building a new pc

[IbnSolmyr]

Originally Posted by jayrc

Hi all, I need some help on some basic components like hard drive, power supply, OS, cd/dvd drive, etc.

I'm going to wait till cod is released to get the big stuff after we get some feedback, so far I have the case and the cpu cooler. I would like to get some of the other stuff now so I don't have to put out all the money at once.

my build:

amd phenom II x4 965
msi fuzion mobo (in case I want to add more cards)
8 gb corsair ram
corsair tx 750 psu
coolermaster cpu cooler 212
win 7 64 bit
gtx 580
coolermaster elite 430 case
wd 640gb hdd
msi combo dvd drive
lots of fans

1. I'm looking at the wd hard drives, can't decide weather to get the 32 or 64 mb cache, rpm? I'll have 8gb memory, is the hard drive that important with that much ram?

2. what size power supply for the gtx 580

3. do I need win 7 pro to be able to run IL2 1946, freetrack, windows enabler, or can I use win 7 home

4. can I use a combo dvd rom/dvd+r+rw or do I need two separate drives

Can't wait till this sim is released

1) You could get an SSD, for better use of your system and main softwares (so like CoD)

2) The GTX 580 needs a big power supply, but it's a bad idea to set your rig like that : a Phenom 2 X4 and one of the 2 most powerful GC, there is no sence : get an Intel architecture with a core i5 or i7 and save your money from 450 euros GC card, wich will not not be run at its maximum, cos it needs a big CPU capacity for that... Espacially for a simulation game ! Have a look at the Gigabyte GTX 560 Ti SOC, wich is almost as good as the 580, and costs "only" 260 euros (best price i found)

4) Not really important, but combo will be good (save a bit of power needed)

Regards.

[IbnSolmyr]

"always remember that if the software is not optimised / at least programmed to run on multiple cores, then it will use only one and no, you wont get any advantage."

I'm pretty sure (and i hope hard) that CoD is programmed/optimized for multiple cores, at least 4 ! Intel "offers" the "TurboBoost Technology" wich is a plus in case of not.

About Sli, CrossFireX... It just becomes competitive solutions... You could think about it later, it will be more interesning than now. And don't foget PSU according, and that when you'll have a multiple GC config, you get a bigger electricity bill !

[swiss]

Originally Posted by IbnSolmyr

1) You could get an SSD, for better use of your system and main softwares (so like CoD)

2) The GTX 580 needs a big power supply, but it's a bad idea to set your rig like that : a Phenom 2 X4 and one of the 2 most powerful GC, there is no sence : get an Intel architecture with a core i5 or i7 and save your money from 450 euros GC card, wich will not not be run at its maximum, cos it needs a big CPU capacity for that... Espacially for a simulation game ! Have a look at the Gigabyte GTX 560 Ti SOC, wich is almost as good as the 580, and costs "only" 260 euros (best price i found)

4) Not really important, but combo will be good (save a bit of power needed)

Regards.

Sure a 965 is bottlenecking the 580, so it's better too buy a super fast intel and get an average GPU instead.
What?


BTW:

However when clocked at 3.0GHz and beyond, the Phenom II X4 really picked up the pace, and in many cases was able to outclass the Core i7.

http://www.legionhardware.com/articl...d_5970,24.html

[Zoom2136]

For power supply reviews see here:

http://www.jonnyguru.com/index.php

For GPU reviews see here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...card,2857.html

I assume that you will mostly be running this sim (iL2 or COD) on your new PC. Consequently I would advise you to buy the faster CPU you can afford, even if it means buying a lesser video card/PSU (but don't skimp to much on the PSU, cause a blown PSU can cook some of you precious hardware...)

Flight sims a veyr CPU limited, so it make more sence to drop the bis $$$$ on this item...

Regards,

[Oldschool61]

Originally Posted by IbnSolmyr

1) You could get an SSD, for better use of your system and main softwares (so like CoD)

2) The GTX 580 needs a big power supply, but it's a bad idea to set your rig like that : a Phenom 2 X4 and one of the 2 most powerful GC, there is no sence : get an Intel architecture with a core i5 or i7 and save your money from 450 euros GC card, wich will not not be run at its maximum, cos it needs a big CPU capacity for that... Espacially for a simulation game ! Have a look at the Gigabyte GTX 560 Ti SOC, wich is almost as good as the 580, and costs "only" 260 euros (best price i found)

4) Not really important, but combo will be good (save a bit of power needed)

Regards.

The Phenom II X4 9XX is MORE than capable of handling this game. ITs as fast as most if not all i5 cpu's and some i7 when overclocked.

[jayrc]

lots of great advice, thanks. any thoughts on the hard drives 32 v's 64 mb cache

[engarde]

Originally Posted by jayrc

lots of great advice, thanks. any thoughts on the hard drives 32 v's 64 mb cache

it will be slightly sharper for reads and writes, but honestly, it wont make enough difference to account for.

hard drives are on a technology brink now.

solid state drives, which dont have a spinning metal disk, instead its just like a big ram storage area, are becoming more popular and cheaper.

THAT, is the change you should be looking for. The cache size is meaningless these days, its just not significant enough to put cash on. Ignore it.

keep your money, become familiar with solid state drive sizes vs cost, dont spend anything until the game actually comes out.

[Voyager]

This is a very bad time to build. Intel did a recall last month on the Sandy Bridge motherboard chipsets, and the replacements aren't going to be out until April:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4142/i...-begins-recall

On top of that AMD's Bulldozer is going to be coming out "soon", which is the CPU where AMD is finally updating its CPU architecture to be comparable to Nephalim. The Phenom line isn't much more than a multi-core Athlon 64, which was OK when they were going against Core 2, but hasn't cut the mustard for a while now.

In short, wait until the Sandy Bridge chips are back on the market, and if you can, until the X68 are hitting the market. At worst it will drive down the prices of the hardware you're looking at. At best, AMD will have come out with their next gen CPUs and we'll have a price-war on our hands, which will mean you can get an awesome box for what you're looking at now.

As for power supplies, I'd recommend one of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

And it comes in modular for if you're willing to pay an extra $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139016

The big deal about them is they have a unified +12V rail, with 60A of power on it. The +12V is what your video cards and CPUs run on. the 3.3V and 5V are for the fans, hard drives, and other powered peripherals, so unless you have the RAID of Doom, you don't really need that much on those lines. The low volt lines are easier to add amps too, so low end manufacturers tend to add most of their power there, to pad their numbers, which is how you end up with the 3D card makers having to recommend KW PSU's.

Went digging to confirm exactly what the power requirements are on 3D cards and SLI, and it looks like the 6 pin PCIe power hookups are rated for 75W, while the 8pin ones are rated for 150W, so you can use that to get the max expected power required by your 3D cards. For the CPU, I would start with it's TDP, and add some percentage margin. I'm thinking if the two 3D cards you're looking at have an 8+6 power pin config, then 720W on the 12V rail should be fine, but if it is an 8+8 pair, you will want 800W 12V power at least.

[Oldschool61]

Originally Posted by Voyager

This is a very bad time to build. Intel did a recall last month on the Sandy Bridge motherboard chipsets, and the replacements aren't going to be out until April:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4142/i...-begins-recall

On top of that AMD's Bulldozer is going to be coming out "soon", which is the CPU where AMD is finally updating its CPU architecture to be comparable to Nephalim. The Phenom line isn't much more than a multi-core Athlon 64, which was OK when they were going against Core 2, but hasn't cut the mustard for a while now.

In short, wait until the Sandy Bridge chips are back on the market, and if you can, until the X68 are hitting the market. At worst it will drive down the prices of the hardware you're looking at. At best, AMD will have come out with their next gen CPUs and we'll have a price-war on our hands, which will mean you can get an awesome box for what you're looking at now.

As for power supplies, I'd recommend one of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

And it comes in modular for if you're willing to pay an extra $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139016

The big deal about them is they have a unified +12V rail, with 60A of power on it. The +12V is what your video cards and CPUs run on. the 3.3V and 5V are for the fans, hard drives, and other powered peripherals, so unless you have the RAID of Doom, you don't really need that much on those lines. The low volt lines are easier to add amps too, so low end manufacturers tend to add most of their power there, to pad their numbers, which is how you end up with the 3D card makers having to recommend KW PSU's.

Went digging to confirm exactly what the power requirements are on 3D cards and SLI, and it looks like the 6 pin PCIe power hookups are rated for 75W, while the 8pin ones are rated for 150W, so you can use that to get the max expected power required by your 3D cards. For the CPU, I would start with it's TDP, and add some percentage margin. I'm thinking if the two 3D cards you're looking at have an 8+6 power pin config, then 720W on the 12V rail should be fine, but if it is an 8+8 pair, you will want 800W 12V power at least.

I think everyone is going overboard with recommendations. Didnt Oleg say 2 years ago that a top of the line system in 2008-9 (2years ago) would run the sim fine??

[Tacoma74]

If you don't plan on using SATA II drives in your system than there are still some P67 motherboards up on ebay. Or you could just wait until late March/April when the revised versions come around. I don't care how "overboard" you think it is, a Sandy Bridge based system will eat that Phenom II X4 in anything you throw at it. If it's performance/system longevity you want then that's the way to go. And don't waste your time with the 2600k... 2500k all the way! I hardly see 2mb L3 Cache and hyperthreading worth $100. This along with a 580 and you'll be good for several years.