Major Help Please ( First PC Build for Gaming ) :)

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31 Oct 2009
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Hi All,

This is my first post, So HELLO to everyone!
I come accross this site and found everyone in the posts to be helpfull, So i hope you can help me in the direction i want to go in.

I am builing a PC for Gaming only, So i want the best specced but "REASONABLY" prices components ( If thats possible )

I have been searching around and trying to get an idea of whats good. I have come up with this

OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 7 64Bit

CPU Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping (SLBEJ) 2.66Ghz (Nehalem) (Socket LGA1366)

RAM Patriot Viper 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600MHz) Low Latency Tri-Channel

GFX ATI 5870

PSU Corsair HX 750W ATX Modular SLI Compliant Power Supply

MOBO Asus P6T Intel X58 (Socket 1366) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard

CASE Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower



1) Im not sure on the GFX Card as i have heard there is some more Nvidia with GDDR5 Interfaces?
2 ) Im not sure on the Case
3 ) Please let me know of any alternatives to the above

Thanks All, and hope to get useful replies!

P.S ITS ALL BEING PURCHASED END OF THE MONTH.. SO ALL INPUT IS APPRECIATED :)
 
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That spec isn't too bad. I seriously dont recommend getting a 295 at the moment now though. ATI have just brought out their 5000 series, they are just as fast, cheaper, cooler, use less power and can run dx11. Look out for the 5850/5870. Will you be overclocking? If so then that i7 is the way to go, it wont be beaten on power. If you're not i'd recommend going the am3 route with a 965 and am3 board, as the higher stock speed will mean its just as good in games but quite a bit cheaper. At the end of the day its all up to you though :)
 
That spec isn't too bad. I seriously dont recommend getting a 295 at the moment now though. ATI have just brought out their 5000 series, they are just as fast, cheaper, cooler, use less power and can run dx11. Look out for the 5850/5870. Will you be overclocking? If so then that i7 is the way to go, it wont be beaten on power. If you're not i'd recommend going the am3 route with a 965 and am3 board, as the higher stock speed will mean its just as good in games but quite a bit cheaper. At the end of the day its all up to you though :)

Cheers for your info

I have changed rather than a 295 to a 5870

I didnt realise it had DX11, I chose the 295 cause of the Memory?
 
On paper it looks like the 295 has more memory, however the 295 is in fact a dual gpu card - meaning it has two graphics processors on the same board. this means that the total memory is shared between each gpu, giving each gpu 1gb. since the 5870 is a single gpu it has full access to the 1gb of memory on the card, so technically each card has the same amount of memory :)
 
Looks like a fine build there. I would go with this memory as its cheaper/same price but has nice heat sinks + good reviews. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-008-PA&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1389

I'm not sure if the 5870 would fit in the antec 300, I'm not sure but looks like a very slight squeeze?

Other than that, top build ;)

I have took your advice on the memory front,

Could you possibly give me a Case that will fit the above spec in and have enough room for good air flow + cooling?

Cheers guys
 
On paper it looks like the 295 has more memory, however the 295 is in fact a dual gpu card - meaning it has two graphics processors on the same board. this means that the total memory is shared between each gpu, giving each gpu 1gb. since the 5870 is a single gpu it has full access to the 1gb of memory on the card, so technically each card has the same amount of memory :)

I see what you mean, but..

Would that mean that the 295 is the same as a 5870 SLI?

Cheers
 
Good :)

Depends on your budget on the case. The Coolermast Haf 932 are big, good air flow with excellent cooling. Also, cable management is easier than the antecs. Only around £120.

The antec 902 are a good case also for around £90.

EDIT* The Silverstone Fortress is a fantastic case and would consider. Although, £150 may be out of your budget.
 
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Good point what ask made out there cgb.
The i5 and i7 have same Gaming performance's, but when comes to rendering, thats where the 920 comes into place.

The i5 750 is a great cpu for gaming. It can oc past 4ghz, same as the 920.
When gaming, the 920 and the 750 have the same performance, some games the i5 beats the 920. The i5 750 is a gamers choice really.

The i7 920 is a popular cpu chip as it offers great gaming performance and also for rendering, photo shop etc. Thats why people chose the 920 as its more "future proof" because it has extra cores.

So there you have it :) If you are only a gamer and don't do any photoshop etc, I would go for the i5 as its the best cpu for performance per £££
 
id go with antec 1200 and 2x4890s in crossfire there aint many games that will benfit from the 5000s

4890s in xfire is getting me 92fps avrage in WIC and about 60-70 in crysis oc 930core 1050mem




___________
ex58-ud5
xfx 4890 xfire
i7920@ 3.6ghz
antec 1200
akasa nero
9x120mm fans
1x200mm fan
2x500gb f1 spin point raid0
 
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If your just gaming, why don't you go for i5 instead of i7? You'll save a lot of cash...

Thanks for that, It is just for gaming. I didnt realise that was the only difference in the 2. But is the i5 futureproof aswell? IF so then ill exchange that and save myself some ££.

Niceone!
 
id go with antec 1200 and 2x4890s in crossfire there aint many games that will benfit from the 5000s

4890s in xfire is getting me 92fps avrage in WIC and about 60-70 in crysis oc 930core 1050mem




___________
ex58-ud5
xfx 4890 xfire
i7920@ 3.6ghz
antec 1200
akasa nero
9x120mm fans
1x200mm fan
2x500gb f1 spin point raid0

I see what everyone is saying here, but seeing as the 295 has 2 X GPU's and the ATI 5000 range has 1 x GPU, then have the ATI 5000 SLI Would be the same as the 295? to be a lot more future proof and get the best wouldnt it be best to get the 295 then in the future get another one then ill have 4X GPU's rather than 2 X ATI 5000 SLi?

Sorry if that didnt make sense :confused:

Cheers
 
Thanks for that, It is just for gaming. I didnt realise that was the only difference in the 2. But is the i5 futureproof aswell? IF so then ill exchange that and save myself some ££.

Niceone!

Nothing is future proof mate, hardware is being updaded everyday but on topic, the socket 1156 is future proof as you can have a core i7 860 which has the extra 4 cores just like the 920.

Here are some options i have picked for you with the cpu/mobo/memory.

i reccomend you keep that ram as it's very stable and the best you can pick for the price.
You can chose a different mobo if you wanted too, to a more cheaper one. i reccomend Msi if you want to go for a cheaper mobo.I do reccomend that you do get an aftermarcket cpu cooler, either air or water (H50)

Here is the core i7 870

you can change the mobo like a said. I do reccomend that you do get an aftermarcket cpu cooler, either air or water (H50)
 
Also, the gtx 295 quad sli (2 gtx 295) does not scale well in any games so its not worth the extra 295. Whereas, the 58** and the 48** do scale well in crossfire.
 
Ben cheers for all your help!!

So just to clarify i should change my motherboard to the MAXIMUS? and get the i7 860?

Plus that MOBO looks to only support Dual Channel NOT Tri channel?
 
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Yep, I would. The maximus III is a beautiful looking motherboard and has many exciting features that helps the ability to overclock with ease (Well, it says that on paper :p)
Its a fantastic board, the pci e slots are spaced out so when cf'ing/sli'ing, you won't have any problems with the temperatures on the gpu's. Also, it offers an xi;fi sound card that fits in the top pci e x1 which is also a nice thing to have. It's a good sound card so no need to change (Picky people don't like the xi-fi sound card)

People may say to you "yeah but when you crossfire/sli, you don;t get the true 16 x 16 liek the x58 does". This is true, the p55 socket offers 8 x 8 when in crossfire but it doesn't matter. The performance decreases by 2% max ( 100fps - 2% = 2fps loss)

Don't forget like i said tho, if you are gaming and jsut gaming and not doing anything with photoshopping etc, the i5 750 is the way to go.
 
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