EPTComputer Build Resource Thread - Page 330
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When using this resource, please read FragKrag's opening post. The Tech Support forum regulars have helped create countless of desktop systems without any compensation. The least you can do is provide all of the information required for them to help you properly. | ||
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Uhh Negative
United States1090 Posts
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Womwomwom
5930 Posts
Basically what you're trying to do is cram as many transistors into as small of a space as possible as it improves performance as smaller transistors switch faster, reduces power as the connection distances are shorter, and reduces cost as you can cram more CPUs onto the same wafer of silicon. | ||
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Myrmidon
United States9452 Posts
On June 10 2011 09:29 Uhh Negative wrote: Can anyone explain to me why CPUs are so small? It seems to me like they would want to make them bigger so there would be less heat per area so they could run them faster and cooler at the expense of just more size which there is ample room in a typical desktop computer. Is it something to do with the distance the signal has to travel across the chip? Does that even play at role at this point in technology? The refined, processor-grade silicon is super expensive, so you want designs to be as small as possible so you can manufacture more chips per wafer. Also, the manufacturing process (which is done per wafer) isn't cheap either. Actually, at the clock speeds we're talking about, the distances are actually non-negligible. The very rough rule of thumb says that you start having to worry about transmission line effects when the signal path is around the same order of magnitude as the wavelength (and a little less). Well, I'm not exactly sure. I think there may be additional issues that I'm not aware of. Anyway, the length of a die is what, something like 20 mm? With a clock speed of 3.5 GHz, wavelength is about 86 mm. So there are additional challenges. See here, for example: http://www.altera.com/technology/signal/fundamentals/basics/sgl-basics.html#_Transmission_Line_Effects edit: this paper is from 1998 and is talking about issues with 400 MHz processors: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=663576 Also, on modern CPUs, the main heat-producing areas are actually a small percentage of the total area as it is. | ||
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Jochan
Poland1730 Posts
Things above I buy and from my old PC I salvage:
My biggest question is motherboard choice and processor, I could downgrade my GPU to a GTX460 and cover with this Intel i7, or spring 180$ for an i7 as it fits rest of those components as well. | ||
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AngryNarwhal_111
United States51 Posts
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FinBenton
Finland870 Posts
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Jochan
Poland1730 Posts
On June 10 2011 22:10 FinBenton wrote: Jochan: I think you might want P67 or Z67 board with that 2500k cpu as they do support overclocking. Oh shit, thanks, didn't spot that "k" was for OC, I have no intention of that. As I need the new computer fast I just configure what they have in stock. | ||
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Womwomwom
5930 Posts
Also get the cheapest DDR3 memory possible. If HyperX are not the cheapest, don't get them. | ||
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ensign_lee
United States1178 Posts
On June 10 2011 22:33 Jochan wrote: Oh shit, thanks, didn't spot that "k" was for OC, I have no intention of that. As I need the new computer fast I just configure what they have in stock. I don't know how much more expensive K chips are in Poland, but here, they're like $20 more...for A LOT MORE potential (plus resale value if you ever sell your computer). To me, the $20 is more than fair for that upgrade. | ||
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Womwomwom
5930 Posts
Altogether that can like get your half of a Ivy Bridge processor next year or something like that. | ||
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JingleHell
United States11308 Posts
On June 10 2011 23:36 Womwomwom wrote: And you add the motherboard costs and CPU cooler costs. Costs are somewhat deceiving, kind of like SLI/Crossfire and the hidden costs involved because you need a beefier PSU, a better case, and a motherboard that actually supports PCIe 16x/4x minimum. Altogether that can like get your half of a Ivy Bridge processor next year or something like that. SLI also requires large expenditures on aspirin or tylenol to keep your head from exploding when going out on a weeknight makes you realize you're getting bloody old. Don't forget that hidden cost. Loud ass PC's and hangovers don't mix. | ||
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Halure
Canada26 Posts
btw, is it possible to get a SSD to use as a boot drive with a $800 budget? | ||
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JingleHell
United States11308 Posts
On June 11 2011 03:54 Halure wrote: I'm looking to build a rig that can play SC2 on med/high at 1080p. My budget is around $800, so I don't plan on overclocking anything. I'm going to need a copy of Windows 7 as well, but I can probably get it at a discounted price through my university. Any suggestions? :o btw, is it possible to get a SSD to use as a boot drive with a $800 budget? Yes, at a loss to gaming performance. An SSD isn't super viable until around $1000 unless you're planning to play on low. Just install on a separate partition, save up, and add in the SSD later, since you can't add half of a graphics card or CPU. | ||
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skyR
Canada13817 Posts
Here's a configuration that is capable of playing Starcraft II along with other games on medium / high at 1080p for $611 before mail in rebates (not including Windows 7): Intel Core i5 2400 @ $181 (pricematch with http://www.vastech.ca/intel-core-i5-2400-sandy-bridge-3-1ghz-cpu.html ) http://ncix.com/products/?sku=57964 Gigabyte H67M D2 @ $88 ($78 after mail in rebate) http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=59419 XFX Radeon HD6850 @ $170 ($150 after mail in rebate) http://ncix.com/products/?sku=57284&promoid=1339 Coolermaster HAF 912 @ $49 (pricematch with http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/230752/COOLERMASTER/RC_912_KKN1/ ) http://ncix.com/products/?sku=55583&promoid=1339 Mushkin 2x2GB 1333MHz @ $36 http://ncix.com/products/?sku=55546&promoid=1339 Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB @ $40 (pricematch with http://canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?&item_id=036109 ) http://ncix.com/products/?sku=58402 DVD Burner @ $18 (pricematch with http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/219381/SH-S223LBEBS/Samsung/ ) http://ncix.com/products/?sku=42349 XFX Core Edition Pro 450 @ $47 ($37 after mail in rebate) (pricematch with http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=15180AC2804 ) http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=59614 Assuming you are able to get Windows 7 for free from your university, this leaves you with $153 in your budget of $800 which could be saved or used towards a SSD. Intel 320 Series 40GB @ $85 http://ncix.com/products/?sku=59822 Intel 320 Series 80GB @ $160 (pricematch with http://www.pc-canada.com/item.asp?item=SSDSA2CW080G310 ) http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=59825 If this configuration is for the sole purpose of Starcraft II, you could also downgrade from the core i5 2400 to the core i3 2100 since Starcraft II only utilizes two cores: Intel Core i3 2100 @ $115 (pricematch with http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=12200BD7933 ) http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=58339 | ||
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KO_SharpMind
Canada277 Posts
So I placed my order with NCIX, and they said to not send my payment until I receive a confirmation that my price matches were accepted. (i'll be using paypal) So do they just send me a confirmation email after they have accepted a price match so that I can send my payment? Sorry if this is of topic I thought it'd be better to ask here. Thanks for your help. | ||
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zylog
Canada943 Posts
The issue is that my CPU cooler (Corsair A50) has a fan that sticks out over the first memory slot, and my memory (G. Skill Ripjaws X) has vertical fins for heat dissipation. For this reason, I'm currently using slots 2 and 4 for my memory. This also means that I would have to get a different brand of memory for my next 4 GB. My questions are: - will RAM without vertical fins fit under the CPU fan? From eyeballing, it looks like it might, albeit tightly, but I'm not entirely sure. Is this a common issue for CPU coolers? - what brands of RAM don't have these types of fins? - what should I be looking for in terms of compatibility? My current RAM is DDR3 at 1600MHz, 9-9-9-24 timings and and 1.5 volts. Should the new ram have the same ratings? | ||
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JingleHell
United States11308 Posts
Most CPU coolers are designed to not obstruct standard RAM, you might have to remove the cooler to put it in though. Make sure you have thermal paste on hand, clean off the old thermal paste, and reapply new paste. Most brands sell RAM without the heat spreaders, and yes, you're safe not running heat spreaders. As long as all your memory is rated for the timings and clock you actually run at in the BIOS, it should be fine, that sort of issues is mostly a thing of the past now days. Of the numbers, I'd call voltage the most important one to have match, so you aren't under or overvolting DIMMs, since clock and timings you can just set to the lower ratings if they don't match. Also, an option by the looks of it, you could face the fan the other direction on the mounting brackets and put it on the other side of the heat sink. Just remove the heat sink first, or you might cause your CPU to unseat, no matter how gentle you are. (I did this just last week, had one of my memory channels disappear) | ||
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skyR
Canada13817 Posts
On June 11 2011 05:54 KO_SharpMind wrote: Hey I just have a quick question. So I placed my order with NCIX, and they said to not send my payment until I receive a confirmation that my price matches were accepted. (i'll be using paypal) So do they just send me a confirmation email after they have accepted a price match so that I can send my payment? Sorry if this is of topic I thought it'd be better to ask here. Thanks for your help. Yes, they'll send you an email about whether the price match was accepted or rejected. | ||
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valdor4
United States56 Posts
I had a few hiccups here and there, but overall it went pretty smooth. Will be running a stress test later tonight, also going to overclock later too. Thanks for the help, will really like this new build! | ||
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HuggyBear
Australia377 Posts
Is SSD Caching worth it on a 60 Gb SSD? or is it better to just stick with the P67 and manually manage the drives? | ||
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