TheBeast4 - Shopping List

[Munson]

Time for another upgrade thread after all this recent hardware talk. I've pretty much decided f**k it, the new machine is being built with a new mobo, and TheBeast4 will be born.

BenQ FP241W 24" Widescreen
Asus Rampage Extreme Intel X48
G.Skill 4GB DDR3 HZ PC2-12800C7 1600MHz (2x2GB)
Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 (x2)
Tagan PipeRock TG1300-BZ 1300w Modular BZ Series

Anything you geeks would change? Perhaps only one 4870x2? Overkill?

 

[Darren S]

Time for another upgrade thread after all this recent hardware talk. I've pretty much decided f**k it, the new machine is being built with a new mobo, and TheBeast4 will be born.

BenQ FP241W 24" Widescreen
Asus Rampage Extreme Intel X48
G.Skill 4GB DDR3 HZ PC2-12800C7 1600MHz (2x2GB)
Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 (x2)
Tagan PipeRock TG1300-BZ 1300w Modular BZ Series

Anything you geeks would change? Perhaps only one 4870x2? Overkill?

Nice choice of gfx there, Munson my boy. I've got the standard 4870 and it's a great all-rounder.

Set aside some cash for a decent pair of coolers though. The stock ATi items are shite. I was getting 80C when simply sat on the desktop.

D.

 

[David]

Does it really count as a new beast if the heart of the monster remains the same? 4870x2 is overkill to be honest...but if you have the cash, f**k it, it will be immense, run crysis 50+ fps full settings 1920x1200. Thats what you want.

Yeh 4870's run idle 70deg i've heard...pretty stupid. there are couple of coolers that get them down to around 50...might help.

you cooling with air munson? thought about getting a bit more RAM in there?

 

[Munson]

Yeah TBH I'm toying with the idea of water anyway. My CPU will run at 4Ghz but not stable in prime95 on current air. The quality of the mobo and CPU should allow a 4Ghz stable overclock with ease, but probably only on water...goes shopping for some 4870x2 waterblocks...

 

[Munson]

Does it really count as a new beast if the heart of the monster remains the same? 4870x2 is overkill to be honest...but if you have the cash, f**k it, it will be immense, run crysis 50+ fps full settings 1920x1200. Thats what you want.

Yeh 4870's run idle 70deg i've heard...pretty stupid. there are couple of coolers that get them down to around 50...might help.

you cooling with air munson? thought about getting a bit more RAM in there?

New motherboard and a chipset move, especially a £300 motherboard, equals new machine!

Yep, air right now, but to maximise the use of this CPU, water is a good idea. Perhaps more RAM...8GB? Overkill??

 

[David]

not overkill with the ram, i rekon this badboy is going to last you speccing it up like that.

i say that but you do realise you're going to be heavily tempted when i7 comes to light....you sure you want to spend all that money...?

 

[Munson]

not overkill with the ram, i rekon this badboy is going to last you speccing it up like that.

i say that but you do realise you're going to be heavily tempted when i7 comes to light....you sure you want to spend all that money...?

It's the same problem again though you see. I could decide to go Core i7 now, but that's a new socket (1366) and I'm really thinking that I can use my existing CPU to power a monster rig for quite some time. It's a tricky one for sure.

 

[David]

Trouble is i know what you're like and you won't be happy with the i7's out and you not buying em...why not get a cheaper moterhboard aswell...not being funny but IMHO a £300 motherboard won't perform any better than a £150 one...

and don't forget if you sell your current chip you should still get some good money for it... what chip is it again?

 

[Munson]

It's a QX9650 running a stable 420x9 (3.8Ghz) and easily runs at 4Ghz (stable for an '06 run) but gets too hot on my current air. It's an extreme chip so getting the most OCable mobo on the market will give me a fantastic base to go beyond 4Ghz (on water at least). I do get your point though that stock/stock it won't give any performance gain over a £150 alternative.

That leads back to your first point about me though (well observed). You're right. Bigger faster more expensive = just better

 

[Munson]

Reading some views about the tagan PSU that suggest they are prone to capacitor squeel. I don't suppose anyone here has one?

 

[David]

Any need for that psu anyway? not had everpeince with them, corsair are very good and quiet. Enermax are awesome but not quiet....saying that mike182 is selling a 1000w one..might be worth asking him about..

 

[Munson]

Any need for that psu anyway?

Well I don't need the PC. I want it

Seriously though. It's just an ideal time to be building in a new power supply, and I want one that'll last the test of time...particularly with 2x 4870x2. The tagan has always impressed me with its quality. They're really nice, but I've never used one. I'm looking at something else now though...and the monitor has been upgraded to 2560x1600 :evil:

 

[David]

*shakes head*

 

[Cookie]

Why the BenQ? Why not the Dell Ultrasharp jobby?

 

[Munson]

Why the BenQ? Why not the Dell Ultrasharp jobby?

I've since changed it to a Dell 3008WFP.

 

[Cookie]

Nice

I used one of those for 4 months in my last job

Was sexual

CoD4 at lunchtimes was immense

 

[Michael172]

Id go with corsair tbh, simply from their reliability and also because they make little or no sound what so ever. 1000watts should be sufficient. Ive had only one ATI card and it was very hot and un-reliable. That said ive not had an intel processor before, my q6600, still sat on my desk, is the first ive had

Do you REALLY need all this ?? Sure its not self indulgence (i cant talk tbh) and is it gunna make your life any better ?

 

[Daz]

I don't understand the whole "do you need this" sort of stuff.
People buy lots of things they don't need.. but they enjoy them - so why shouldn't they? Good luck to them I say!

Looks great Mr Munson!

 

[Michael172]

Yeah your right. You dont need a cliosport but theyre fun so so what. Same as me buying car products although i woke up and realised it was sad so dont do it anymore.


If youve got the money then go for it ! id love to have a system like that.