Hello fellow overclockers.
So yes, as the title suggests, I bought the Titan Sabre from Overclockers about a year ago. Lovely, snappy machine (AMD 3.30GHz dual core, 4 GB RAM), which I bought with a 22" monitor. Gaming was a smooth run with the HD 4890... Really just no issues at all.
Then about two months ago Apple released their updated iMacs... A bit of an impulsive decision I admit - I gave my brother the Titan Sabre and practically bankrupt myself getting the 27" i7 2.93GHz iMac. Got it almost completely kitted out with the upgraded processor, 2TB HDD, 8 GB RAM, and the AppleCare plan... Couldn't afford their extortionate SSD upgrade.
Two months on and I'm feeling slight regret. The main thing that led me to buy it was the access to Apple's software, Logic Pro... That, and the fact that on paper this is a more powerful machine in its compact & stylish form factor than my Titan Sabre is... Apple's allure can be intoxicating if you let it.
My main issues with it is, Logic Pro is brilliant but actually very similar in functionality to Cakewalk Sonar which I was using in Windows... The graphics card is only just sufficient enough to run games. Metro 2033 is unplayable unless I use "ugly" settings - the GPU is marketed as an ATI HD 5750, but actually it is a Mobility 5850... Apart from the RAM, This machine is simply not upgradeable. It is pretty much a glorified laptop... The thought of what 2.2K could have bought me in the realms of PC, is beginning to make me sick.
Deep down I think I knew all of this at the time, but was blinded by the half-bitten Apple logo hitting me constantly on the forehead, right between the eyes, while Steve Jobs repeatedly prodded me with a stick, saying "place order, place order!"
Thing is, I realised that I want a decent GPU. I want to be able to upgrade individual components as and when. I want an SSD. I want to be able to afford a loaf of bread.
So, I am devising a plan to sell my iMac and use the £££ to get a PC system. I'm not sure whether I should get another OcUK pre-built system, or attempt to build one myself... Any help appreciated as I literally have no experience on building a custom PC.
I don't think I could go back to a 22" monitor, but I have noticed there are some 27" monitors on OcUK for around £260, so that's that. Processor-wise, I have my eye on the AMD Phenom II X6 3.20GHz, which seems able to overclock safely to 4.00GHz... Similarly priced, the Intel Core i7 3.06GHz seems able to safely overclock to 4.30GHz... I'm only torn between these two because I believe AMD is cheaper, but I've experienced Intel's hyper-threading on the iMac, which impresses me for some reason...
Mobo-wise, the only thing I'd like on there is some USB 3.0 & SATA III capability...
GPU - I have absolutely no idea! I noticed on this forum you guys discussing the new GTX 580, and also ATI's HD 6970. I'm not sure if these would be too expensive for me, or is there a cheaper option, like crossfiring two cheaper GPUs? I don't know anything about this but have heard of it...
I will stop there for now because I've gone on way too long... Any input from anyone would be greatly appreciated indeed!
- Andrew
So yes, as the title suggests, I bought the Titan Sabre from Overclockers about a year ago. Lovely, snappy machine (AMD 3.30GHz dual core, 4 GB RAM), which I bought with a 22" monitor. Gaming was a smooth run with the HD 4890... Really just no issues at all.
Then about two months ago Apple released their updated iMacs... A bit of an impulsive decision I admit - I gave my brother the Titan Sabre and practically bankrupt myself getting the 27" i7 2.93GHz iMac. Got it almost completely kitted out with the upgraded processor, 2TB HDD, 8 GB RAM, and the AppleCare plan... Couldn't afford their extortionate SSD upgrade.
Two months on and I'm feeling slight regret. The main thing that led me to buy it was the access to Apple's software, Logic Pro... That, and the fact that on paper this is a more powerful machine in its compact & stylish form factor than my Titan Sabre is... Apple's allure can be intoxicating if you let it.
My main issues with it is, Logic Pro is brilliant but actually very similar in functionality to Cakewalk Sonar which I was using in Windows... The graphics card is only just sufficient enough to run games. Metro 2033 is unplayable unless I use "ugly" settings - the GPU is marketed as an ATI HD 5750, but actually it is a Mobility 5850... Apart from the RAM, This machine is simply not upgradeable. It is pretty much a glorified laptop... The thought of what 2.2K could have bought me in the realms of PC, is beginning to make me sick.
Deep down I think I knew all of this at the time, but was blinded by the half-bitten Apple logo hitting me constantly on the forehead, right between the eyes, while Steve Jobs repeatedly prodded me with a stick, saying "place order, place order!"
Thing is, I realised that I want a decent GPU. I want to be able to upgrade individual components as and when. I want an SSD. I want to be able to afford a loaf of bread.
So, I am devising a plan to sell my iMac and use the £££ to get a PC system. I'm not sure whether I should get another OcUK pre-built system, or attempt to build one myself... Any help appreciated as I literally have no experience on building a custom PC.
I don't think I could go back to a 22" monitor, but I have noticed there are some 27" monitors on OcUK for around £260, so that's that. Processor-wise, I have my eye on the AMD Phenom II X6 3.20GHz, which seems able to overclock safely to 4.00GHz... Similarly priced, the Intel Core i7 3.06GHz seems able to safely overclock to 4.30GHz... I'm only torn between these two because I believe AMD is cheaper, but I've experienced Intel's hyper-threading on the iMac, which impresses me for some reason...
Mobo-wise, the only thing I'd like on there is some USB 3.0 & SATA III capability...
GPU - I have absolutely no idea! I noticed on this forum you guys discussing the new GTX 580, and also ATI's HD 6970. I'm not sure if these would be too expensive for me, or is there a cheaper option, like crossfiring two cheaper GPUs? I don't know anything about this but have heard of it...
I will stop there for now because I've gone on way too long... Any input from anyone would be greatly appreciated indeed!
- Andrew
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oh dear
- I have a new 21.5' Mac at work. I would NEVER trade in my lovely PC. Is there any chance of upgrading the GPU? say to a Mobility 5870?
