hardware OVERHAUL

[ionus]

suggestions on build plz:

cooler master centurion atx form factor case
delta 500W psu
sapphire ati radeon hd 3870 512mb gddr5 dual layer
intel core 2 duo e7200 wolfdale
seagate barricuda HDD 320GB
crucial ballistix 2GB ddr2-1066 dual channel kit
asus P5KC mobo
generic dvd R/W dual layer
onboard sound
price cap: $600 canadian
www.newegg.ca for links plz

[Gizmokid2005]

If you are going for a video card such as that, a 600W PSU should be your MINIMUM. You will run into issues otherwise.

[ionus]

mmk anyone else got anything too add? mm question the hd 4670 single layer is cheaper is it superior though?

[Gizmokid2005]

the HD4xxx series are a superior series to the hd3xxx series. I run an HD4850 and that's just as powerful as an HD3870x2.

[ionus]

mmk so ill swap up price wont change much as the 600W psu is eq. to the diff between the two cards. and it isnt always a matter of newer is better case in point an hd 3870 is superior to the 4550 which is more recent.

[Gizmokid2005]

I know that. It's not all about brute power either. It's about efficiency and power per dollar.

[cauzomb]

Yup, but now hear this...
The 3870 and 4850 series are decent, fast cards, but there are troubles in ati land, and there are troubles in asus p5kc land as well..

There's 10 pages of good and bad reviews of the p5kc at newegg, mainly issues with random non booting, random memory issues, and specific memory issues with higher frequency ddr2. needing to update the bios etc.. you should be OK with slower DDR2, in the 600 to 800mhz range, but you will probly need to geek out on the memory timings with 1066 n higher ddr2.

I'm going to put the suggestion forward that in lue of driver instal issues, system crashes/random MBR corruption from the above mentioned issues, leading to re-installation of windows etc... Avoid the P5kc.. Look for a better PSU from corsair, or OCZ, if you still looking at an ati card, even though there's alot of driver issues with the new cards, make sure the PSU is on the ati list of certified PSU's.

I would go with an nvidia 790i or some other less expensive intel chipset, without the ihc8 or 9r southbridge? or northbridge, or whatever it's called, then a single HD4850/70?, or a new single nvidia factory OC version.

I would even go as far as avoiding a board that includes a sata "raid" controller, that way you can upgrade to a "real" sata raid controller, that has onboard cpu and expandable cache/ram, if you need RAID. The IHC9R is a software raid controller, most of the IHC raid controllers are based on software, these consume CPU resources, which will effect your game play.

The non OC version 8800gts cards are going for between 150 and 175 dollars, you'll get like 90 to 100 fps in crysis, little higher in the 125fps range with a 4850/70? but you won't get these FPS unless you are using a high refresh rate 100 to 120hz CRT or LCD.

The new core ati cards use less power than the older core due to smaller DIE interconnects etc, but they still suck it down, and extensive 3d gaming will suck power from three main area's of the system, data throughput from storage to processor, to vga, the processor working 80-100%, and the GPU working 80-100% for extended periods of time.. This will draw ALOT of juice.. Do not skimp on the PSU, they need to be 5-10 amps "convert this to peak watts RMS" over the max load per voltage line for your sytem, just so you have enough overhead on the duty cycle of the PSU for extended game play.

My brothers computer using a 3870, crashes alot, probly the x38 chipset or the ati drivers, or the e8400 OC'd to 3.6 ghz? or inadequate PSU? we don't know what the issue is, possibly bad ati card, or bios, or bad drivers, bad motherboard chipset? it's an x38 board...

I recommend going through and investigating which power supplies, which motherboards, which memory modules and such are "tested" with appropriate WHQL drivers...

[Gizmokid2005]

Cauzomb - I've never had my system maxed out on the CPU b/c of my GPU. You've got other issues with your bro's PC. My 4850 just cranks endlessly.

[cauzomb]

Cauzomb - I've never had my system maxed out on the CPU b/c of my GPU. You've got other issues with your bro's PC. My 4850 just cranks endlessly.

nono, it's just the issues that I mentioned, it crashes, alot in 3d games after a few hours. ATI vpu recovery, overheating or bad ati bios, or something with the ati drivers. Or the CPU overclocking> but it's related to the ATI card or the ATI driver, It doesn't do this with my nvidia card installed in his machine.... I told him to RMA cards until it starts working like it should, without having crashes or needing to re-install anything..

[cauzomb]

OH sorry to hijack your thread! but yeah, I just don't want you to wind up going through the same troubles without knowing how to head them off first thing, do not wait until it's too late to return/RMA anything that doesn't work as it should out of the box if you followed the instructions and instal config is good to go, including adequate PSU, cooling etc..