Currently I wouldn't buy either one, since Intel is supposed to release a whole new high-end type socket next year.

But, given the choice between 1156 and 1366, I'd go 1366. For me the options are either to go cheap and effective with AMD/AM3, or go all the way with LGA 1366. That way you have all of the high-end CPUs available to you, as well as triple-channel RAM, and a more powerful chipset- X58.

hartsickdiscipl

If the OP takes advantage of MicroCenter's deal on the Ci5 760, the cost of the platform would be VERY similar to what would be paid for a similar AM3/PII quad setup.

hi my ram has a stock latency of 4-4-4-15, but whenever i set it to that in the bios it will run fine but when in game like mdw 2 for example it just blue screens after about 5 minutes, any thoughts on wahts going on here?

humpas

Did you bump the memory voltage up to 2.1?

You can grab an XFX 650w power supply, which is arguably better than the Corsair unit you posted above, for only a dollar more after shipping.

[QUOTE="Siamak8286"]So I'm buying 2 velociraptors 600gb, should I raid 0 them and install games and os on the raid array or should I Install os on 1 raptor and games on the other raptor??? DarxPhil

RAID is definitly the way to go if you're looking for speed, though it's really only loading times you'll see a differance in games, but overall access time should be faster in RAID.

Running platter drives in a RAID array isn't going to remove the mechanical limitations of the drives, so the access time should be similar (if not worse) to what would be seen on a single drive configuration :?.

TBH, unless you're trying to achieve that absolute best overclock possible on your system, I suggest sticking with the AS5 you've got right now. You're scarcely going to see a 3 Celsius benefit by switching to a different TIM.

And a word of caution; IC Diamond has the ability to distort or remove the information printed on the IHS of a processor, so I'd avoid using it if you intend on keeping the warranty valid.

Options on new cards in your price range is a GTX 460 768mb, 6850, gtx 460 1 gb, or a 6870. GTX 460 768mb go as low as 135.99(115 after rebates), 6850's are $180-190, and gtx 460 1gb go from $189-230. 6870's are $240-260.

I personally think you should get a Asus GTX 460 768mb Its 149.99 but if you use the awesome newegg coupon code of EMCZZYR24 it will take 10% off any video card so the price will drop to 135.99.

The card also is free shipping, has a 20 dollar mail in rebate and has a Free Tom Clancy. Hawks 2 Game. At the end if everything works out, we are talking about ($115.99) total for a dx11 video card..

Now though, we possibly have several issues. What is your power supply? Do you have 2 6 pins? If you have deep power constraints then I would suggest you go with the 5770 or 6850 with the 6850 being the fastest single 6 pin out.

jedikevin2

$115? I should totally sell my 4890 right now and grab one of those.

...I play games at 1900x1200 with everything maxed and I never get any problems to be honest, which Im supprised at considering everything apart from the Video card is over 2 years old.

I just feel like I WANT to upgrade though lol, the main use of my pc is games.. yeh I do some work etc but gaming is my main concern for the PC.

Does anybody think its worth upgrading this winter? If so.. to what?

Thanks :)

VinnoT

If you can run every game in your library maxed out without any trouble, why bother upgrading?

[QUOTE="MaoTheChimp"]

[QUOTE="swehunt"] Nope, iv'e seen sevral reviews witch the gtx480 is @ 300w or a bit OVER it. It's easy math. If the whole system with a gtx480 draws 490w and the same settup draws whooping 815w with SLI gtx480, this only leads to the conclution that the added card need another 325w. The added card for SLI ends up whooping 325w! Often SLI or CF settups use a bit less power for the extra card, so it's beond 325w for a single one.swehunt

Adding another card in a CF/SLI configuration would add extra stress to many other components in the system. It's plausible that the extra power consumption seen with dual-card configurations is purely from the other components being stressed more than what they'd typically see in a single card-configuration.

I'm not very clear on how TPU comes up with these power consumption numbers; do they test the card's power consumption through the PCI-E interface and external connectors, or do they remove the assumed system power consumption from the total to come to a final value?

[QUOTE="KhanhAgE"][QUOTE="swehunt"] Theres a diffrence in max "possible" and max "recomended". Theres no physical limmit, its a limmit as there has to be a standard but Nvidia already killed that with the gtx480. It's not the slot that supply 300w, that is up to the PSU to deliver via seperate cables directly feed to the graphic, the powerdraw has a constant from the PCIE slot witch is alot less than 300w.swehunt

Adding another card in a CF/SLI configuration would add extra stress to many other components in the system. It's plausible that the extra power consumption seen with dual-card configurations is purely from the other components being stressed more than what they'd typically see in a single card-configuration.

Proper water cooling kits are a rip-off and are NEVER needed!

Daytona_178

Never? How about if you're trying to lower overall system noise while still reaching respectable overclocks? Even with all the advancements made in PC cooling, achieving this on air cooling is still very difficult to do with high-end components.

Air coolers are a LOT cheaper and perfectly good good for great overclocks!

Daytona_178

It's true that for the first-time user, the cost of watercooling can seem alarming, but keep in mind that radiators, reservoirs and pumps are components that rarely have to be replaced. So in reality, the only water cooling component you'd have to purchase with every consecutive upgrade is the waterblocks, and these run from anywhere in between $30-$50 for a decent one, or perhaps $70-$120 if you're looking for a block that's REALLY top-of-the-line.