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Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread - Page 227

Forum Index > Tech Support
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When using this resource, please read the 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.
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20326 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-02-18 23:05:50
February 18 2014 23:02 GMT
#4521
Screen, (decent) keyboard, (decent)mouse+mousepad, ssd, chair/desk etc; you can do without all of them and be mostly ok if you prioritize hardware, but quality of life is so so much higher with them. It feels too good to sit down next to good mouse+pad, mech keyboard, high quality/performance screen and then hit "on" button and boot power off to desktop in 10 seconds. If you value them enough to sacrifice hardware for (in budget) is up to individual, but i think most people under-value all of these things unless they have personally tried them. By the time a 770 makes sense, you can afford to shift stuff around, still have a great system and have quality of life stuff like this
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Cainam
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States421 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-02-19 00:11:11
February 19 2014 00:06 GMT
#4522
I really appreciate the input guys, it helps a lot. I'm going to tweak it some more and post an updated build later tonight or tomorrow. SSD is going in for sure, and it sounds likes spending a bit more on the monitor would be worth it as well. I was trying to go budget today and not spend the entire 1400, but fuck it I'm gonna go for it. I haven't treated myself to anything like this in years. Already have a great chair/desk and mouse (TTesports Theron, fucking love it, I haven't felt this good about a mouse since my MX518 died.)

Edit: Any specific tips on a better motherboard/monitor?
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20326 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-02-19 03:44:51
February 19 2014 02:55 GMT
#4523


It's 4smm +1gb vram (rated 5ghz) vs 5smm +2gb vram (rated ~5400) at ~27% higher price here.. i guess it makes sense to get the TI

Edit: Any specific tips on a better motherboard/monitor?


Most mobo's are ok, just small differences (there's near-bottom but not bottom end z87 from most manufacturers, like the z87x-d3h)

Monitor, depends what you want. Usually a choice between ~1440p IPS or a fast 1080p tn monitor (120hz, strobe backlight etc)
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Incognoto
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
France10239 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-02-19 08:22:54
February 19 2014 08:18 GMT
#4524
http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2014/2/18/nvidias-gtx-750-ti-introduces-maxwell-and-a-whole-lotta-cache.aspx

Man, these architechtural discussions are gibberish to me. From the little I understand though, Maxwell uses SMM "compute clusters" while Kepler used SMX.

One SMM cluster has 128 shader cores ( 4 x 32 ) and one SMX cluster has 192 shader cores. The difference between the two clusters is that SMM is divided into 4 smaller sections which allows them to work more efficiently (I'm guessing parallel work-loads and stuff like that?) than one HUGE block of 192 cores.

An SMM cluster might be less powerful than an SMX cluster on paper (due to less shader cores in absolute value) however I'm guessing that overall an SMM is more efficient in terms of power consumption. Other things need to be taken into account though, like how SMM cluster has a bigger cache than an SMX cluster.

Anyway, the GM107 is the PCB's name right? Something like that? Kind of like how the 780, the 780 Ti and the Titan are all based on GK110. The difference between the three cards is based on the amount of SMX clusters they had operational (something like that).

Hmm, that sounds about right. It's easier to understand something if you attempt to explain it yourself; if I got anything wrong or left out some details, just gimme a holler.


Edit: Myrmidon's post last page makes about 20% more sense to me now.
maru lover forever
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20326 Posts
February 19 2014 08:24 GMT
#4525
GM107 is the die, as for example gk104 is gtx770, 760 (760 has 1/4 of the SMX disabled) and gk110 is 780, titan, 780ti and titan black (12, 14, 15 and 15 smx, so 3 disabled, 1 disabled, 0, 0)
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
iTzSnypah
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States1738 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-02-19 08:49:14
February 19 2014 08:46 GMT
#4526
I finally figured out what the two letters mean a while back.

G = Graphics Core
F,K,M = Architecture (Fermi, Kepler, Maxwell, ect)

Mind Blown Right?

Anyways each SMM (what SMX got renamed to) has higher effective memory throughput compared to a Kepler SMX (L2 Cache grown over 1600%, 128-bit 5Ghz GDDR5 feeding 128 shader cores instead of 192). Gotta keep them cores fed. Which is probably where most of the efficiency gains came from.
Team Liquid needs more Terrans.
Incognoto
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
France10239 Posts
February 19 2014 09:26 GMT
#4527
Ah it's the die. Ok, ok, good stuff.
maru lover forever
Mohdoo
Profile Joined August 2007
United States15742 Posts
February 19 2014 16:38 GMT
#4528
Is there a current "The SSD to get"? I need to replace mine and I've been having a hard time finding which one is the current "one". In my experience, there is always one SSD that is the best choice.
Antoine
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States7481 Posts
February 19 2014 16:43 GMT
#4529
samsung 840 evo is the one currently. it's not the best SSD, but for most users it's the best choice due to slightly worse write performance than the 840 pro with dramatically lower prices, and roughly the same read performance.
ModeratorFlash Sea Action Snow Midas | TheStC Ret Tyler MC | RIP 우정호
Myrmidon
Profile Blog Joined December 2004
United States9452 Posts
February 19 2014 16:46 GMT
#4530
In the last few years, mostly just whatever's cheap out of a list of reasonable models that are proven and/or more reliable (I'd take anything on the market still offered by Intel, Samsung, and Crucial (except V4), for starters). It's not like when you just wanted a X25-M G2 or something like that.

Performance has kind of stagnated in some ways with the SATA3 interface being a bottleneck. If you're not writing huge amounts of data to it every day while filling it up close to 100% or perhaps writing large sequential chunks like for working with uncompressed video or something, the performance on almost everything is great.
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20326 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-02-20 02:18:18
February 20 2014 02:13 GMT
#4531
Stock bios is garbage. Cant wait to pop in the modded. I'm hitting 1350 BC with just 1.137v.


http://cdn.overclock.net/0/02/02357d60_00004.png

wow, insane GPU's. 1350@1.137. Many gk104's don't quite hit 1300 at 1.212.

The clocks are high, but they'll still probably consume very little power until they get to >1.2v range, like Kepler. People ran 1.25-1.3v quite often with little to no negative consequences (with some extreme benching on cold water at 1.4-~1.5v) so i don't think these kinds of volts/clocks will be an issue. It's obviously clocked extremely conservatively out of the box

Uploading a shadowplay of it in Battlefield 4 Multiplayer. Full 64 man server, 1080P, Custom ultra with no MSAA, Oman 2014.. Right around 60fps
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Cainam
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States421 Posts
February 20 2014 03:29 GMT
#4532
Okay I think I'm finally there:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Biostar Hi-Fi Z87X 3D ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (Purchased For $59.99)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($114.99 @ Best Buy)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($259.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($26.97 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Acer G246HLAbd 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($167.58 @ Newegg)
Total: $1269.46
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-19 22:25 EST-0500)

The monitor is my only question mark. If you guys have any suggestions for a better one in the <$200 price range I'm all ears
skyR
Profile Joined July 2009
Canada13817 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-02-20 04:04:39
February 20 2014 03:57 GMT
#4533
Is there a particular reason you're buying a Samsung 840 Pro? If there is no particular reason then I'd get this combo instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1461967

$558 ($537 after mail in rebate) vs your current $220+$115+$260 = $595

I mean if you're going to go for a 840 Pro, you may as well go for a better case and monitor.

You're also missing a heatsink.
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20326 Posts
February 20 2014 04:06 GMT
#4534
I've never heard of that biostar board before (or seen anyone using it on ocn)
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Cainam
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States421 Posts
February 20 2014 05:13 GMT
#4535
On February 20 2014 12:57 skyR wrote:
Is there a particular reason you're buying a Samsung 840 Pro? If there is no particular reason then I'd get this combo instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1461967

$558 ($537 after mail in rebate) vs your current $220+$115+$260 = $595

I mean if you're going to go for a 840 Pro, you may as well go for a better case and monitor.

You're also missing a heatsink.


Thanks for that. Makes way more sense. If I don't plan on overclocking at this time is the stock heat sink enough?

On February 20 2014 13:06 Cyro wrote:
I've never heard of that biostar board before (or seen anyone using it on ocn)


It seems good from the reviews I've read. If you have any suggestions for something better in a similar price area I'm open to suggestions! I only started really researching this stuff a few days ago, I still feel pretty clueless.
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20326 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-02-20 05:21:15
February 20 2014 05:17 GMT
#4536
If you don't plan on overclocking, you're wasting money on cpu+board - if you mean you want to buy a new heatsink and OC then in like a year.. then that's probably not a good path to go down, so many people do that and then just never OC. So many people buy OC parts, pay extra for cpu, mobo, heatsink and then just never OC, and that's worse

z87x-d3h, that msi board second up from bottom, g43? Some asus boards are good but their sensors are confusing, it's hard to tell if voltages are dropping properly etc. You can get the lower end boards but it's tempting to get the not-quite-bottom-tier like z87x-d3h because they're actually really great boards (you can for example run however extreme an overclock you want on one, the CPU would die before the board was struggling), just without many premium features

Biostar for z87.. i've heard the name a few times, but literally nobody on OCN threads actually uses it
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Rollin
Profile Joined March 2011
Australia1552 Posts
February 20 2014 06:42 GMT
#4537
If you're not planning on overclocking when you build, don't ever overclock. It's that simple.
Throw off those chains of reason, and your prison disappears. | Check your posting frequency timeline: http://www.teamliquid.net/mytlnet/post_activity_img.php
wptlzkwjd
Profile Joined January 2012
Canada1240 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-02-20 07:12:49
February 20 2014 07:12 GMT
#4538
On February 20 2014 15:42 Rollin wrote:
If you're not planning on overclocking when you build, don't ever overclock. It's that simple.


Buying overclocked gear without a heatsink is a waste of money. Buying overclocked gear with a heatsink and don't overclock is a even more waste of money.
Feel free to add me on steam: http://steamcommunity.com/id/MagnusAskeland/
Broetchenholer
Profile Joined March 2011
Germany1952 Posts
February 20 2014 12:41 GMT
#4539
Hey guys, hope you can help me out. I am in a bit of a dilemma. I desperately need to upgrade my system, however, the next game i really really need it for isnot due before 2015, which is Star Citizen.

Right now, i am running a system with an Intel Core 2 Duo, 3 GB DDR2, Geforce GTS250, and stuff around those 3 that make sense. The system is about 6 years old, i am not too sure on the specs and i am not in front of it right now. Anyway, anything new brings it to it's limitations, so, whatever i am trying to play right now is basically limited by the system already.

SO buying something new is the obvious solution, HOWEVER, i really don't like to buy hardware between major upgrades. With the limitations of week consoles gone, i am expecting a huge jump in technology in the next year or so and i really want to play Star Citizen on a computer that is just below the very best for that time. And i fear that if i buy right now, i am either paying horrendously too much for that, or getting a weak system.

What is your budget?
I like to buy the solution that is below the very very best at the moment, as you usually pay extra for the last step. Back with my last computer, the solution was a GTS 8800. So, the budget is ammendable. However, i usually pay around 1000€ for my system, without periphery hardware.

What is your monitor's native resolution?
My monitor right now is a pretty cheap 23", the next one is gonna be better, the system should be able to handle at least 1600-xxxx. I also want to use the oculus rift when it comes out.

What games do you intend to play on this computer?
StarCitizen + mostly strategy games and RPGs. So, Star Citizen is the bottleneck :D

What settings?

It should look good. At least for a year i should be able to play everything out there with almost everything on full/high.

What do you intend to use the computer for besides gaming?
Nothing.

Do you intend to overclock?
No, i usually don't. Hardware that is sold already overclocked is okay but i don't want to find the exact limits of the hardware by pushing a slider to the right.
Do you intend to do SLI / Crossfire?
If it helps. As far as i have understood it by now, SLI/Crossfire is only needed if you want to create something even faster then the very best single-card-solution. I don't need that.
Do you need an operating system?
I am still running WinXP, so yes, but that money has nothing to do with the money for the PC.
Do you need a monitor or any other peripherals and is this part of your budget?
No.
If you have any requirements or brand preferences, please specify.
I don't, i am buying what is best right now.
What country will you be buying your parts in?
Germany.
If you have any retailer preferences, please specify.
Nope.

The most important question is whether to upgrade at all. I've checked for announcements for new CPU or GPU generations but did not find any. I would usually buy stuff when the new generation is driving the prices of performance down. If there is nothing to come, there is no reason to wait. And if the jump with the new generation isn't significant anyway, there is no reason to wait either. Right now, when i play games like DayZ, i am in a big disadvantage because i get so few fps. So i would want to upgrade, but only if the system would still be able to handle games in a year and is still affordable.

Any suggestions?

Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20326 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-02-20 12:52:34
February 20 2014 12:51 GMT
#4540
Wait until we have at least powerful Maxwell GPU's (releasing this year.. we just got 750/750ti on 28nm gm107 which was surprisingly good, waiting on some of the bigger dies and 20nm)

By that time we'll know more what's going on with CPU front etc. It might be the case that not much changes there (if it's late 2014 to early 2015)

We don't have too widely detailed info for star citizen performance yet, so hard to say for that too (other than buy big)
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
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