Crazystickfigure

Well I'm starting to lean towards the 6950s if I do decide on eyefinity. One quick question on them. I've seen a lot of posts on this forum and others about flashing the 6950s to 6970. However, this requires that your card uses a referenced design. Are the 2 gig variants referenced, and I guess is there any general way to tell that a design is referenced or not when browsing through different card manufacturers?

I remember reading somewhere that crossfire was having problems playing nice with eyefinity. is that still the case? I may not end up going with 3 monitors though, haven't quite figured out if I can afford it. As I get new systems like every 3-4 years, I do want to make sure that this is something that will last. Too bad I don't know anyone with eyefinity to try playing with. I've been curious if the outside screens really make that big of a difference. Thanks for the tip on the 460s, I'll definitely check them out. Keep the advice coming!

Hey, I'm looking at a new system build and trying to decide on a graphics card(s). I like what I see of the GTX 560 TI's and I'm also considering an Nvidia surround setup (or eyefinitiy if I go amd). I guess my real question is: Should I buy a pair of GTX 560's in SLI or is there a better single card / combo of cards for roughly the same amount of money or less that will perform similarly? I don't have a specific budget going, in fact, a 2 560s are slightly more than I was originally thinking of. So any advice on other options, possibly those that are cheaper, more bang for my money... ect As for system info, I'm getting a core I7 2600K, haven't decided on mobo yet as that will depend a lot on the graphics cards, SLI or not. Similar story with PS. Probably an HAF 932 for the case. On one other side note, is there any advantage to getting 16x9 screens. I'm looking at 24" 1920x1200 screens as I personally am a fan of 16x10. Would nvidia surround or eyefinity give me any problems from getting this instead of 16x9? Thanks!

Just a guess out in the blue here, but according to what bigred said about the chips being the equivalent of the current line, then they would preform just like the current line and size up to intel just like the current line. In other words, they will be far off the mark. Intel still owns the crown.

Wow, is 68c reasonable for CPU temperature? I thought that 60 was the upper limit. Then again, I have no true OC experience. If it is, what would a max safe temp be for long term usage? Is this just to see how far you can push the chip and that you guys actually run games at lower speeds?

Hey?!! There's nothing wrong with.... *runs off to the corner...* *realizes who posted the above quote* Stll, it looks like its really fun so I am all for trying it regardless if I actually need those extra 2 fps (besides i doubt my meager abilities will be able to achive more than that) So I am gonna defer to Verran's comment. Thats effectively why I want to try it.

Yeah, but hey, I hear its loads of fun. Besides, how many of the people who regularly post on this site really, and I do mean really need to overclock? Ie, not for the I must have the satisfaction of risking destroying my computer to squeeze out that extra bit of preformance. The people who need more preformance for the applications they run. My guess, few if none. I think they all do mostly for fun and getting a faster computer out of it is a great deal. If I knew what I was doing, it sure sounds like a great way to spend an otherwise dull afternoon.

Ahh gotcha. Thankyou for the advice. I'll grab the signifigantly cheaper 7900GT. Seeing how everyone around here keeps talking about how good EVGA is, I'll get theirs. Actually, after browsing on newegg, the 7950GT is only 20 more after rebates so why not. this puts the list at E6600 EVGA 680i EVGA 7950GT OCZ platinum revision 2gig DDR2 800 (its on sale for 200 bucks) A 550+W PS from either Antec, Enermax, or OCZ. all that for about 1100, right on target. As far as my dorm room goes. Well, because its my dorm..... (read trash-hole/messy/chaos) and also my school's internet is slow. Windows takes long enough to update a clean instal has it is... Thanks for all the help everyone. I'll prolly be back in a few weeks, assuming I am able to procure all this, and then see about overclocking it.

Woah, sorry didn't mean to offend. My main worry with the 7 series is directx. dx10 is being released with vista and while it will probably be some time before dx10 games are on the market, it seems that dx9 is gonna be out of date soon. So I am just a little hesitant to build a system based on a graphics technology that will be going out the window in about 6 months. That and an 8800GS is not much more than the high end 7 series, especially the dual core ones. But then again, its probably gonna be several years before games drop the compadibility to the dx9 cards or make games that will look like crap on em because they wouldn't sell very many games or make much money with that strat. That and, if you were gonna buy a new card. Lets say your 7900 disapeared and the pile of money you used to buy it was sitting on your desk (ie its orriginal cost, not how much it currently costs), would you buy another 7 series or get an 8800. Maybe I should build the framework of this comp, ie everything but the graphics card and just stick in a cheesy 50 dollar temp card until dx10 comes out officially and prices are lowered by the influx of dx10 cards on the market. But if I do that, I might as well hold off on building the comp at all until more 680i boards come to the market (ie DFI). But if I do that, I won't be able to do any gaming for a few months. *sigh* Upshot my option is to build a comp over my school's two week winter break or wait for spring break or summer for the new comp. There is no chance that I am building a new computer in my dorm. And combine this with the problem that my dad currently isn't thinking too highly of a 450 dollar graphics card

Great, thanks for your input. So the general consencus is that the nvidia 7 series is out of date and while i could get a very powerful SLI 7950 setup, it would cost about the same as the evga 8800GS. Yeah, If I get the 8800, there is no chance that the dinky PS that came with this chassis will hold. I think its a 400w, maybe 450 if im lucky. It was designed for a p4 rig. Now there is also no chance that I will be using SLI for at least a year or two with this video setup so is it truly worth getting a 680i board when I can get a good intel board for like half the price and use the money saved for a new PS/more ram? Oh and as far as useage, extreme gaming/blowing off school work and possible attempts at overclocking. so here is what i have Proccessor: E6600 - 300 video: EVGA (heard soo many good things about them on this site) 8800GS - 450 new PS: - 120 memory: 2gig - 300 mobo - EVGA 680i - 250 So this list adds up to 1420 right there. Only a little over budget Also, I will prolly start ordering components within a week cause i need to build this over my school's winter break (old computer effectively dead) so waiting for new stuff not really an option. looks like cutting back on the ram and mobo would only save me like 250 and would definately affect preformance. looks like ill try to convince the rents to up their budget. so thats the video question. Just 2-3 left now the mobo. Is the 680i really worth it or should I save money and get the latest intel chipset for 100 less? and for memory is balystix the way to go (i will be ordering through my dad's company which is a computer repair place and they are partners with crucial) or is there another brand that has better/as good and is cheaper preformance? editt: and for the new PS, someone above recomeended an expensive enermax. Ive also heard good things here about OCZ and my dad's office has long used Antec. but a 500-550 watt of a reputable company should do?

Hey I read through some of the other threads on this site and I was looking for some advice into building a new system. I am on a budget (around 1100 for the base hardware though that has the posibility of being extended). I am currently having problems with deciding on a mobo and video config. this is how I currently am budgeted. processor: C2D conroe E6600 300 mobo: unknown - - - -200 ram: 2gigs crucial balystix - - 300 video: not sure yet - - - - - 350-400 HD: not included in budget case: have one, may need new PS software: not an issue Now to start with the video problem. I have been out of the loop in PC hardware for a while but I have heard very good things about SLI. My idea was to build an SLI system with two 7600GS cards which cost about 140-150 a pice. specifically I was looking at the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16814121007. I chose asus cause they were one of the few companies on the list that i heard of, knew first hand the quality of their work and also i was very happy with my previous asus card. So first off, do I have the wrong card/card company and second off, will it be cheaper/more effective (more powerful) to not use SLI and just buy a bigger, badder card. Also, is there any reason to waist dumping this much money into the nvidia 7 series when the directx 10 cards are just starting to come out. I know that getting an intel chipset will be cheaper but that I will most likely loose overclocking ability and intel chipsets do not support SLI. Also, there are very few boards out there with the 680i chipset and I have heard bad things about the nforce 590. As far as overclocking, I have absolutely no experience into it and am not sure how much I will be doing on this system. But hey, if I can get the ability without paying too much extra, why not, I would love to learn. Any input on any of the components listed above would be greatly appreciated.