Is This A Good PC Setup?

[Fooz]

Computer Specs:

CPU: Intel i5-760 Quad Core Overclocked to 4.0Ghz

GPU: Sapphire ATi Radeon HD 6870 1GB (i may get another one and crossfire them)

RAM: Corsair Dominator 8GB (2X 4GB Sticks)

Motherboard: Asus P7P55D Xtreme Design

Cooling System: Titan TTC-NK85TZ Fenrir

Hard Drive: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB

2nd Hard Drive: WD Elements 1TB External Hard Drive

PSU: 650W Corsair

OS: Windows 7 64 Bit

Case: Xigmatek Asgard ATX Mid


I'm just wondering if you think this is a good PC setup? because my friend seems to think its not that good whereas i think its pretty god damn awesome

[HEADING=3]I already own this PC[/HEADING] but i want to see what you, the people the escapist thinks and maybe how you would improve it?

Also tell me your setup, im interested to know

 

[Weaver]

It looks fine to me. There is likely nothing out there you won't be maxing, or at least close to it.

 

[Wolfram23]

Is it good? Yes. It's actually quite similar to mine I built a year ago, except with an i5 750 and a 5850... although now I have two of them.

The issue I have is that if you're planning on buying this, there's really no point in getting an i5 760 when you could get an i5 2500k for the same price. Sandy bridge CPUs are far faster and OC a lot more.

Spoiler: EDIT: Oh and here's my PC

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/266095-29-water-cooling-antec-build-thread

 

[TriggerHappyAngel]

It's not the unholy ruler of all PC's, put it looks pretty darn powerfull.

Spoiler: My Gaming Rig

Manufacturer: Paradigit
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.8GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Hard Drive: 984 GB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460
Monitor: Iiyama 22 inch LCD
Sound Card: Realtek High Definition Audio
Speakers/Headphones: Fatal1ty 5.1 sourround
Keyboard: Logitech Wired
Mouse: Logitech Optical
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.100618-1621)
Computer Case: Paradigit Enforcer

 

[Fooz]

Looks good. Better than mine anyways.

But...If you don't want it, I'll take it!

How much did that cost ya?

around £1000

Edit: £900, sorry i was looking at the receipt of the parts and it included mouse, keyboard and speakers (which i dont know why i bought because its hooked up to my TV -___- stupid guy is stupid)

 

[oplinger]

Looks good. Better than mine anyways.

But...If you don't want it, I'll take it!

How much did that cost ya?

around £1000

Then no. It's not that good.

I was going to say it's fine XD but, if that cost you 1000 dollars... I'm guessing most of that was the video card?

Also the processor is overpowered. 4GHz is almost meaningless as a speed.

 

[Weaver]

Looks good. Better than mine anyways.

But...If you don't want it, I'll take it!

How much did that cost ya?

around £1000

Then no. It's not that good.

I was going to say it's fine XD but, if that cost you 1000 dollars... I'm guessing most of that was the video card?

Also the processor is overpowered. 4GHz is almost meaningless as a speed.

Hardware prices are wacky in the UK.

 

[newwiseman]

I'd get a larger PSU probably a 800w, especially if your considering ever adding another video card.

That will also give your the flexibility of a 3rd or 4th HDD in the future without issues.

 

[Fooz]

I've got two 6870s in crossfire right now, and they'll run any DX11 game on maximum settings @ 1080P 60FPS no problems. But you'll need at least a 750-Watt PSU in order to crossfire without issue. That's what I have and it's barely enough under load. That said, I do have 12GB of RAM spread across four sticks and two internal harddrives, as well as five large cooling fans. So you could try risking the 650-Watt, but personally I'd rather play it safe.

Beyond that, looks good.

thanks for the advice, yeah i was thinking 650W might be a little bit low for a crossfire

 

[viranimus]

It looks very good. However, and trust me when I say this, someone, somewhere will look at that and say

You nob(Yes, Nob)... I wouldnt boot windows 95 with that! Seriously you should be ashamed of calling that a game even able to boot games that were made in the last decade and should commit Seppuku for the disgrace you have caused my eyes for even looking at something that horrendous.

Ok, perhaps not those EXACT words, but yeah, no matter how good of a machine you got, someone always thinks theirs is better, Even if theirs only exist in their head.

 

[Wolfram23]

I've got two 6870s in crossfire right now, and they'll run any DX11 game on maximum settings @ 1080P 60FPS no problems. But you'll need at least a 750-Watt PSU in order to crossfire without issue. That's what I have and it's barely enough under load. That said, I do have 12GB of RAM spread across four sticks and two internal harddrives, as well as five large cooling fans. So you could try risking the 650-Watt, but personally I'd rather play it safe.

Beyond that, looks good.

thanks for the advice, yeah i was thinking 650W might be a little bit low for a crossfire

Actually that's not true. A 750W would be risky, but doable, with SLI 580s. Let alone 6870s.

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6850-6870-crossfirex-review/4

Full draw: 421W

And that's from the wall. A PSU with 80% efficiency is outputting at most 80% of that wattage, so that's 336W from the PSU. Look at your PSU's 12V wattage rating and that should give a good indication of whether you can do it or not.

EDIT: Corsair 650 is a great PSU, I'm assuming a TX. It has 52A on 12V rail, so 52x12=624W on the 12V. So yeah... you're fine.

 

[ZombieGenesis]

Save for a few things, that's pretty much my setup Trust me, it's gold.
Might want to drop the Dominator RAM in place of some standard XMS3, it's no slower and just lacks the heatsinks, which is fine because RAM doesn't get hot anyway.

Also I forked out for a 6950, still, good good build.

 

[Ghengis John]

Cooling System: Titan TTC-NK85TZ Fenrir

You're still utilizing an air-cooling system? How quaint. *stifles laughter*


Just kidding.

 

[Fooz]

Cooling System: Titan TTC-NK85TZ Fenrir

You're still utilizing an air-cooling system? How quaint. *stifles laughter*

haha that made me chuckle

 

[tokae]

Could use a better PSU, but what the heck..
My only problem is the Intel + ATI Radeon mix.. Might be because I prefer AMD..
But yeah, It looks pretty good...
You should however change your motherboard for a Maximus III Extreme from Republic of Gamers.

 

[ThisIsSnake]

You guys are lame... My PC is like the millenium falcon.

I'm using this: http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/pcs/243882/packard-bell-imedia-2426
With a 500W PSU and a 1GB Sapphire HD 4670, it can run crysis on high , newer games on medium/high. I really want a DX11 capable PC at some point.
It has half an operating system after a rootkit devastated it a month or so ago meaning I can no longer play Civ V or Vampire the Masquerade as well as a few other games. Windows defender, MSE and lots of other fun stuff no longer works. But as long as it runs I'll use it.

 

[himemiya1650]

It's a good setup depending on what you're going for. You can probably run games at high - normal settings.

 

[tokae]

You guys are lame... My PC is like the millenium falcon.

I'm using this: http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/pcs/243882/packard-bell-imedia-2426
With a 500W PSU and a 1GB Sapphire HD 4670, it can run crysis on high , newer games on medium/high. I really want a DX11 capable PC at some point.
It has half an operating system after a rootkit devastated it a month or so ago meaning I can no longer play Civ V or Vampire the Masquerade as well as a few other games. Windows defender, MSE and lots of other fun stuff no longer works. But as long as it runs I'll use it.

I sense a couple of jokes in this.. But it all just rendered me quizzical

 

[Wolfram23]

I've got two 6870s in crossfire right now, and they'll run any DX11 game on maximum settings @ 1080P 60FPS no problems. But you'll need at least a 750-Watt PSU in order to crossfire without issue. That's what I have and it's barely enough under load. That said, I do have 12GB of RAM spread across four sticks and two internal harddrives, as well as five large cooling fans. So you could try risking the 650-Watt, but personally I'd rather play it safe.

Beyond that, looks good.

thanks for the advice, yeah i was thinking 650W might be a little bit low for a crossfire

Actually that's not true. A 750W would be risky, but doable, with SLI 580s. Let alone 6870s.

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6850-6870-crossfirex-review/4

Full draw: 421W

And that's from the wall. A PSU with 80% efficiency is outputting at most 80% of that wattage, so that's 336W from the PSU. Look at your PSU's 12V wattage rating and that should give a good indication of whether you can do it or not.

EDIT: Corsair 650 is a great PSU, I'm assuming a TX. It has 52A on 12V rail, so 52x12=624W on the 12V. So yeah... you're fine.

That's 421 Watts for the GPUs ALONE. Not taking into account the power draw of the CPU, motherboard, RAM, cooling fans, hard drives, USB-powered devices, etc.

For his system (assuming he wants to crossfire at some point), PSU draw is 674 Watts. Check it:

http://c1.neweggimages.com/BizIntell/tool/psucalc/index.html?cm_sp=Subcat58_PowerSupply_left-_-PowerSupplyFinder022610-_-http%3a%2f%2fpromotions.newegg.com%2fproductfinders%2fpowersupply.jpg

Wrong! It's an i7 975 OCed to 3.75ghz. And it's the power FROM THE WALL you can't separate the different components from that number. Follow my link and read it through.

Measured power consumption two 6870 cards

System in IDLE = 184W
System Wattage with GPU in FULL Stress = 421W
Difference (GPU load) = 237W
Add average IDLE wattage x2 ~ 19W (ATI specified)
Subjective obtained GPU power consumption = ~ 275 Watts

FYI that isn't quite the max PSU load, it is max GPU load with the CPU probably getting around 25% usage plus everything else. Hence calling it "System Wattage". It would add around 150W. The thing is, nothing but specific stress tests ever fully stress both the GPUs and the CPU to the max.

As for the calculator, those are pretty decent but they aren't giving you a number "get this or it won't work." They greatly overshoot the actual needed amount for safety headroom.

There's much better power calculators out there like this one: http://www.thermaltake.outervision.com/

Put in the specs including the CPU overclock, the acutal amount of RAM chips used, CF 6870s, DVD RW, throw in a few case fans and hell even set the Capacitor ageing to 20% (greatly exageratted at that) and you get: 632W

 

[Wolfram23]

Wrong! It's an i7 975 OCed to 3.75ghz. And it's the power FROM THE WALL you can't separate the different components from that number. Follow my link and read it through.

Measured power consumption two 6870 cards

System in IDLE = 184W
System Wattage with GPU in FULL Stress = 421W
Difference (GPU load) = 237W
Add average IDLE wattage x2 ~ 19W (ATI specified)
Subjective obtained GPU power consumption = ~ 275 Watts

FYI that isn't quite the max PSU load, it is max GPU load but the CPU isn't fully stressed. It would add around 150W. The thing is, nothing but specific stress tests ever fully stress both the GPUs and the CPU to the max.

As for the calculator, those are pretty decent but they aren't giving you a number "get this or it won't work." They greatly overshoot the actual needed amount for safety headroom.

There's much better power calculators out there like this one: http://www.thermaltake.outervision.com/

Put in the specs including the CPU overclock, the acutal amount of RAM chips used, CF 6870s, DVD RW, throw in a few case fans and hell even set the Capacitor ageing to 20% (greatly exageratted at that) and you get: 632W

Better safe than sorry. The last thing you want to be a limiting factor is your PSU. Especially if you plan on upgrading your machine for some time to come.

Fair enough point but he's got a Corsair 650 (TX or HX) which is easily one of the highest quality brands you can get.

Just for reference, I'm running a 750TX with an i5 750 at 4ghz, two 5850s OCed from 700/1000 to 870/1200, GT 240 for PhysX, a sound card, 4 120mm case fans and a big 140 up top, plus 2 120mm fans on my rad and a pump, two HDDs and an SSD and a fan controller. Runs like a champ even when fully stress testing.