New Gaming Rig

[stillmatic07]

Alright down to business. You could call me an enthusiast with little experience. I absolutely LOVE gaming, but i'm also into the technology. I've been around them since I could eject a tray, and have been gaming since I could use the arrow keys. For the past 2 years Ive been fooling around with little projects on my own rigs, but want to start taking is seriously. I'm new with "building" so bear with me. I've performed small GPU, RAM, and Drive upgrades in a few computers but that's about it. I have a gaming rig now that doesn't quite meet my expectations, but i'm extremely picky. I need a new build for gaming and I intend to use some components from my current computer.

What I have so far, the X's mean the parts i'd like to keep.

 

Vista Home premium (X)

Intel Q6600 3.1 ghz (X)

2GB Kingston crappy ram.

nvidia 9800GTX+

Asus P5N-D mobo

Corsair tx 650 watt PSU (X)

Apevia X-Cruiser Case

 

 

I play games like Crysis and Stalker Clear Sky, and I intend to get good framerates in both. They are basically my benchmarking tools. My 9800GTX+ doesn't quite cut it, and my processor needs better cooling and DEFINITELY a better Mobo before I start overclocking. I can't get it past 3.1 without BSOD anyway.

 

This is what I plan to purchase.

Haf 932

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811119160

Acer 22 inch

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16824009145

2 4890's in Crossfire

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814102831

Gskill Ram

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820231241

Heatsink

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16835233029

Mobo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131296

 

I plan to overclock my Quad to at least 3.8ghz, any advice would be greatly accepted

[scr4wl]

I didn't click on your links yet.

 

But you'll have trouble going crossfire with that MOBO.

 

It's an nvidia chipset is why.

 

If you want to keep that MOBO may I suggest getting 2 GTX 260's in SLI.

 

or just 1 GTX 295.

 

EDIT: If you purchased the MOBO you linked then crossfire is not a problem

 

Thought there was an X on the MOBO disregard what I stated above.

 

Looks good.

Edited May 4, 2009 by tacohunter52

[stillmatic07]

So everything looks decent? Should I look into a water cooling system or stick to air?

[Fogel]

I guess those should be ok.

 

Not that I have to but I don't understand the reasoning behind all this. You are essentially rebuilding a brand new computer around an outdated quad when you can buy better CPUs for the price of that Q6600 or cheaper. I would either build a completely brand new rig and use this one as a good backup or upgrade a couple key components ...because in the end (despite me bagging on the Q6600) its still a good computer.

 

My whole thing is I don't get why you would build an entire rig all over again around the same cpu. You can PLAN to OC to "at least 3.8Ghz" all you want but there is no gaurantee that you can ...maybe you got a bum chip. Maybe you got one that is capable of a stellar OC. You just don't know. But it would really suck to buy all these components, rebuild it and be stuck in the same place you are now - with a 3.1Ghz OC.

 

My suggestion(s):

1 - Build a new rig completely, or

2 - Upgrade your RAM to 4GB and your Video Card to one 4890 and call it a day ...as this should be enough for those games

 

 

Sorry to poopoo the idea as I'm not trying to be mean. I just see a "two FULL computer builds" investment around the same non-performing cpu and my instinct is to say... bad idea.

 

If that is not what you wanted to see and still want to proceed as planned, then ignore me.

[Savan]

I would recommend the Atomic version of the 4890. Its not out yet, but there is a review on the front page, and it looks promissing

Edited May 5, 2009 by Savan

[Kingfisher]

You might be getting some folks(fogel already touched on it) that will tell you going with that monitor you chose and those 2 4890 cards in crossfire is a waste of money.

Max resolutions of 1680x1050 would not seem to benefit or justify the costs of twin 4890's.

The rest of your choices appear solid.

[stillmatic07]

I understand, and agree with you completely. To be completely honest, I don't know much about CPU's beside benchmarks Ive seen online haha. I just figured i'd try to juice the q6600 since I did just get it a year ago. What do you suggest for a processor upgrade? I definitely want the new case, as the current one isn't the greatest quality and want better airflow if I'm not going liquid. I didn't build my current rig, I just watched and asked questions, to be honest and id like to start with this new case and start over. All the extra parts like the 9800, case, fans would either be put into use by my father or a close friend. I'm not throwing it down the stairs or melting it down, I just figured that upgrading would be a waste since the Airflow sucks, the Mobo sucks, the heatsink sucks, the ram BLOWS, and I apparently need a new processor haha.

 

EDIT: And chances are id just get a decent 4890, however wouldn't that defeat the purpose since the 4870x2 is better anyway?

Edited May 4, 2009 by stillmatic07

[Fogel]

Your computer definitely does NOT suck.

 

It's just that when people build a computer the whole point is to upgrade the parts that aren't the easiest to upgrade - the motherboard and cpu.

 

 

Honestly I think if you upgrade your RAM to 4GB and the video card to a 4890 (as Kingfisher said, you only need 1 with that resolution ...and it will still be overkill) you would have a solid computer. The case is your choice after that.

 

 

edit:

btw, when I say "non-performing cpu" I mean by your OC - could be the motherboard or could be the cpu... dunno

Edited May 4, 2009 by Fogel

[dr_bowtie]

I whole heartedly agree...

 

to build a fully functional PC all the parts must work in unison...or you'll get poor results...

 

that best advice given has been by Fogel and then backed up by King...

 

if you want crossfire then you'll need a new rig to realize the potential or horsepower of the cards...

 

Atleast a newer quad core and a 30 inch monitor and thats just for starters....

[stillmatic07]

Thanks for all the help guys

I really want to future proof this time, however, and I definitely want to overclock. P5N-D boards are awful for overclocking, ive done plenty of research. Should I just go 4890, asus p5q-e, and ram? Like I said, I want to play games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear sky as an ENTHUSIAST. To put it in perspective, max settings with 40+ FPS. I game more than I breathe, and I don't want to be in this forum asking advice for new upgrades in the next few months to be honest LOL Id MOST DEFINITELY be on here daily to spread my wealth of knowledge (~ 50 cents American at local pawn shop), but I don't want to be here complaining about my awful framerates later down the road if ya catch my drift.

[dr_bowtie]

for ram I am real partial to the 2x2gig kits of G-Skill ddr2-1066 "BPK" series of ram..overclocks well and needs very little tuning...

 

I like it more than the other stuff they offer

[Savan]

yes, the 4870x2 is better than the 4890, but if you are not going to be playing at anything higher than 1680x1050 it would be a waist of money. But with the x2 you run into some issues of crossfire not playing well with some games, and only running on one core. Not to mention the power bills.

 

Im going to agree with Fogel. You should save yourself the hassle of trying to build a new system around an old processor. (Thats what I did, and Im getting benchmark scores around 30% less than I would if I had gotten a newer processor)

 

:EDIT: wow, it took me 15 minutes to wright this reply

Edited May 5, 2009 by Savan