i7 Gaming Build

[kramo123]

G'day peoples.
So after good service for the past 3-4 years by my current PC, it's upgrade time, when I realised I couldn't even run the opening cinematic of Prototype. Pricing is an issue to discuss, as Newegg don't ship downunder (they may find 7 of the world's 10 most dangerous snakes in their beds at some point), so I guess I'm just looking for comments on the party.



MBU- Asus P6T
CPU- Intel i7 920
GPU- Asus 1792MB GTX295
HDD1- WD 300GB VelociRaptor (I'm considering downing it to a smaller SSD)
HDD2- WD 500GB SATAII
RAM- Corsair 6GB 1600 C8
Case- Antec 902 (Looks cooler than the 900)
PSU- Corsair TX750W
Monitor- BenQ G2220HD 22" (On special and about $50 cheaper than any other 22")
Optical- LG 22x DVD/RW (i.e. standard dvd writer)


Peripherals I'm not too concerned about, I'm quite happy with what I've got at home.

Cheers to all and sundry. (Is it still Halloween on your end of the world?)

[thephilosophizer]

Couple of thoughts.
I just got the same mobo and cpu, and they've been awesome so far. Just got my new cooler yesterday so I plan on figuring out how fast that 920 will go later today.
Hard drives. I would might recommend the SSD versus the raptor. Maybe someone else has some thoughts here, but I can see at least one 128gb ssd for less than $300 on newegg.
Would also just recommend going with a 1tb hdd. They're faster and you won't be running out of room too quickly.
Optical, I always like to have two of those, not a huge issue though.
The graphics card. Now is really the time to be thinking about an ati 5850. Two of those would beat a 295, and come out at about the same price. And also, one 5850 would probably be enough for most things, don't really know if the price of a 295 is worth it.

[kramo123]

I was thinking about the SSD note previously. So down with the Raptor to a smaller SSD and up the other HDD. (Essentially everything but documents, major programs and the OS on the 1TB then)
Now on the 5850 note... It's about $40 cheaper down here than the 295, so it's point is that it's past most of the limits I'll be hitting?

*Edit* By two optical drives you mean different drives, like one being a blu-ray reader or somthing?

[Aaron_8015]

I would seriously reconsider the 295, a 5870 will beat a 295 in 50% of games.... (or be close behind it). It also supports DX11 where as the 295 only supports DX10.... The new 380GTX from Nvidia is 'rumoured' to be out end of the month which will drive current gpu prices down... (or you may consider one of those)...

You also should note the 295 is a 260+280 on one card (dual gpu) and the 5870 is a single gpu.... You can even pick up another 5870 later down the road for crossfireX...

Pick up an SSD for your main drive... if you are getting a 500gb media drive you may as well pick up an SSD...

[thephilosophizer]

Didn't have this thing is mind before, but holy-sh*t, two 5870 gpus? A couple of weeks and the fastest thing any has even seen is going to hit the streets.

[Aaron_8015]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thephilosophizer

Didn't have this thing is mind before, but holy-sh*t, two 5870 gpus? A couple of weeks and the fastest thing any has even seen is going to hit the streets.

Bringing in the p0rn I see...

I think they will release this at the same time nvidia drop the 380GTX.... There is no doubt that 5970 will beat the 380 as its a dual gpu card.... but will be interesting to see how much....

(sorry for random offtopicness ).

[thephilosophizer]

I suppose it's a standing question.
But that leaves the alternate question for the op: What is the best card to get today.
Personally I would go with the 5850, the fps/$ doesn't really seem all that worth it after that.

[kramo123]

Well dropping in two 5850s is out of the price range. I don't think I'll be stepping up to the new GTX300s, or the new ATIs. Probably all out of my range.

Though I don't know ATIs too well. Though the 5850 is AU$200 cheaper, can the 5850 play anything I can throw at it is the question? (Reviews seem to imply not entirely...)

*Edit:* So I guess my question is, for my locations the GTX295 and the 5870 are the same price basically. So does it outright WIN in performance (and what is "Sapphire Radeon"? Anyone have a clue if it's just a cheap brand?)

[ShyguyXPC]

Sapphire... Radeon...

Sapphire: SAPPHIRE- HOME

Radeon: SAPPHIRE- HOME

[Aaron_8015]

Well over in the USA 295 = $500, 5850 = $289, 5870 = $389. Two 5850 will be a small cost just a little more than one 295, buy one now and buy the second later.... You wont regret it... You will regret that 295 though... my 260's that I have now cost around $150 to buy new and are pretty equal to a 295's performance....