Got £3000 ($5700) for a super fast pc...AXP->FX55?

[robo989]

I got a load of money for a new pc and need to know what parts to get, starting from scratch...

 

I've decided on

 

Case - Coolermaster Stacker

PSU - 680watt PowerStream (can't remember the company who makes it)

Mobo - The most expensive DFI nForce4 Sli thingy

CPU - FX55

RAM - OCZ VX - do they do 2x1GB matched pairs, will the nForce4 dfi clock well still with 2GB of RAM?

Optical - 2xNEC 3540 DVD writers (to be released in a couple of weeks I believe)

Storage - 4x74gb Raptors

Backup - 1x300GB NCQ 16mb Diamondmax10 thingy (Ok to run this on the same sata controller as the othe drives or wud an IDE version be perfrable)?

Watercooling - Don't have a clue but defo want to follow this route, some advice to the best outta the box solutions wud b nice

Graphics cards - 2xGeforce 6800 Ultras in SLI

Sound - prolly use the onboard stuff since it seems to be quite good - will miss my soundstorm, might get an audigy4 but I don't like creative so dunno...

Mouse - Already got me Logitech MX1000

Keyboard - uhhhh not sure here?

Monitor - Uhhh not sure here either, seen that Viewsonic VX912, 19inch display supposedly good for games due to low 12msec response, would get a 21inch display if it would be good for games do you know of one?

 

Would really like to know if there's any good watercoooling solutions that perform well in a box, I.E, don't need to be all wired up yaself - come with all the bits n what not.

 

Any advice would be appreciated as to how to spend this money wisely on good parts, I intend to overclock but since I got so much spare cash I really don't need to get a cheappy winchester or anything but still want good bang for buck )to an extent)

 

Anyway is there any other useful devices I could get with it that are worth it, or ny modfications to what I have decieded on because the stuff I listed is just after having a quick look around and prolly aint the best stuff to get...

 

Thanx for your help....And goodbye nast Athlon XP-M, hello A64.

 

cheers, Rob

[cyberfossil]

what are you gonna do with he other $3000?

[red930]

what are you gonna do with he other $3000?

Damn, that's pretty funny. I was wondering the same thing when I say the amount of money available.

[red930]

PSU - 680watt PowerStream (can't remember the company who makes it)

Many users like this PSU so it seems to be a good choice.

 

Mobo - The most expensive DFI nForce4 Sli thingy

Yeah, why not?!?

 

CPU - FX55

The FX-55 is maxed out. But you won't do much OC'in with both SATA controllers used anyway.

 

RAM - OCZ VX - do they do 2x1GB matched pairs, will the nForce4 dfi clock well still with 2GB of RAM?

The dual-rank sticks will bump you down in speed. Better to run with 2@512MB.

 

Optical - 2xNEC 3540 DVD writers (to be released in a couple of weeks I believe)

Replace one DVD burner with a faster CD burner like a Lite-On since they rip faster than the DVD burners.

 

Storage - 4x74gb Raptors

I would check on this because I believe there is no improvement after 3 drives in the array. A fourth drive will only increase your failure potential.

 

Backup - 1x300GB NCQ 16mb Diamondmax10.

This drive will have to be on the nF4 SATA controller to get the benefit of NCQ.

 

Mouse - Already got me Logitech MX1000

Because it has a Frickin' Laser Beam.

 

I intend to overclock but since I got so much spare cash

I address this further up.

 

I really don't need to get a cheappy winchester or anything but still want good bang for buck )to an extent)

Only way to go for any kind of OC but I address this further up.

[marscay]

definitely go 2x512 memory ....unless you are doing a lot of CAD/Photochop etc work 1gb main memory is perfect for a gaming box.

 

you're bang on for the right PSU - OCZ 600w should do you fine.....if you want top of the top go for PC Power & Cooling but the OCZ is a nice unit - i have 1.

 

if you're going to WC your rig unless it's your hobby to waste money, dump the Ultra cards ...get the GT's and o/c them like crazy ....my 2 GT's under water o/c to 450mhz with stock voltage, prolly get to 500 with 1.4v ultra bios - that's plenty of horsepower for today and tomorrow and will save you a good £200.

 

for SLI u don't want a 19" TFT as it's native res is 1280x1024 ....you're SLI cards will be asleep in this ....so you need at least 20" (1680x1050 native) or 23" (1900x1200 native). I've got the Dell 20" widescreen TFT it's lush and great for gaming :nod:

 

FX-55 yeh nice (if you can even find them in stock in the UK ) but u could buy a cheap winnie now + o/c it to FX stock speed and wait for the new FX-57 which should be 90nm and be cooler and overclock higher - anyway that's what i'm doing ...for £600 i dont want a newer processor that's out in only a couple of months that's alot better.

 

just be sensible .....spending the absolute maximum amount of money doesn't necessarily correspond with more noticeable speed. Blowing another £1k for 5% xtra performance is upto you in the end.

[pinnocchio]

Rob

 

Get the 2001fp as your monitor....never had a problem with the refresh rate.

 

P

[marscay]

get the nicer widescreen version 2005fpw

[d2agonfly]

BUY ALienware PC, They cost around $5000 - watercooled etc....

[robo989]

Thanx for all ya help...

 

I'm not into wasting money, its just I've come by a lot of money after being in a car crash (was passenger, got brain damage, lost 50% of my vision in each eye etc etc etc).

 

All in all £3000 is less than well...its a drop in the ocean of the full amount i will receive but that won't be for at least another year or 2 after medical reports etc etc etc...

 

Right so

 

2x 6800 GT's - yep that makes sense (I knew it did before )

2x512 OCZ VX - yep makes sense to, I was hoping 2GB would be ok but not surprised its not.

FX55? - The oc potential of this bugger doesn't surprise me either (unfortunately, and I suppose the new strained silicon version that shud b out soonish will be better to get later on)...so prolly get a 3500+ winchester than.

Mobo - thats decided

Case - Decided

Optical - yeah gud point, I think I've just finally been so disgusted with my liteon writer (851@832S speeds) can't write to anything at all except the best - very annoying. even at 2.4x

 

On the side of watercooling can anyone recommend any solutions to me from any of the top brands like DangerDen or whatever that do full kits with no extras needed to buy, so I can cool CPUChipsetVideoetc etc etc...

 

thank you

 

ah yeah, then on the monitor side of things, I've heard that the LCD monitors over 19inch just can't cut it for gaming due to high response times...

 

Can you get low response time monitors that are 21inch+

 

I don't mind paying £700 for a decent one or maybe a bit more.

 

Right so basically I'm not a money wasting Tw*t, its just wanted to give a pic of my situation....

 

I've got some money and I wann SPEND IT on somthin I'll enjoy and still have value overall.

 

soz for my childish approach, still livin at home wit the parents at 20...hmm maybe puttin the money towards a place to live of my own....ahhh nah that can wait...

 

More input on the monitorwatercooling wud b very much appreciated (and on the other points also)

 

ta very much, rob

[robo989]

Not really interested in an Alienware pc...

 

I'll never buy an off the shelf pc again no matter how good it is. Why bother when i can have the fun puttin it all together meself thanx for input tho

[pinnocchio]

http://www.epinions.com/content_126646521476

 

or if you want to get funky......

 

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=8578

 

I've never noticed a refresh rate problem on the T221 @ 41Hz

 

P

[marscay]

sorry to hear the circumstances in which you got this cash to splurge on the pc.

 

anyway man newer LCD's are as fast as 17/19" models don't listen to otherwise ....i just got the dell 20" widescreen a few weeks ago and it's phenomenal, no ghosting and widescreen gaming is VERY nice, HL2/D3 in 1680x1050 with SLI doesn't get any better. it was only £475 and good non-widescreen 19" models are about £300 so whilst i was intending to go the SLI box it was a no-brainer. You're going to cripple those cards if you can't hit a high res.

 

Sure some older stuff doesn't support it natively but there's workarounds for a lot of them and just about all new games have support straight out of the box as widescreens become more and more popular....just like in the home entertainment world.

 

The apple model is very nice too but will cost you a bit more ...i think £600-£700 and only comes with a 12mth warranty - not great on something this expensive. I got 5yrs warranty on my dell for only £20 extra.

 

I just watercooled this box too doing the cpu and both gpu's but i didn't buy a kit so i can't help you there. If you are prepared to do a little research u can get a better setup for the same if not less money than a kit. If you want to cool the GPU's you will need to do it yourself - unless someone has just bought out a kit?!?!?! anyway it's dead easy to buy all the gear and do it yourself and you will definitely get more out of it. The coolermaster stacker case you're looking at is what i have and got a 3x120mm radiator + pump to fit on the bottom tray - perfect case for a decent watercooling setup.

 

If you plan on overclocking you could also dump the 3500+ and get a 3200+/3000+ they will most likely all top out at the same level anyway. I went with a 3200+ until the fx-57 is out just to save some money and it's happy at 300x9 so far, still haven't found it's limit yet - not too shabby as it is . This is a newer CBBID stepping, if you can find a CBBHD it will most likely hit a bit higher than that.

 

Alienware = for muppets