4870 compatible system

[rapsmack]

Hey, I'm new at posting here but a long time reader. I've been away from the desktop hardware for about the last 4 years as I was using a laptop throughout college. Having said that, I don't know what's good anymore. The last time I built a system the GeForce 7800 was top of the line.

I've been reading up on the Radeon 4870, both the regular and X2. I want to build a system around that, preferably CrossFired with 2 cards. What I'm looking for now is a good CPU and mobo. I was looking at the PhenomII x4 but to be honest I really don't know what the hell I'm looking at.

Any help getting off the ground here would be greatly appreciated. I don't really have a budget, I'm going all out on this. Probably keep it reasonable though at under 1.7k range. I know this community is great for knowledgeable advice.

Cheers.

 

[Guest]

I'd look at an Intel i7 build with an Asus board, 6 gigs of ram, Antec case and 750 watt Corsair psu to pair with any of the 4870 gpu's. Poke around on newegg and look for combo deals.

 

[jjbtexas]

what are you going to do on the PC?

for gameing i would go with this
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=9248625

u might as well get a 4870X2. its going to be just as good XFire 4870 and when the time comes and prices drop add another one

 

[rapsmack]

the machine is primarily for gaming.

thanks so far for the responses.

 

[jawallace-45]

A 790FX motherboard will work with Phenom II build with full crossfire, if you go with a AM3 motherboard is better then AM2+ motherboard, with in a month from you will be able to get the AM3 2.8,3.0, or 3.2 CPU. With the Intel i7 type of build you will be paying lot more money.

 

[jjbtexas]

With the Intel i7 type of build you will be paying lot more money.

agreed, an phenom II 940 build would be much cheaper but you will get better performance from a i7 920 and if you have 1700 u might as well go i7. i am of course assuming you have a monitor and other peripherals. if you have a monitor already, what resolution will u be playing at?

 

[jjbtexas]

you might also like this psu case combo
CM Storm Sniper and Corsair 850tx
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.176943

 

[rapsmack]

I don't know what res I'll be playing at yet. Right now I've got a crappy monitor so I might cop a new one or just use the HDMI at 1080 on my TV.

 

[Why_Me]

The mobo in this build is set up for both SLI or Crossfire. If you you plan on running 2 x X2 (Xfired) then I would obviously suggest a 1000w - 1200w psu. I would take a good look at the Nvidea cards though also and not just limit yourself to an ATI card. At the moment the Nvidea gtx 200 series cards are beating the crap out of the ATI 4000 series cards and then some.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.176939 $179.98
Combo:COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128386 $209.99
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R-SLI LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=I7-920 $265.99 Free Ground Shipping
Intel Core i7 Processor i7-920 2.66GHz 8MB LGA1366 CPU, OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029 $39.99
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020 $6.99
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231247 $99.99 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 $79.99 Free Shipping*
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152 $24.99 Free Shipping*
LG Black 22X (CAV) DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X (CAV) DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801 $189.99
SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail / Heatpipes Cooling Design

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488 $99.99 Free Shipping*
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM

Total: $1,191.90 *(not including shipping and rebates

Here is a card worth looking at. It produces less heat than those ATI cards mentioned in this post, and uses less power. Two of those cards ran in SLI would be nothing short of awesome not to mention you wouldn't have to change the psu in this build to run two of these in SLI like you would for the x2 Crossfired.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125255 $339.99 ($309.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate)
GIGABYTE GV-N285-1GH-B GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2009/01/16/nvidia-zotac-geforce-gtx-285-1gb/1 <=== gtx 285 test results

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/1715/gigabyte_geforce_gtx_285_graphics_card/index.html <=== more test results

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%20106792634%201067946192&name=GeForce%20GTX%20295 <=== gtx 295. The most powerful vid card on the market right now. But it hogs up the power just like like the ATI x2 cards. That and the gtx 285 in SLI will beat it out.

 

[rapsmack]

Thanks for the info guys, I'm putting together a setup. I'll post the specs here when I'm done.

 

[rapsmack]

Ok, here's the current set up:

Antec 900 Two
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129058

Zalman 1000W (<-- Is this overkill? It looks huge in the case, maybe I should go for the 1200 case instead?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817379009

Intel i7 920
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188039

Corsair Dominator 6GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224


for the GPU I'm looking at the GTX 285 a lot but the 4870 is still appealing too.

HDD and disc drive I'll just transfer over from another pc.

Comments and advice would be appreciated.

 

[Why_Me]

Ok, here's the current set up:

Antec 900 Two
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129058

Zalman 1000W (<-- Is this overkill? It looks huge in the case, maybe I should go for the 1200 case instead?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817379009

Intel i7 920
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188039

Corsair Dominator 6GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224


for the GPU I'm looking at the GTX 285 a lot but the 4870 is still appealing too.

HDD and disc drive I'll just transfer over from another pc.

Comments and advice would be appreciated.

The Dominater ram is over priced, the 4870 doesn't even come close to the 285, and unless you plan on running dual 4870 x2, I'm a bit lost on the psu you have chose.

 

[rapsmack]

Thanks, Why_Me, I am pretty much a noob at this.

Got this now:
Corsair XMS3 6GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145220

And if I want to SLI two GTX 285s, what PSU should I side with?
Could a 750W handle that?

 

[Why_Me]

Thanks, Why_Me, I am pretty much a noob at this.

Got this now:
Corsair XMS3 6GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145220

And if I want to SLI two GTX 285s, what PSU should I side with?
Could a 750W handle that?

That's the ideal psu down below for running two of those cards in SLI

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009 $139.99 ($119.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

This memory is fast, cool, and right now it's a bargain at that price, not to mention the free shipping.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231247 $94.99 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail