Upgrade time!

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Joined
15 Jan 2013
Posts
12
Hi Guys

I currently have the following system:

Asus P6T Deluxe X58 motherboard
Intel Corei7 920 @380Mhz
Corsair 3GB (3x1GB) DDR3 1600
CORSAIR HX 700W MODULAR PSU
1792MB XFX GTX295 DDR3 graphics card
1TB SAMSUNG SATA2 HD103UJ 32MB HDD
Windows Vista Home Premium

Now, when you've finished laughing at the 3GB of Ram and Vista parts, I'd like your opinion's please :)

This system is over three and a half yrs old (apart from the PSU which was replaced about a year ago) and although it's getting a bit long in the tooth, still runs today's games acceptably on a single 24" monitor.

But, I figure it's time to bring it reasonably up to date by replacing some of the parts with the following:

1x Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 Windforce 3X NVIDIA Graphics Card - 2GB
1x Corsair Memory Dominator GT 12GB DDR3 2000 Mhz CAS 9 DHX XMP Triple Channel (3x 4GB)
Win 7 64 bit

What I really would like to do is to run this with three 24" widescreen monitors using Nvidia's surround thingy, do you think that this is possible with what I have/propose to buy?

I haven't considered upgrading the motherboard and CPU, as from what I've read the i7 920 is quite well thought of, even today.

And finally, I've been thinking about buying two 670's and running them in SLI mode, but I'm a big flight simmer (as well as gamer) and I hear that FSX and DCS A-10 gain nothing from the second card?

Thanks in advance for any comments/suggestions.

Gudgey
 
Hey guys, thanks for such a quick response.

I think I'll go with a single card, and definitely Win7 64-bit. I can buy the two other monitors for less than the price of a second card! And I'm pleased to see you suggested a SSD Snips, will that improve game performance as well as Windows?

Just one thing regarding the RAM, I think with this motherboard you have to fill all three slots, so its 3GB, 6GB 12GB etc.

Do they do a single 670 with 4GB?

Thanks again.
 
I like the look of the Gigabyte card with the three fans. My GTX295 blows like a jet engine sometimes!

I've not heard of EVGA, any good?

And do Inot need a motherboard with a PCI express 3.0 controller?

So much information out there....
 
Okay, this is what I've decided on:

2x Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 Windforce 3X NVIDIA Graphics Card - 2GB
1x Corsair Memory Dominator GT 12GB DDR3 2000 Mhz CAS 9 DHX XMP Triple Channel (3x 4GB
1x 128GB Plextor PX-128M5S M5S SATA 6.0Gb/s SSD
1x Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit OEM Operating System
2x Asus VS247H 24" Full HD LED Monitor with HDMI & DVI Slim Profile
1x ScanFX TS743A Triple Monitor Desk Stand 15-24" Ideal For Multi Screen Gaming/Eyefinity & Scalable! *New Design*

I'm gonna order this afternoon/evening, so please shout if you see any problems with any of this and my existing stuff?
 
One last question please:

1x Nvidia Geforce 670 4GB
or
2x Nvidia Geforce 670 2GB in SLI

Keep in mind this is for 3x 24" screens.
 
SLI it is!

Just out of interest, do the two cards still use the little chip thing that phyically bridges them?
And if so, do the cards come with one?
 
Well, the system has done me proud for over three and ahalf years, and I'd like to get another threee and a half from the new stuff. But with three screens though!
 
Well, in the end I bought this:

1x Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 Windforce 3X NVIDIA Graphics Card - 2GB
1x 12GB RAM
1x 128GB Plextor PX-128M5S M5S SATA 6.0Gb/s SSD
1x Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit OEM Operating System
2x Asus VS247H 24" Full HD LED Monitor with HDMI & DVI Slim Profile
1x ScanFX TS743A Triple Monitor Desk Stand 15-24" Ideal For Multi Screen Gaming/Eyefinity & Scalable! *New Design*

I installed it all over the weekend, dowloaded all the drivers, setup surround and installed Borderlands 2.

****ING HELL!!!!!!

I sat there for five minutes just watching the title screen with the camera panning around my character, completely in awe!

However there is a bit of an issue. After running the configuration the resolution comes out at 3972 x 1024 (bezel corrected) and this makes the two end screens look a bit stretched towards the edges. Is this because of the older screen I'm using (Samsung SyncMaster 244T) which is noticably larger in the vertical to the two Benq screens? I have the screens connected with 2x DVI and 1x HDMI cable, does it matter which screen uses which cable?

I think this is a huge step up in PC gaming and so I want to do it properly, I'll probably buy another 670 and another Benq monitor too, which should see me through the next four years or so.

A couple of other things, my PSU is a Corsair TX 650M, and not a 700w (don't know why I thought it was, I can see it through the window), would this be okay for SLI?

And I no longer have a SLI bridge, but I've seen them for sale, anything I should watch out for if purchasing?

Hah, I'm taking liberties here with all the questions, but thanks for the help so far :)

Gudgey.
 
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