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OldBuzzard · Apr 11, 2008, 06:35 PM

Gonna be gettiing some new 'goodies'

After looking at the options between the 3870x2 and 2x 3870s in crossfire, I'll be getting this x2:
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100221SR Radeon HD 3870 X2 1GB (512MB x 2) 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics

and putting one of these puppies on it:
VID-387X2 (Radeon HD 3870 X2) [no nozzles] - Water cooling systems, pc liquid cooling kit, cpu, video card, hard drive

I know that the crossfire setup is a bit faster in some cases, but not even having to worry about crossfire issues with the x2 makes up for the slight difference in price (12.00), and performance. Plus it will be a bit easier to install, and that's always a good thing.

I'm also looking at either this:
Newegg.com - CORSAIR 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

or this:
Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS2 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

I plan on getting 2 for a total of 8 gig.

It appears that the specs are the same for both, and the only difference is in the heat spreader.

There are 2 questions. Is the heat spreader worth the extra $$, and will the bigger heatspreader even fit in the board (see board in specs), since I'll be using all the slots?

I really won't have all that much heat inside the case anyway, since the CPU and GPU will be watercooled, so I guess that the DHX spreaders would be more for 'bling', and e-penis factor more than anything

What say you?

kris23 · Apr 11, 2008, 06:50 PM

Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

that memory is better than the two sets you posted, better binned, latencies.

x2 is alright but id rather get more FPS with a monitor like yours, id get a 9800 but ehh. not as good a picture.

you thiink you want a Phenom? Black edition got price raised but it seems to OC better with AMD overdrive.

BlueMak · Apr 11, 2008, 06:55 PM

I just don't trust AMD's current products, CPU or GPU. Are you sure you want to go that way?

kris23 · Apr 11, 2008, 06:57 PM

i doubt he has the money for a new system.....

its only a new vid card and some cheap mem, and i think his wife had a stranglehold on his wallet if i remember correctly

OldBuzzard · Apr 11, 2008, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

... and i think his wife had a stranglehold on his wallet if i remember correctly

Not quite a stranglehold. If that was the issue, I wouldn't be getting the waterblock for the video card. It's just not worth listening to all the chin music at times. While getting that extra 2 FPS is Quack XLVIII, and a .0006 point boost in 3Dmark99 is good for the e-penis, it sometimes is offset by an increase in the ambient noise factor in the homestead.

I'm not going to OC, so a wee bit slower memory shouldn't be an issue. What I'm looking for is a good SOLID 30-40 FPS in FSX with the sliders turned up. I'm looking for more IQ than raw speed.

Even if I went for the faster mem, it's still a Q of whether or not 4 sticks will fit.

@Blue

nVidia: Lying weasels with a long history of cheating and optomizing on benchmarks. Pawning off what should have been called a DX8.5 card as being DX9. Releasing 15 billion drivers, all your applications work with just one, and none of them are the same.

Intel: Worse than nVidia. A case history for shady and illegal business practices. Tried to put in a 'big brother' number in their Pent Pro, or Pent II CPUs, so they could track them.

It will be a cold, cold day in hell before I ever use an Intel Processor, or nVidia GPU.

BlueMak · Apr 11, 2008, 08:18 PM

Up to you, I have learned to have no allegiance to any company unless they pay me.

kris23 · Apr 11, 2008, 08:24 PM

the DHX heatsinks will allow for 4 sticks to run, its no problem, CMX has been doing that for quiite some time now.

i like good timings, i see the 1/8th second increase in responsiveness and for 10 bucks more, its not bad. helps in load times

kris23 · Apr 11, 2008, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMak

Up to you, I have learned to have no allegiance to any company unless they pay me.

lol thats pretty much the same exact thing Intel is trying to exploit.... pay them money so they will only take their merchandise, thats also what OldBuzzard hates....

lol i have no allegiance to any company, which ever side is faster im sticking to...

i am beginning to take a liking to AMD for cheap systems, they seem fine now and will slowly get better, though as is, i dont thing they'll ever keep up with intel for a long time...... theyre just too small.

Robert McClelland · Apr 11, 2008, 10:17 PM

I think you should go with my setup lol if you want pc under 1300 bucks. I can't order my parts once my bank account open where I live