New Project - help me pick the components

[JN]

Hey guys,

As some of you may know I'm currently in the process of starting a new project which will have the end result of an "OC3D PC" that we can take to events etc.

The rig obviously needs to be hawwwwt...so please help pick on of the following two shortlisted configs:

1. Striker II Extreme, SLI GTX280's, QX9650

2. P5E64WS Evolution, Crossfire 4870's, QX9650

Obviously the GTX280's are going to be faster out of the box, but we also need to factor in the overclock-ability of the rig - Intel chipset vs NVIDIA chipset wise.

Apparently the GDDR5 on the 4870's also clocks extremely high.

 

[ionicle]

gotta go with ATi, especially now

 

[Hyper]

I am a bit of a fan boy and voted for Nvidia

 

[TopSecret]

What are the ATI drivers like nowadays? The last ATI card I used on one of my rigs was an X1800 XT ages ago, so I am out of touch. I voted NVidia for this reason

 

[Mr. Smith]

Secret Option 3 - xfire 4870X2's

 

[JN]

Secret Option 3 - xfire 4870X2's

I dunno tbh. For a start I cant wait. I'm not going through all the bolax of changing the GPU's every week.

Secondly I'm not entirely convinced that they will be much/any better than the GTX280 considering Crossfire'd 4870's have a hard time beating it. Even if they do it wont by by much and the cost of waterblocks for them will be stupid to start off with.

 

[FarFarAway]

I know what you should do

Make up your mind, build a rig and show us pictures of it finished

Then keep it like that for a while

 

[Ham]

I know what you should do

Make up your mind, build a rig and show us pictures of it finished

Then keep it like that for a while

2nded

 

[JN]

I know what you should do

I know what you should do....go back on holiday and let me have my fun

 

[Bungral]

Ooooo this is close!

 

[nunzio]

Its gotta be ATi!

 

[Lightning]

My opinion is: if you want the best performance go for nVidia's GTX280's.

If you want somewhat less performance (80~90% of the GTX280) and a whole lot less price, go for the HD4870's.

 

[Mr. Smith]

Hang on, cf 4870's can't have anything on sli 280's!

If you can't wait get 280's in sli shipped in from usa under the guise of 'warranty parts' or something untaxable...

 

[JN]

Hang on, cf 4870's can't have anything on sli 280's!

If you can't wait get 280's in sli shipped in from usa under the guise of 'warranty parts' or something untaxable...

I'm tempted to buy a pair of GTX280's to play around with now and then see how things pan out with the 4870x2. I'm really not liking the idea of using an NVIDIA board when Intel boards are just so goddam sturdy.

 

[Mr. Smith]

I'm tempted to buy a pair of GTX280's to play around with now and then see how things pan out with the 4870x2. I'm really not liking the idea of using an NVIDIA board when Intel boards are just so goddam sturdy.

Why build an oc3d rig right on the cusp of a big change - nehalem?

Why can't you wait? You have a ton of hardware just build a rig out of what you have and wait for nehalem/next gen gpu's? I know, me saying wait. Yes this is Jon, no someone hasn't assumed my identity...

 

[Luigi]

Hes got a point, I would wait

I'd go for the 280's, the 790i looks like a nice board atm, I certainly wouldn't mind having one...

There's a 790i due soon (http://www.benchtec.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1708&highlight=dreadnought) which I think will be a stinker.

 

[JN]

Why build an oc3d rig right on the cusp of a big change - nehalem?

Why can't you wait? You have a ton of hardware just build a rig out of what you have and wait for nehalem/next gen gpu's? I know, me saying wait. Yes this is Jon, no someone hasn't assumed my identity...

If you wasn't posting from a normal IP address I would have disabled your account. Intruder alert!!!

 

[Mr. Smith]

If you wasn't posting from a normal IP address I would have disabled your account. Intruder alert!!!

LOL - I know, what can I say, I think the situation has reversed and I finally have more sense than money... Plus, there aren't any decent games out there that are demanding enough to tax current hardware (except Crysis which isn't that good).

Who am I kidding? Sell your children and build a monster

No! Wait and save.

Noooo, buy...

Wait.

Buy.

Buy?

Wait!

Ha! I win. Wait.

I've typed wait so many times it has lost all meaning. I have also de-railed this thread (in my head at least).

On topic; if you are lame, I mean can't wait, 280's sli'd. You reviewed the 790i and said it was an awesome OC'er despite the fact other reviews said it was a POS. Are you retracting your previous statement? Otherwise there would be no reason not to get the 790i...

 

[JN]

On topic; if you are lame, I mean can't wait, 280's sli'd. You reviewed the 790i and said it was an awesome OC'er despite the fact other reviews said it was a POS. Are you retracting your previous statement? Otherwise there would be no reason not to get the 790i...

Nah, the Striker II is still a great OC'er but it can't compete with the P5E64WS Evo which is in a league of its own imo. Also as we was one of the first websites to review it, some of the bugs that the chipset has didn't present themselves. That's something that only comes with using a mobo on a day to day basis.

 

[Mr. Smith]

Nah, the Striker II is still a great OC'er but it can't compete with the P5E64WS Evo which is in a league of its own imo. Also as we was one of the first websites to review it, some of the bugs that the chipset has didn't present themselves. That's something that only comes with using a mobo on a day to day basis.

Jim - *a$$ covered*

I was just breaking your b@lls mate. That new mobo sounds like an obscure Evo... Mmmmmm :yumyum: Mitsy Evo X.

So what kind of FSB are we talking 600+? Otherwise I'm not impressed. Also, nehalem doesn't OC the same way, they removed the FSB lever we exploit so... Yeah. Your rig isn't even built yet and it already sucks hahahaha