New system on the way

[clemsy]

Hi,
at the moment I have ordered the parts, but eventually this is the set-up I will achieve. What do you guys think about it (used for high resolution gaming and watching movies)?
EVGA 780i Motherboard
Intel E6750 CPU @ 2.66GHz w/ 2GB RAM (Should I overclock the CPU?)
Inno3d 9800 GT 1GB
Antec Earthwatts 750
22' Monitor
and other computer peripherals.

Thanks.

 

[Helloworld_98]

it's quite poor actually.

you're using a 65nm CPU with 2GB of ram, a mediocre graphics card, a ridiculously pricey motherboard and a PSU that you'd only need if you were doing tri-sli with that graphics card.

 

[clemsy]

Yes, I plan to later on get a better CPU when I get a steady source of income. What would you recommend instead of the current motherboard and CPU?

 

[Helloworld_98]

well a P45 board and a Q9550, and swap the graphics card for a 4770 or 4870.

also LGA775 is going to be discontinued by september so don't count on getting a better CPU for it.

also if you weren't going to CF later then I would get a corsair 550w instead, or a corsair 650w for the 4770 if you wanted to CF later.

 

[clemsy]

Well I intend to keep the 9800 GT since it is new. And possibly getting another for SLi.
I will have a look into P45 (could you provide any links?) and the Q9550.
Any other pointers?

 

[Helloworld_98]

the 9800GT is definitely not new, and the money you could have saved from the motherboard could have gotten you a far better graphics card, both power usage wise and fps wise.

for instance two 9800GT's are equal to about a GTX 280 and use about 200w's of energy for both. The 4890 which beats the GTX 280, uses 150w at load or 158w if oc'ed to about 1020mhz and 4600mhz.

 

[clemsy]

No I meant its new as in I recently bought it, no point in talking the past.
What is the recommended CPU and motherboard based around the 9800 GT and possible SLi? Moderate gamer, not a hardcore fanatic.

 

[Helloworld_98]

the i7 920 and a P6T motherboard, or any X58 motherboard which supports SLI.

 

[clemsy]

http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=36_62&products_id=36045
Is this the P6T Motherboard you were talking about?

 

[Helloworld_98]

yes, but it only works with the i7 series 1366 processors, not the LGA775 processors.

 

[clemsy]

I understand, looking for a i7 at a reasonable price. Will post a link shortly.

 

[clemsy]

http://www.netplus.com.au/product/CP1/CPINPCI7-9201/CPU/Intel-Core-i7-920-SLBEJ-D0-CPU-2.66-Ghz---SPECIAL-PRICE-FOR-COMPLETE-SYSTEMS-ONLY-LGA1366
This should be it, however I'm not quite sure what the "FOR COMPLETE SYSTEMS ONLY" means.

 

[clemsy]

This seems quite expensive for a medium gaming computer.

 

[Helloworld_98]

yep, that's it, but I don't know what the 'special price for complete systems only' means either.

 

[clemsy]

Because I am short on budget, I would either be only be able to buy a new motherboard or a new CPU. Bit of a dilemma.

 

[clemsy]

Which should I get? I've been looking at the ASUS P5N72-T-PREMIUM motherboard and Q9550.

 

[Helloworld_98]

look for the MSI X58M then, it's US $169 so it should be under AUS$300.

and at the beginning you did say high resolution gaming, along with SLi at one point and the only SLI motherboards which are actually good are the X58 boards.

 

[clemsy]

Yeah, I apologize for that, didn't realize the prices would be so ridiculously high.
So should i get a motherboard or a CPU if I am pressed for budget?

 

[Helloworld_98]

well you could wait for i5, they come out in September and are pretty much i7 cpu's except they use dual channel ram instead of tri channel and the bottom end model which is 2.66ghz and costs just under $200US drops hyperthreading.

 

[clemsy]

Hmm well it looks like I can't have one without the either since the MSI motherboard requires i7 CPUs, at the moment I have a gigabyte 945gcm-s2l motherboard with E6750 @ 2.66GHz, would I be able to run all games on medium settings?

Since I may have to save up to upgrade to the next generation.

 

[Helloworld_98]

what resolution? if it's 1440x900 then yeah you'll be able to run most games at medium-high settings. if you're using that 9800GT.

 

[clemsy]

Hah I'm running games @ 1024x768, looks like I won't be upgrading anytime soon until I get some moolah.
Thanks for your help!

 

[clemsy]

Also, would it be worth it to slightly upgrade my CPU or Motherboard if i planned on using this computer for the long run? (mid-range gaming PC)