OK you hardware junkies !!

[Cain]

This video card ??

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130338



This motherboard ??

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813188024

[Trooper110]

Both good products, depending on the money you want to spend :P Also, if you'd rather "future proof" they just came out with the 790i that has a DDR3 memory controller instead of DDR2. That will kick up the price of your RAM though as DDR3 is more expensive.

[BenKenobi]

I just installed a 780i 2 days ago. No problems thus far

[Duke{CLR}]

I like both of those products. I have had no issues with my 780i. I don't know how much future proofing you want but the 790 Ultra also looks nice and it will have DDR3.

EVGA has an excellent return policy and support. I usually upgrade my warranty which will cover the costs of shipping and allow for cross shipping if needed.

With this board you can use ESA which is a neat way of monitoring your hardware. If you are buying a new PSU there is a version of the Thermaltake 850W PSU that supports ESA. You can also buy a case or bay device that will control fans and lights from within windows.

Happy building.

[Cain]

How about that video card guys ???

[DougBob]

How about that video card guys ???

Well, how shall I put this Cain?
<brushes nose and in a low tone says> could you push a couple of those killers my way

[CarbonFire]

How about that video card guys ???

While the 780i is a great choice, and both are basically top of the line, I have to scratch my head a bit on the GX2. Really? $600? If bleeding edge is that important to you, than the GX2 is where you should look. Unfortunately, with AMD dragging their feet on releasing any sort of high-end competition for Nvidia, it's doubtful we'll see anything more powerful than the GX2 for quite a few months.

Also keep in mind that this is just two cards in SLI, rather than 2 chips on 1 board. So to get any real benefit over, say, an 8800 Ultra, the game has to take full advantage of SLI. Basically you're buying 2 8800GTS 512MB cards and you get to save one SLI slot. 2 8800GTS 512MB cards, I might add, that you can acquire for LESS than one GX2, which means saving that one slot must really be worth it (like if you are planning on running Quad SLI ) Also note that because it's just 2 cards stuck close together in a double slot config (standard SLI generally allows for extra cooling space), these cards have been reported to run hotter than the equivalent individual cards.

Just some food for thought

And also I'm not fully convinced that it's time to jump on the DDR3 bandwagon yet, though that may change if more companies start really pushing the speed and latency limits of the DDR3 spec. It's just so dang expensive right now for marginal performance gains: good set of DDR3 is double the price of an equivalently performing DDR2 stick. All depends on how "bleeding edge" you really want to be . Personally I'll be holding out till the fall, when hopefully DDR3 prices are no longer trying to rape my wallet

Edit: After doing some very quick and dirty Google searching, I found several sites pitting the GX2 vs a pair of 8800GTS 512s.....let's just say you aren't getting your moneys worth at $600

here's one example:
http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/...0_GX2/?page=16

[juneau]

While the 780i is a great choice, and both are basically top of the line, I have to scratch my head a bit on the GX2. Really? $600? If bleeding edge is that important to you, than the GX2 is where you should look. Unfortunately, with AMD dragging their feet on releasing any sort of high-end competition for Nvidia, it's doubtful we'll see anything more powerful than the GX2 for quite a few months.

Also keep in mind that this is just two cards in SLI, rather than 2 chips on 1 board. So to get any real benefit over, say, an 8800 Ultra, the game has to take full advantage of SLI. Basically you're buying 2 8800GTS 512MB cards and you get to save one SLI slot. 2 8800GTS 512MB cards, I might add, that you can acquire for LESS than one GX2, which means saving that one slot must really be worth it (like if you are planning on running Quad SLI ) Also note that because it's just 2 cards stuck close together in a double slot config (standard SLI generally allows for extra cooling space), these cards have been reported to run hotter than the equivalent individual cards.

Just some food for thought

And also I'm not fully convinced that it's time to jump on the DDR3 bandwagon yet, though that may change if more companies start really pushing the speed and latency limits of the DDR3 spec. It's just so dang expensive right now for marginal performance gains: good set of DDR3 is double the price of an equivalently performing DDR2 stick. All depends on how "bleeding edge" you really want to be . Personally I'll be holding out till the fall, when hopefully DDR3 prices are no longer trying to rape my wallet

Edit: After doing some very quick and dirty Google searching, I found several sites pitting the GX2 vs a pair of 8800GTS 512s.....let's just say you aren't getting your moneys worth at $600

here's one example:
http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/...0_GX2/?page=16

+1

The GX2 just isnt worth it.

I also think that there are many motherboards out there that are better and less expensive that the 780/790i.

Do you really need a SLI motherboard Cain?

[CarbonFire]

+1

The GX2 just isnt worth it.

I also think that there are many motherboards out there that are better and less expensive that the 780/790i.

Do you really need a SLI motherboard Cain?

For high-end MBs, the 780/790i are only slightly more expensive than the Intel X38/X48 boards. And if you are looking at high end, DDR3 or high-overclockability in DDR2, those boards will generally be your best bet. I guess if Cain has no interest in SLI or overclocking, the P35 is a decent option. Those boards ARE about half the price.

I'd still say go for the SLI and get a couple of 8800 GTs or GTS 512s. But that's only if your looking to drop that kind of cash (which, considering what you suggested Cain, seems likely).

[Cain]

That is the type of video card feedback I was looking for Carbon !!

I'd prefer to get one and later consider SLI if I think I need it, when those cards are less expensive..

[ThisElfRocksHard]

Do you really need a SLI motherboard Cain?

Maybe it is just Barcelona, but I find non-SLI or Crossfire boards hard to come by around here.

[juneau]

Maybe it is just Barcelona, but I find non-SLI or Crossfire boards hard to come by around here.

It's the same everywhere i think. From what i gather from all the boards that i've seen or read about it's a little something like this for LGA775.

15% None SLI/Crossfire
15% SLI
70% Crossfire

I myself use a Crossfire and a none SLI/Crossfire board (Abit IP35 Pro & Gigabyte P31-DS3L)

@Carbon: I was hinting at the P35 range. The X38/48 really offer nothing more. And for once, i'm not with you on your suggestion. This time SLI. I think it's more of a wise choice to buy a single card solution then upgrade it for another single card when you feel your current card is begining to age. Theoretically it won't cost any more either.

[CarbonFire]

Fair enough juneau

SLI is for those that have the extra cash now and want to spend it, or for those that need the extra oomph that a very large display requires. Other than that, you're right, the single card solutions these days are quite "good enough".

And note the 9800GTX is slated to drop soon, so you may want to hold off a bit before plunking down your cash. Either it will be a strong performer, and worth the likely $400-500, or it will further drive down the prices of the slightly less powerful cards

[ryanbatc]

Why not just get a filler card, and upgrade later?

The 8800GT or 8800GTS is a perfectly good card right now, at least for what sort of software is available. And it won't empty your wallet

[Cain]

How about this card ????

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130339