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The Official Graphics Card and PC gaming Thread
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AfterDawn Addict
2 product reviews
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24. August 2008 @ 22:21 |
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REALLY overkill if you're not gaming.
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spamual
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24. August 2008 @ 22:59 |
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well next year, i shall tell everyone how it is :D
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AfterDawn Addict
2 product reviews
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24. August 2008 @ 23:09 |
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lol
You do that. But wont there be something better out by then?
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harvrdguy
Senior Member
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24. August 2008 @ 23:24 |
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I hear you Greensman, but estuansis talks a pretty picture when he describes the advanced graphics capabilities of crysis, which defeats every known combination of cpu and gfx card - triple SLI GTX280 or 4870x2 times 2 = 4. The dude, estuansis, talks about motion blur, particulates floating by as you pass through the terrain - he talks about stuff that defies imagination - eye candy of a super WOW level of distraction. Effects that screenshots don't do justice to. Sam is beginning to get the buzz.
. . 
But nobody can run the game on super high at 2560x1600 and get consistent 30 fps - NOBODY!
So if the game really is as good, graphics-wise, as estuansis describes it, and he has got me really intrigued, then I see one goal of the new build as being able to run the damn game at Sam's resolutions, 4 million pixels per frame, and have it be playable, DX10, super high settings, 30-35 fps.
By my way of thinking, that means next generation gfx cards, and next generation CPUs massively overclocked - and I think that means water-cooled.
Sam said air cooling gets the cpu to 45 degrees, cool enough. He also said water cooling gets it down to 32-33 degrees. How can 45 be cool enough when that is 30% warmer than water cooling?
Here's a pelt based refrigeration system running water to the cpu, which will get it down considerably further, at a not-prohibitive cost of around $230 - but perhaps with a noise penalty in terms of air-flow required to cool the radiator - which I think you mentioned. We all love tec based coolers - since our fav gfx board of all time was the gecube 1950xt - HORRIBLE monster!!
This Freezone is supposed to be a better 6-pelt design that runs the multiple small 12 volt pelts at only 4 volts, thereby making them more efficient, producing less wasted heat. This system is supposed to be able to chill the cpu to ambient air temp - meaning I guess the temp inside the case. Colder than that and you would get condensation, which is water on the electric components which YOU do not like. So I guess you don't want cpu temps colder than ambient air temp. They include a controller to keep everything working properly, and to keep the cpu from getting TOO cold. That tells me that you need a well-ventilated case, and you need to get the gfx heat out of the case. The cooler the ambient air inside the case, the cooler you can drop the cpu temp, with more headroom for overclocking.
Then there are phase change based coolers around the $800 mark,
. . .
that will get the cpu even colder. I don't understand that exactly, if the pelt cooler already gets it down to the coldest level you want before dangerous condensation occurs - then why would you want colder than that? How do they overcome the condensation problem? I hear some of them can get the cpu to -12 degrees C, or about 20 degrees F below freezing - again, how do they overcome the condensation problem? Maybe Sam or Ray know.
I couldn't find it this time, so maybe they don't make it anymore, but I thought I read last year about the same kind of system using glycol, instead of water. Glycol might make you feel better about your babies, glycol is definitely NOT conductive. :D
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spamual
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24. August 2008 @ 23:27 |
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2.93GHz i7 and a 5870x2 or a GTX380
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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25. August 2008 @ 05:26 |
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Distilled water picks up impurities over time which turn it conductive - it can also gain algae, cause galvanisaton and corrosion. Proper cooling fluid includes chemicals to prevent all these problems. Plus it comes in UV-reactive colours to look nice... :P
Oh and Rich? Allan at Driverheaven pulled that off with his skulltrail board and three GTX280s, he got 50-70fps, 30 in the heavy bits... I'd say that's playable! :) (This was Very high settings, Vista DX10)
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AfterDawn Addict
15 product reviews
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25. August 2008 @ 11:04 |
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Quote:
estuansis, talks about motion blur, particulates floating by as you pass through the terrain - he talks about stuff that defies imagination - eye candy of a super WOW level of distraction. Effects that screenshots don't do justice to. Sam is beginning to get the buzz.
See, sam kept knocking it because he had to turn down the most important eye candy settings. Shaders and shadowing are some of the most impressive parts of the game. They create the mood and atmosphere and basically make everything look "pretty". I made a point earlier in this thread that maybe Crysis should be given a second chance when video hardware caught up. It really has now. Almost everybody building even a super budget PC can enjoy Crysis at some higher settings.
I think that we should ignore the rough areas of Crysis. As they are honestly few and far between. 95% of the game looks absolutely stunning and is fully playable for me at some decent settings, albeit the game looks crap out of native res. Crysis has gone WAY beyond any other game to date in technology, graphics, and sheer scale. It employs every single one of the latest graphics features. Bump mapping on almost everything, advanced night and day HDR, beautiful water with refraction, physics based particles, parallax occlusion mapping(which BTW looks amazing), motion blur, limited amounts of bloom, dense lifelike foliage, insane geometry and textures on everything.
When turned up, Crysis is a graphical tour de force. It blew me away like no other game has or will. It's far ahead of anything I have seen yet.
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T 4GHz(20 x 200) 1.5v 3000NB 2000HT, Corsair Hydro H110 w/ 4 x 140mm 1500RPM fans Push/Pull, Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5, 8GB(2 x 4GB) G.Skill RipJaws DDR3-1600 @ 1600MHz CL9 1.55v, Gigabyte GTX760 OC 4GB(1170/1700), Corsair 750HX
Detailed PC Specs: http://my.afterdawn.com/estuansis/blog_entry.cfm/11388This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 25. August 2008 @ 11:27
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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25. August 2008 @ 12:39 |
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The shadows in Crysis are still rubbish even on high settings - you need them very high to work properly, and the fact that the game doesn't support AA properly is a bit of a downer. However, the rest of the game is unmistakably pretty. On the more realistic side though - look at what I had to buy to run it looking like that.
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Member
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26. August 2008 @ 15:28 |
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Originally posted by sammorris:
A coolermaster though. I'd take the Zalman 850 over the CM any day.
The blue/green does look a bit ridiculous on the kink coils (i'm pretty sure you don't need that many) but I like the matt black finish. I'm not sure I'd want a reflective inside to a case, could be messy.
The RC-590 is a decent enough case, but I much prefer both the styling and design of a lot of NZXT cases - not to mention the included decent quality fans...
Matt black? It's Matte.
I have a CM Stacker 830, and it is a beautiful case. Pull MB Tray, loads of room, for when graphics cards get even bigger than the GTX280. It has wheeles on it, and the best USB ports I have seen. Doesn't rattle. Must be why it is rated so high
xfx 790i P08 Bios
Q6600 at 3.4GHz
Patriot Viper DDR3 1600MHz 7-7-7-20-1T
GTX280 710 core clock i think
Dual boot system with:Ubuntu 64-bit,Vista Ultimate 64-bit,
Electrical Eng, Gamer, and Heavy PC user.
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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26. August 2008 @ 15:48 |
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Sorry, my mistake. Forgive me if I do occasionally make a typo, I'm only human! :P
I have absolutely no qualms with the Stacker whatsoever, it's a fabulous case. I'm somewhat doubtful GPUs will get any bigger than the current ones as that will mean they don't fit in a large proportion of cases out there, probably the majority. Then again, knowing how things are going so far, it could happen.
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AfterDawn Addict
15 product reviews
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26. August 2008 @ 17:05 |
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Which is why I was so reluctant to sell the Thermaltake Armor. The 4870 is a big card and two of them need some breathing space. That plus a potentially hot OC'd quad means I need all the room I can get. I don't need to worry about ventilation. The Armor's stock fans are pretty quiet and move plenty of air.
Hopefully the prices for the 4870 will drop more because I really don't feel like spending another $285. I have yet to see how performance is, but I'm hopeful that one will be enough for anything I can throw at it. Maybe if something newer and more demanding comes out, I can justify another 4870.
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T 4GHz(20 x 200) 1.5v 3000NB 2000HT, Corsair Hydro H110 w/ 4 x 140mm 1500RPM fans Push/Pull, Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5, 8GB(2 x 4GB) G.Skill RipJaws DDR3-1600 @ 1600MHz CL9 1.55v, Gigabyte GTX760 OC 4GB(1170/1700), Corsair 750HX
Detailed PC Specs: http://my.afterdawn.com/estuansis/blog_entry.cfm/11388
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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26. August 2008 @ 17:06 |
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AfterDawn Addict
15 product reviews
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26. August 2008 @ 17:11 |
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I got the Sapphire... dammit... It's at $274 now....
WTF????? I hate when that happens!!! >.<
OH YEAH! AND A FREE GAME TOO!!! WTF????
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T 4GHz(20 x 200) 1.5v 3000NB 2000HT, Corsair Hydro H110 w/ 4 x 140mm 1500RPM fans Push/Pull, Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5, 8GB(2 x 4GB) G.Skill RipJaws DDR3-1600 @ 1600MHz CL9 1.55v, Gigabyte GTX760 OC 4GB(1170/1700), Corsair 750HX
Detailed PC Specs: http://my.afterdawn.com/estuansis/blog_entry.cfm/11388
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 26. August 2008 @ 17:12
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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26. August 2008 @ 17:14 |
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My 4870X2 came with Assassins Creed, and it's not even retail... :P and it was £255...
It's not what you know, it's who you know guys!
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spamual
Suspended permanently
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26. August 2008 @ 17:18 |
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i got my 4850 at £105 delivered, with grid
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AfterDawn Addict
15 product reviews
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26. August 2008 @ 17:20 |
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You guys suck... :P
I wish I could have waited a week...
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T 4GHz(20 x 200) 1.5v 3000NB 2000HT, Corsair Hydro H110 w/ 4 x 140mm 1500RPM fans Push/Pull, Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5, 8GB(2 x 4GB) G.Skill RipJaws DDR3-1600 @ 1600MHz CL9 1.55v, Gigabyte GTX760 OC 4GB(1170/1700), Corsair 750HX
Detailed PC Specs: http://my.afterdawn.com/estuansis/blog_entry.cfm/11388
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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26. August 2008 @ 17:22 |
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I paid £327 for an X1900XT, and broke a £135 HD3870 with no warranty... I think perhaps I deserve a little break... heh
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AfterDawn Addict
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26. August 2008 @ 20:09 |
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Originally posted by Estuansis:
You guys suck... :P
FINALLY someone that gets it!!!! hehehee. ;P
...gm
btw....even tho I've "offended" you GFX boys... what would you recommend for a moderate gamer and just NORMAL every day use??? I'm serious.. looking at getting something in the next couple of months. ;)
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AfterDawn Addict
2 product reviews
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26. August 2008 @ 20:11 |
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How much are you looking to spend? Who knows what happens in the next few months? The GFX cards change VERY fast. Or at least the pricing does. And 8800GT should serve you well. Only about 120 and perfect for moderate gamer. Especially because it was perfect for heavy gamer 2 months or so back lol.
I got my 4850 for 160BTW.
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AfterDawn Addict
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26. August 2008 @ 21:21 |
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Honestly I would prefer an ATi GFX card. ;) Unlike Russ I had issues at first with ATi then went to nVidia and had MORE problems than with the ATi. lol. it's luck of the draw I guess. ;) right now I have a coulple of X1650 cards and they seem just fine as far as I can tell. ;D
I guess I'll ask the same question again in about 6-8 weeks. lol. :P
.....gm
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AfterDawn Addict
2 product reviews
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26. August 2008 @ 22:03 |
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Well you can get a 3870 used pretty cheap these days. Around 80 bucks shipped if you look around in the overclock.net forums. That would probably be your best bet. A 4850 seems overkill for your purposes.
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AfterDawn Addict
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26. August 2008 @ 22:14 |
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thanks boozer... good info and taken in i promise. ;)
....gm
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AfterDawn Addict
15 product reviews
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26. August 2008 @ 22:41 |
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Likewise on all of those cards. The 8800GT is still very fast and is way more than worth it for the money(as well as recently having fallen from high-end status). The 3870 is decently fast and still a good buy due to very low prices. And the 4850 is unmatched in its price range.
Any one of those cards will easily max most games at 1680 x 1050 and some at 1920 x 1200. Honestly, unless you play Crysis at my resolution or higher, the 8800GT or 4850 are your "all bases covered" cards. And the 3870 isn't too far behind.
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T 4GHz(20 x 200) 1.5v 3000NB 2000HT, Corsair Hydro H110 w/ 4 x 140mm 1500RPM fans Push/Pull, Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5, 8GB(2 x 4GB) G.Skill RipJaws DDR3-1600 @ 1600MHz CL9 1.55v, Gigabyte GTX760 OC 4GB(1170/1700), Corsair 750HX
Detailed PC Specs: http://my.afterdawn.com/estuansis/blog_entry.cfm/11388
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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27. August 2008 @ 04:27 |
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Personally I'd avoid the HD3870. Either pay a bit more for an HD4850 or go with something like an HD2600, for the simple reason that the 3870's drivers aren't that nice, they can't play older games due to 3dfx incompatibility issues, and have some quirks with clock speeds.
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AfterDawn Addict
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27. August 2008 @ 09:59 |
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Originally posted by sammorris:
Personally I'd avoid the HD3870. Either pay a bit more for an HD4850 or go with something like an HD2600, for the simple reason that the 3870's drivers aren't that nice, they can't play older games due to 3dfx incompatibility issues, and have some quirks with clock speeds.
You know if the prices aren't too different between the HD4850 and a HD2600XT then the HD4850 it is... lol. ;D
Thanks for the info guys.... more to chew on but narrowing it down as I go. ;)
.....gm
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