Upgrade to what?

Zaxbys · Apr 26, 2008, 02:42 PM

I want to upgrade my system but mostly my graphics card. I currently have a ATI 9600 Atlantis Pro (AGP CARD) and a 2.0 Ghz Athlon XP with Giab nforce 2 motherboard and I think that its time I upgrades to something a little better. I see that I will have to upgrade my motherboard and processor as well seeing as I do not have any PCIe slots. My question is... what components would be the best for me to get and to keep the budget as low as possible but still maintain the ability to play the better games. I was thinking the XFX 8600GT XXX Alpha Dog Edition, the Palit 9600GT, or the XFX 9600GT XXX Alpha Dog Edition, and have no idea what motherboard/processorto get but I was tyhinkign about the Intel E2160 DUal Core with a Gigabyle GA- P35- DS3L

What do you guys think?

IvanV · Apr 26, 2008, 05:54 PM

That's a nice, well balanced set of components. The motherboard has received many praises for it's functionality and overclockability (especially considering the price), and the CPU also has very nice value for money ratio. As for the graphics card, skip the 8600GT, as it really won't do, and pick any of the 9600GTs, it'll be just fine for modern games in reasonable resolutions.

Zaxbys · Apr 27, 2008, 01:01 AM

Thanks for the reply!

But which 9600GT should I get?

I was looking at the Palit Sonic

Newegg.com - PALiT NE/960TSX0252 GeForce 9600GT SONIC 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

or the XFX 9600 GT XXX

Newegg.com - XFX PVT94PYDDU GeForce 9600GT XXX 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

More so liked the palit but I dont know... Any suggestions on which 9600 to get?

**kris23** · Apr 27, 2008, 01:03 AM

EVGA get it....

so you want the cheapest gaming rig possible huh? ill see what i can rip out

Zaxbys · Apr 27, 2008, 01:17 AM

Yes kris that is my goal. Thisis my first tiem building my own gaming rig and I want to keep the price low ($400-600). What is so special about the EVGA that makes it better than the Palit and or XFX?

**kris23** · Apr 27, 2008, 01:30 AM

its cheaper or same priced. and they have better support and warranty, advanced RMA is worth it.

Zaxbys · Apr 27, 2008, 01:32 AM

Rma?

**kris23** · Apr 27, 2008, 01:38 AM

its impossible to do a decent job if you wanna pay for the OS.....

either you go higher or you download the OS and use it. 600 bucks is too little for a system equipped with a 9600GT

**kris23** · Apr 27, 2008, 01:39 AM

RMA, just in case the card dies, they will send you a new card before you return your old one

then they got the 90 day step up policy where you can get a bigger model within 90 days if you gain the extra cash. and i believe they allow the use of 3rd party coolers with no warranty voiding.

**kris23** · Apr 27, 2008, 01:49 AM

this is the lowest level of performance id go:

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Centurion 590 RC-590-KKN1-GP Black SECC / ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3250310NS 250GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N861-AR GeForce 9600GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX ATX12V V2.2 450W Power Supply 90 - 264 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Power Supplies
Newegg.com - A-DATA Vitesta 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-P35-S3G LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
Newegg.com - Intel Pentium E2220 Allendale 2.4GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - CPUs / Processors

Zaxbys · Apr 27, 2008, 03:34 AM

I already have hardrive as well as an OS. Here is what I came up with for arounds my budget... lemme know what ya think...

Just to correct myself I meant to say 700 max...

Coolermaster CM690 Case
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
ASUS 20X CD/DVDR Combo with Lightscribe
Newegg.com - ASUS Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - CD / DVD Burners
Zalman ZM MFC-1 Case Fan Controller
Newegg.com - ZALMAN ZM-MFC1 Fan Controller Panel - Controller Panels
Palit 9600 Sonic
Newegg.com - PALiT NE/960TSX0252 GeForce 9600GT SONIC 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
BFG 650Watt PSU
Newegg.com - BFG Tech BFGR650PSU ATX 12v 2.0 / EPS 12V 650W Power Supply 115/ 230 V UL, CE, FCC CLASS B - Power Supplies
Media Reader
Newegg.com - SUPER TALENT INT-AIN1-C All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader - Card Readers
OCZ Gold Series 2GB DDR2 RAM
Newegg.com - OCZ Gold Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L Motherboard
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
Intel E2160 Dual Core Processor
Newegg.com - Intel Pentium E2160 Allendale 1.8GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - CPUs / Processors
Zalman 9700 CPU Cooler
Newegg.com - ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks
Coolermaster 120mm Case Fans
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER R4-L2S-122B-GP 120mm 4 BLUE LED LED Case Fan - Case Fans

Whatcha think? Any ideas on better products etc?

**kris23** · Apr 27, 2008, 03:48 AM

firstly, what are those items you have exactly? HDD and OS

id get rid of the 690 case, and get the 590 case emppty cost for slightly better looks and worse performance.
get rid of the BFG PSU and go for the seasonic
just plain get rid of the 9700
get a faster CPU than the 2160
get rid of the OCZ gold and get the 4GB sticks
get rid of the fan controller, mobo handles that fine

the system i posted is faster than this....

it is also balanced alot better

Zaxbys · Apr 27, 2008, 04:03 AM

Haha I must suck at planning systems then...

I like the looks of the 690... But the 590 performs better????
Seasonics are VERY expensive and I dont want to spend that much on a PSU even though I know they are important...
I have heard good things on the Zalman 9700 so I am wondering what your take on it is exactly?
and my buddy overclocks his E2160 to 3.0Ghz... so I was thinking I might do the same.. unless the E2220 can as well...
Whats wrong with the fan controller?

I dont mean to sound like a stuck up guy on this I am just wondering your reasoning of why your opionion on these components is different than my own...

EDIT: I have a 2 Wester Digital Cavier 160GB Hardrives and XP Home OS

**kris23** · Apr 27, 2008, 04:35 AM

well the 590 has more fan ports and is more flexible so i personally would get it.

seasonics are good but my REAL concern is that the BFG PSU is not 80 plus certified, it doesnt even have Active PFC so it may have an efficacy of less than 70% not good if you see the power bill going up because of a high load.......

i make a habit to recommend 80 plus PSUs exclusively

the zalman 9700 is a good cooler but not for the price, go with Scythe or Tuniq or Thermalright, theyre all better. for a good deal cheaper too... even OCZ is a better deal for your application

the E2220 has a much higher multiplier so you are going to exceed your friend by FAR with a good cooler.

theres really nothing wrong with the fan controller but it is rather useless for you, just plug them into the mobo and use software to monitor them, less clutter....

those controllers are for guys that used all the ports on their board and need more fans, or have more fans and dont have enough ports on the board.....

what type of drives are those WD Caviar drives? SATA or IDE? if theyre SATA, use them together in RAID 0 with an ICH9R board and double your performance.

if theyre IDE drives, sell them...... simple as that.

i really recommend just getting rid of the XP Home disk as you are missing too much in the gaming world with it. dont believe everyone that says Vista sucks, i use it and DX10 is so awesome on it. games take up a whole new level of experience for the gamer.....

Zaxbys · Apr 27, 2008, 04:50 AM

How about this PSU?

Newegg.com - OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS ATX12V / EPS12V 600W Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB, CE, CSA, UL, FCC - Power Supplies

and I will probably go with the E2220 now...

How about this CPU Cooler? or the Thermaltake Blue OrbII

Newegg.com - ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks

What kind of connection do i use for the fans to the mobo and where do I get software to regulate them?

What is Raid 0 and what is a ICH9R board ?and the HDs are both SATA.

And ive heard WAAAY to many bad things on vista...

**kris23** · Apr 27, 2008, 05:32 AM

lol seriously, dont believe all the BS about Vista, if you want, tell me what you heard and ill tell you whats the truth.

the OCZ probably is good, better than the BFG thats for sure.

the AC frezer 7 is good but outdated, there are better designs based off that same cooler by OCZ and my another company

Zaxbys · Apr 27, 2008, 06:00 AM

I just heard vista sucks...

Can I get links to good CPU coolers?

**kris23** · Apr 27, 2008, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaxbys

I just heard vista sucks...

Can I get links to good CPU coolers?

if they couldnt say why then theyre just the same idiots that got the same hate wagon rolling......

a good cooler is the Tuniq Tower, Thermalright Ultima 90, OCZ vendetta 2,

this is best for price though. Newegg.com - Scythe SCINF-1000 120mm CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks

if i remember right, that thing gets better temps than the 9700

Zaxbys · Apr 27, 2008, 06:34 AM

Alright thanks for you help but I still dont know why I should get the EVGA 9600 over the Palit or XFX?

**kris23** · Apr 27, 2008, 06:51 AM

better support and cheaper......

and if you really wanna waste that much change on a card, buy an 8800GT, theyre faster....

Zaxbys · Apr 27, 2008, 06:56 AM

Newegg.com - PALiT NE/960TSX0252 GeForce 9600GT SONIC 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

With that one both end up beign about the same price after rebates...

If I was to get an 8800 GT which should I get?

**kris23** · Apr 27, 2008, 07:06 AM

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GV-NX88T512HPV1 GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

that one...

Zaxbys · Apr 27, 2008, 07:13 AM

Wow that one is FUGLY are you sure?

**kris23** · Apr 27, 2008, 07:15 AM

it cools better and is definitely powerful. but if you want to spend more money, get this.....

even better looks and cooling... Newegg.com - MSI NX8800GT 512M OC GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Zaxbys · Apr 27, 2008, 07:26 AM

Thanks for you help! If I have any more questions I will be sure to post them here!

Zaxbys · Apr 27, 2008, 02:31 PM

First of all sorry for the double post.

I am really at a loss right now kris, I mean there are so many graphics cards to choose form that I am overwhelmed. WHat I dont understand is that for the same money there are other cards have better stats such as faster core clocks, and shader clocks, and more stream processors. Am I just missing all together how to pick out a graphics card?

**kris23** · Apr 27, 2008, 07:08 PM

pretty much, each GPU core is different, and performance depends on many factors:

Core clock: right now, we are looking at G92 based cards eg. 8800GT, 8800GTS 512, 9800GTX the core speed to calculations to clock cycle will hardly vary between G92 chips, but with a faster core speed is a noticeable increase in power.

stream processors: all DX10 cards have stream processors, they are numerous processing units and are multi-functional, they handle a number of tasks, generally more is better but you cant compare different cores as they have different stream processor speeds.

memory amount: second biggest thing other than the GPU core is memory amount, certain games require a large amount of memory in order to render images properly, not enough memory is seen through certain artifacts and texture errors on the screen

memory bandwidth: high memory bandwidth is a must in order to play on high resolutions, if you look around, you see cards with bandwidths like 256-bit, 128-bit, 384-bit, 512-bit and so on, it's basically the pipe that feeds your GPU so it can render faster.

memory clock: there are many types of graphics memory, GDDR1, GDDR2, GDDR3, and GDDR4 currently, it is about as important as memory bandwidth as it also helps gaming at high resolutions, the higher the bandwidth and the higher the clock rate, the better your game will be.

architectural superiority: this is what separates all GPUs from each other, all the performance comes from here. have you ever wondered why the 9600GT performs so close to an HD3870? its because of how the GPU cores were designed. in the 9600GT, there are 64 stream processors while the 3870 has 320. thats 5x the amount in the 3870. it is because the architectural differences in the cards allow for much faster stream processors in the 9600GT. with that, differences in chip design make it ineffective to compare cards by any of the previously listed above points, they are only effective at comparing cards of the same core.

to compare other cards, you need to go and actually see which is faster in hardware reviews.

Zaxbys · Apr 28, 2008, 01:09 AM

Based on what you said I found this card..

Newegg.com - XFX PVT88GYDF4 GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Any good?

**kris23** · Apr 28, 2008, 02:07 AM

worthless....... if you actually have the budget to get a card that expensive, just spring out and get a 9800GTX....

**kris23** · Apr 28, 2008, 02:14 AM

if you can raise the budget to 900-1000 i can double your system performance.....

Apr 26, 2008, 02:42 PM	#1
Zaxbys DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	Upgrade to what? I want to upgrade my system but mostly my graphics card. I currently have a ATI 9600 Atlantis Pro (AGP CARD) and a 2.0 Ghz Athlon XP with Giab nforce 2 motherboard and I think that its time I upgrades to something a little better. I see that I will have to upgrade my motherboard and processor as well seeing as I do not have any PCIe slots. My question is... what components would be the best for me to get and to keep the budget as low as possible but still maintain the ability to play the better games. I was thinking the XFX 8600GT XXX Alpha Dog Edition, the Palit 9600GT, or the XFX 9600GT XXX Alpha Dog Edition, and have no idea what motherboard/processorto get but I was tyhinkign about the Intel E2160 DUal Core with a Gigabyle GA- P35- DS3L What do you guys think?

Apr 26, 2008, 05:54 PM	#2
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,646 Rep Power: 280 System Specs	That's a nice, well balanced set of components. The motherboard has received many praises for it's functionality and overclockability (especially considering the price), and the CPU also has very nice value for money ratio. As for the graphics card, skip the 8600GT, as it really won't do, and pick any of the 9600GTs, it'll be just fine for modern games in reasonable resolutions. __________________ Our Folding@home stats:

Apr 27, 2008, 01:03 AM	#4
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	EVGA get it.... so you want the cheapest gaming rig possible huh? ill see what i can rip out __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Apr 27, 2008, 01:30 AM	#6
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	its cheaper or same priced. and they have better support and warranty, advanced RMA is worth it. __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Apr 27, 2008, 01:38 AM	#8
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	its impossible to do a decent job if you wanna pay for the OS..... either you go higher or you download the OS and use it. 600 bucks is too little for a system equipped with a 9600GT __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Apr 27, 2008, 01:01 AM	Thread Starter #3
Zaxbys DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the reply! But which 9600GT should I get? I was looking at the Palit Sonic Newegg.com - PALiT NE/960TSX0252 GeForce 9600GT SONIC 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards or the XFX 9600 GT XXX Newegg.com - XFX PVT94PYDDU GeForce 9600GT XXX 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards More so liked the palit but I dont know... Any suggestions on which 9600 to get?

Apr 27, 2008, 01:17 AM	Thread Starter #5
Zaxbys DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	Yes kris that is my goal. Thisis my first tiem building my own gaming rig and I want to keep the price low ($400-600). What is so special about the EVGA that makes it better than the Palit and or XFX?

Apr 27, 2008, 01:32 AM	Thread Starter #7
Zaxbys DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	Rma?

Apr 27, 2008, 01:39 AM	#9
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	RMA, just in case the card dies, they will send you a new card before you return your old one then they got the 90 day step up policy where you can get a bigger model within 90 days if you gain the extra cash. and i believe they allow the use of 3rd party coolers with no warranty voiding. __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Apr 27, 2008, 01:49 AM	#10
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	this is the lowest level of performance id go: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Centurion 590 RC-590-KKN1-GP Black SECC / ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3250310NS 250GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N861-AR GeForce 9600GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX ATX12V V2.2 450W Power Supply 90 - 264 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Power Supplies Newegg.com - A-DATA Vitesta 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-P35-S3G LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards Newegg.com - Intel Pentium E2220 Allendale 2.4GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - CPUs / Processors __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Apr 27, 2008, 03:34 AM	Thread Starter #11
Zaxbys DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	I already have hardrive as well as an OS. Here is what I came up with for arounds my budget... lemme know what ya think... Just to correct myself I meant to say 700 max... Coolermaster CM690 Case Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases ASUS 20X CD/DVDR Combo with Lightscribe Newegg.com - ASUS Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - CD / DVD Burners Zalman ZM MFC-1 Case Fan Controller Newegg.com - ZALMAN ZM-MFC1 Fan Controller Panel - Controller Panels Palit 9600 Sonic Newegg.com - PALiT NE/960TSX0252 GeForce 9600GT SONIC 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards BFG 650Watt PSU Newegg.com - BFG Tech BFGR650PSU ATX 12v 2.0 / EPS 12V 650W Power Supply 115/ 230 V UL, CE, FCC CLASS B - Power Supplies Media Reader Newegg.com - SUPER TALENT INT-AIN1-C All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader - Card Readers OCZ Gold Series 2GB DDR2 RAM Newegg.com - OCZ Gold Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L Motherboard Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards Intel E2160 Dual Core Processor Newegg.com - Intel Pentium E2160 Allendale 1.8GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - CPUs / Processors Zalman 9700 CPU Cooler Newegg.com - ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks Coolermaster 120mm Case Fans Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER R4-L2S-122B-GP 120mm 4 BLUE LED LED Case Fan - Case Fans Whatcha think? Any ideas on better products etc?

Apr 27, 2008, 03:48 AM	#12
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	firstly, what are those items you have exactly? HDD and OS id get rid of the 690 case, and get the 590 case emppty cost for slightly better looks and worse performance. get rid of the BFG PSU and go for the seasonic just plain get rid of the 9700 get a faster CPU than the 2160 get rid of the OCZ gold and get the 4GB sticks get rid of the fan controller, mobo handles that fine the system i posted is faster than this.... it is also balanced alot better __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Apr 27, 2008, 04:03 AM	Thread Starter #13
Zaxbys DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	Haha I must suck at planning systems then... I like the looks of the 690... But the 590 performs better???? Seasonics are VERY expensive and I dont want to spend that much on a PSU even though I know they are important... I have heard good things on the Zalman 9700 so I am wondering what your take on it is exactly? and my buddy overclocks his E2160 to 3.0Ghz... so I was thinking I might do the same.. unless the E2220 can as well... Whats wrong with the fan controller? I dont mean to sound like a stuck up guy on this I am just wondering your reasoning of why your opionion on these components is different than my own... EDIT: I have a 2 Wester Digital Cavier 160GB Hardrives and XP Home OS Last edited by Zaxbys; Apr 27, 2008 at 04:09 AM.

Apr 27, 2008, 04:35 AM	#14
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	well the 590 has more fan ports and is more flexible so i personally would get it. seasonics are good but my REAL concern is that the BFG PSU is not 80 plus certified, it doesnt even have Active PFC so it may have an efficacy of less than 70% not good if you see the power bill going up because of a high load....... i make a habit to recommend 80 plus PSUs exclusively the zalman 9700 is a good cooler but not for the price, go with Scythe or Tuniq or Thermalright, theyre all better. for a good deal cheaper too... even OCZ is a better deal for your application the E2220 has a much higher multiplier so you are going to exceed your friend by FAR with a good cooler. theres really nothing wrong with the fan controller but it is rather useless for you, just plug them into the mobo and use software to monitor them, less clutter.... those controllers are for guys that used all the ports on their board and need more fans, or have more fans and dont have enough ports on the board..... what type of drives are those WD Caviar drives? SATA or IDE? if theyre SATA, use them together in RAID 0 with an ICH9R board and double your performance. if theyre IDE drives, sell them...... simple as that. i really recommend just getting rid of the XP Home disk as you are missing too much in the gaming world with it. dont believe everyone that says Vista sucks, i use it and DX10 is so awesome on it. games take up a whole new level of experience for the gamer..... __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Apr 27, 2008, 04:50 AM	Thread Starter #15
Zaxbys DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	How about this PSU? Newegg.com - OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS ATX12V / EPS12V 600W Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB, CE, CSA, UL, FCC - Power Supplies and I will probably go with the E2220 now... How about this CPU Cooler? or the Thermaltake Blue OrbII Newegg.com - ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks What kind of connection do i use for the fans to the mobo and where do I get software to regulate them? What is Raid 0 and what is a ICH9R board ?and the HDs are both SATA. And ive heard WAAAY to many bad things on vista... Last edited by Zaxbys; Apr 27, 2008 at 05:07 AM.

Apr 27, 2008, 05:32 AM	#16
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	lol seriously, dont believe all the BS about Vista, if you want, tell me what you heard and ill tell you whats the truth. the OCZ probably is good, better than the BFG thats for sure. the AC frezer 7 is good but outdated, there are better designs based off that same cooler by OCZ and my another company __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Apr 27, 2008, 06:00 AM	Thread Starter #17
Zaxbys DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	I just heard vista sucks... Can I get links to good CPU coolers?

Apr 27, 2008, 06:34 AM	Thread Starter #19
Zaxbys DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	Alright thanks for you help but I still dont know why I should get the EVGA 9600 over the Palit or XFX?

Apr 27, 2008, 06:51 AM	#20
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	better support and cheaper...... and if you really wanna waste that much change on a card, buy an 8800GT, theyre faster.... __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Apr 27, 2008, 06:56 AM	Thread Starter #21
Zaxbys DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	Newegg.com - PALiT NE/960TSX0252 GeForce 9600GT SONIC 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards With that one both end up beign about the same price after rebates... If I was to get an 8800 GT which should I get?

Apr 27, 2008, 07:06 AM	#22
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GV-NX88T512HPV1 GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards that one... __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Apr 27, 2008, 07:13 AM	Thread Starter #23
Zaxbys DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	Wow that one is FUGLY are you sure?

Apr 27, 2008, 07:15 AM	#24
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	it cools better and is definitely powerful. but if you want to spend more money, get this..... even better looks and cooling... Newegg.com - MSI NX8800GT 512M OC GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Apr 27, 2008, 07:26 AM	Thread Starter #25
Zaxbys DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for you help! If I have any more questions I will be sure to post them here!

Apr 27, 2008, 02:31 PM	Thread Starter #26
Zaxbys DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	First of all sorry for the double post. I am really at a loss right now kris, I mean there are so many graphics cards to choose form that I am overwhelmed. WHat I dont understand is that for the same money there are other cards have better stats such as faster core clocks, and shader clocks, and more stream processors. Am I just missing all together how to pick out a graphics card?

Apr 27, 2008, 07:08 PM	#27
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	pretty much, each GPU core is different, and performance depends on many factors: Core clock: right now, we are looking at G92 based cards eg. 8800GT, 8800GTS 512, 9800GTX the core speed to calculations to clock cycle will hardly vary between G92 chips, but with a faster core speed is a noticeable increase in power. stream processors: all DX10 cards have stream processors, they are numerous processing units and are multi-functional, they handle a number of tasks, generally more is better but you cant compare different cores as they have different stream processor speeds. memory amount: second biggest thing other than the GPU core is memory amount, certain games require a large amount of memory in order to render images properly, not enough memory is seen through certain artifacts and texture errors on the screen memory bandwidth: high memory bandwidth is a must in order to play on high resolutions, if you look around, you see cards with bandwidths like 256-bit, 128-bit, 384-bit, 512-bit and so on, it's basically the pipe that feeds your GPU so it can render faster. memory clock: there are many types of graphics memory, GDDR1, GDDR2, GDDR3, and GDDR4 currently, it is about as important as memory bandwidth as it also helps gaming at high resolutions, the higher the bandwidth and the higher the clock rate, the better your game will be. architectural superiority: this is what separates all GPUs from each other, all the performance comes from here. have you ever wondered why the 9600GT performs so close to an HD3870? its because of how the GPU cores were designed. in the 9600GT, there are 64 stream processors while the 3870 has 320. thats 5x the amount in the 3870. it is because the architectural differences in the cards allow for much faster stream processors in the 9600GT. with that, differences in chip design make it ineffective to compare cards by any of the previously listed above points, they are only effective at comparing cards of the same core. to compare other cards, you need to go and actually see which is faster in hardware reviews. __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Apr 28, 2008, 01:09 AM	Thread Starter #28
Zaxbys DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	Based on what you said I found this card.. Newegg.com - XFX PVT88GYDF4 GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards Any good?

Apr 28, 2008, 02:07 AM	#29
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	worthless....... if you actually have the budget to get a card that expensive, just spring out and get a 9800GTX.... __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Apr 28, 2008, 02:14 AM	#30
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	if you can raise the budget to 900-1000 i can double your system performance..... __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!