Tweaks for £1500 gaming PC

Neloz

Neloz

Neloz

Associate
Joined
11 Jun 2009
Posts
149
Location
London
Hello, I'd like some additional advice on a £1500 gaming PC I intend to build.

Here is what I've come up with so far:

TestSetup.jpg


Could you advise of any changes to get more out of it, or something that will bring better performance? I intend to use it heavily for gaming.

Thanks
 
Swap the velociraptor for a SSD like OCZ Vertex Series 30GB. That should be much quicker for OS drive, but kinda limited for storage space :p

Apart from that, no real room to improve that build (unless u get good sound card and good speakers and a 30" monitor too :p)
 
I think I might drop one of the 1TB drives and replace it with the 128 SSD from corsair. Thanks for the advice, i was hoping for a flurry of different spec ups though, maybe alittle 4870x2 vs 295 banter!
 
Neloz said:
I think I might drop one of the 1TB drives and replace it with the 128 SSD from corsair. Thanks for the advice, i was hoping for a flurry of different spec ups though, maybe alittle 4870x2 vs 295 banter!
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Defo swap the raptor for an SSD (preferably OCZ Vertex).

the 295 is faster than a 4870x2 but the 4870x2 is cheaper and not exactly much slower, so yeah save the cash get a 4870x2 and get a better SSD is my recomendation :D
 
well the x2 is MUCH better value for money than a 295, but its been discussed to death in gfx card forum. I would say that PSU wise either save a bit and just get 650W if youre not going to be going dual gfx, or if you think you might add a 2nd card later then splash a bit more for an 850W, both the 295 and X2 are power hungry
 
As already said drop the 295 for an X2 and swap the raptor for an SSD as they knock the socks off any mechanical drive. I'd also suggest you get a copy of Win7 RC if you haven't already as it rocks with an i7 / SSD setup! :)
 
It might just be the nvidia inside me talking, but i'm alittle dubious about the 4870x2, I've trawled through a lot of benchmarks and as people have said before its 5-10fps here and there. However i've noticed 4870x2 really falls behind on some games, showing a huge difference in FPS. Nvidia though seems to be consistant across the board, with the more often than not increased FPS.

I'm really aiming for something that will play the highest settings without fail. Would SLI be the answer for that? I suppose I'd like alittle convincing.

I intend to use Win7 RC, I find little point in picking up vista 64 ultimate.

Thanks for the advice so far guys.
 
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also nvidia has on-board physics if you think you will run the few games that can use it, or are going o keep it for a long time.

Nearly all i7's should reach 4.0Ghz so a little pointless paying teh extra. Unless you really want that security of the few bad chips out there.

Velocraptor is a waste of time. How much space do you need for the os drive. I would guess 60GB would be more than enough.
 
95thrifles said:
well the x2 is MUCH better value for money than a 295, but its been discussed to death in gfx card forum. I would say that PSU wise either save a bit and just get 650W if youre not going to be going dual gfx, or if you think you might add a 2nd card later then splash a bit more for an 850W, both the 295 and X2 are power hungry
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Second that save £100 and get a 4870 X2 much better!
 
if you got the money why not the gtx 295 it is faster as you say 5-10 fps here and there can make some difference especially down the line when the next crysis type game comes out and you need all the fps you can get.
 
if you're gaming at 1920x1200 or less i would say get a single 4890 and then drop 1x1TB drive and the veloci and get a 120GB SSD, or 60GB if you dont want to install many games on it (if any). Definately get an SSD though, and you can afford to drop the psu to a 650w corsair or something saving a little more

the 4890 will no doubt do you for now on any games (hell, my 4870 runs anything I throw at it perfectly at 1920x1080, even crysis is playable though its better with one or two graphics settings down a notch) and the extra money you're going to save will give you cash (+selling the 4890) to get a decent new generation card when they come out
 
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95thrifles said:
well the x2 is MUCH better value for money than a 295, but its been discussed to death in gfx card forum. I would say that PSU wise either save a bit and just get 650W if youre not going to be going dual gfx, or if you think you might add a 2nd card later then splash a bit more for an 850W, both the 295 and X2 are power hungry
Click to expand...

Totally agree, seriously if you take a look in the *Graphics Cards* sub forum then you will see there is a thread talking about which card, 4870x2 or the GTX 295.
TBH, if your not looking to upgrade to the next gen DX11 cards i highly recommend getting the GTX 295, if you are then your better of saving some money and go for the 4870x2.
 
i was always a nvidia boy (6800gtx,7950gx2,8800gtx) then i got a ati 4780x2 first impressions what a beast
after 6 months 10 different drivers none of them that good!!!
forking out for the extra cooling joining the que of people who long for a decent after market cooler spending ages looking into water cooling

i've just sold my old rigg and i'm specing up the new one now i'm going back to nvidia
bang for bucks ati win hassle free times nvidia for the win
 
Thanks for the advice guys, I think I'm going to stick with the 295 as I want the best I can get.

With the SSD been used for OS and installed games, is the lifetime going to be acceptable if the PC is left on for 8/12 hours a day?
 
neloz your budget is about the same as mine if you check out my spec you shouldn't be far off if i do say so myself

i have also had a antec 900 didn't like it plasticy and cheap looking i'll get flamed for saying that
 
I already have an antec 900 and like it, going for 902 for the air filters as mine can get quite clogged up.
 
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