New GFX, M/B and PSU please :)

Dark_Angel · 23 Mar 2006 at 17:08

Hey,

I have pretty much decided on a x1800XT 512MB of 7900GT 256MB, but unsure which motherboard to go for, or a PSU.

Can anyone make some suggestions please?

I wanna spend about 380 - 390 max. Nforce 4 939 for the board please, and I have to be able to reach around 310 HTT, with a good memory divider, Also dual core support would be awesome, as I will be going to that in a few weeks.

Everything else, I leave to you.

Explicit · 23 Mar 2006 at 17:27

PowerColor ATI Radeon X1800 XT 512MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-048-PC) **this week only**
£234.94
DFI LanParty UT NF4 Ultra-D (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-014-DF)
£93.94
Enermax Noisetaker 485W EG495AX-VE(G) SFMA ATX2.0 PSU (CA-007-EN)
£58.69

Total inc VAT: £387.57

One of the best overclocking mobo around.

Dark_Angel · 23 Mar 2006 at 17:34

Thanks

thats roughly the kind of spec I was thinking of... the only difference I was thinking is an ASUS board, but I have heard that DFI are the best at motherboards?

2 quick questions, do people think that the 512MB card is worth the extra over the 256MB... and following from that isnt a 7900GT going to be better in turns of using less power? I suppose the old argument is, if you are only spending 200 then you may as well by the 1800 256MB, if you are spending 230 then you may as well buy the 512MB card.. right?

Lastly, I currently have a NON PCI-E PSU (just a standard ATX one with a 20 pin plug) which is 400 watts. Is it even worth considering trying that, or is it best to just grab a new PSU?

Explicit · 23 Mar 2006 at 17:45

Dark_Angel said:
Thats roughly the kind of spec I was thinking of... the only difference I was thinking is an ASUS board, but I have heard that DFI are the best at motherboards?

2 quick questions, do people think that the 512MB card is worth the extra over the 256MB... and following from that isnt a 7900GT going to be better in turns of using less power? I suppose the old argument is, if you are only spending 200 then you may as well by the 1800 256MB, if you are spending 230 then you may as well buy the 512MB card.. right?

Lastly, I currently have a NON PCI-E PSU (just a standard ATX one with a 20 pin plug) which is 400 watts. Is it even worth considering trying that, or is it best to just grab a new PSU?

There's no doubt that the asus board will struggle at 310 HTT, whereas the DFI won't even break a sweat over it. I would take the X1800XT 512MB especially since it's on offer this week and will overclock very well. It's the old nvidia vs ati argument, but this one seems to be a no-brainer. As for the PSU, I wouldn't risk it when you're going to be connecting a lovely new £200+ graphics card to it (even more so if it's just a generic PSU).

Dark_Angel · 23 Mar 2006 at 17:48

Really? What is the highest a DFI board can reach then? I think my epox board is about maxed at 310... I am thinking of grabbing a better cooler and seeing if my venice can be pushed even further, afterall the cooler can always be re-used for the dual core

As for PSU, yep. Its generic one that came with my case

Explicit · 23 Mar 2006 at 18:02

IIRC, it was around around 317 something. I can't find the site, but I know it will do 310 HTT for sure.

Dark_Angel · 23 Mar 2006 at 18:13

Geez the board is insane, I done some googling (not sure if I can post the site so won't) and have found the board is good past 360HTT! lol...

So I am guessing that those 3 things are what I am going to be buying

Explicit · 23 Mar 2006 at 18:17

@ 360

The asus really is no comparison for overclocking

Dark_Angel · 23 Mar 2006 at 18:18

They said that at 367 it would work for 4 hours, and 364 it would run for 38 hours. at 375 it would boot in to windows but conk at games and anything stressful.