I'm building the greatest computer...ever

[Noodles]

ddr3 capable SLI ready Nvidia motherboard with 2 gigs of DDR3
Vista home for dx10 capabilities
Intel Core QUAD q6700 2.66ghz Processor
the kicker= Nvidia GeForce 8800 Ultra with 768mb of built in DDR3
700w power supply
soundcard tba (maybe soundblaster audigy.. not sure)
7200 rpm small amt of space though HD
52x dvd drive


And on the reserves list ... Call of Duty 4, Unreal Tournament 3, Crysis, and I already bought Medal of Honor Airborne in anticipation- since no dx10 games are out til Nov~

DX10 ftmfw

oi prolly forgot to list something

and im custom building it for cost effectiveness and betterness

[Tru2Chevy]

Get a WD Raptor drive to install the OS and games on.....much faster. Use the other slow 7200 rpm drive(s) for storage.

- Justin

[Noodles]

^ yes, a very good tip. Unfortunately, i literally met my budget ON THE DOT.. with all this.. so if i add another harddrive. BAM, there goes performance parts.. it wont be a problem in the future to add another 120 gigger, and put everything on that, other then the OS.

but def a good suggest.

plus with ddr3 on top of quad core.. i should be fine for a LONG time

[Frosty]

Great hardware.

I hate Vista more than I hate Hon-duhs...

[JW]

Lightscribe! I just have fun burning images to the disc.

JW

[PolarBear]

That isnt the greastest computer. Thats hardly even something to talk about. If you were going to build the *greatest* computer you could have gone up to about 8 gig of RAM, at least a 3 gig Quad core, water cooled, multiple WD Raptor hard drives in a RAID 0 or bought some flash memory to install the OS on. The video card isnt bad, and Audigy isnt really available, if it is you should get the X-fi series

[shane27]

awesome specs, i wanted to go DDR3 but its too expensive right now
i actually just parted out my computer and im in the midst of building one

my specs:
AMD Athlon x64 5600+ socket AM2
2GB patriot extreme DDR2 800Mhz
Gigabyte AG-M61P-S3 mobo
Xclio 500W powersupply
Lian Li PC-7B plus II case
Acer 22'' widescreen moniter

Auzentech Xplosion 7.1 soundcard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829156001&Tpk=AuzenTech%2b XPlosion%2b7.1
(which i suggest for you noodles)

and some Klpitch 2.1 speakers
i already have my 160GBHD and DVD-Rom, and my Nvidia8600GTS so i will be set.

CANT WAIT FOR CRYSIS

oh and i will be running XP and Vista. Vista for games, XP for everything else

[GrandmasterCow]

not bad setups at all
my current setup:
AMD Athlon x64 FX-62 Windsor processor
ECS KA3MVP motherboard
4GB KINGSTON DDR2 memory
2 x pci-e HIS Radeon x800 w/ICE-q Turbo (Might sell one of'em) (overclock'd)
2 x Raptor 500GB SATA2 drives
i forget the specs but a LiteOn DVDRW combo drive w/lightscribe
Sunbeamtech Silent Whisper cooler
2 x 20" Widescreen Samsung LCD's (I use this setup for video editing & monitor my datacenter; plus some gaming comes into play too )
and a gigabit network

[Noodles]

scooter really just came across as a jerk.

"""The video card isnt bad, and Audigy isnt really available, if it is you should get the X-fi series"""

Its the best video card out... :/ (its not a matter of aopinion, radeon has yet to build something that contends, and its nvidia's best)

"""at least a 3 gig Quad core"""

but quad core doesn't go up to 3 gigs yet... :/.. the only better processor is the "extreme" version of mine whihc is still 2.66

and water cooling doesnt make a computer faster? just more reliable...


I'll be looking into that x-fi though. my buddy recommended me something, when i hear what that something is (or remember) i'll post it see what you guys think


I see your both running AMD ..My past 2 pcs were AMD, its just that i researched with the multiple core technology, intel is blowing amd away NOW. not then.

and holy **** at two 500gb raptors... my current pc has 80 gig int 80 gig ext.. and i still have about 30 gigs left.

[Noodles]

oh and i will be running XP and Vista. Vista for games, XP for everything else

lol, cool idea

and i also have a 2.1 setup..some cheaper grade Altec Lansings

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by Noodles

but quad core doesn't go up to 3 gigs yet... :/.. the only better processor is the "extreme" version of mine whihc is still 2.66

and water cooling doesnt make a computer faster? just more reliable...

Really, Intel doesnt make a quad core 3 gig?
http://www.intel.com/products/proces...ifications.htm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115026

[BonzoHansen]

I thought water cooling allowed for increased overclocking - and isn't that desirable for a gaming box? Just asking to be informed.

[PolarBear]

All that processing power and you guys only have a 2.1 speaker setup...... its like putting a supercharger on a big block and a 1 inch exhaust system on it.

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

I thought water cooling allowed for increased overclocking - and isn't that desirable for a gaming box? Just asking to be informed.

Traditional heat sinks can only do so much, usually the stocker isnt that good and if you over clock you usually have to buy an aftermarket one. Liquid cooled can usually keep the heat down in an overclock setup, thats what most of the hardcore games do

[shane27]

Originally Posted by scooter

All that processing power and you guys only have a 2.1 speaker setup...... its like putting a supercharger on a big block and a 1 inch exhaust system on it.

i barely notice my 5.1 speakers on games

[ryanfx]

Originally Posted by Noodles

^ yes, a very good tip. Unfortunately, i literally met my budget ON THE DOT.. with all this.. so if i add another harddrive. BAM, there goes performance parts.. it wont be a problem in the future to add another 120 gigger, and put everything on that, other then the OS.

but def a good suggest.

plus with ddr3 on top of quad core.. i should be fine for a LONG time

not allowing yourself a 10K HD is just plain stupid. A computer is just like a car. If you have some radical camshaft and heads with stock manifolds and stock exhaust your not going to come close to the full potential of what you could have achieved. A lot of that money you invested into your video card and everything else is now rendered somewhat useless.

[jims69camaro]

Originally Posted by scooter

Liquid cooled can usually keep the heat down in an overclock setup, thats what most of the hardcore games do

i'm finding this to be true as i research for my next PC. i have a list of stuff that i considered to be "state of the art" on a budget, but the more i look into it, the more overclocking makes sense. the manufacturers sometimes use a 3GHz processor, but underclock it to a 2.3GHz in order to fulfill a certain price point. in the end, you have a 3.0GHz chip, so you might as well run it as one.

the other thing i found out is that processors throttle up and down depending on the demands of the system, so most of the time you will be running at 1.5-1.8GHz until the process you are running demands more from the system... then it ramps up to the max clock speed and can run hot as a result. also, if you overclock, you are doubling your chance of running hot. liquid cooling is still a relatively new technology, but certainly something to consider.

[BonzoHansen]

Plus doesn’t water cooling allow you to run a larger, quieter fan? And then you don’t have to listen to the box run while you watch TV or game. Mine is water cooled and it is just about silent. And it is an older, run of the mill media center type machine.

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

Plus doesn’t water cooling allow you to run a larger, quieter fan? And then you don’t have to listen to the box run while you watch TV or game. Mine is water cooled and it is just about silent. And it is an older, run of the mill media center type machine.

With some water cooled setups you can get away with no fan for the processor or cooling assembly. Then you are really left with the power suply fan. I dont want to/cant do water in my setup so I have 7 fans in my rig, including the CPU and PS fan so my system is a little loud

[BonzoHansen]

Originally Posted by scooter

With some water cooled setups you can get away with no fan for the processor or cooling assembly. Then you are really left with the power suply fan. I dont want to/cant do water in my setup so I have 7 fans in my rig, including the CPU and PS fan so my system is a little loud

A little? Damn thing probably sounds like a jet taxiing on the runway.

[enRo]

Until Im 100% positive in a game I will want to play that needs DX10, then im sticking with XP. Vista has so many problems.


I find that the 8800 is just too much... price is steep, its too big in size, and to top it off, its a hog... I hope you plan on getting a full tower case a.k.a. mini-fridge if u plan on cramming that in there . U shouldve waited a cpl more months until the G92 comes out (they still arent sure of a name, its gonna be 8950 or 9800, but they are calling it a G92, do a google search for it)... specs are insane. My 7950GT is good enough until I plan on going Vista since its not DX10 compatable. But to each their own. Everyone has their opinions on what they think is great/bad... for example... I once had a 3.0Ghz single core Intel not even a month until it became a keychain ornament cuz it overheated to the point of inoperability. AMD, not one complaint.

But, Im curious as to how much youve spent on that computer so far.


My Rig Specs:
XClio A+case (looks like its about to suck my cat in, Vitals will vouche )
AMD Athalon FX-62 Dual Core OC'ed at just under 3.1GHz
^^^with a Zantec 9700 HSF
ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe
BFG 7950GT 512MB
4GB Corsair PC6400 Mem.
Apevia 680w PSU
Soundblaster 7.1 X-FI Sound Card
500+ GB HD space
(2) Lite-On DVD Burner + Reader w/lightscribe
22" Samsung Widescreen SyncMaster 226BW
Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard


Price wasnt so great for my rig, but I got tons of savings and rebates which is why I went the expensive route. But I built Vitals a computer, I think it was a cpl pennies over $600, and it can run a game like BF2 on high graphics with no issues.


Erick, have u experienced heating issues with that chip? Stock, my chip used to run at temps that can I can cook an egg on Ran at around 60*C, but I got enough cooling to drop it down to the mid 30's under load, and now that its overclocked, its at about mid 40's under load.


And scooter... the 3.0g Core 2 Extreme Quad-Core runs anywhere from $1100-$1500 ... i can give you 65 billion other things to spend $1500 on... i would never spend that much on an Intel even if I won the mega millions lottery.

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyKane

And scooter... the 3.0g Core 2 Extreme Quad-Core runs anywhere from $1100-$1500 ... i can give you 65 billion other things to spend $1500 on... i would never spend that much on an Intel even if I won the mega millions lottery.

He said best computer ever.... and no one has mentioned anything about RAM except myself.....

[enRo]

Originally Posted by scooter

Traditional heat sinks can only do so much, usually the stocker isnt that good and if you over clock you usually have to buy an aftermarket one. Liquid cooled can usually keep the heat down in an overclock setup, thats what most of the hardcore games do

Id rather NOT run a liquid cooling system over my expensive computer parts thank you very much. I got enough air cooling in my case to drop my AMD FX-62 a whopping 30*C... and it only cost me around $30... and thats saying ALOT since its one of the hardest chips to bring down in temperature, compared to a liquid cooling system that runs anywhere from $200-$400.

[enRo]

Originally Posted by scooter

He said best computer ever.... and no one has mentioned anything about RAM except myself.....

But we are thinking logically... the biggest geek ever who wants bragging rights because of his processer would spend that kind of money on just a chip.. A "hardcore" gamer would buy a 3.0Ghz quad-core. A "smart" gamer, would buy a X2 4600+ and overclock the **** out of it, spending hundreds less. Logically, Noodles has a decent setup going there, but he can get just as good results with an OC'ed E6600 and spend hundreds less.

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyKane

Id rather NOT run a liquid cooling system over my expensive computer parts thank you very much. I got enough air cooling in my case to drop my AMD FX-62 a whopping 30*C... and it only cost me around $30... and thats saying ALOT since its one of the hardest chips to bring down in temperature, compared to a liquid cooling system that runs anywhere from $200-$400.

I fully understand the reason you do NOT want to run WATER (or other conductive liquid) but there is a non conductive fluid you can buy. Expensive? no one said anything about prices . Personally I wouldnt spend too much on a computer again. I get great gaming time out of my Xbox 360 and you cant TOUCH the price with any computer. More and more PC games are also coming out cross platform so there is less need to assemble/buy a computer for gaming. Plus the industry moves so quickly that you can spend $5,000 to $10,000 in a heartbeat then in a few months you have a very expensive paperweight.

I fully agree with the statement that AMD is the hardest processor to keep cool. Technique, knowledge and components can make a system run better. Most people do not want to bother doing things right so they go liquid cooled. And the stock processors usually are not able to keep up if you overclock, there is a limit to what they can do
Again he is hardly coming up with the greatest computer...ever