Hardware Stuff

[Ashton Lawson]

Does anyone know about when the GeForce 8950 GX2 will be released?

And Does anyone know about any Intel Quad-Core Processor that will be able to handle the GeForce 8950 GX2 in SLI mode?

Just wondering, because those are my main requirements for the new PC I'll be getting.

Also, if you can think of any fast changes to this list:

Intel Quad-Core Processor - capable of handling the GeForce 8950 GX2 in SLI
EVGA nForce 680i Motherboad - must hav for SLI stuff
Kingston/Corsair 8Gb of RAM - I use a lot of dev programs (3dsmax,premeirepro,illustrator,photoshop,aftereffects,etc.)
EVGA GeForce 8950 GX2 in SLI mode - or SLI2 should it come out
CoolerMaster RealPower Pro 1000W - 1000W, wat more is there to say?
Western Digital Raptor X 150Gb 10000RPM - SATA of course
Seagate Barracuda 500Gb 7200RPM - same as above
Dell 30" LCD Screen - for the hell of it

All of the above is subject to change, sever change.

[Ashton Lawson]

Maybe a great sticky post would not be a hardware advice sticky, but a sticky, updated weekly/monthly which would show the 'ultimate' system for that week/month.  not someones actual computer, selected monthly, but a computer, which is built of the best existing parts, like a fantasy computer.

[DizZa]

Quad SLI is a complete waste. I would suggest getting a single card, or if you must go SLI, get two cards not four.

[Nick N]

The ability for a GPU to use a quad core processor and the supporting memory bus comes from 3 things:

1. The GPU and card must be designed for that use
2. The motherboard must have the support in quad 'shotgun' memory bus access
3. The software must make 'full' use of the hardware


#1. ain't no such animal. the R600 will be the first card withthe ability and it has never been tested in combat. The G81 is an 'unknown'. The R700 series will be the first true AMD ATi design that will make full use of the quad design for sure.

#2. ain't no such animal in Intel yet. AMD's Dual L slug (reguires the purchase of 2 Dual Socket L (Socket 1207FX) processor) has released the first design of the direct memory access controller with the ASUS L1N64-SLI. Intel will most likely follow suit but no design is out there as of yet. Its also new and never been tested in combat. Buying such a rig is a waste of money right now because there is no video card support for using the bus.

#3. ain't no such animal. However, with the 2 items listed above coming of age, they WILL make use of the quad design direct access shotgun bus regardless of the software write however until game technology catches up to the hardware, it will not be everything the hardware can offer


bottom line, SLi or Quad on current hardware is a huge expense which in my opinion does not produce enough results to warrant the cost


and when you spec the PSU for that new system, you best be looking at this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817703007


cause you ain't goin no where on the next gen cards with anything less

The Silverstone version is the only one besides PC P&C with a single rail design right now. It costs 200 less than what I posted and there is a reason for that... it can NOT touch the PC Power and cooling unit for spec at full load. You get what you pay for. Coolmaster is a joke for 1KW They leave out the most important specs, just one of which are EFFICENCY AT TEMP. >85% means nothing if that is done on 230v @ 35c. No ripple or regulation specification.. bet it has a 120 @ 5-10% regulation at best

PC P&C is 2% @ 1% p-p ripple

Coolmaster wont beat that and I will also bet the 5v+3v watt rating drops like a rock @ 800watts

[Ashton Lawson]

when do u suppose they'll be such animal?

[Nick N]

when do u suppose they'll be such animal?

Start looking this summer.. that is when things will become defined

It requires a shift in the graphics technolgy and the chipset makers to get in sync. Its coming, its just going to be some time before its out and debugged

[Nick N]

As a follow up, here is one of the best 'reads' about power supplies on the internet: http://www.pcpower.com/technology/myths/index.php


[quote]Here are the facts: A large, single 12-volt rail (without a 240VA limit) can transfer 100% of the 12-volt output from the PSU to the computer, while a multi-rail 12-volt design has distribution losses of up to 30% of the power supply

[Ashton Lawson]

okay, if u were going to build a rig, with money as no object, with no limitations, wat would u get as ur 'ultimate computer system?
it doesnt hav to be with existing hardware, just soon to be existing hardware (when i mean soon, maybe within 2-4 months).

btw, that link for the power supply myths is really interesting thanks!

[ctjoyce]

okay, if u were going to build a rig, with money as no object, with no limitations, wat would u get as ur 'ultimate computer system?
it doesnt hav to be with existing hardware, just soon to be existing hardware (when i mean soon, maybe within 2-4 months).

btw, that link for the power supply myths is really interesting thanks!

Undefined

I can not list part that are 4 months out and if you intend to wait till then, you will find out then what is available of coming


Money no object?

MuWhAHahahaHHahhhaaaaaaaaa

I'll bet can break your bank with 1 part

Peliter cooling?

Cheers
Cameron

[Nick N]

okay, if u were going to build a rig, with money as no object, with no limitations, wat would u get as ur 'ultimate computer system?
it doesnt hav to be with existing hardware, just soon to be existing hardware (when i mean soon, maybe within 2-4 months).

btw, that link for the power supply myths is really interesting thanks!

Undefined

I can not list part that are 4 months out and if you intend to wait till then, you will find out then what is available of coming


Money no object?

MuWhAHahahaHHahhhaaaaaaaaa

I'll bet can break your bank with 1 part

Peliter cooling?

Cheers
Cameron

Please.

Ever heard of Solid State SCSI Hard drives?

Oppsss I deleted my post above by accident,,, at least cam has a copy of it  

[ctjoyce]

Yes I have, but where are they commercially available?

Cheers
Cameron

[Nick N]

Yes I have, but where are they commercially available?

Cheers
Cameron

You just have to know where to shop

You can also go with a RAMSan

I/Os Per Second
400,000

[Nick N]

Yes I have, but where are they commercially available?

Cheers
Cameron

Here ya go Cam.. these would be easier on the bank than a SCSI SSD or a RamSan

http://www.dvnation.com/nand-flash-ssd.html


Here, all ready to buy,... RAID 2 of these bad boys: http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.c ... atch=exact

You will never go back to mechanical drives, including SCSI RAID0 x5  :)

[Ashton Lawson]

I'll bet can break your bank with 1 part

well, lets see then...

i really wanna know wat u guys think will make the best gaming PC, even without overclocking (pre-overclocked parts allowed).

[ctjoyce]

I'll bet can break your bank with 1 part

well, lets see then...

i really wanna know wat u guys think will make the best gaming PC, even without overclocking (pre-overclocked parts allowed).

Ive got a $10,000 budget in mind. This includes display, keyboard / mouse, speakers, joystick, custom case parts.

Case: Silverstone TJ-07 $329
Motherboard: ASUS Striker Extreme 680i $350
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 $850
RAM: Corsair Dominator DDR2-1100 4GB (4x 1GB) $1220
Video Cards: 2x eVGA 8800GTX SLi $1200
DVD Drives: 2X Plextor 18x DVDRW $200
Hard Drives: 2x 150GB WD Raptors RAID 0 + 2x 500GB RAID 0 $740
Power Supply: Earnmax Galaxy Gamer 1KW (UV Sleeved)$360
Cooling: DangerDen TDX Watercooling $780
Fans: 4x 120mm LED, 2x 92mm LED $80
Lighting: 4x 12" UV CCFL, 4x 4" UV CCFL, 2x 15" Blue CCFL $90
Monitors: 3x Dell UltraSharp 2407WFP 24" Widescreen LCD + Thermaltake 7" Retractable LCD $2450
Keyboard: Logitech G15 $70
Mouse: Logitech Revolution $90
Joystick: Cougar Thrustmaster $250
Backup Drive: Western Digital MyBook 1TB $410
OS: Windows XP Professional OEM $120 + Windows Vista Ultimate OEM $200
Custom Case Painting + Internal UV spray $320
Speakers: Logitech Z550 5.1 $303

Grand Total: $10212

Can you say 3DMark world record?

Cheers
Cameron