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"I need a new PC!" 2010 Edition

My friend is going to bring his 5850 round to try out in a couple of days to see if i want to buy it or not but having checked my 500w psu it appears ive only got 3 spare 4pin power doodads and a couple of little ones. I guess ill be needing a new power supply too then. Any suggestions for something over 500w thats reliable?
 
BastardTrees said:
Bumping in hopes of getting an answer.

Does L3 cache makes a difference? I've notice the 630 doesn't have one?
Click to expand...

If the board supports AM2+ drop a Phenom II 955 in there.

I had a very similar Athlon to you and did that and ~doubled my frame rate in all my cpu limited games. GTA4 and Bad Company 2 went from high twenties to fifties and sixties.

Awesome upgrade path since I get to keep my DDR2 1066 for a little longer.


EDIT:

Also, most board specs are bullshit and stay on the safe side so they can limit RMAs. My board claims it only supports 95w AM2 procs. Well, the first CPU in it was a 125w and it ran stable for two years. Now it has an AM3 125w proc and runs stable with a decent OC even. Just do some googling to make sure you don't have the odd AM2+ board that doesn't play nice with AM3.
 
Odious Tea said:
Stew or Exodu5, why were you guys insisting that I not replace my motherboard? On top of being a bust with quadcores it's apparently flat-out incompatible with ATI's 5850/5870 series.
Click to expand...
Reposting for new page. Also, any appreciable difference in quality between Sapphire's and XFX's 5850? Is one brand more reliable than the other?
 
Odious Tea said:
Stew or Exodu5, why were you guys insisting that I not replace my motherboard? On top of being a bust with quadcores it's apparently flat-out incompatible with ATI's 5850/5870 series.
Click to expand...

Seems odd that a series of graphics cards could not work with a motherboard.

In any case, I'm just saying I wouldn't change motherboards in hopes of getting a better overclock, as it could be the CPU that just doesn't want to overclock. I can't guarantee anything.
 
evil solrac v3.0 said:
ASUS P7P55D-PRO or EVo. i have a PRO and it's great for overclocking and has lots of features.
Click to expand...
Those are some crazy looking heatsinks. Seems like an awesome board too. So far this one is at the top of my list.
 
TheExodu5 said:
Seems odd that a series of graphics cards could not work with a motherboard.

In any case, I'm just saying I wouldn't change motherboards in hopes of getting a better overclock, as it could be the CPU that just doesn't want to overclock. I can't guarantee anything.
Click to expand...
Really odd. Pretty positive at this point that I'm gonna replace it. Here's my current front runner, as I'd like to keep using my DDR2. Is there a jump in performance from DDR2 to DDR3?

Edit: added link.
 
Odious Tea said:
Really odd. Pretty positive at this point that I'm gonna replace it. Here's my current front runner, as I'd like to keep using my DDR2. Is there a jump in performance from DDR2 to DDR3?
Click to expand...

If you were to upgrade to DDR3, I would certainly recommend you get a new socket and CPU altogether.

Stick with your DDR2.
 
TheExodu5 said:
If you were to upgrade to DDR3, I would certainly recommend you get a new socket and CPU altogether.

Stick with your DDR2.
Click to expand...
Will do. Since my Q6600 still does a good enough job to not warrant the upgrade to an i5/i7. Seriously considered it, though.
 
I've been playing around with my new computer and its i7 920 and a Noctua UH12P heatsink. I plan on overclocking to 4ghz sometime this weekend and just did some stress tests to take the load of each of the cores to 100%.

The CPU temperature was around 42-44 degrees celcius and the temperature of each of the cores was in the mid 50s. Will overclocking to 4ghz be ok?
 
Is this thread for laptops as well?

Budget: $850
Main Use(s): Audio editing, HD video watching, possibly emulation down the road
Monitor Resolution: Don't care, would prefer a screen size over 14" though.
Specific software: Reason 4
 
Heidalloon said:
I've been playing around with my new computer and its i7 920 and a Noctua UH12P heatsink. I plan on overclocking to 4ghz sometime this weekend and just did some stress tests to take the load of each of the cores to 100%.

The CPU temperature was around 42-44 degrees celcius and the temperature of each of the cores was in the mid 50s. Will overclocking to 4ghz be ok?
Click to expand...

I do believe you can safely bring the core temps to around 70C.
 
Odious Tea said:
Really odd. Pretty positive at this point that I'm gonna replace it. Here's my current front runner, as I'd like to keep using my DDR2. Is there a jump in performance from DDR2 to DDR3?

Edit: added link.
Click to expand...

Looks good to me. As for the 5850, I'd go with XFX. Nice warranty from them.
 
ACE 1991 said:
Any comment on monitor suggestion? I have been looking at this one as well:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4605334&csid=ITD&body=MAIN#detailspecs
Click to expand...

Can someone please explain to me the real-world difference between DVI and HDMI monitor connections? I am speccing out a new desktop (first since 2002!) mainly for gaming and video conversion, and thanks to this thread I have a rough idea of what I should be aiming for.

However the one area I am still a bit iffy about is the monitor - I'm not really sure what I need. I want a 1080p 24' screen, and would appreciate some recommendations as to good choices up to AUS$300 ( I live in Australia). However the main area I need some advice is in regards to the various monitor connections - specifically DVI vs HDMI. What do I need HDMI for? If my monitor lacks HDMI, will it stop me watching dvds or avi files on my pc? Would a lack of HDMI stop me from watching tv shows I have recorded via a USB tuner? Or will DVI let me watch whatever I want? I have googled the issue, but nothing I have found really seems to answer my question.

I'm not really a console gamer, and won't be hooking up a 360 or a PS3 to this monitor, so do I need HDMI at all? The price difference between screens with HDMI and those without is appreciable, and I'd rather put the extra cash towards a better GPU if I can - but I don't want to buy a monitor that won't let me watch all of my content - this one will have to last me a while.

I know this question is pc-building-101-level stuff, but I'm willing to endure some newbie shame for the answer :)
 
HDMI and DVI carry the exact same video signal. HDMI carries audio on top of that.

If your monitor has a DVI connection and you need to hook up an HDMI device, you can just use a $5 DVI->HDMI adapter and it will work fine.

As long as your monitor is HDCP compliant, you'll have no problem watching copy-protected media.
 
ACE 1991 said:
Any comment on monitor suggestion? I have been looking at this one as well:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4605334&csid=ITD&body=MAIN#detailspecs
Click to expand...

Hmm... the more I think about it, this might be the best choice as it seems to have audio jacks in the back (so I can get audo from my PS3 which will use HDMI) and is built to function as a TV and monitor making it more ideal for gaming than the other monitors I linked. I just hope the colors are great, and the input lag negligible.

EDIT: Before I order it, I want to confirm that I will be able to get audo via the HDMI using the jack on the back of this set. If you click on the link and then on the image showing the back of the monitor it will allow you to zoom in and view the inputs on the set.

Thanks for any help, and I apologize for clouding up this thread.
 
One more concern, I know the 5770 won't be able to match up to a 5850, but how will it perform at 1920x1080? My 8800GTS just isn't cutting it anymore and I'd have to save so much longer for a 5850. The 5770 seems like an amazing deal, but then I realized that it has a 128-bit memory bandwidth. Is it a severe limiting factor? Additionally, how well does it overclock?
 
Am I the only one whose fps is capped at 55 when using v-sync? It only happened when I switched to Win 7 (got it on first day) and I've had that problem ever since. I got Win 7 64 bit but I had Vista 64 bit and didnt have that problem. My card is a reference Radeon 4850 and I havent found a solution anywhere.
 
Update:

All components installed and WIN7 running ok so far.
I am still yet to put the side panel back on the case as there are a tone of wires back there in need of taming. :lol
 
Jin34 said:
Am I the only one whose fps is capped at 55 when using v-sync? It only happened when I switched to Win 7 (got it on first day) and I've had that problem ever since. I got Win 7 64 bit but I had Vista 64 bit and didnt have that problem. My card is a reference Radeon 4850 and I havent found a solution anywhere.
Click to expand...

What game? What refresh rate?
 
Odious Tea said:
One more concern, I know the 5770 won't be able to match up to a 5850, but how will it perform at 1920x1080? My 8800GTS just isn't cutting it anymore and I'd have to save so much longer for a 5850. The 5770 seems like an amazing deal, but then I realized that it has a 128-bit memory bandwidth. Is it a severe limiting factor? Additionally, how well does it overclock?
Click to expand...
which 8800GTS is it? If it is G92, you won't get any improvement
 
Lkr said:
which 8800GTS is it? If it is G92, you won't get any improvement
Click to expand...
English:

If it is 320MB or 640MB upgrade.
If it is 512MB or 1GB keep it.

Might want to wait and check out the 5830 in a week.
 
Lkr said:
which 8800GTS is it? If it is G92, you won't get any improvement
Click to expand...

Oh he still would (around 40% probably), but it's not really worth the cash, IMO. 5850 would be a far bigger upgrade.

Hmmm well if it's a GTS 320, I'd say it could be worth it.
 
Hazaro said:
English:

If it is 320MB or 640MB upgrade.
If it is 512MB or 1GB keep it.

Might want to wait and check out the 5830 in a week.
Click to expand...
Do we know the price/performance of a 5830? I'm assuming it'll perform better than a 5770. A cursory Google search turned up nothing. My initial plan was to buy a 5770 now and crossfire it when I get the additional funds.
 
Still looking for some audio advice... I have a Nvidia GTX260 card. I have the HDMI out running directly to my TV. I then have the SPDIF cable hooked up and an Optical cable running from mobo to receiver. I can play compressed audio just fine.

My problem is that this set up does not let me play uncompressed audio in anything but 2 channels.

Any help? Will a sound card fix this? If so what one is recommended?
 
Jin34 said:
Every game, and 60Hz. Again this problem is since I put Windows 7 in October. Maybe it has something to do with the 59hz bug but I'm not sure.
Click to expand...

You try fraps to see if that number is accurate? How about with Triple buffering?
 
Don't try this at home kids. :lol

jrsjma.png


I think I went over a bit.
 
vocab said:
You try fraps to see if that number is accurate? How about with Triple buffering?
Click to expand...

Yes I use Fraps, and it doesnt matter if its dbl or trilpe buffered, whether its forced throuhg D3D overrider or through the game. And it isnt a Fraps error either, I've ran it along with the SF4 fps counter and they both report the same thing.
 
A grounding issue wasted several hours of my life today, though when I finally isolated the cause it turned out that it wasn't my fault. The case shipped with a short somewhere on the reset switch wire.
 
Ok, think I've settled on a motherboard. Think I'm gonna go with this one:

Gigabyte GA-770TA-UD3 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/191059

Has USB 3.0 and SATA 3.0 plus its cheaper than the ASUS I was previously looking at albeit without support for Crossfire.

Am I doing the right thing? I mean crossfire is good and all but is it even worth it over the additional features this board offers? To add an extra card it'd mean more heat, more compatability issues, more things to go wrong...?
 
chixdiggit said:
Still looking for some audio advice... I have a Nvidia GTX260 card. I have the HDMI out running directly to my TV. I then have the SPDIF cable hooked up and an Optical cable running from mobo to receiver. I can play compressed audio just fine.

My problem is that this set up does not let me play uncompressed audio in anything but 2 channels.

Any help? Will a sound card fix this? If so what one is recommended?
Click to expand...

Caveat: I'm not really sure what I'm talking about.

My understanding is, the only way to get 5.1 out of a optical cable to a receiver is to use Dolby Digital Live or DTS connect (these encode your PCs audio into 5.1, whether it started as 5.1 or started as stereo). A few mobo's support this, a lot of sound cards support this. (If this is wrong, please someone correct me.) I personally tried this with my Xfi Xtreme Gamer, but found that there was a lag between video and audio, probably due to the encoding.

Your other options are use discrete analogue connections (which in my experience gives you by far the best audio quality, even though it means a lot of wires), or use an HDMI cable.

This guide at Maximum PC helped me when trying to figure out how best to hook up my PC to my reciever...http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/how_to_connect_your_pc_your_surroundsound_audio_system
 
My machine was about 5 years old and needed a bit of an upgrade so I decided to give it a little something extra so that I could get some gaming in. Here's what i got:

Intel Core i7 920 2.67GHz
EVGA X58 3X SLi Motherboard
6GB of Triple Channel Ram


Added to:

Galaxy 9600 GT Video Card with 1GB of DDR3
several (4) 500GB to 1TB Seagate Barricuda HDDs
several fans and a nice SATA Multi-write media drive
500 Watt Power Supply
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

Needs:

New Power Supply
Another Video Gard for some SLI action
and I'm considering cooling system but I have no idea which direction to look with that.

Any suggestions on what PS and Cooling systems I should look into?
 
f3niks said:
My machine was about 5 years old and needed a bit of an upgrade so I decided to give it a little something extra so that I could get some gaming in. Here's what i got:

Intel Core i7 920 2.67GHz
EVGA X58 3X SLi Motherboard
6GB of Triple Channel Ram


Added to:

Galaxy 9600 GT Video Card with 1GB of DDR3
several (4) 500GB to 1TB Seagate Barricuda HDDs
several fans and a nice SATA Multi-write media drive
500 Watt Power Supply
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

Needs:

New Power Supply
Another Video Gard for some SLI action
and I'm considering cooling system but I have no idea which direction to look with that.

Any suggestions on what PS and Cooling systems I should look into?
Click to expand...

A 9600GT SLI seems pretty darn underwhelming paired up to a i7 920. Unless you're not really using it for gaming, I'd think a newer, single card would be a much better investment, and you'd also need less power and cooling, unless the 9600GT is one of those ultra-cool and efficient cards.
 
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