Possible New System

[KaoticEvil[SETI.USA]]

What do yall think of this for a crunching rig? http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.513237

Pretty soon, I should have some extra $$ to build a new rig. Trying to get the most bang for my buck. I already have a case, all the optical drives, and a 430w PSU. Case could be replaced if needed, but I would prefer not to.

[Maxwell]

Not sure what your budget is, but if you can add in a few more bucks, I have one suggestion:

Sub out the video card in that deal and add in this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129163

Should run off a 430W PSU, (underclock the RAM to help save power), and will allow you to crunch MW (unlike the card in that combo pack).

[KaoticEvil[SETI.USA]]

My budget is gonna be around $500.. Shipping and all.. This is several months down the road yet (around tax return time), just getting some ideas for right now. Might be able to spend more.. Depends on what I get back... And how sweet I am to the wife between now and then lol!!

That's a sweet video card.. Does no one like nVidia GPU's? Or has ATI surpassed them in bang/buck ratio, like AMD has with Intel?

[Beerdrinker]

If this is a dedicated cruncher setup...I would build it myself...Go cheap board, and cheap AMD X2 / X3/ X4 CPU and the strongest GPU you can afford...That would give you the most CS..

[Maxwell]

Without upgrading your PSU, a NVidia card will get you ~15k/day, and that 4850 will get you ~80k. So yeah, ATI cards will kick the pants off NVidia cards in terms of credits. The price you pay is that fewer projects have ATI apps.

When you get closer to pulling the trigger on this system, post again to see if we can get you a better video card in your budget range...

[KaoticEvil[SETI.USA]]

If this is a dedicated cruncher setup...I would build it myself...Go cheap board, and cheap AMD X2 / X3/ X4 CPU and the strongest GPU you can afford...That would give you the most CS..
It will be a mostly dedicated cruncher.. I want to go cheap.. But I also want some room for expandability later down the road.. Right now, I'm just sounding out some ideas..


Without upgrading your PSU, a NVidia card will get you ~15k/day, and that 4850 will get you ~80k. So yeah, ATI cards will kick the pants off NVidia cards in terms of credits. The price you pay is that fewer projects have ATI apps.
Seriously? the credit difference is THAT high?! Wow. Not just looking to build a crunching rig tho.. Pieces will probably be a dedicated cruncher at that time, but the new one will be my "everyday" rig.. Mostly crunching, with gaming and stuff in the mix here and there...


When you get closer to pulling the trigger on this system, post again to see if we can get you a better video card in your budget range...
Absolutely will do that.. Just sounding out ideas to give myself a direction to do some research in right now :)

Thanks for the input!

[Maxwell]

;326']Seriously? the credit difference is THAT high?! Wow. Not just looking to build a crunching rig tho.. Pieces will probably be a dedicated cruncher at that time, but the new one will be my "everyday" rig.. Mostly crunching, with gaming and stuff in the mix here and there...
That's the rig I just built (without the gaming aspect). And yeah, the difference is that high. Definitely go the ATI route - gaming will be great, and credits will be better.

[KaoticEvil[SETI.USA]]

That's the rig I just built (without the gaming aspect). And yeah, the difference is that high. Definitely go the ATI route - gaming will be great, and credits will be better.

Good deal. Thanks for the info :) Are you running Intel or AMD for a CPU? For a long time, I've preferred AMD over Intel because of the bang/buck factor..

[Maxwell]

;330']Good deal. Thanks for the info :) Are you running Intel or AMD for a CPU? For a long time, I've preferred AMD over Intel because of the bang/buck factor..
I'm rocking an AMD x6. I wanted 6 physical cores, and $300 was cheaper than $1000...:p

[Mr. Hankey]

That's the rig I just built (without the gaming aspect). And yeah, the difference is that high. Definitely go the ATI route - gaming will be great, and credits will be better.


And FYI the ATI cards make great gaming cards too...

[Swordfish]

;317']And how sweet I am to the wife between now and then lol!!

Time to make a list of everything she likes and doesn't like. You're married, you know the rest... ;) ;)

[Maxwell]

Time to make a list of everything she likes and doesn't like. You're married, you know the rest... ;) ;)
Probably shouldn't include a dishwasher...;)

[KaoticEvil[SETI.USA]]

I'm rocking an AMD x6. I wanted 6 physical cores, and $300 was cheaper than $1000...:p

Only $300 for a 6 core?! I may have to try to see if I can finagle my way into one of those ;)

[KaoticEvil[SETI.USA]]

Probably shouldn't include a dishwasher...;)

No need.. We already have a dishwasher... She's almost 12 years old! :))

[joker]

Probably shouldn't include a dishwasher...

HEY! ;)

As for the 6 core, well under $300! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103849

[DrPop]

;371']No need.. We already have a dishwasher... She's almost 12 years old! :))

There were three boys in my family and my dad used to say "I've got three of 'em!" :D

Kaoticevil - is this to repace your dual core rig? Win 7 will be a lot snappier once you replace the Gpu alone.
Just a thought...if you want a snappier Win7 experience & tons more points, you could just get a 5870 for $299 and call it good for a while.;)

Is there any specific programs or computing stuff you're looking for a boost in?

[KaoticEvil[SETI.USA]]

There were three boys in my family and my dad used to say "I've got three of 'em!" :D

Kaoticevil - is this to repace your dual core rig? Win 7 will be a lot snappier once you replace the Gpu alone.
Just a thought...if you want a snappier Win7 experience & tons more points, you could just get a 5870 for $299 and call it good for a while.;)

Is there any specific programs or computing stuff you're looking for a boost in?

It will sorta replace the dual core.. The wife will inherit it, as she does all my computer hand-me down, at which point it will be running LinuxMint.

Win7 Ult actually runs REALLY well on this dual core, even with the onboard GPU. Aero runs, and is really smooth, no complaints about it, that's for sure! I gotta say tho, I'm thinking about dumping PG on this rig for a little while, and trying out AQUA. See what my credits look like there...

As for specifics, nothing really in particular. Just an all around bad-a$$ rig. Something that will keep me running for a few years, until I can replace it and build a new one :)

[DrPop]

Ok, that makes sense. If you're after credits, you can see by what just happened in the dual with Joker - it's all about the GPU power.
So...I'd go with less of a CPU and more GPU if that's what you want. That is also true now for lots of CAD and Photoshop work, because the latest versions all use the GPU to accelerate renderings.
If you had a specific program in mind, however, we could see what the ratings were on different CPUs to give you a ball-park chip to shoot at cost wise. For cost/performance you typically want to go with the third chip down in the lineup. Current examples of this would include the 5830, the X6 1055T and the i7 950. All are the "third chip down" in their respective lineups. Now, there are faster out there - but buying those are never the "best bang for the buck!" Now gee...how would I know THAT? :D hehehehe

[KaoticEvil[SETI.USA]]

Ok, that makes sense. If you're after credits, you can see by what just happened in the dual with Joker - it's all about the GPU power.
So...I'd go with less of a CPU and more GPU if that's what you want. That is also true now for lots of CAD and Photoshop work, because the latest versions all use the GPU to accelerate renderings.
If you had a specific program in mind, however, we could see what the ratings were on different CPUs to give you a ball-park chip to shoot at cost wise. For cost/performance you typically want to go with the third chip down in the lineup. Current examples of this would include the 5830, the X6 1055T and the i7 950. All are the "third chip down" in their respective lineups. Now, there are faster out there - but buying those are never the "best bang for the buck!" Now gee...how would I know THAT? :D hehehehe

I'm really thinking about going high-end with the CPU/mobo/RAM for now.. And then upgrading the video further down the road... Usually ends up being the most affordable option, in my experience.. Besides, if I've got a high-end CPU/RAM/mobo, it's easy to add a new video board to squeeze more longevity out of a rig, know what I mean?