Rahja's Quandary

So... I have run into a crisis of decision making. Ironic that I am able to give so much advice to others, but when it comes to decision making of my own, I am conflicted.

Anywho... here is my issue: It's due time I upgraded my alternate machine. It's showing its age, and I don't really use my main system for gaming; it's more of a work related machine. That said, I don't want to spend very much upgrading it, since I plan to do a total overhaul to it in 2011.

So, that said...

I am debating between a few options in regards to hardware. They are as follows:

• Corei5 750 vs Corei7 860 (Is the performance difference worth the 80 bucks, realistically?)
• Buy an EVGA GTX285 now and use StepUp Program to upgrade to a G300 card upon release, or wait and try to snag an HD5870 when they are in stock (fat chance, but still)?
• Get a 64GB Crucial SSD for boot drive or just stick to standard magnetic storage?
• Get a new case (Coolermaster Stacker 830 for 120 bucks), or keep old Raidmax midtower?

<font color="red" font size="3">Opinions?</font>

that will depend on what you currently have. if this is the system that i remember having dual 7950GTX (or whatever it was), then the upgrade that will make the most difference right now would be the graphic card. the GTX285 is easier to find and outperforms the 5870, so that's probably the better option, especially with the tradeup program.

other than that, the case does sound like a good idea, what's with the foot-long graphic cards that's beginning to pop up. i have a nagging suspicion that the 5970 won't retain the dubious title of "longest graphic card in the world" for very long.

This rig has the following:

C2D E6750 OC@ 3GHz
4GBs DDR2 1066 RAM
2x 9900GTs in SLi
eVGA 780i board with some custom logic
LG DVDRW
620w ENERMAX PSU
Raidmax Midtower

Well getting an i5 or i7 involves new cpu/mobo/ram, so how isn't that a big upgrade? That will probably set you back 400$ at least, a 5870 also 400$

What do you do more on on this second rig? gaming or cpu heavy stuff/ rendering encoding?


The last 2 options really won't do you any good throwing money in that direction, unless you have an extreme hard on for said case or really want to get the stop watch out for boot time on OS/programs.

Gaming mostly. I use my main rig for work.

I am looking at Mobo, RAM, SSD, and CPU for $530 (Corei5) or $610 for the Corei7 instead.

Add in a GTX275 for $255, and then a CM HAF 932 Full tower for 130, it comes to about 850 or 1000 bucks if I do the Corei5 or Corei7 respectively and everything else.

SSD would help a ton with application launch times and loading times. My current case is a mid tower, and it isn't a big one at that. That was the reason for the interest in a new case. I mean, I guess I could make do with the current case, but I am afraid of heat issues with that much new hardware inside.

My opinions:
Well, I'm one of those budget gamers so I'm going to only speak on products that I have either installed or used myself and say that the coolermaster case is pretty damned nice. And as for the solid state drive, if you can afford it I'd go for it, it makes boot up times so retardedly fast it's freaking amazing.

Yeh, I've got SSDs in my main rig, 2 of them in RAID0. They are blazing fast. Just wondering if they would actually be worth it in a gaming rig.

As for the case, I don't want the HAF 932 for looks or anything. I just was thinking my midtower might be a bit too small to give room for adequate airflow with all these higher end parts. The HAF just happens to be cheap and quality all wrapped into a neat package.

woops, my mistake. the GTX285 does NOT outperform the HD5870. i was thinking GTX295 actually.

tbh, what you have is pretty good as it is. getting two new graphic cards and you are good to go, and it should be good enough to carry over into 2011.

Since a new CPU requires a new mobo as well (i5 would be a better choice if gaming is your concern imo), I would stick with the current setup and simply add a 5870 to it. A GTX 275 (or 285 even) would be enough muscle to handle any game out there right now, unless you play at a super high resolution.....??? Of course if you know some insider details about the 300 series coming out next year you may want to do the step up program, but since I don't know anything like that myself I would have to advise the 5870 as the best buy right now.

Which Raidmax case do you have? As long as a 10.5" GPU can fit in there you should be ok on heat. I don't think the GTX 275 puts out as much heat as a pair of 7900s that are in there now.... the 5870 should be even cooler. If you can I'd wait until the full overhaul to get a new case, although the Haf 932 (and Haf 922) is a diesel sweet case, one I've had my eye on for awhile now.

I'd not mess with SSD until you change the mobo, cpu, etc.... they'll be cheaper then too I would imagine.

Exactly why I dig it.

From what I've read, the i7-860 has only about a 5% performance advantage over i5-750, but on the other hand, if it were me, I'd go for the 860 anyway.

Video cards are a pain in the ass. Every time I buy a new one, a better one comes out the next month. Over all, I don't think it really matters. You're usually only talking a few fps between them. I'd go with whatever feels good at the time (and whine later).

For a gaming rig, SSDs only boost loading times of levels. In most games you spend way more time playing levels than loading them, and it usually only takes a few seconds with a regular SATA hd anyway. So I wouldn't think the few seconds an SSD would save would be worth it.

Cases are a personal choice sort of thing.

I agree with Elder here, basically if it is an upgrade you want, the 5870.

If it is an overhaul you want, then so be it, go all out and spend that 1000$+ on the parts you listed.

Does that mean the G300 is going to be released before the end of February?

My opinions:
- overclocked i5 750 unless you really need hyperthreading
- SSD only if you want to splurge
- 5870 now unless the G300 is released in <90 days and at a reasonable MSRP

1. You will hardly see any difference in gaming (if that is what you use your rig for), between these two processors. However, you will see the difference in your pocket.
2. I would personally never buy ATI over Nvidia.
3. If you have money to burn. Otherwise, stick to good old hdd.
4. Unnecessary unless your system is overheating.

Just my 2 cents.

you know, i've always wondered why some people would say this, despite the fact that now ATI having the vastly superior products. care to indulge me?

That's what everyone thinks... until they have one. (Then you can't live without one).

I am the opposite. I'd never buy an nVidia card. The only times I've had trouble with video cards (or their drivers) has been with nVidia. My last 4 graphics cards have been ATi, and I've never had a problem with any of them. A long-standing prejudice, each to their own.

Personal opinion mostly and issues with driver incompatibility with numerous games and apps. And i am not going into any arguing which one is better.

And also this:

Everyone is entitled to buy whatever video card they want, I've owned both myself and have put both in builds for others as well. None of them have died yet either. lol Best performance per $$$ is what decides it for me every time. Anyway, I think it's more important to buy a good brand (ie EVGA, XFX, HIS, etc.....) then to worry about ATI vs NVIDIA based on the name alone.

It's also worth noting that, even with a good brand there's always the chance to get a lemon. It's even possible to get a bad nVidia or ATI/AMD chip.
You can (and do) get driver issues with either brand as well.

It always reminds me of the time I went to a car show where there was a booth selling license plates saying "I'd rather push a Ford than drive a Chev". At the other end of the same booth (the Chevy end) was the "I'd rather push a Chev than drive a Ford" ones.
Like the guy running that booth, I'll sell you either one.

Q.uote F.or T.ruth - it's always a good idea to check out the "professional" reviews from trusted sites before buying a video card - also waiting a couple weeks after release to have any potential initial release driver issues negated is a good idea.