Top of the line

Joint Chiefs of Staff · Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:02 am

Currently what is the top of the line for a gaming rig. This includes cpu, motherboard, type of ram, amount of ram, sound card and of course video card. I can care less with personal perfenence blah blah blah. I just want the facts. Thanks for your time.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:11 am

If I were to build right now....and wanted top of the line, care free budget

AMD Athlon64 FX-60 dual core, 2 meg cache
Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe nForce4
2 gigs Crucial Ballistix
Dual nVidia 7800 GTX 512megs each, SLI
WD Raptor 10krpm 150 gig SATA for primary (see through top

)

Viewsonic 3ms LCD monitor...or maybe their 8ms 20" widescreen or regular screen.

A_old · Post by **A_old** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:09 am

I'd say OCZ instead of the crucial and a DFI board instead of the ASUS..mebe the x1900XTX-X instead of the 7800GTX..better yet wait and do 7900GTXs

Izzo · Post by **Izzo** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:20 am

X-fi Sound card

DFI + OCZ =

Joint Chiefs of Staff · Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:24 am

YeOldeStonecat wrote:If I were to build right now....and wanted top of the line, care free budget

AMD Athlon64 FX-60 dual core, 2 meg cache
Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe nForce4
2 gigs Crucial Ballistix
Dual nVidia 7800 GTX 512megs each, SLI
WD Raptor 10krpm 150 gig SATA for primary (see through top )

Viewsonic 3ms LCD monitor...or maybe their 8ms 20" widescreen or regular screen.

Price?

Joint Chiefs of Staff · Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:24 am

Question: Why a dual 512mb card?

Joint Chiefs of Staff · Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:26 am

YeOldeStonecat wrote:If I were to build right now....and wanted top of the line, care free budget

AMD Athlon64 FX-60 dual core, 2 meg cache
Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe nForce4
2 gigs Crucial Ballistix
Dual nVidia 7800 GTX 512megs each, SLI
WD Raptor 10krpm 150 gig SATA for primary (see through top )

Viewsonic 3ms LCD monitor...or maybe their 8ms 20" widescreen or regular screen.

I can get a great deal on a 23" widescreen LCD monitor but all the other items are unobtainable out here. I mean you can buy them all but it'll cost you 3.5 times more.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:27 am

Joint Chiefs of Staff wrote:Question: Why a dual 512mb card?

You said top of the line! Dual cards are tops now....well, technically the quad nVidia setups are...but they're sparse to hit the shelves yet.

Joint Chiefs of Staff · Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:29 am

YeOldeStonecat wrote:You said top of the line! Dual cards are tops now....well, technically the quad nVidia setups are...but they're sparse to hit the shelves yet.

Yeah I did ask but why a dual card when you're only using one LCD monitor lets say?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:03 am

Joint Chiefs of Staff wrote:Yeah I did ask but why a dual card when you're only using one LCD monitor lets say?

SLI..and ATI's dual version also called Crossfire, it had been around back in the Windows 95/98 days with Voodoo cards. They connect to each other..and, well, to sum it up..they split the load. You get higher resolutions supported...and faster FPS at said resolutions. It's not related to if you have one or two monitors really.

Joint Chiefs of Staff · Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:30 am

YeOldeStonecat wrote:SLI..and ATI's dual version also called Crossfire, it had been around back in the Windows 95/98 days with Voodoo cards. They connect to each other..and, well, to sum it up..they split the load. You get higher resolutions supported...and faster FPS at said resolutions. It's not related to if you have one or two monitors really.

Ahhh thanks for the rundown.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 12:02 pm

Joint Chiefs of Staff wrote:Ahhh thanks for the rundown.

Areca 1210 sata raid card

DFI boards are nice too, OCZ or Gskill for them though, not ballistix.

if your not ocing heavily then the asus32 something has 32x PCIe so that might be better.

David · Post by **David** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 12:30 pm

Joint Chiefs of Staff wrote:I can get a great deal on a 23" widescreen LCD monitor but all the other items are unobtainable out here. I mean you can buy them all but it'll cost you 3.5 times more.

Can you purchase assembled systems with said components at US prices? I would think that Monarch computing might do it for you.

Joint Chiefs of Staff · Tue Mar 07, 2006 1:14 pm

Hell_Yes wrote:Can you purchase assembled systems with said components at US prices? I would think that Monarch computing might do it for you.

If they deliver to an APO AE address. I may look into purchasing an assembled system.

David · Post by **David** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 2:04 pm

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/

given them a jingle....

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 2:51 pm

YeOldeStonecat wrote:If I were to build right now....and wanted top of the line, care free budget

AMD Athlon64 FX-60 dual core, 2 meg cache
Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe nForce4
2 gigs Crucial Ballistix
Dual nVidia 7800 GTX 512megs each, SLI
WD Raptor 10krpm 150 gig SATA for primary (see through top )

Viewsonic 3ms LCD monitor...or maybe their 8ms 20" widescreen or regular screen.

I'd go with all this cept I'd go to the Premium version of that mobo, Dual nVidia 7900 GTX 512megs for SLI.... they are not out till the 9th so a few days wait will be well worth it in cost and video.

Also I'd go with the 24" wide Dell Monitor which is what I have now it is great with lots of extra's.

As for crucial ballistix ram its good but damn its unstable as hell and you have to constantly play with the settings for some reason but works very good with the ASUS boards.

Also if your just looking and not building yet the FX-62 is due out soon too. But all the above is based on now cept the video cards mostly and you have like what 1-2 days till they are released? LOL

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:08 pm

Sava700 wrote: As for crucial ballistix ram its good but damn its unstable as hell and you have to constantly play with the settings for some reason but works very good with the ASUS boards.

I've overclocked the snot out of Crucial ram for years and years and years, never had a prob with it. But I stay with mainstream brand motherboards too...haven't dove into those newcomer alternate brands much. (MSI was as far down as I went)

Premade systems here..
http://www.gamepc.com/shop/systemfamily ... =disruptor

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:18 pm

With an AMD chip crucial isnt an option, there 1GB sticks are discontinued. OCZ is putting out micron chips in some of their RAM and Teamgroup too.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:23 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:With an AMD chip crucial isnt an option, there 1GB sticks are discontinued. OCZ is putting out micron chips in some of their RAM and Teamgroup too.

You mean "current" AMD CPUs? Cuz I've been runnin Crucial on older AMD rigs.

I see 1 gig sticks on their website right now for the A8N board I listed above. (reg Crucial, not Ballistix..but that's fine with me, never let me down before)(although I'd be fine with 4x 512 sticks of Ballistix too...4x banks in that board)

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:29 pm

YeOldeStonecat wrote:You mean "current" AMD CPUs? Cuz I've been runnin Crucial on older AMD rigs.

I see 1 gig sticks on their website right now for the A8N board I listed above. (reg Crucial, not Ballistix..but that's fine with me, never let me down before)(although I'd be fine with 4x 512 sticks of Ballistix too...4x banks in that board)

I mean 1GB ballistix sticks, they had the best performance numbers, if hes going with 4 sticks TCCD chips would be better for tighter timings, OCZ and gskill seem to be hitting 2.5 3 3 6 on DDR400 and a bit higher, Some good numbers.

Rivas · Post by **Rivas** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:32 pm

imo you should go with OCZ like amro said and with ATI instead of Nvidia

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:38 pm

I think I'd go with 1 7900GTX

Rivas · Post by **Rivas** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:49 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:I think I'd go with 1 7900GTX

Why you all are suggesting Nvidia ?
I'm not ATI or Nvidia fan just asking ...

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:00 pm

rivas wrote:Why you all are suggesting Nvidia ?
I'm not ATI or Nvidia fan just asking ...

Top of the line gaming rig, ATI seems to be better for visual perfection and video options like the all in wonder in your post. The 7900 is brand new, comes out on the 9th, looks to be the best card out their.

ATI's x1900 is no slouch, better than the 7800GTX, but I dont think it can keep up with the new 7900GTX.

Rivas · Post by **Rivas** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:36 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:Top of the line gaming rig, ATI seems to be better for visual perfection and video options like the all in wonder in your post. The 7900 is brand new, comes out on the 9th, looks to be the best card out their.

ATI's x1900 is no slouch, better than the 7800GTX, but I dont think it can keep up with the new 7900GTX.

lets wait and see ,2 more days

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:56 pm

rivas wrote:lets wait and see ,2 more days

I don't think we half to. 1900 beats the 7800GTX by a little, good enough to be #1 and a better pick.

Now the 7800GTX is clocked at 550mhz. The 7900GTX is 700mhz and should have a 715mhz version adn 750mhz version out shortly after.

I'm pretty sure the 7900 is coming out on top.

thepieman · Post by **thepieman** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 7:59 pm

Joint Chiefs of Staff wrote:If they deliver to an APO AE address. I may look into purchasing an assembled system.

If you prepay it, you can have it shipped to my store and then have DHL do a pickup . Can just ship it in the same box. I think DHL ships easy to the Mideast.

Pie

Rivas · Post by **Rivas** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:16 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:I don't think we half to. 1900 beats the 7800GTX by a little, good enough to be #1 and a better pick.

Now the 7800GTX is clocked at 550mhz. The 7900GTX is 700mhz and should have a 715mhz version adn 750mhz version out shortly after.

I'm pretty sure the 7900 is coming out on top.

you are pretty sure ...you was prety sure before too and you was wrong

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:49 am

The 7900 is the talk of the town right now.. specs are top notch hitting 90nm and lighter on the power consumption also. Look to see it depending on builder to have major OCing ability!
I'm going with BFG! Dual 7900 GTX 512's!! yeah baby!

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:52 am

[quote="rivas"]you are pretty sure ...you was prety sure before too and you was wrong ]

About what?

Joint Chiefs of Staff · Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:15 am

thepieman wrote:If you prepay it, you can have it shipped to my store and then have DHL do a pickup . Can just ship it in the same box. I think DHL ships easy to the Mideast.

Pie

Yes DHL is out here even on Camp Arifjan. Could I hire you to build the beast if I have everything shipped to your store?

hmmmmm sounds tempting.

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 1:47 pm

Thirty. Inch. Dell.

Rivas · Post by **Rivas** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:25 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:About what?

When u was assembling my computer you was wrong and it cost me extra 200 bucks .

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:28 pm

rivas wrote:When u was assembling my computer you was wrong and it cost me extra 200 bucks .

Do your own research next time then.

Rivas · Post by **Rivas** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:29 pm

Sava700 wrote:The 7900 is the talk of the town right now.. specs are top notch hitting 90nm and lighter on the power consumption also. Look to see it depending on builder to have major OCing ability!
I'm going with BFG! Dual 7900 GTX 512's!! yeah baby!

Are you absolutely sure its gonna be top of the line ?
I never had ATI card i was always with nvidia but right now i really dont know.
I was going to buy ATI but i will wait and see few days how does the 7900.

Rivas · Post by **Rivas** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:33 pm

Burke wrote:Do your own research next time then.

I didnt ask for help first time,i was doing my own research but he said the motherboard is not gonna work and i should get the cheaper one.
Doesnt really matter now,i dont care

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:55 pm

rivas wrote:I didnt ask for help first time,i was doing my own research but he said the motherboard is not gonna work and i should get the cheaper one.
Doesnt really matter now,i dont care

Then why even bring it up? 7900 will be on top, for a little while, anyway.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:07 pm

rivas wrote:I didnt ask for help first time,i was doing my own research but he said the motherboard is not gonna work and i should get the cheaper one.
Doesnt really matter now,i dont care

Is not gonna work? I think it was me sayign the cheaper one would work that was the problem, I remember that, not the specifics, but that doesnt have anything to do with video cards.

Rivas · Post by **Rivas** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:22 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:Is not gonna work? I think it was me sayign the cheaper one would work that was the problem, I remember that, not the specifics, but that doesnt have anything to do with video cards.

Yard it doesnt matter,you tryed help,i respect your opinion and advice anyway,last time it didnt work no biggie.

Rivas · Post by **Rivas** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:47 pm

they are saying it does use Programmable (not explaining how much programmable its gonna be ) video processing H.264, VC-1, WMV, and MPEG-2 Hardware Acceleration .My question is (if anyone know) will it help unload cpu utilization during encode or no ?My next concern is,there is not even a word about MPEG 4.
Out of topic :They are also saying on nvidia site that most movies/shows etc are shot at 24 fps which is not true.They are shot always at 29.93 fps or 60 fps.(depends on tv station->broadcast)If they are shot at 60 fps you have to "uncomb" them and convert them at 24.3 fps HDTV.
I'm definately getting this card or ATis.didnt decide yet.