Building a new computer

[Deleted]

I have looked around and built a computer, however - as stingy as I am. I'd like to get as much as I can, for as little as possible. Don't read too much into this, I am willing to spend £1000~ so by no means should this computer be built on the cheap side, I'd just like to get the best quality for my money.

Requirements:

• SLI/Crossfire compatible, currently the one I have built doesn't have 2 GPUs in it. But in the future I'd like to add another.
• If you're going to recommend something to the one I've built, please link a part to replace and ensure it can be shipped to the UK
• I expect to get 3~ years worth from this build, so let's try to future proof it!
• I would like to get 3 monitors on this system too, I have 3 22'' but can only use 2 currently - so I'd like to make use of the 3rd :P.

FINAL BUILD:

Case: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/172779
Mobo: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/189292
HDD #1: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173804
HDD #2: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/195355
PSU: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/229935
RAM: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/169240
Processor: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/229999
GPU #1: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/189741
GPU #2: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/189741
Optical drives: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/227080

(As you'll notice I'm a numpty and forgot optical drives in the first build, silly me)

I've decided at the moment, now my main concern is will there be enough power/room in the case for it all...

Changes and recommendations appreciated.

[B@nj0 P3do]

the motherboard supports DDR3 2200/1333/1066/800 MHz memory modules, but the memory you have chosen is 1866 Mhz. so either you will have to run them slower(waste of money)or overclock those chips (dangerous and might break them) or buy faster/slower memory chips.

otherwise everything looks allright.

[Deleted]

I'd change the GPU to a 5850 atleast if you want to do 3 years with it = ]

[vesseblah]

I'd change the GPU to a 5850 atleast if you want to do 3 years with it = ]

Factory overclocked 1024mb GTX460 is lot better choice if you're thinking few years in future. Tesselation is the big new thing in DX11, and current Radeon cards suck at it compared to Nvidia.

[Deleted]

Changed the GPU to a GTX460 1024 MB, I'll have to look into RAM later tonight.

Edit: Changed RAM accordingly as well.

[Moobious]

My opinion is that the i7 is overkill unless you are going to be regularly using high end professional applications.

This is what you get going with an i7:

8 threads - Cad, photo shop and the like will use all those threads. Games do not.
Triple channel Memory access - Good for memory bound applications like video encoding but it has shown only a small performance increase in gaming
Higher TDP - A big deal if you're a server farm with tons of cpus running at the same time. Not an issue for your average user.

What you get with an i5 750/760:

It costs less. The processor is less expensive, the board to plug it into costs less too and you save a few dollars getting 2 ram chips instead of three. That saved monies can be spent elsewhere on items that will give you more bang for your dollar, like better video, a bigger SSD or a nice cooler for overclocking.

[B@nj0 P3do]

Hehe, sorry Kitalpha, but you still need to swith RAM :P

Sorry, this product is currently unavailable. It is likely that it has been discontinued and no longer for sale.

I would suggest These if you are going for 1333Mhz ones.

[Deleted]

Hehe, sorry Kitalpha, but you still need to swith RAM :P



I would suggest These if you are going for 1333Mhz ones.

Ha, thanks for finding a replacement.

I shall look into i5 processors/new mobo to fit the sockets if it is overkill.

Edit: After looking at a new mobo/processor I came up with these:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/189292
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/229999

How're they looking for a replacement mobo/processor for my opening post?

---------- Post added 2010-08-21 at 11:50 AM ----------

Hmm, after looking at the down-graded mobo's, none of them seem SLI-compatible they all say Crossfire compatibility.

I have also changed my mind and would like this computer to come with SLI - rather than do it later on. Time to start lookin' about again.

Edit: If I did stick with a CrossFire mobo, would two of these suffice in it? http://www.ebuyer.com/product/189741

[Moobious]

I believe that muli GPU support is determined by the chipset the board uses. Going with a board that uses the p55 chipset should definately support SLI.

I'm sure someone who knows for sure will chime in.

[pansertjald]

the motherboard supports DDR3 2200/1333/1066/800 MHz memory modules, but the memory you have chosen is 1866 Mhz. so either you will have to run them slower(waste of money)or overclock those chips (dangerous and might break them) or buy faster/slower memory chips.

otherwise everything looks allright.

pangeltveit he doesn`t need to get slower/faster RAM........ the mobo supports 1866. the board was made before 1866 RAM so he only needs to either update he`s bios or set the RAM manuely in bios. (depends on wich bios ver. he`s board comes with)

but 1866 and 2000 Mhz RAM is a waste of money for a i7-930, unless you OC the RAM too and there is realy no reason to do that with the 930 to get to 4,0 Ghz stable. 1333 or 1600 Mhz RAM is more then enough for the 930 to OC to 4,0 Ghz.

save money on the RAM and go 1333 or 1600 Mhz and then maybe get another gtx 460 for SLI if you have the last money for it

[Deleted]

Updated first post with a new build, I'm quite happy with it s'long as it's got enough power/can all fit. Any changes/suggestions I'd appreciate. (Yay for 3 monitors too in the 2nd build )

[B@nj0 P3do]

850 watts will be enough for 2x hd 5770's

[Deleted]

Oh, also, about crossfire. I've never built a computer with crossfire/SLI before - is it just as simple as my ignorance is telling me, you just stick the little 'tag' to join the two cards?

[B@nj0 P3do]

With SLI you need to have 2 identical cards for it to work (ex: 2x gtx 480's). with Crossfire they dont have to be identical (ex: 1x HD 5870, 1x HD 5850).

then you need to connect them using the SLI/Crossfire bridge that is mounted ontop of both cards and activate SLI/Crossfire in the driver software.

[Deleted]

So two 5770's ought to be grand then? Awesome .

[B@nj0 P3do]

one 5770 is more than enough for WoW. so 2 will pwn (in cata)

[pansertjald]

just remember with CF there have to of the same chip...... 4xxx/4xxx or 5xxx/5xxx

and remember that in CF the lowest card sets the speed. so if you run with 1 5830 and 1 5870. the 5879 will clock itself down to 5830 speed.

so the best thing to do with CF is to run it like SLI. so you run with to of the same cards. its allso a very good ider to get two of the same cards from the same manufactyre and same series. two cards from two defrences manufactures can be a PAIN IN THE ASS to setup. not allways but it happens

my brother is running two 5770. one from asus and one from shapire and it took ALOT of time to get them to work together proberly

[Deleted]

Planning to get two of these: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/189741

[shaddrak]

Factory overclocked 1024mb GTX460 is lot better choice if you're thinking few years in future. Tesselation is the big new thing in DX11, and current Radeon cards suck at it compared to Nvidia.

I wouldn't say current RAdeon cards suck compared to Nvidia if you are playing Wow. You don't need tesselation therefore a 5770 and a 460 would be good to use unless WoW implements tesselation in cataclysm then i would stick with 460 otherwise i think both brands are fine for playing WoW, but i'm noobious what do i know

[vesseblah]

I wouldn't say current RAdeon cards suck compared to Nvidia if you are playing Wow. You don't need tesselation therefore a 5770 and a 460 would be good to use unless WoW implements tesselation in cataclysm then i would stick with 460 otherwise i think both brands are fine for playing WoW, but i'm noobious what do i know

As I said, Radeon sucks compared to Nvidia if you're thinking about future proofing, because tesselation sucks in Radeon cards.

WoW does not do it right now, but I would be really surprised if they do not add the support for it in 4.x series of the games to get improved player/creature models for free.