Dad wants a PC for gaming

Call Me Jimmy

Well I found out that the monitor is actually only 24 inch if that changes anything? I've done one of them configurations in hardwareversand but can't find an option to add a second GX2... i was able to add 2 RAM's but only one graphics card... and do I have to fill EVERYTHING in? For example if i dont choose a netword card myself will the computer not have one and hence not be able to use teh interwebz?

skuzzb

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Well he's already said he has a 30" monitor, so another is not needed

There is always a need for more monitors! Hell i have 3 and could still find room for another yet hehehe!:D

(Ok ill be honest I was being kinda lazy speccing that one up!!)

Sqaull20

Insane money to spend, 1000 is all you need for a class pc...

Anyway this includes it being built and all software installed...



I would wait until July when Nvidia's and Ati's next gen card outs before spending big on graphics though...

2 x 8800gts for €320 should be enough on a 30" for every game besides Crysis, sell them in July for €200 or so and with the €500, get 2 x GT 200 or whatever Nvidia will call them...

Edit 24" changes everything ignore this post...

Call Me Jimmy

So for 24 inch I wouldnt need 2 GX2's to power crisis on high settings?

AlmightyCushion

For example if i dont choose a netword card myself will the computer not have one and hence not be able to use teh interwebz?

There will be an ethernet port on the motherboard, so no need for a network card same with sound card as well.

So for 24 inch I wouldnt need 2 GX2's to power crisis on high settings?

2 8800 gts's should be more than enough for that.

TerrorFirmer

Ok yes the fact it's 24" inches does sort of change things. I did this up with 30" in mind but if I had 2k to drop on a machine, and the money was there to spare, I'd still buy this and use the 200 quid left over to buy some nice games. Personally I mean. One single GX2 is plenty for what you need, so I think really, about 1.2k is more then enough to get a monster of a machine.

skuzzb

Well what brand 24" monitor is it for a start.....total waste of 2k if its a low end monitor.

Sqaull20

If your Dad is not going to watch Blu Ray films remove the drive and get standard dvdrw...




If your internet is wireless email them and get a wireless network card or usb adaptor added to your order...

TerrorFirmer

I think Squalls build above is excellent and about right for you. My post is a more me wishing I had that much money to spend.

skuzzb

+1 on squall's build there. Save yourself the €650 quid for an upgrade in a years time.

AlmightyCushion

Ditto on squall's build. It's a quality system for the money.

Call Me Jimmy

I can't thank ye's enough, I'll present him with the 2 ideas. I think he had 2000 in his mind from when he first asked me how much I thought it would cost to get the best PC imaginable. So I'de say he'll go for Terror's one. Appreciate the effort guys!

We had a look on Dell and the money was absolutely insane so hopefully these guys will work out well.

Call Me Jimmy

Oh yea, is there a definitive answer yet about vista for gaming? My dad plays a mixture of old and new games so would it be just too problematic to upgrade to vista? I'm assuming he has to if he wants to be able to play the newest games like crysis?

AlmightyCushion

There's very few games that require vista so you could stick with xp if you like. Personally I'd move to vista. The biggest problem with vista is running it on a rubbish low spec computer.

TerrorFirmer

I really don't think you should; 2xGX2's would be effectively wasted to be honest! 2x8800GTS is much cheaper and will still provide killer performance on a 24" monitor. I have 2 of them but only a 20" monitor, so I'm one step down at 1680x1050. Call of Duty 4 runs at that resolution at max settings with 4xAA 8xAF, averaging almost 90fps. If it wasn't capped I'd be hitting about 150+ in spots. Insane performance. I'm getting a 24" soon and the performance will probably be the same give or take a few frames but nothing detectable by the human eye.

There are great and fun ways to spend 2k, spending on hardware you won't be able to utilize isn't really one of them....I'd still go with Squalls build and pimp it out with a serious speaker set, nice sound card, keyboard, mouse, etc. That'll soon bring ya to 2k if you pick the right stuff and your overall experience will be far better. Trust me when I say your dad wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the build I chose and Squalls.

Call Me Jimmy

Yea I know, if it was me I absolutely wouldn't spend that crazy money on a PC and maybe I'll talk him out of doing it. He said he wants it to be as future proof as possible, so on that basis I wouldn't the 2 9800GXs be good?

TerrorFirmer

Technically yes; as the two GX2's will go to waste on a 24" monitor but will prolong the length of time in which you will be able to max out games. But when that times comes that the second GX2 is actually utilized because one isn't powerful enough, a whole new generation of cards will be out.

Never really go Sli to future proof, but only if you need the performance when you're actually buying it.

Sqaull20

^^^^^^ Exactly, Terror has it down to a tee.

If I had the money I would be getting these speakers and soundcard, I can only imagine what Cod4 or I am Legend on blu ray would sound like on those

Logitech Z-5500 Digital 5.1 System

http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=4313&agid=771

AuzenTech HDA X-Plosion 7.1 DTS Connect

http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=20544&agid=768

Call Me Jimmy

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

But when that times comes that the second GX2 is actually utilized because one isn't powerful enough, a whole new generation of cards will be out.

But that's good isn't it? That means that after a while, when the second card is being used as much as the first that even though there's a new generation of cards out, my dad still wont have to upgrade... ?

AlmightyCushion

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

But that's good isn't it? That means that after a while, when the second card is being used as much as the first that even though there's a new generation of cards out, my dad still wont have to upgrade... ?

But by the time it is used, the money he spent on the second card now could be spent on a new card/cards that would easily out-perform it.

TerrorFirmer

Again technically yes, but these cards are 400+ euro. It doesn't make sense to pay 400 euro for a card that's not going to be utilized until it's worth half that. You can always add another later when you need to, and when that time come, the card will be much, much cheaper.

It'd be like if you could only watch one movie a week, but bought ten brand new releases at the same time. Just a waste of money...:D

Sqaull20

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

But that's good isn't it? That means that after a while, when the second card is being used as much as the first that even though there's a new generation of cards out, my dad still wont have to upgrade... ?

He will...

People that bought 2 x 7950gx2 were sick when a single 8800gtx came out a few months later and beat it easily..

Same will happen again and it could be only 5 months away...

Call Me Jimmy

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

But by the time it is used, the money he spent on the second card now could be spent on a new card/cards that would easily out-perform it.

hmmm he's not the type to get a single new piece of hardware, he usually buys for the long term and then when his old one becomes obsolete he disposes of it and gets a new one that is built to the tits.

Call Me Jimmy

Ok so the alternative I will offer him is the 2x 8800 GTS which saves him around 300? And I can tell him to get the speakers for that. But that means he would probably need to upgrade graphics card in a couple months?

Branoic

Hi - I don't mean to hijack the thread but i've been following it with interest as I'm looking at getting the same kind of rig as is being discussed and i'm just wondering why would you not order a sound card as part of your build? If you're getting them to build the PC and do a software install and all that, would you not order your sound card aswell to save you having to open up the case and install your own?

Thanks guys!

TonyM.

Q9450 €300
gx2 €410
Asus Maximus Extreme €249
2gb ddr3 Corsair pc12800 €290
case and psu €350
dvd + cooler €100
2 x 500 gb drives €149

AlmightyCushion

Branoic wrote: »

Hi - I don't mean to hijack the thread but i've been following it with interest as I'm looking at getting the same kind of rig as is being discussed and i'm just wondering why would you not order a sound card as part of your build? If you're getting them to build the PC and do a software install and all that, would you not order your sound card aswell to save you having to open up the case and install your own?

Thanks guys!

Their is sound integrated on the motherboard. Sure it's not as good as a dedicated sound card but for most it is sufficient.

Call Me Jimmy

Just FYI (I am a spy), my dad decided to go with the 2 9800Gx2's so for 1,700 he has his ultimate pc which will run crysis sexually etc. and he wont have to upgrade for a while at least. Thanks again to all for their time and advise!

Sqaull20

:eek:

Will you do a run of 3D Mark 06, and overclock the Q6700 a bit and post the results please?

Call Me Jimmy

I've never done anything like that before but I'll see what I can do.
My dad actually wants a guy we know to build it and I've to order the parts so I'm wondering, if I order say the number of parts below, will that be everything he needs to build it? Or do I have to order loads of little things also?

Sqaull20 wrote: »