Whole new system or just GPU?

sk3lph

sk3lph

sk3lph

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Joined
16 May 2007
Posts
875
Hi,

I'm getting a 30" panel and I'm thinking about what I'll need to comfortably run it with most games at its native res of 2560 x 1600.

My system is as follows -

EVGA nForce 680i SLi Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 clocked to 3.25Ghz
GeForce 8800 GTX
Corsair 4GB DDR2 XMS2-6400C4
Hiper HPU-4M670 670W PSU

I've resisted the urge to upgrade so far as it still runs everything at 1920x1200 with good FPS IMO.

So as I see it I have five options -

1. Keep the system I have and wait until hardware
significantly better is released or prices come down a bit - this will be easier to decide once I have the new panel.
2. Upgrade only the graphics card now.
3. Wait for a future graphics card to be released.
4. Build a completely new system around I7 Now.
5. Wait and build a completely new system in the future.

Obviously, it'll be a while anyway, as I've just blown the bonus on the new screen, but it'd be good to know that I only need to save for the graphics, rather than a whole new system.

Advice anyone?
 
A screen that size SCREAMS!!! out for either an ATi 4870 X2 or an Nvidia 295
if the rest of your system is running your current games then i would leave that for the moment
and upgrade the rest once you start having problems running the games you want too
 
agree with the above.
you don't need a better cpu or anything else.
don't forget most games won't use a quad or i7 properly anyway
the only thing that will be pushed is your gfx
x2 or 295 for me.

jobe
 
Thanks for the replies, I was kinda hoping that I only needed to upgrade the GPU.

The general consensus seems to be that the 4870 X2 offers the better value over the 295. I'll also presumably need to get a new beefier PSU to handle either of those cards too.
 
sk3lph said:
Thanks for the replies, I was kinda hoping that I only needed to upgrade the GPU.

The general consensus seems to be that the 4870 X2 offers the better value over the 295. I'll also presumably need to get a new beefier PSU to handle either of those cards too.
Click to expand...

The 4870x2 offers similar performance to the 295 for a much lower price, so I'd go for that one. I'd suggest a new PSU aswell, the Hiper has enough power, but apart from being notoriously bad PSU's, I don't know if the 12V rails will support the X2. Something like the coolermaster 620W will be enough, has all the cables needed for the X2 and is also modular.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-149-CM&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1103
 
ro55o said:
The 4870x2 offers similar performance to the 295 for a much lower price, so I'd go for that one. I'd suggest a new PSU aswell, the Hiper has enough power, but apart from being notoriously bad PSU's, I don't know if the 12V rails will support the X2. Something like the coolermaster 620W will be enough, has all the cables needed for the X2 and is also modular.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-149-CM&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1103
Click to expand...

I'm surprised that 620W would be sufficient - thought I'd be looking at having to go for a kW PSU to power the likes of an x2, plus the 4 HDs I've got.
 
According to gainwards website, a 600W minimum power supply is required, with a 6pin PCI-E and 8pin connector. The 600W is to cover them, it won't draw that kind of power and therefore be safe to use it. The 620W coolermaster will be okay with this, but if you want a bit more headroom then go for the one above it, 700W

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-148-CM&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1103

1000W PSU's are for PC's that have 2 X2's, lots of hard drives and other power hungry parts. They are the enthusiast level PSU's.
 
IMO u wouldnt see a significant boost in performance moving to i7 but would definitely enjoy the improvements brought on by an X2. Sell ur GTX for approx £80 and really it's not that expensive an upgrade for a significant performance boost.
 
Got the 30" panel and its awesome - giving some further thought on the original issue.

Are there any bottlenecks with my system if I were to go for a 4870x2? I'm hearing a card such as this needs a fast cpu to get the best out of it - also the m/b isn't PCI express 2.0 either?

Presumably the difference is only going to cost me a drop of a couple of frames or so camparing it to an i7 system with PCIex 2.0?
 
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