar SE16 640GB SATA2 - $84.88CAD (only 16mb cache)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 3.5IN 500GB - $72.88 (32MB cache)

Oh and I was wondering why you recomended the Pioneer 215D over the Samsung 203S?

[JD]

I second some of Companion_Cube's suggestions. Namely the Motherboard, Hard Drive, RAM, DVD-RW.

For the motherboard, unless you seriously plan to go with SLI, get a P45 based motherboard like the P5Q-E or Deluxe.

For the hard drive, the 640GB WD is quite a bit faster than other drives out there as it uses dual 320GB platters. Cache size doesn't really matter much.

For the RAM choice, I think Companion_Cube was going with the Ascent PC-8000/8500 which might be worth while. It'll give you more room to OC if you do so. However the Redlines are the best deal right now IMO: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...N&promoid=1046 Comes with 3DMark Vantage as well I believe.

For the DVD-RW, Pioneer is the best from what I've read. I have one myself (212D) and it works great. Nice and quiet, reads and burns everything I've thrown at it.

Oh and I have the Razer Lycosa, it's a nice keyboard, nothing special though. Basic layout with basic functionality but I have no need for macros and what not. I have the DeathAdder mouse which matches perfectly (same colour/texture) if you care about that.

One last thing, you should consider an aftermarket CPU heatsink such as the popular HDT models like this: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...cture=Xigmatek

As per the GTX260, well, price drops are probably going to come sooner than you'd think so you might feel ripped off. Up to you though.

[Companion_Cube]

Originally Posted by 1Tanker

Is there anything that you did like?

The case , although I would recommend a Twelve Hundred as it's a little more "refined".

nVidia is letting ATI use PhysX because if ATI only used Havok and nVidia only used PhysX it would sort suck.

Pioneer optical drives have lower relative failure rates.

The WD 640Gb has denser platters, I've been told 15% preformance increase, with a budget of $100 I would go buy a Intel board with a ICH9 or ICH10 SB w/ two http://tinyurl.com/55fdxc in RAID 0. Keep in mind nVidia onboard RAID is

Yes Redlines (at least the ones at NCIX) come with 3DMark Vantage, but Vantage only runs on Vista eww.

[EDIT]
Almost forgot TriCools . At least get Yate Loons.

[Jon_di2]

Hey,

I do plan to go SLI at some point (that why I chose that motherboard), and the GTX 260

The 12 hundred case is nicer, but more expensive too...

Thanks for the tip on the WD 640Gb, I think I'll switch to that (didn't know about the denser platters.

I'm not going to OC the ram though, but if I upgrade my ram in the future I'll probably choose one of those more expensive ones.

Oh and what do u think is better for gaming
XP Pro
XP 64
Vista 64

The only reason I am thinking Vista is because I want to actually be able to use 4gb of ram instead of 3.2... but then there are the Vista issues... expecially with certain games not even working in Vista.