Hi I'm speccing up a new PC, which this isn't a "no matter what the cost" build, I'm prepared to push the budget a little on this one. It's to replace a Dell M90, Dual Core 2.2, with 7900 series graphics which has been used for gaming of late, but I'm finding on the latest games I can't run them maxed out on the 1920 x 1200 res screen (or my 1600 x 1200 2nd monitor). Having to drop down the res to 1024x768 and switch off the detail is kinda humiliating! So basically I want something that will work just as well as a workstation (inc photo editing), but game at a decent res and give me that lovely warm glow that comes from turning all those dials up to 11! Obvious choice seems to be to get a top spec 24" monitor (I've used the Dell 2409 and like it) as they offer pretty good value for money for a monitor with good colour gamut and still great for gaming. While this won't be the main media machine in the house a bluray drive is probably a must so 1080p is also on the want list. First question: 30" Monitor (Such as the Dell 3008) comes at a fairly hefty premium over the 24". Anyone out there actually gaming on one one of these at native res? Is it really worth the extra £££? By the time the rest of the machine is specced to cope, I'd be looking at something like a 1.5k premium! Second question: What GPU? How many? If I get something like 280 from team green, would I be OK on the 24"? Talking games from the orange box, L4D that ilk. I'm thinking that starting with a single 280 now would allow me to go dual or tripple SLI if I need to. Avoiding SLI etc at first would ensure I get good performance on as much as possible from the off. Is my logic strong kung fu? Third question: CPU? I wish Intel had brought out an 8 core i7, as I think that would answer my needs. I run my main work OS in a VMWare virtual machine, so a decent multi core CPU is a must. My current thinking is looking at a machine something like: - i7 920 - 6gb (3x2) Ram - 280 series GPU - Dell 24" I can SLI the graphics as an upgrade, and replace the 920 as well. Adding in another 6gb of Ram is also likely. Ta in advance. Jen
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121330&Tpk=Skulltrail 2X Core2 Quad Extreme: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=28924&vpn=BX80574QX9775&manufacture=Intel 3X GTX 280: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=33954&vpn=01G-P3-1289-A1&manufacture=eVGA Monitor: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=17027&vpn=PO24FSSBS&manufacture=Samsung PSU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817101033 Cooling: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=33636&vpn=ERM-3K4U5&manufacture=Koolance
4870 (or the X2 if you can stretch) would be a better choice than the GTX280, purely because of value for money Might be an idea to wait for the dual GT200 card to come out next month
A 1366X768 res monitor? I have one of those in the front room for playing online flash games. Plus a 40" monitor is no good for a workstation, even 30" is pushing it a little.
That's not a bad idea! I quite like the route nvidia are taking by using all that raw power for a bit more than basic pixel pushing, but you can't argue with the results the ati cards are capable of for the ££. Running a dual 4870x2 config is also on the thought list, but only really necesary if I go down the 30" route (not likely)
