Building Ultimate $799 gaming rig... can you beat it?

[wuggi]

It seems the build I'm putting together is quite similar to this one, save for one difference - the GPU. I live in denmark and 4770's are actually available there so I've settled on a pair of those in crossfire.
The CPU, Mobo are the same however, and I've also looked on an Antec three hundred.
Recently though I've been wondering whether the 4770's are physically too large to fit because it seems that they will block parts of the mobo.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?ISList=13-128-387-S01%2c13-128-387-S02%2c13-128-387-S04%2c13-128-387-S03%2c13-128-387-S05&S7ImageFlag=1&Item=N82E16813128387&Depa=0&WaterMark=1&Description=GIGABYTE%20GA-MA790X-UD4P%20ATX%20AMD%20Motherboard%20-%20Retail

Picture of the mobo. To me it looks like they're a bit too large to fit. Am I wrong or will I need some other case or mobo or something else?

Sorry for going offtopic

 

[Malcolmk]

Ok, This is my budget list. It's very similar to yours but has a Gigabyte DDR3 motherboard. As for hard drives I would go for the Samsung F1 1tb drive. Great performance and value. Also the HD4890 is a top performer and very close to the 4850x2 with half the power consumption and a little cheaper.

Gigabyte HD4890 1 Gb $200
Gigabyte 770T-UD3P $80
GEIL 4 gig 1333mz $56
AM3 Phenom 720 $140
Antec 300 Case $55
Corsair 650TX $100

Total $631

 

[andrewshenk]

This is another embarrassing "first time builder" question, but according to articles like this one, even though I'm running a Phenom II instead of an i7, like their test build is, something like Crysis should be relatively playable on high at 1680x1050 on a 4850 x2. However, while they're getting around 40 fps on their tests, I'm averaging something like 20, and constantly dipping way below that. I've built basically the exact system being proposed in this thread, so am I doing something wrong here?

 

[Proximon]

Asus M4A78T-E is probably an excellent choice. Traditionally any Asus -E has been very high quality and had good features. I'm still very happy with my P5Q-E and was given the same advice when I bought that.

 

[the1tarheel]

Stay with the Sunbeam as it is oriented to push the hot air out the back of the case instead of up into the PSU or just into a blank space ( unless you do get a case with a blowhole/fan setup in the top (300/900 ect..)

I have the sunbeam and my unlocked 720BE (3.4 x 4 cores @ 1.375) idles @ 23c and hits 43c @ load I run OCCT for 8 hour shots and have never passed 43c

 

[not moose]

I can't believe nobodies suggested the NZXT Beta yet. This is NZXTs budget gamer case.

 

[VGM10000]

Hey everybody!

I want to thank all of you who have posted, I am still reading the thread as I continue to save up, so keep the suggestions coming!

I will be posting a fresh new build tonight or tomorrow! See you then!

VGM10000

 

[VGM10000]

Also, if you guys want something to ponder about...

Which would be better for this type of system: 2.8 Tri-Core OC'd to ~3.6, or a 2.6 Quad-Core OC'd to ~3.4?

I will be doing a lot of gaming, as well as multimedia, photo/video editing, and some multitasking... since gaming is my priority, a faster processor would seem to be the better option, but in a few years games will be better optimized for more cores. And since I care about the longevity of the computer...

I would spend a little more for the quad, but I think it might not only be a better choice, but totally worth it. What are your opinions?

 

[drunknmunkys]

Which Quad-core are you referring to?

If you want to spend the extra cash and get a 940 there's no reason not to. Don't know if you're looking at Intel's quads though.

Edit: post 200. yay. why are we so fascinated by round numbers?

 

[Malcolmk]

This is another embarrassing "first time builder" question, but according to articles like this one, even though I'm running a Phenom II instead of an i7, like their test build is, something like Crysis should be relatively playable on high at 1680x1050 on a 4850 x2. However, while they're getting around 40 fps on their tests, I'm averaging something like 20, and constantly dipping way below that. I've built basically the exact system being proposed in this thread, so am I doing something wrong here?

The Sapphire 4850x2 has had a lot of problems with drivers so that could be the problem. Also don't believe what you see in reviews. What there reviewing at the time is always the greatest thing since sliced bread but a few weeks later the same website will have completely different results. All I can suggest is going to the Sapphire website and try some new drivers. Also there were some patches released for Crysis that helped speed things up a lot. I remember having Crysis playing on a 1950pro with the unofficial patch.

 

[andrewshenk]

The Sapphire 4850x2 has had a lot of problems with drivers so that could be the problem. Also don't believe what you see in reviews. What there reviewing at the time is always the greatest thing since sliced bread but a few weeks later the same website will have completely different results. All I can suggest is going to the Sapphire website and try some new drivers. Also there were some patches released for Crysis that helped speed things up a lot. I remember having Crysis playing on a 1950pro with the unofficial patch.

I'm beginning to suspect that there are issues with Crossfire, that the card is being recognized as two separate GPUs, one of which isn't being used. I've tried all sorts of different driver combinations, with no luck at all. Device manager and GPU-z show two different "4850x2" cards, but Catalyst Control Center only shows one...

 

[Malcolmk]

With the Sapphire cards I am fairly certain that you have to use the Sapphire driver and not the ATI driver. I had a look at the feedback on newegg and decided to stay away from this card because of the driver problems. You might be better off selling your 4850x2 and getting a 4890. Just a thought.

 

[drunknmunkys]

You're likely to get a lot more help if you start your own thread instead of hijacking someone elses.

 

[andrewshenk]

You're likely to get a lot more help if you start your own thread instead of hijacking someone elses.

Sorry, I had just started my own build thread a week or two ago, and I wasn't sure if it was ok for me to make another one.

 

[Oscarjw]

get a x4 processor the x3 are really unstable for oc i used to have one it also means that the cores arn't running in pairs like duo quad i7 and phenom x4 etc.

My Build

Antec 1200
Corsair 1000w
Rampage 2 Extreme
I7 920 oc @ 4.6ghz on Prolimatech Cooler with Dual Noctua p12 Fans
Corsair 1600mhz cas 8 dominator
2 x INTEL x25-m ssd 80gb in raid 0
2 x seagate st31000528as 1tb in raid 0
song blue ray dvd burner
lite on dvd/cd burner
XFX 4870 x2 + XFX 4870 (tri sli with 2 slots runs very hot though)

i wouldn't trade it for anything its so fast.... biggest diffrence over everything was the ssd instant programs loading

 

[quickwind]

By the way single 4850 cards have dropped for some models under 100 dollars, so you might consider just getting 2 of those.