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Official "I need a new PC!!" 2009 Edition
- Thread starter VictimOfGrief
- Start date
brain_stew
Member
TheExodu5 said:
It depends, if a card is following the reference design and/or is from a new model then you can be pretty sure that the two cards are literally identical, sans the sticker.
MisterAnderson said:
Is it a Gigabyte motherboard? Gigabyte motherboards do this if you switch off your computer at the socket, others may as well. Nothing to worry about, its a safety feature I think.
Minsc
Gold Member
Rapping Granny said:
2600 PRO <<< $100 9600 GT, you can almost get to a 4850 for about $120, beats a 9600 GT by a bit.
You can use this site to compare just about any video card, though it's not too pratical. Future mark or googling benchmarks would be more straightforward, but sometimes it's hard to find direct comparisons.
MisterAnderson
Member
brain_stew said:
It's a Gigabyte, yeah. Glad to hear it's nothing to worry about, I guess what was weird for me was that (unless my memory is wrong) it didn't do that at all yesterday.
Can anyone confirm that the top 200mm case fan in the Antec 900 two is supposed to light up blue?
MisterAnderson said:
I own the same case you have, got it in last week.
There is a LED-switch on the backside of the case, between the top and back fanspeed regulators, that turns on or off the top-fan LEDlights. I assume that's working as it should? I don't have the hiccup you're describing either. All 4 LEDs (2 front, 1 back, 1 top) are lit and spinning as it should.
MisterAnderson
Member
Dina said:
Ahh, thanks so much. I feel like an idiot now haha. Definitely didn't even know there were fan speed controls back there
So you said you don't get that start up "hiccup"? Are you using a Gigabyte mobo?I tried OCing my CPU in the bios. I started out increasing from 133 to 140 which made it 2800 MHz, which started up fine. Went back in and set it to 145, making it 2900 MHz and it froze while loading my desktop. First time my PC has froze, assuming it was too much to handle? I'm really new at overclocking all I was messing with was the MHz, but I'm assuming I need to play around with the voltage and such too if I want the best results, which I'm a little hesitant to screw with. I'll check out some guides online and see what I can learn.
brain_stew
Member
Kaako said:
Um yes!! Someone will snap it up if you don't. Go!
You couldn't come close to that spec with a custom build, the "minitower" seems to be the only drawback but you can't win them all. As long as it fits the components it comes with it doesn't really matter, and you can always transfer stuff over to your own case later on.
brain_stew
Member
Kaako said:
Yes deadly. You can't put a core i7 rig together for less than $1000 usually.
Once you get it, be sure to check how your RAM is running with CPU-Z. As usually you'd buy 3 sticks with a Core-i7 rig for triple channel.
If it reverts back to single channel then dump one of the sticks (you can always upgrade to 6GB for cheap later on but 3GB should do you for now) but if it goes to dual channel then just leave it as is.
Oh and once you get it, go buy Ghostbusters and watch as the thing makes full use use of all 8 threads of that beast of a CPU for some excellent physics.
My only scare is the motherboard...I also plan on upgrading to 6GB immediately. Or should I add another six just for the hell of it? I'm hoping that it has one of those X58 or some similar named motherboard which are perfect for the i7s. So I should really get this system? I just need more reassurance.brain_stew said:
Edit: Also, do you guys know where I can get Dell 15% coupons?
brain_stew
Member
Kaako said:My only scare is the motherboard...I also plan on upgrading to 6GB immediately. Or should I add another six just for the hell of it? I'm hoping that it has one of those X58 or some similar named motherboard which are perfect for the i7s. So I should really get this system? I just need more reassurance.
X58 is the only Core-i7 chipset, so yeah, it has to based on that.
The BIOS will likely be locked down so OCing will likely be out unless its an OEM board that can be flashed with a new BIOS. Its not a major deal considering just how fast a stock corei7 is anyway, and they already have a built in mini OC feature that kicks in automatically on all processors anyway.
RAM wise if you want 6GB then buy a straight 3x2GB pack and just sell on the stuff that comes with it. So you get the full triple channel for best performance.
Here: $95 for 6BG of excellent triple channel RAM. I'm sure you can fetch a good $40-$50 if you sell on the 4 sticks that come with it.
Thanks for the info. This is the ram I'll buy most likely.brain_stew said:
Not a bad price with the rebate included.
brain_stew
Member
Kaako said:
Any GAFer that wants an awesome system on a budget should snap these up, astounding value.
I'm thinking about upgrading to this baby:brain_stew said:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010252
I can get it for around $135 with free shipping. Yay?
OR should I go with the EVGA GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB PCI-E for $130? I think the 4890 is a lot better is it not?
Metalic Sand
who is Emo-Beas?
Those links just lead to a page with like 10 builds. Any exact links?
MWS Natural
Member
Kaako said:I'm thinking about upgrading to this baby:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010252
I can get it for around $135 with free shipping. Yay?
OR should I go with the EVGA GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB PCI-E for $130? I think the 4890 is a lot better is it not?
It's a great card but runs very hot, make sure you have good airflow in your case.
brain_stew
Member
Kaako said:I'm thinking about upgrading to this baby:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010252
I can get it for around $135 with free shipping. Yay?
OR should I go with the EVGA GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB PCI-E for $130? I think the 4890 is a lot better is it not?
Yeah, 4890 is the better card, its a steal at that price. My only concern would be the PSU, but since Dell usually supply rock solid PSUs and can handle a 4850 already, you should be fine.
What resolution are you playing at? You might find the 4850 is more than enough for what you're after. Its still a great little card.
I've just upgraded my old config: Radeon 9700 & Barton 2800+, can't play games with that, with:
MotherBoard: Asus P5Q-SE2 88 ( = 122$ )
CPU: Pentium Dual Core E6300, available since last month, = Core 2 Duo e7300 but 20 cheaper ( http://www.hardware.fr/medias/photos_news/00/26/IMG0026216.gif ) : 81 ( = 112$ )
RAM: G-Skill 2Gb DDR2 PC8500 35 ( = 48$ )
Graphic Card: Sapphire HD 4830 512Mb 70 promotion ( = 97$ )
With shipments: 290 ( = 403$ )
I already have recent HDD, SPU and a 2407WFP Dell 24" monitor !
I think it's a really cheap upgrade for such powerful hardware !
MotherBoard: Asus P5Q-SE2 88 ( = 122$ )
CPU: Pentium Dual Core E6300, available since last month, = Core 2 Duo e7300 but 20 cheaper ( http://www.hardware.fr/medias/photos_news/00/26/IMG0026216.gif ) : 81 ( = 112$ )
RAM: G-Skill 2Gb DDR2 PC8500 35 ( = 48$ )
Graphic Card: Sapphire HD 4830 512Mb 70 promotion ( = 97$ )
With shipments: 290 ( = 403$ )
I already have recent HDD, SPU and a 2407WFP Dell 24" monitor !
I think it's a really cheap upgrade for such powerful hardware !
Metalic Sand
who is Emo-Beas?
Kaako said:
You mite as well get another since that probly wont work as a 550 watt.
MWS Natural
Member
Um...is there a reason the Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver is sold out everywhere online? I really don't want to pay $40+ for one...
tahrikmili
Member
MWS Natural said:
It's out of production.
Glad I have one.
MWS Natural
Member
Hazaro said:
Yeah but I want to be able to play on my TV from the PC, I need something wireless. I"ll check gamestop and see if I get lucky with a used one.
I have never upgraded anything besides the memory before, so I have a few questions that I hope someone can help me with. I am interested in EVGA e-GeForce 8800 GTS and Radeon HD 4850 (4870?).
I have this computer;
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c00620029
The only thing that was added was 2G of memory.
The motherboard;
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&objectID=c00638516
I'm sure I would have to buy a new CPU, so I was thinking 820 series dual core. Would that be a good pairing with the cards I'm interested in?
Can I even use the cards I'm interested in? The EVGA 8800 GTS box states something about "needing 26 amps on the +12 volt rail, plus there is a note about one pci express supplementary power connector or two available hard disk drive power connectors from the supply that are connected to nothing else."
I know I would need a new power supply, but that's about the only thing I am sure about.
I already have the the 8800GTS (unopened from newegg), but I didn't want to mess with anything without trying to get some facts. I mainly stick to the consoles because the PC Hardware/Upgrading seems too advanced for me and I would hate to mess anything up.
If someone can help me out, It would be much appreciated. I just need to know what options I have before I order anything. The guy at Best Buy did not seem too trust worthy at all, and I didn't know there was a PC resource thread here.
Much thanks.
I have this computer;
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c00620029
The only thing that was added was 2G of memory.
The motherboard;
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&objectID=c00638516
I'm sure I would have to buy a new CPU, so I was thinking 820 series dual core. Would that be a good pairing with the cards I'm interested in?
Can I even use the cards I'm interested in? The EVGA 8800 GTS box states something about "needing 26 amps on the +12 volt rail, plus there is a note about one pci express supplementary power connector or two available hard disk drive power connectors from the supply that are connected to nothing else."
I know I would need a new power supply, but that's about the only thing I am sure about.
I already have the the 8800GTS (unopened from newegg), but I didn't want to mess with anything without trying to get some facts. I mainly stick to the consoles because the PC Hardware/Upgrading seems too advanced for me and I would hate to mess anything up.
If someone can help me out, It would be much appreciated. I just need to know what options I have before I order anything. The guy at Best Buy did not seem too trust worthy at all, and I didn't know there was a PC resource thread here.
Much thanks.
Minsc
Gold Member
Core i7 for laptops! Probably old news, but first I saw of 4-core 8-threaded processors making their way in to laptops, that's pretty good news, so long as it doesn't take two or three years.
EVGA GTX 260
$200 - $50 with code " GFDW8472JG1HW3 " - $20 mail in rebate = $130 after rebate.
This is the card to get at this price. If anyone needs a new graphics card this should do them quite nicely and the price can't be beat.
$200 - $50 with code " GFDW8472JG1HW3 " - $20 mail in rebate = $130 after rebate.
This is the card to get at this price. If anyone needs a new graphics card this should do them quite nicely and the price can't be beat.
MWS Natural
Member
Hazaro said:
My office desk is about 25ft from my HT...not sure if I want a wired controller cable going across my entire living room lol. I will look for another alternative today, there has to be some kind of wireless gaming pad solution for the PC.
Kaako said:My only scare is the motherboard...I also plan on upgrading to 6GB immediately. Or should I add another six just for the hell of it? I'm hoping that it has one of those X58 or some similar named motherboard which are perfect for the i7s. So I should really get this system? I just need more reassurance.
Edit: Also, do you guys know where I can get Dell 15% coupons?
Do you even need that much RAM? If you're just gaming, you really don't need more than 3GB at the moment.
I wouldn't bother upgrading the RAM unless you're doing RAM intensive stuff, like mathematical simulations, or heavy 3D rendering (3DSMax).
I kinda have the "more RAM is always better" PC mentality. I even thought about going for 9 gigs instead of 6, but had to stop myself. :lolTheExodu5 said:
Why not go for the HIS Radeon HD 4890 1GB GDDR5 for only $5 more? ;Pzbarron said:
$185 - $30 (eBillme) - $20 rebate = $135 with free shipping.
Kaako said:
Lose the mentality.
RAM amount only matters if you're running out of it. If you're not running out of RAM, adding more RAM will do nothing productive.
Of course, this is a little bit different with the caching that Win7 does, but 4GB is more than enough for the simple application caching.
I upgraded from 4GB of DDR2 to 6GB of DDR3 just since I didn't want the downgrade of 3GB. I never came close to maxing out my old 4GB on Vista 64.Kaako said:
Very nice find. To people who don't mind the rebates this is the card to get.
Edit: I just checked and with Crysis Warhead I used a total of 3.6GB of RAM including everything running. I wouldn't go with anything less than 4GB.
MWS Natural
Member
Lesson learned:
When you see an amazing graphics card deal...wait one more month.
When you see an amazing graphics card deal...wait one more month.