Seeking Approval Before Build w/ questions

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the Tom's Hardware community: where nearly two million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
A

armedcanadian

Distinguished
Feb 9, 2011
25
0
18,530
My head hurts and this computer needs to be constructed soon. Here it is:

-------Revised List-------

Motherboard: P8P67 Deluxe $200

CPU: Intel i5 2500k $230

Video Card: TWO AMD 6850 1GB $175 each/ = $350
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] -_-Product

15% HST
PART ONE TOTAL: $900
--------------------------
$105 RAM: RipJaws 8Gb Dual Channel 1600mHz 1.5V Designed for i5 and P8p67
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

$75 Hard Drive: Samsung 1TB 7200RPM 32MB Cache 3.5"
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] pk=samsung spinpoint f3 hd103sj

$110 Operating System: Windows 7 Home Edition 64-Bit
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] -_-Product

$150 PSU: Antec True TPQ-850W, CrossFire ready, i5 compatible
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] 6817371009

$17 Sony DVD-ROM 5.25"
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] 6827131061

$160 Thermaltake Element V Full Tower
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] -_-Product

15% HST
PART TWO TOTAL: $710
------------------------------------------
PART ONE & TWO COMBINED: Approx $1600 CDN

My question is the p8p67 WILL hold both video cards correct?

Also, is 850W enough power supply for these parts?

Thank you for all your feed back I really appreciate it.

-An Armed Canadian
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
2nd CPU socket will not be an option for anything you want to build for gaming.

Ivy Bridge will be the new architecture on the 22nm lithography. Think 6 or 8 cores on the same CPU.

You will have no regrets, there really isnt anything better on the near horizon and you have a path that takes you there anyway.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Thanks once again!

Ok for the video card though I still need some clarification due to your monitor suggestion. I have done research on this, but I would like to hear an opinion from someone who knows more about my aspirations (which are sufficiently communicated in this dialogue).

First, would a 6950 be a good buy? I hear it is better value than 6970.

Second, is 6950 good for crossfire later done the road? WR2, you suggested that I would need a 2560X1900 monitor to really show it's results, but is that the case for all top tier video cards? Would there be a point to getting a second 6950 for a monitor with a resolution of 1900 x 1080 or 1900 x 1200?

Third, what are other alternatives for a bit more money? And why would that alternative be better (also in comparison to having crossfire 6950s).

Thank you

PS I can barely even find a monitor with a 2560 x 1600 resolution...
Could you recommend some good 1900 x 1200 monitors and some 2560 x 1600
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Actually I was thinking it makes more sense to target 2x 6970s at a 2560X1900 monitor.
Any of the 6xxx series is a good candidate for a future CFX option.

There is one school of thought that says if you're buying a top card now (6950/6970) you might be well advised to upgrade by getting the 2nd next gen top card (mythical 8950) as an upgrade rather than adding a 2nd 6950 18-24 months down the road.
The other school of thought when your current stuff isn't doing 'it' for you anymore - ask around again to see what upgrade makes the most sense at that time.

This just out Best Graphics Cards For The Money: February 2011

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You have to look at the 30" class of monitors for 2560 x 1600.
Personally, I'd avoid going that route and think about an EyeFinity 3-monitor ultra-wide setup. It will be less expensive than a single premium 2560x1600 monitor
3x 1920x1080 monitors would get you a virtual 5760x1080 monitor screen.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Ok so, I don't have enough moo-lah in my budget for a 2560 x 1900 or 3 1900x1200, and I won't have enough money to make that kind of switch in the near future (I am a university student, not a working man). That being said, I will be gaming on 1900 x 1200 for years to come. And by the sounds of it, the higher enough graphics cards are geared towards 2560 x 1900.

Also I was looking at some graphics charts and it looks like 2 6850s do really well in 1900 x 1200.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-6970-radeon-hd-6950-cayman,2818-14.html

Also, what about getting 2 6850s now and having another space for a video card in the future?

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908&cm_re=6850-_-14-102-908-_-Product

Here it says that the 6850 is capable of 2+ crossfire correct? I don't like trusting websites that explicitly sell things so some confirmation would be well appreciated.
What are some good motherboards compatible with the i5 2500k that can hold 3 AMD cards? It is called PCI-e slots correct?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Looking over your updated parts list I see you have the Element V case matched with the Antec CP-850. You need to swap out the Antec CP-850 since it's matched specifically to some of the Antec cases like the Dark Fleet JN suggested. That other PSU he suggested, the XFX Black Edition 850W unit will do nicely.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I like the HD 6850 option.

Here is the latest edition of theTHG Best Graphics Cards For The Money: February 2011 It confirms your idea about 2x HD 6850 having a lot of merit.
In there you'll see it suggests that:
Radeon HD 6850 gives Great 1920x1200 performance in most games. Thats just for 1 card too.
Same for the GeForce GTX 460.

Radeon HD 6870: Great 1920x1200 performance, 2560x1600 in most games with lowered detail
GeForce GTX 560 Ti

Radeon HD 6950: Excellent 1920x1200 performance, Good 2560x1600 performance in most games with lowered detail
Radeon HD 5870


Best PCIe Card For ~$370: Tie
Exceptional 1920x1200 performance, Good 2560x1600 performance
2 x Radeon HD 6850 in CrossFire
2 x GeForce GTX 460 1 GB in SLI



 
Upvote 0 Downvote
True. Well WR2. Here is my new setup with your advice/guidance, which has been much appreciated.

$360 Asus 6850 Radeon HD 1 GB x2
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150505&cm_re=6850-_-14-150-505-_-Product

Motherboard: P8P67 Deluxe $200

CPU: Intel i5 2500k $230

$910 including tax

$105 RAM: RipJaws 8Gb Dual Channel 1600mHz 1.5V Designed for i5 and P8p67
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428&cm_re=%22ripjaws_x%22-_-20-231-428-_-Product

$110 Operating System: Windows 7 Home Edition 64-Bit
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754&cm_re=windows_7-_-32-116-754-_-Product

$90 Antec Earth Watts EA650W Continuous Power ATX12V
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015&cm_re=antec_power_supply-_-17-371-015-_-Product
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827131061

$120 Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021&Tpk=Antec%20Nine%20Hundred%20Mid%20Tower

$50 Samsung Spinpoint 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

$120 OCZ Vertex 2 60GB SATA II MLC SSD
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227550

$17 Sony DVD-ROM 5.25"
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827131061

$705 including tax

Grand Total: $1615 with tax
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I got rid of the Element V to make room for a SSD AND the 500GB harddrive. I also saved money on the powersupply by lowering it from 850 to 650.

This machine should be a monster for the time being. Especially at $1600 CDN.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
It's looking good to me.

How about closing this topic out and starting a new one to let one or two more look at it and give it another set of eyesm check it over some more.

A lot of people won't take the time to look over the long topics like this had become.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom