Hardware under consideration. Please evaluate
By
all_hell,
Posted on: 2010-08-01 07:39 in ALL ACCESS Gameplay Technical Issues Bugs
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I'm not too happy with the layout of this mainboard. If the only expansion cards you're ever going to install are one or two graphics cards, you'll be fine, but if you go beyond that, it's got problems. In particular, one of the PCIe x1 slots is blocked by the northbridge heatsink, the PCI slot will be blocked by a second graphics card, and installing any card in the bottom slot will reduce the bandwidth to the second graphics card slot.
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Originally Posted by all_hell
anyway link:
hmm list isnt showing up in the public wish lists[INDENT] MoBo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128423 |
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Thank you for your reply, Katie V.|
Originally Posted by Katie V
I'm not too happy with the layout of this mainboard. If the only expansion cards you're ever going to install are one or two graphics cards, you'll be fine, but if you go beyond that, it's got problems. In particular, one of the PCIe x1 slots is blocked by the northbridge heatsink, the PCI slot will be blocked by a second graphics card, and installing any card in the bottom slot will reduce the bandwidth to the second graphics card slot.
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Thank you for noticing that. I hadn't.
I don't plan on using more than one graphics card at a time. When it's time to upgrade, I'll just get the best single GPU in my budget.
The only other thing I would be likely to put in is possibly a NIC.
i would go with one of these MB's:
ASUS MB'S
i have replaced the MB in my system, due to it frying to underpowered a/c in my house, and i found the Asus to be the most user friendly, problem free boards.
also get one of these:
Tripp-lite ups
it will help keep a stead supply of power to your comp incase you have power surges and what not. also helps if the power goes out so you can save all your stuff and get the comp turned off before losing any of it.
I would go with one 3x2GB memory kit than two 3x1GB memory kits. First it's usually less expensive and second it's easier to get three sticks working with such aggressive timings (Cas 7) than six sticks.
Father Xmas - Level 50 Ice/Ice Tanker - Victory
$725 and $1350 parts lists --- My guide to computer components
Tempus unum hominem manet
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I will look into those. Thank you|
Originally Posted by Sharker_Quint
i would go with one of these MB's:
ASUS MB'S |
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Originally Posted by Sharker_Quint
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Originally Posted by Father Xmas
I would go with one 3x2GB memory kit than two 3x1GB memory kits. First it's usually less expensive and second it's easier to get three sticks working with such aggressive timings (Cas 7) than six sticks.
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They don't look bad. Very similar specs it seems. The ones with the same features do not offer pata connections. Which may be doable, but it would mean I have to buy new optical drives. So, Idk
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Originally Posted by Sharker_Quint
i would go with one of these MB's:ASUS MB'S
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Motherboard: Are you planning on triple-card Crossfire/SLI'ing?
Note: Not with a 500W PSU you ain't!
Suggestion: Don't waste money on an triple SLI/Crossfire board. There are boards better suited to your purposes that can be got cheaper.
As already noted, don't waste time, money, or space on 6x1GB memory modules. Go with 3x2GB modules. Easier to keep tight timings, and leaves room for expansion if you really need it. It'll save you about $20 too. Plus the 3x2GB kit is free shipping. Another $3 saved.
Link to 3x2GB kit of the same memory you had.
CPU is fine if you're staying i7-9** series.
You may have to check that your 500W PSU has the proper connectors for your choice of video cards. If you don't have 1-2 6 or 8 pin PCI-E connectors, you're going to need a PSU too (and don't trust "adaptors" to other plugs).
Honestly, while you MIGHT see a slight drop in performance, I'd be more inclined to go i7-8** series with dual-channel (rather than triple-channel) memory.
Boards are between 1/2 and 3/4 of the price. An 8GB 2x4GB kit costs just a little more than the 6GB 3x2GB kit, and you can pick up a CPU that's a smidge faster for about the same price or slightly less.
I could put together a system:
Board
Highly overclockable CPU
Memory
It comes out $20 over what you have now.
If you stick with the non-OC'able i7-870 chip, the price drops $40.
Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.
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Nope, not at all. |
Originally Posted by Hyperstrike
Motherboard: Are you planning on triple-card Crossfire/SLI'ing?
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Originally Posted by Hyperstrike
Suggestion: Don't waste money on an triple SLI/Crossfire board. There are boards better suited to your purposes that can be got cheaper.
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My purpose is to have something that will be useful and relevant come 2016.
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Originally Posted by Hyperstrike
You may have to check that your 500W PSU has the proper connectors for your choice of video cards.
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Thank you for your input.
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Please don't think I'm being obtuse here. I'm not. But if you're looking to buy something that'll be relevant in 2016, buy in 2016.|
Originally Posted by all_hell
Nope, not at all.
What really sold me on the board is that fact that it comes with two newer technologies, USB3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s. I expect over the course of the next 5 to 7 years I'll get some HDs or other devices that can take advantage of these. My purpose is to have something that will be useful and relevant come 2016. It does have the right kinds of connectors. Thank you for your input. |
The board's we're talking about will be out of production in another year or so. And off support shortly after that.
If you're looking for SATA3 and USB3, same board, but the E variant.
Wondering why it didn't show up in my search earlier...I'd have recommended it if I had (and it's cheaper than the original version...
With standard magnetic drives, you're nowhere near sustained output for USB2. An SSD can do it, optimally. But throughput does fall off. Yes, you CAN saturate USB2 with disk cache. Big deal. A few seconds until the caches are depleted.
Buying to "future proof" yourself for six years just doesn't work. The technical term is "pipe dream".
Will the system still work well in six years? Sure! But it's highly likely that low-end and cheap midrange systems of the day will literally suck the doors off it.
Buy as much headroom in your system as you can afford based on your requirements NOW. That means CPU, memory, and drivespace. Peripheral technologies like SATA3 and USB3 still come under the heading of "nice, but still a gimmick".
Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.
Well I wouldn't say USB 3.0 is a gimmick, external HD manufacturers are embracing this big time since it lifts the 30-35MB/s cap that USB 2.0 had and now USB 3.0 external drives can run almost as fast as their internal SATA counterparts.
SATA III aka 6Gb/s is pretty much a gimmick and is currently useful only to a limited number of SSD drives at the moment. Conventional hard drives are just starting to exceed SATA I limits and are nowhere near close to SATA II limits of 3Gb/s.
Father Xmas - Level 50 Ice/Ice Tanker - Victory
$725 and $1350 parts lists --- My guide to computer components
Tempus unum hominem manet
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Thats about when I intend to buy again, so I will.|
Originally Posted by Hyperstrike
Please don't think I'm being obtuse here. I'm not. But if you're looking to buy something that'll be relevant in 2016, buy in 2016.
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I suspect that you're using the word 'relevant' to mean something different than I do.
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Originally Posted by Hyperstrike
Buying to "future proof" yourself for six years just doesn't work. The technical term is "pipe dream".
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Originally Posted by Hyperstrike
Will the system still work well in six years? Sure! But it's highly likely that low-end and cheap midrange systems of the day will literally suck the doors off it.
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I don't buy new rigs very often. the one I am using now I bought quite a while back--it's a Socket A with an AGP vid card.
Have I missed any incompatabilities? Or any somethings that I could have done better for about the same price?What I am trying to do is create a system that will be useful and relevant for the next 5-7 years.
I would like a recommendation for a nice video card for ~$150 or less. I am not that picky about my video card atm. 2012 tax refund season, I will go nuts and spend w/e to get a nicer GPU. For now, I just want one that will let me play CoX w/o crying.
As a point of reference, I find my AthlonXP 3200, Radeon X1650, & 2gig RAM to usually provide adequate gaming power with all of CoV's graphic settings turned down to minimums.
Even though I am not a real graphics snob, it would be nice if my new machine could exceed current performance from the start--however it's not necessary as long as it's at least what I am getting now.
anyway link:
hmm list isnt showing up in the public wish lists
ps I have a 500w psu