Build Advice..please :)

[shawry99]

Hi guys,

Im after a little advice on whether a graphics card upgrade is a worthwhile step on my current set-up, or would it be better to aim for the aria overclock bundle that is featured in the £600 gaming rig, and save again for a graphics card. (Still saving anyway, so cant buy just yet anyway)

Current set up:

Asus P5E X38 mobo

Intel Q6600 CPU (Overclocked to 3.2)

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev 2

Antec 900 case

ATI HD4870 512MB graphics

Samsung F1 1TB HDD

Patriot 4GB (2x 2GB) PC2 6400C4 RAM

OCZ 780W Modular PSU

I game a fair bit, current game of choice is Everquest 2 (for my sins), would appreciate upgrade paths that people would recommend.

My pc currently runs 2 monitors, 1 x 24" (1900x1200) and 1 x 20" (1680 x 1050)

 

[adicool96]

A graphics card upgrade is better than getting that bundle and saving up again for the gfx card. IMO it would be better to upgrade your graphics card now and save up for sandy bridge later on.

 

[shawry99]

Graphics card of choice, without going silly on cost, 150-200 quid range, would be the 470?

 

[Aurus_OC]

Graphics card of choice, without going silly on cost, 150-200 quid range, would be the 470?

Yea but you would want a custom cooled one, not a reference design one. Unless you plan on doing some airflow experiments for hurricanes

.

You may also want to check out AlienALX's review on the Zalman cooler for those cards. http://forum.overclock3d.net/index.php?/topic/31746-zalman-vf3000f/

 

[adicool96]

Yup i think you should get the GTX 470 and put the Zalman cooler onto it.

 

[shawry99]

Is the Zalman cooler easy to fit?

Ive not really done anything like that before.

Also, is ebay a viable option for getting a 470 (if ones for sale) or should I get a new one so that I know I have some recourse if I get a dud.

 

[Stryker64]

Is the Zalman cooler easy to fit?

Ive not really done anything like that before.

Also, is ebay a viable option for getting a 470 (if ones for sale) or should I get a new one so that I know I have some recourse if I get a dud.

The Arctic Cooling aftermarket cooler will perform better, but it's a triple slot. It's apparently fairly easy to install. OC3D did a review on the 5870 version of it, I don't think the installation process will be too different from that.

 

[shawry99]

Ok, looking into this a little more, people agreed with me when I said the 470 for the graphics, is that better than the 6870 which I see was included in the £600 rig - and if it is better, why didnt TTL use the 470?

Sorry for all the questions.

 

[tinytomlogan]

Ok, looking into this a little more, people agreed with me when I said the 470 for the graphics, is that better than the 6870 which I see was included in the £600 rig - and if it is better, why didnt TTL use the 470?

Sorry for all the questions.

Because the 470 is hot, noisey, power hungry and old.

The 6870 is cool, quiet, power efficient new tech has awesome FPS for the money and...... I had one

 

[shawry99]

So you would plump for the 6870 still?

 

[DT-525]

So you would plump for the 6870 still?

I got the xfx 6870 black edition and that card is amazing. if you look at some of my other posts i have made the £600 gaming rig for myself, well £700 with the better i3 overclocked bundle. The card can run game like metro and crysis on full. In my opinion the 470 is outdated now. 6870 FTW