Graphics Card?

[megavikingman]

I am a first-timer looking to build myself a computer capable of playing next-gen games at decent (if not high) graphics settings. So far, I have decided on my tower, motherboard, processor and RAM, and I'm looking in to graphics cards. I want to get a (relatively) cheap card right now that will be capable of running most games that are out now, since my budget is being stretched thin by the first four components, and I also am wondering what high-end graphics card I should save up for that will work best with what I've chosen so far:

Motherboard: ASUS PCX58D Premium
Processor: Intel Core i7-930
Memory: Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D Dominator 6 GB PC3
Tower: Cooler Master ATCS 840 Aluminum ATX Full Tower

I'm also going to need a power supply capable of running all of this.

All help is very much appreciated.

[glc]

Save your money and get an Asus P7P55D-E and an i7-860 or i5-750 instead. That will take dual channel ram, not triple channel, and you don't need premium tight timing ram. If it will fit in your budget, a Radeon 5830 is the most bang for the buck right now. An Antec, Seasonic, or Corsair PSU of 500 watts or better would be fine.

The X58 chipset and the i7 just isn't worth the high price, and it's a very fussy chipset. Gaming is almost all in the video card.

[megavikingman]

Hmm, you're probably right. I may have gone a little overboard with the whole "I'm gonna build a Super-PC!" idea. I think I'll switch to the following:

Processor: Intel Core i7 860
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A1C0E2G2LZFK00
Motherboard: ASUS P7P55D-E Pro
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER
RAM: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

However, the graphics card you mentioned seems to be DDR5, and the components above are all DDR3. Can I make this work, or do I need something else?

[megavikingman]

Whoops, the RAM is supposed to be:

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-PC3-12...d_bxgy_e_img_a

[David M]

Originally Posted by megavikingman Whoops, the RAM is supposed to be: http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-PC3-12...d_bxgy_e_img_a

Perfect

Video card RAM is separate and different from motherboard RAM. Get the motherboard RAM (DDR3/dual channel) that glc recommended and you will be fine.

That graphics card and its video RAM will work fine with your motherboard. (you were asking about its video RAM)

If you are a hard core gamer but do not have the cash right now to purchase a hard core graphics card, then save up your pennies for a 5870. They are around $400 right now. The other card mentioned will more than get you by for playing games, just not on the ultra settings for the newer games.

[Khalil]

looking to build myself a computer capable of playing next-gen games at decent (if not high) graphics settings

You got it all backwards for a gaming rig. read this http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=214537

[Doom]

Originally Posted by megavikingman Hmm, you're probably right. I may have gone a little overboard with the whole "I'm gonna build a Super-PC!" idea.

Once you hit the $1300 range on a gaming PC you're going to be experiencing diminishing returns. Sure, you can spend the money on a $300 motherboard, a $500 graphics card and a $1000 CPU...but the amount of return you get on that over more moderately priced components isn't worth it for most people.

I recommend getting a graphics card one or two levels from the "top of the line" at any time. If you're and nVidia fan, a 260 or 280 are great cards that aren't the most expensive. I'm not as knowledgeable with ATI, but based on prices I'd stop w/ a 5850 if I were building a new gaming rig. I like to spend about $100 less on a graphics card today, and then I can upgrade every two or three years at decent prices.

[David M]

The price-performance curve for computers increases at a decreasing rate where the X-axis (horizontal axis) is price and the Y-axis is performance.

Some prefer to be near the beginning of the curve and others prefer the end of the curve. Nobody is right or wrong on where they prefer to be on this curve, its a matter of how much you are willing to spend and a matter of personal taste....like computer cases.

https://static.flatworldknowledge.co...-fig03_002.jpg

In my opinion, for home built desktop computers when you get past about $2000 this curve gets very close to flat.

[orbrit]

Originally Posted by megavikingman Hmm, you're probably right. I may have gone a little overboard with the whole "I'm gonna build a Super-PC!" idea. I think I'll switch to the following: Processor: Intel Core i7 860 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A1C0E2G2LZFK00 Motherboard: ASUS P7P55D-E Pro http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER RAM: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER However, the graphics card you mentioned seems to be DDR5, and the components above are all DDR3. Can I make this work, or do I need something else?

If you get the right video card now (HD 5870) you can step down the MB to the P7P55D-E which has just a single PCIe 2.0 x16 port.

The pro will only help you if you want to SLI or Crossfire, otherwise it's wasted money.

[Slynky]

Originally Posted by orbrit If you get the right video card now (HD 5870) you can step down the MB to the P7P55D-E which has just a single PCIe 2.0 x16 port. The pro will only help you if you want to SLI or Crossfire, otherwise it's wasted money.

Crossfire is two graphics boards? Is that right? What does it mean to "SLI"?

[Doom]

Originally Posted by Slynky Crossfire is two graphics boards? Is that right? What does it mean to "SLI"?

Crossfire and SLI are the multi-GPU setups for ATI and nVidia respectively. If you want to combine two graphics cards in your system for better performance, you can do that if you have 1) a mobo that supports either setup and 2) a PSU rated to supply both cards w/ power.

If you do SLI, it's best to go to www.slizone.com where whey can show you the approved setups and approved PSU's for them.

For what it's worth, I did SLI for a couple of years and it was a boost over a single card, but I didn't think it was enough to justify the complete second purchase. Sometimes however, two med-range cards can perform like a high end card for cheaper. Check out the monthly reviews at tomshardware.com for the best ratings. Sometimes a dual-card setup wins.

[David M]

Nvidias dual card setup is called SLI.

Always buy the single most expensive card you can afford first rather than buying two lesser cards. Two graphics cards never equates to twice the video processing power. You get more bang for the buck and fewer problems with a single card.

I don't recommend SLI with the problems it has. In fact, my SLI is not working correctly as I write this. After doing lots of internet research, I have not found a solution either.

[Slynky]

Interesting fact. Didn't know the purpose of two GPUs till now. Thanks for the info.

[glc]

Note that SLI/Crossfire ONLY have an effect in games. For any other kind of graphics processing, it does absolutely nothing for you.

[Slynky]

Originally Posted by glc Note that SLI/Crossfire ONLY have an effect in games. For any other kind of graphics processing, it does absolutely nothing for you.

Good point to post.