System Build Advice Required Please

Associate
Joined
4 Aug 2010
Posts
2
Hi All,

I'm not a complete newbie to building a system but the last build I did is an now old and tired P4 2.60ghz with IDE HDDs. So I thought it about time I got up to speed (forgive the pun) and I've decided to build an Eyefinity system.

The configuration is below but I'm not completely convinced about my choices. I have the following questions for you.

1. Is the Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4, with a second PCIe slot at 8 lanes a good choice for a crossfirex dual card system?
I ask this because I discovered that if the second PCIe slot is only four lanes then it drastically slows the system down. Please advise on other reasonably priced mobos that could be better.

2. Would two hd5770s be better for Eyefinity or should I initially go for one 5850 and add a second when I have the cash and would it still run eyefinity smoothly?

Thanks, in anticipation for all your advice. Here is my proposed spec. feel free to lol if I am way off with it. BTW my budget is max £1400 for everything:

Thermaltake V9 Blacx Edition Case
Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4
i5 750 CPU
4GB Ram
Coolermaster GX750w PSU
2 x 1tb Samsung Pinpoint HDDs
Either 2 x Radeon HD 5770s or 1 x HD5850
3 x BENQ G2420 HDBL Monitors (LED + have small bezel)
Onboard sound for now.

Thanks again.
 
Hi All,

I'm not a complete newbie to building a system but the last build I did is an now old and tired P4 2.60ghz with IDE HDDs. So I thought it about time I got up to speed (forgive the pun) and I've decided to build an Eyefinity system.

The configuration is below but I'm not completely convinced about my choices. I have the following questions for you.

1. Is the Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4, with a second PCIe slot at 8 lanes a good choice for a crossfirex dual card system?
I ask this because I discovered that if the second PCIe slot is only four lanes then it drastically slows the system down. Please advise on other reasonably priced mobos that could be better.

2. Would two hd5770s be better for Eyefinity or should I initially go for one 5850 and add a second when I have the cash and would it still run eyefinity smoothly?

Thanks, in anticipation for all your advice. Here is my proposed spec. feel free to lol if I am way off with it. BTW my budget is max £1400 for everything:

Thermaltake V9 Blacx Edition Case
Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4
i5 750 CPU
4GB Ram
Coolermaster GX750w PSU
2 x 1tb Samsung Pinpoint HDDs
Either 2 x Radeon HD 5770s or 1 x HD5850
3 x BENQ G2420 HDBL Monitors (LED + have small bezel)
Onboard sound for now.

Thanks again.
i`d go for the 1 hd5850 budget wish is cheaper, not sure it will affect the smoothness, the 3 screens will eat into a fair amount of the budget as well.
the 1 hd5850 means less hassle as well.

hope this helps
 
Hi All,

I'm not a complete newbie to building a system but the last build I did is an now old and tired P4 2.60ghz with IDE HDDs. So I thought it about time I got up to speed (forgive the pun) and I've decided to build an Eyefinity system.

The configuration is below but I'm not completely convinced about my choices. I have the following questions for you.

1. Is the Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4, with a second PCIe slot at 8 lanes a good choice for a crossfirex dual card system?
I ask this because I discovered that if the second PCIe slot is only four lanes then it drastically slows the system down. Please advise on other reasonably priced mobos that could be better.

2. Would two hd5770s be better for Eyefinity or should I initially go for one 5850 and add a second when I have the cash and would it still run eyefinity smoothly?

Thanks, in anticipation for all your advice. Here is my proposed spec. feel free to lol if I am way off with it. BTW my budget is max £1400 for everything:

Thermaltake V9 Blacx Edition Case
Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4
i5 750 CPU
4GB Ram
Coolermaster GX750w PSU
2 x 1tb Samsung Pinpoint HDDs
Either 2 x Radeon HD 5770s or 1 x HD5850
3 x BENQ G2420 HDBL Monitors (LED + have small bezel)
Onboard sound for now.

Thanks again.

I would get a GTX460 instead of ATI, then SLI them at a later date, sli scales a lot better than crossfire.
 
The drivers ati have at the mo apparently aren't making the most of x-fire so a single card would be a better solution.

Nvidia do a similar "gimmick" to eyefinity but this requires SLI so you need two cards but on the upside no display port monitor or active adapter.
 
I just checked the screen you spec'd and it does NOT have a display port so you will need to find an active adapter. Apparently you can use the ones apple supply but some googling may be called for to check and see peoples experiences.

From what i remember people were having trouble using active adapters from dell (not sure about apple) the display would cut out during gaming. It may pay to rethink your screen choice.

Good luck with the build
 
Active display adapters are like hens teeth at the moment. I had to get one shipped from the US eventually !!! Before splashing out on 3 screens secure a adaptor first. :)

As for GPU - go for the single option 5850 initially and upgrade to it's big sister when you can
 
Thanks for replies

Hi Guys,

thanks for all your suggestions. Will look again at monitor choice and the available inputs. My othe choice was NEC Syncmaster, so I'll look at that again.
More research reqd. Seems to be mixed opinions on the graphics, but 5850 could be the way to go. Will explore that more as well. I take it that the rest of my choices i.e Mobo etc look ok?

Thanks again, will update progress when I start the build.
 
Back
Top Bottom