I can never stand to be at the middle to low end of the spectrum when it comes to gaming, so in honor of AoC, I'm building my new system. I want to build a quad core/duel pci graphics system.

I'm stuck on a mother board. I'm looking at the 780i chipset, but can't decide if the 790i is worth the extra $100.

If any of you are system builders and have recommendations for equipment, please let me know.

Nice rig I have been debateing the same as my system is about 2 years old and will run AoC but there is somthing about haveing a high end system. Let us know how it works so we can copy the layout.

This is what I'm looking at right now... But I'm waffling on the MB... Might be switching to an XFX board 780i/790i board.

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Antec TPQ-850 ATX12V / EPS12V 850W Power Supply
EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model HH80562PH0568M
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF PC2 8500)
2 EVGA 512-P3-N802-AR GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI
Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD4000AAKS 400GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Pioneer 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DVR-115DBK
ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

Bullarky wrote:This is what I'm looking at right now... But I'm waffling on the MB... Might be switching to an XFX board 780i/790i board.

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Antec TPQ-850 ATX12V / EPS12V 850W Power Supply
EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model HH80562PH0568M
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF PC2 8500)
2 EVGA 512-P3-N802-AR GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI
Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD4000AAKS 400GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Pioneer 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DVR-115DBK
ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

Estimated price? I too am looking at building, my system now is pretty decent... but I think it's time to build something kick ass. And with the coming of AoC, what better a time.

Brakkish wrote:Estimated price? I too am looking at building, my system now is pretty decent... but I think it's time to build something kick ass. And with the coming of AoC, what better a time.

1 Graphics card system = $1300
2 Graphics card system = $1500

You can definitely cut costs on a few items (like processor, motherboard, and ram), but I wanted good solid equipment near the top within reason.

2 EVGA 512-P3-N802-AR GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI

EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

I was wondering if that motherboard has enough room for these cards. They take up 2 slots, per card


That is one mean ass case too. Here's a video of it. Case
And the fan: Fan Link

Brakkish wrote:
I was wondering if that motherboard has enough room for these cards. They take up 2 slots, per card


That is one mean ass case too. Here's a video of it. Case
And the fan: Fan Link

MB... yeppers, it has 3 PCI 2.0 Slots with enough space to run 3 cards... LOL


As for the case, I already have the case and power supply. Newegg was offering a deal on the two (they still might be doing it). Plus there is a rebate. I think I got a total of $75 off the two. The air flow through the case is outstanding!

Complete system I currently use with 22" widescreen (also using 19" flat as 2nd monitor). I can run AoC max setting at 1680 x 1080. Total price was 1350.60 at time of build. The only thing I did not install was the fan controller because this case keeps everything very cool at low/medium fan speeds.

1 NEC Black 1.44MB 3.5" External USB Floppy Drive - OEM $21.99
1 G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail $84.99
1 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $69.99
1 Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Ultimate for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM $189.99
1 SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S203B - OEM $26.99
1 BIOSTAR A770 A2+ AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $64.99
1 ZALMAN ZM-MFC1 Fan Controller Panel - Retail $29.99
1 AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ Windsor 3.2GHz Socket AM2 125W Dual-Core Processor Model ADX6400CZBOX - Retail $169.99
1 LOGISYS Computer PS650U12 ATX12V / EPS12V 650W Power Supply - Retail $64.99
1 MSI NX8800GT 512M OC GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $229.99
1 Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $119.99
1 Acer AL2223Wd Black-Silver 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP Support - Retail $229.99

im jealous of your processor Kohr.

Beerbelly, look at the cost of the two 8800 Gt vs. one 8800 GTX.
One 768MG GTX would be better but I don't know the difference in price in your currency.
This is my system:
AMD X2 6000+
Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe (wireless edition)
1024MB(x4) OCZ DDR2 6400 SLI
500GB Western Digital HD (7200 RPM)
BFG NVidia GeForce 8800 GTX OC (768MB GDDR3)
Viewsonic VX2235wm
Coolermaster CM690
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (Currently 32-bit, 64-bit next week)
I had the same issue when i built my system but graphically a GTX would be better its just you would have more graphic memory going with 2 GT's. Through the higher card in if the cost isn't two much different and keep the MB you were looking at that way when the GTX isnt preforming to your standards, you can throw a second GTX in and it will be much cheaper by that time. I've run most newer games on this system without any problems. The only game that is making my card work is Crysis. But with everything set to Very High, i still get 12FPS(which is barely playable). This is only my opinion however.

I've always wanted to build a Athlon chip since they announced their 64 platform. Unfortunately, price to performance wise, every time I build, Intel ends up being a better deal somehow. The closest AMD has to offer is the Phenom 9700 and it's the same price point but is 10% to 15% slower. Q6600 with 4 cores running at 2.4 stock, OC'd to 3.2 is just too good to pass up. That's why I got the CPU fan so I can OC with some stability! The duel channel memory at 1066 will be nice too.

However, I've heard horror stories of installing Vista 64 on intel chipset motherboards. I might do some rethinking and end up with a Phenom 9700! What good is a 64 bit chip with 32 bit OS? LOL

As far as Vista 64... Have you had any issues installing it? Getting drivers for hardware? Have issues running 32bit software?