Author Topic: Building a computer - yes, better than yours :) (Read 10614 times)

Stealth · **on:** June 24, 2009, 11:49:53 pm

haha naa just kidding about the 'better than yours' part.

ANYWAY, i decided to throw some of the money i've been throwing into cars and bikes, into a new gaming computer. Three days ago I got motivated to build a new computer. That motivation came in the form of a game - Crysis. I'm sure you've heard of it

So i decided i want to get 60FPS on full resolution, and high quality.

That's going to be possible thanks to these two beautys that should be here later this week:

Say hello to arguably one of the fastest graphics cards available these days, the EVGA GeForce GTX 285 Superclocked Video Card - with 2GB GDDR3. Yes i know there's faster video memory out there, but Crysis relies heavily on video memory, more so than clock speed from what i've heard, so i figured 4GB of video memory should suffice. I don't intend on overclocking anything.

Processor - i haven't decided yet, but i'm leaning heavily toward the i7

Dark RevenantX · **Reply #1 on:** June 25, 2009, 12:15:00 am

2GB on one card

Is that even neccessary?

Video memory is more like a limit to what your video card can do, rather than a speed slider. If the game uses 0.5GB of video memory at those settings, your performance will be unchanged if you have 1GB, it'll stutter sometimes if you have 0.5GB, and it will suck if you have 0.25GB. The memory speed, latencies, interface bandwidth, and such, are what make it faster. Architecture plays a greater roll, still, as the true speed of the card, overall, is what it can actually do. The cards that effectively process **** will be faster than cards that don't process new algorithms, functions, and are less well designed overall. Similar architectures are tiered with core speeds.

So, yeah, get a GTX 285. Hell, get two, if you're that loaded. It's the best card you can buy. The GTX 295 is not worth the price.

For the processor, get the best one you can reasonably afford. If you're looking for a good price-performance ratio, the i7 720 is the best.

Mongoose · **Reply #2 on:** June 25, 2009, 02:15:18 am

That single card has four times the memory my system does.

...I think I have hardware envy.

Spicious · **Reply #3 on:** June 25, 2009, 02:20:57 am

So unnecessary.

ssmit132 · **Reply #4 on:** June 25, 2009, 03:05:09 am

At least you've got the money to splurge on your system, a luxury I don't have.

darkone · **Reply #5 on:** June 25, 2009, 08:06:05 am

One thing people forgot to say is that card is over $500.

I just build my new rig yesterday and found a great deal on the ATI 4890 w/1GB memory on the board and got it for under $200

So save your money, especially since there is no game out there that would even push the limits of that card why waste the money. In two years maybe and then 2GB boards will be common place and you'll get them for $100.

Stealth · **Reply #6 on:** June 25, 2009, 10:36:11 am

wow sometimes i wonder about you guys. maybe it's a mixture of jealousy and ignorance, buuuuut, to respond to some of the comments.

1) saying 2GB isn't necessary is like saying having a fast car isn't necessary. and sure, 99% of the time you don't need it, but then perhaps one day someone in a truck doesn't see you and you need that speed, then BAM - you have it. same with the video card. the more memory the video card has, the better, ESPECIALLY when you're playing games like Crysis, which, on highest resolutions and very high video settings and a few other tweaks will be at 1GB+. I didn't just get that card because it had 2GB of memory, i got it because of its other 'accomplishments'. geez, you all focus on the negative. IT HAS 2GB MEMORY ZOMG.

2) "Unnecessary" is relative. I intend this system to be able to play any game, on the highest setting, for several years. my first 'gaming' computer did, with two 7800GTXs (top of the line card at the time).

3) I admit these cards were expensive, but don't know where you're getting you prices from - I got them both, shipped, for well under $800

General Battuta · **Reply #7 on:** June 25, 2009, 10:37:11 am

Crysis isn't much fun, but it does make a good benchmarking tool, and I admire your commitment to future-proofing.

TESLA · **Reply #8 on:** June 25, 2009, 10:45:09 am

Quote from: Stealth on June 25, 2009, 10:36:11 am

wow sometimes i wonder about you guys. maybe it's a mixture of jealousy and ignorance, buuuuut, to respond to some of the comments.

1) saying 2GB isn't necessary is like saying having a fast car isn't necessary. and sure, 99% of the time you don't need it, but then perhaps one day someone in a truck doesn't see you and you need that speed, then BAM - you have it. same with the video card. the more memory the video card has, the better, ESPECIALLY when you're playing games like Crysis, which, on highest resolutions and very high video settings and a few other tweaks will be at 1GB+. I didn't just get that card because it had 2GB of memory, i got it because of its other 'accomplishments'. geez, you all focus on the negative. IT HAS 2GB MEMORY ZOMG.

2) "Unnecessary" is relative. I intend this system to be able to play any game, on the highest setting, for several years. my first 'gaming' computer did, with two 7800GTXs (top of the line card at the time).

3) I admit these cards were expensive, but don't know where you're getting you prices from - I got them both, shipped, for well under $800

Well if you have the cash why not splash out on an Alienware system or Dell XPS model. Will be expensive but you will be able to play all your games on the highest settings..

Stealth · **Reply #9 on:** June 25, 2009, 10:46:28 am

Tesla: because i can get a much more powerful computer for less money i'd spend with XPS/alienware/misc "custom-pc builder", and i'd still have all the fun of putting it together myself

you have to keep in mind that crysis is the first 'newer' game i've played in years. i still play starcraft and warcraft III. when i started playing Crysis, that's when i realized my all-powerful gaming computer wasn't all that anymore

just purchased my hard drive:
Patriot Warp Solid State Drive - 128GB, 2.5", SATA II

colecampbell666 · **Reply #10 on:** June 25, 2009, 11:12:42 am

Yeah, TESLA, Alienware/Dell/Any prefab PC is going to pale in cost and power compared to any custom-built PC.

TESLA · **Reply #11 on:** June 25, 2009, 11:16:22 am

Quote from: colecampbell666 on June 25, 2009, 11:12:42 am

Yeah, TESLA, Alienware/Dell/Any prefab PC is going to pale in cost and power compared to any custom-built PC.

Oh i know that, just giving the lazy man way

Dark RevenantX · **Reply #12 on:** June 25, 2009, 11:26:06 am

It's just that... 2GB on a GTX 285 while the GTX 295 has 1.8GB... What's the catch?

colecampbell666 · **Reply #13 on:** June 25, 2009, 11:41:15 am

GTX295 has dual cores, etc.

Ghostavo · **Reply #14 on:** June 25, 2009, 02:42:52 pm

First, what exactly do you mean by full resolution? 1920x1200? 2560x1600? What are you aiming at?

Dark RevenantX · **Reply #15 on:** June 25, 2009, 02:55:40 pm

Quote from: colecampbell666 on June 25, 2009, 11:41:15 am

GTX295 has dual cores, etc.

GTX295 has 1.8GB overall... Yet GTX 285 has 2GB on one (more powerful) core. Seems like some kind of gimmicky selling point that the manufacturer is using.

colecampbell666 · **Reply #16 on:** June 25, 2009, 02:59:17 pm

Yes, but GTX has 900MB per core, and each core is the equivalent of a GTX275.

Stealth · **Reply #17 on:** June 25, 2009, 03:02:38 pm

Quote from: Ghostavo on June 25, 2009, 02:42:52 pm

First, what exactly do you mean by full resolution? 1920x1200? 2560x1600? What are you aiming at?

2560x1600
but that may be a bit ambitious. i don't think these two cards can run it at a res that high without dropping down to 30FPS

colecampbell666 · **Reply #18 on:** June 25, 2009, 03:23:26 pm

Just put a fan controller on it. It increases performance.

azile0 · **Reply #19 on:** June 25, 2009, 05:08:53 pm

I have the Sparkle GeForce 9600. 2GB of memory, bish.

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Author Topic: Building a computer - yes, better than yours :) (Read 10614 times)

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