Build a Monster PC for Christmas !

[Bliss]

EDITED: Build a Monster PC for me, I want the best by February.


Hi guys, I already started a Thread like this some time ago, but I didn't buy the PC, too busy with other personal stuff. By next Christmas I'm planning to buy a PC, it would be very appreciated if u could build it for me.

I found something on the Net, but I don't know if it's a correct assembly; this is just the base.

Intel Core i7 System

Intel Core i7-965 processor (3.2GHz: 133MHz x 24)

Asus P6T V2 motherboard (Intel X58 Express with three PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots)

3x 2GB Corsair TR3X6G1333C9 memory modules (operating in dual channel at DDR3 1,600MHz 9-9-9-24-1T)

Corsair X128 120GB SSD running v1 firmware

Corsair HX1000W PSU

Windows 7 Home Premium x64

Antec Twelve Hundred Chassis

AMD Graphics Cards

AMD Radeon HD 6990 4GB (830MHz GPU, 5GHz Memory)


Monitor : HP (Hewlett-Packard) Performance ZR30w 30" LCD Monitor ? (maybe too expensive)

The only thing is, all this power and Devs will never push my beast ? Anyway, how much it would cost ?

Segitz, or anybody, feel free to build the monster PC, I would use it most of all for Games.

[Segitz]

I'd drop the 6990 and get a 6970 or two. For my taste, Crossfire and SLI are too buggy to run most games stable, especially "day one". Rather buy a 7xxx when it comes out. The rest is... awash... I'd get a fast HDD, too... you won't get far with 120GB of storage.

Also, definitely get a different HSF, as the boxed ones are usually quite loud under load.

Depending on if you want to play in 3D any time soon, you might want to get an Nvidia card... not that Tridef doesn't work (it does), but the added support through TWIMTBP and Nvidias internal driver support is quite beneficial.

[Otacon305]

Segitz, here's... *roots around in pockets*... $6.35. Build me a sweet computer.

[D3adcell]

I'd drop the 6990 and get a 6970 or two. For my taste, Crossfire and SLI are too buggy to run most games stable, especially "day one". Rather buy a 7xxx when it comes out. The rest is... awash... I'd get a fast HDD, too... you won't get far with 120GB of storage.

Also, definitely get a different HSF, as the boxed ones are usually quite loud under load.

Depending on if you want to play in 3D any time soon, you might want to get an Nvidia card... not that Tridef doesn't work (it does), but the added support through TWIMTBP and Nvidias internal driver support is quite beneficial.

The stock HSF on the sandy bridge is actually comparable to an aftermarket HSF.

That video card is a bad beast but the rest of the machine somewhat suffers. You should really get a Sandy Bridge if you are getting an intel processor. The video card will probably also never be fully utilized for that price. It would be better to get a 2GB card and then wait until future model cards are available for cheaper if you really wanted to get a good card.

[Bliss]

I'd drop the 6990 and get a 6970 or two. For my taste, Crossfire and SLI are too buggy to run most games stable, especially "day one". Rather buy a 7xxx when it comes out. The rest is... awash... I'd get a fast HDD, too... you won't get far with 120GB of storage.

A new AMD Radeon 7xxx is coming out in few months ? In this case I would wait, and for the HDD my mistake, the PC example is taken from a Test PC capable of running Call of Duty: Black Ops at 2,560 x 1,600 / 4x AA / 16xAF, maximum Detail at an average of 94 fps.

Also, definitely get a different HSF, as the boxed ones are usually quite loud under load.

Depending on if you want to play in 3D any time soon, you might want to get an Nvidia card... not that Tridef doesn't work (it does), but the added support through TWIMTBP and Nvidias internal driver support is quite beneficial.

I'll play 3D on PS3 and PS4 on my next 3DTV 55".

[Segitz]

Well... CODBLOPS runs on my PC equally well at 1080P... and mine doesn't have a 500€ GPU in it^^

So... 3D it is then... which means, you probably should get an Nvidia card, but I don't think that AMD won't further 3D support in their devices, either. Nvidia is further along, though.

The 7xxx series is rumored to have a paper launch in December, with retail getting low numbers in January (i.e. higher priced, if very low availability). They are also rumored to be 45% faster than the 6xxx series, which is more than a regular generation switch.

[Bliss]

Well... CODBLOPS runs on my PC equally well at 1080P... and mine doesn't have a 500€ GPU in it^^

Well, 1080P is good enough. What GPU do you have ?

The 7xxx series is rumored to have a paper launch in December, with retail getting low numbers in January (i.e. higher priced, if very low availability). They are also rumored to be 45% faster than the 6xxx series, which is more than a regular generation switch.

Ok, so the 7xxx series will be available after Christmas, and I will wait. When the Top Model of the 7xxx series will be available(February), may you build for me the most powerful PC on the planet ? I'm not kidding, if you will have time, it would be very appreciated.

[Segitz]

I have a 6870, which was 150€ at the time... fast enough for most games, even in 3D.

February... hmm... I am starting my bachelor thesis currently, and it will end in... late january/early february... but I don't think picking the parts for a good gaming PC is that time intensive. I guess I might be able to do it, by then.

[Bliss]

Thanks! And good luck for your bachelor thesis ! ps: it must be THE PC, the King, without compromises.

[Viper]

I'll jump on the task if Segitz is busy at that point.

My 3 concerns were already covered:
1. Wait for Sandy Bridge.
2. Wait for HD 7xxx series GPU.
3. Get big/fast HDD to support the SDD.

[Otacon305]

Viper, you can do mine. How much should I save up?

[Viper]

What components will you already have that are platform independent (case, monitor, keyboard, speakers, etc...)?

What is your current system components/specs? Some components (like a good PSU) can carry over to the new build.

[Otacon305]

A pair of Harmon speakers w/subwoofer, and a Dynex USB mouse. That's all. Right now I'm running a Panasonic Toughbook, "120GHz", .99 GB RAM".

[Bliss]

I'll jump on the task if Segitz is busy at that point.

My 3 concerns were already covered:
1. Wait for Sandy Bridge.
2. Wait for HD 7xxx series GPU.
3. Get big/fast HDD to support the SDD.

So welcome !

I will spend a lot, so I'll wait for the best components : no point to buy the best GPU if I still have some bottlenecks; any advise is vey appreciated.

[Viper]

Wanted to clarify something real quick. We keep saying Sandy Bridge but we mean Ivy Bridge which is a die shrink of Sandy Bridge which is already out.

[PSXBatou]

Wanted to clarify something real quick. We keep saying Sandy Bridge but we mean Ivy Bridge which is a die shrink of Sandy Bridge which is already out.

Can you really wait till March? http://news.softpedia.com/news/Intel...2-229099.shtml Even if you waited the performance gain might not be worth the wait considering most games can't fully take advantage of a i7 processor.

Honestly if you want to build now the system you spec'd would do the job just fine. The only change I would make is with the video card. I'm not nor will I ever be a fan of AMD, its cheap for a reason. Get a GTX 580 or 590 if you want overkill (or if you want to drive a 30" display) and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the outcome.

I've had great luck with my setup, I just did a RAM upgrade and upgraded my GTX 285 to the GTX 580.
i7 975 Extreme
Samsung 256GB SSD
Seagate 1.5TB Sata drive (just use it for more storage)
12GB Corsair 4GBx3 RAM
GTX 580
Corsair 750w PS
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
I also run OS X Lion 10.7.2 in VMWare Workstation 8, which was the primary reason for me upgrading my ram.

[frosty]

i'm in the market for a new pc... currently eyeballing the amd 6 core setups, as i think that would work better for video rendering than the 4 core i7's (i used an i7 that was in a laptop, not sure which variant, to do some blu-ray encoding and wasn't all that impressed with the results). how much better, if any, are the i7's vs amd's 6 core chips?

[Viper]

i'm in the market for a new pc... currently eyeballing the amd 6 core setups, as i think that would work better for video rendering than the 4 core i7's (i used an i7 that was in a laptop, not sure which variant, to do some blu-ray encoding and wasn't all that impressed with the results). how much better, if any, are the i7's vs amd's 6 core chips?

Intel's i7's (Sandy Bridge*) kicked the shit out of AMD's 6 core Bulldozer.

Bulldozer is the most underwhelming launch in years.

* i7 comes in 2 forms. Sandy Bridge is the new one and is incredibly powerful.

[Otacon305]

How much should I save up, Viper?

[Viper]

If you already have a monitor, speakers and case, I'd suggest saving up $900 for a really good system. $600 for a very capable system.

I'd really have to know what you currently have to see what can be carried over to the new system and what will definitely need to be replaced.