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SLI, Crossfire or Neither advice for new build please.
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22. February 2008 @ 04:39 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Hi guys,
I am planning a new gaming rig and like most people im on a budget.
I have decided to go for an intel E6750 (or possibly something lower down but O'clocked).
I have read that its best to stick to intel chipsets such as p35 for an intel CPU but the chipset would also decide whether I go with SLI or Crossfire. This would be with a view for expansion if needed further down the line. It also affects my PSU choice unless i change that later aswell. Further more I have read that there is often poor Game/driver support for multiple GPU's especially with crossfire. (that bit confusses me a little)

Anyway, I am finding M/B choice to be difficult enough as it is so my qustions are:

Should I focus on a single GPU board with an intel chipset and probably an 8800GT G/fix card and be confident all will be fine?
Or, dont worry too much about the chipset and go for either SLI support or crossfire support.
Also, should I be worrying about choosing PCI-Ex16(ver 2)or not.

Thanks in advance
Byngo.
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22. February 2008 @ 14:54 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Your best option right now:
CPU: E6750
Motherboard: Gigabyte P35-DS3R
RAM: 2x1GB corsair XMS2 PC6400 CAS4
Graphics: nvidia Geforce 9600GT <SINGLE CARD>
Power supply: Corsair HX 520W



Afterdawn Addict // Silent PC enthusiast // PC Build advisor // LANGamer Alias:Ratmanscoop
PC Specs page -- http://my.afterdawn.com/sammorris/blog_entry.cfm/11247
updated 10-Dec-13
Senior Member
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23. February 2008 @ 12:31 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
that a good choice you got the sam. I would also recommend that build...well thats like the "Afterdawn Budget build" LOL!

SEX
Now Ive got your attention please read my post above
Own: Computer, PS2, PS3, PSP and Asus UX32VD i5 Ultrabook
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23. February 2008 @ 12:46 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Yeah, it's pretty much "the official afterdawn build"



Afterdawn Addict // Silent PC enthusiast // PC Build advisor // LANGamer Alias:Ratmanscoop
PC Specs page -- http://my.afterdawn.com/sammorris/blog_entry.cfm/11247
updated 10-Dec-13
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24. February 2008 @ 15:46 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Thanks for your responses,
Two further questions,
If I could stretch to a Q6600, would I see much advantage for gaming over the E6750 not bothered too much about benchmarks for other stuff.
Also, you said ,"right now my best bet is"
That leads me to ponder what I should be waiting for, to buy the new wolfdales or am i waiting for a price drop on the previous because of the new models??
Thanks again.
Oh shxt, one other question, I have a nearly new 250Gig PATA HDD, is it practical to get a PCI IDE controller card so I could use it an internal storage drive. (The IDE on the board will be used for two DVD RW drives)
AfterDawn Addict

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24. February 2008 @ 15:55 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
To the first: A quad core won't be quite as fast as a dual currently, but in a year or so's time it will be more worthwhile.

Second: yes, that's a good solution.



Afterdawn Addict // Silent PC enthusiast // PC Build advisor // LANGamer Alias:Ratmanscoop
PC Specs page -- http://my.afterdawn.com/sammorris/blog_entry.cfm/11247
updated 10-Dec-13
Member
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24. February 2008 @ 15:58 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
thanks, its an e6750 then.
redZoneOS
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24. February 2008 @ 16:09 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
I'm curious. Why are E6750, and E6850 processors being recommended over the E8xxx series? From what I know they're better processors in I think every aspect at very similar prices, so what's the point of buying the 6xxx series these days???
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24. February 2008 @ 18:37 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
You can actually find them lol, and they're half the price. In the UK an E8400 is £200, versus £125 for an E6750.



Afterdawn Addict // Silent PC enthusiast // PC Build advisor // LANGamer Alias:Ratmanscoop
PC Specs page -- http://my.afterdawn.com/sammorris/blog_entry.cfm/11247
updated 10-Dec-13
Senior Member
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24. February 2008 @ 23:15 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
and the only difference is the cache size.

SEX
Now Ive got your attention please read my post above
Own: Computer, PS2, PS3, PSP and Asus UX32VD i5 Ultrabook
AfterDawn Addict

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25. February 2008 @ 08:12 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Er... no.
Go find some benchmarks



Afterdawn Addict // Silent PC enthusiast // PC Build advisor // LANGamer Alias:Ratmanscoop
PC Specs page -- http://my.afterdawn.com/sammorris/blog_entry.cfm/11247
updated 10-Dec-13
Senior Member
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25. February 2008 @ 10:02 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
what i mean is that one has more cache than the other, not the performance difference, and E8400 is a 45nm chip!

SEX
Now Ive got your attention please read my post above
Own: Computer, PS2, PS3, PSP and Asus UX32VD i5 Ultrabook
AfterDawn Addict

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25. February 2008 @ 10:11 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
And the clock speed difference as well.



Afterdawn Addict // Silent PC enthusiast // PC Build advisor // LANGamer Alias:Ratmanscoop
PC Specs page -- http://my.afterdawn.com/sammorris/blog_entry.cfm/11247
updated 10-Dec-13
Senior Member
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25. February 2008 @ 10:26 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
oh right forgot about that.

By the way, why more cache the better? what does the cache do?

SEX
Now Ive got your attention please read my post above
Own: Computer, PS2, PS3, PSP and Asus UX32VD i5 Ultrabook
redZoneOS
Member
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3. March 2008 @ 02:36 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
holy crap there's that big of a price difference for you guys? that sux... I bought my E8400 for 189.99 which is essentially the same price as the 6xxx series! Not trying to rub it in or anything... :)
Junior Member
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3. March 2008 @ 09:42 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Hey im thinking of updating my pc with

780i
E8800 (if newegg gets more)
sli 8800GT x2

how much power do you think i would need? do you think I should go with watercooling my cpu to gry past the 4ghz or just leave it at that? and is the SLI worth it?
AfterDawn Addict

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3. March 2008 @ 09:46 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Um, you mean the E8400? There is no E8800...

SLIing 8800GT cards isn't worth it imo. Believe it or not, it is actually worth it with 9600GTs, since they pull proper figures in most games. As for the CPU at 4Ghz, it's doable on air cooling, and in your case should be relatively easy, but you'll needa cooler of Thermalright Ultra-120 performance.



Afterdawn Addict // Silent PC enthusiast // PC Build advisor // LANGamer Alias:Ratmanscoop
PC Specs page -- http://my.afterdawn.com/sammorris/blog_entry.cfm/11247
updated 10-Dec-13
Junior Member
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3. March 2008 @ 19:37 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
yeah i meant the E8400, and I was thinking of watercooling it to get to 4.5ghz
AfterDawn Addict

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3. March 2008 @ 19:41 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
I personally think you'd have to be quite lucky to make 4.5 out of one, but you could certainly get above 4 gigs with watercooling, for sure.



Afterdawn Addict // Silent PC enthusiast // PC Build advisor // LANGamer Alias:Ratmanscoop
PC Specs page -- http://my.afterdawn.com/sammorris/blog_entry.cfm/11247
updated 10-Dec-13
Member
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7. March 2008 @ 06:46 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
well following my original post, and thanks again for the advice, I have semi-completed my new build to the point it is up and running with compromised GFX for now. (PSU and CPU cooler upgrade in pipeline too. Still not sure about SLI but its there if I want it).
See my sig.
By the way I got the E8400 in the UK for £130 over the counter.
Not done much testing and no O/clock yet but it plays Crysis well enough at medium settings.

PC Specs: CPU-C2D E8400, M/B-P5N-E SLI, RAM 4Gig OCZ Platinum rev2 ,VGA- Nvidia 8800GT 512MB, HDD- Hitachi Deskstar SATAII 1TB, 250Gig Maxtor IDE HDD.
Corsair HX520 PSU, Liteon Lightscribe DVD Writer, Pioneer BluRay drive.
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AfterDawn Addict

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7. March 2008 @ 09:31 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Ditch the motherboard, seriously. They're absolute trash, I had one, as did one of the other forum members here. Nice job finding an E8400 in the UK though.



Afterdawn Addict // Silent PC enthusiast // PC Build advisor // LANGamer Alias:Ratmanscoop
PC Specs page -- http://my.afterdawn.com/sammorris/blog_entry.cfm/11247
updated 10-Dec-13
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