OpenWorldGames Server ONE

... from a reliable company other than Newegg?  I have my eye on a machine, but it is out of stock.  Looking for another source - good prices of course  :-()

ACME corporation. Tell them that they were highly recommended by Wile E. Coyote.

I would love to help PZ, but then you'd have to come over to Europe :-D

What's your bugdet? Which games do you want to play? Desired resolution/graphical settings (1080, 1440, 4K?)



http://pcpartpicker.com/ (http://pcpartpicker.com/) Pick your parts  :)
http://www.reddit.com/r/PCMasterRace/wiki/builds (http://www.reddit.com/r/PCMasterRace/wiki/builds) PCMR's build guide ;)
http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapcforme/ (http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapcforme/) If you need help to pick parts ;)

If you're looking for a gaming PC, I've heard Alienware has nice systems, never bought from them though, as I usually build my own.

I've looked at Alienware, but they seem to charge you for the privilege of having their name on a computer - not as much bang for the buck, although the hardware is said to be very good - just too expensive.

I'm planning to spend a bit less than $2k, and graphics is my main focus - want the GTX 980.  Also want an SSD for the OS and favorite software, and a 1-2 TB drive for the rest.  It also needs to be relatively quiet

Thanks for the parts picker list, GKID; that gives me an idea how to begin if I decide to build, or at least how to compare to a machine I have my eye on at newegg.

Regarding GPUs: AMD will release the R9 390X which will have 4GB HBM (stacked DRAM) capable of 640 GB/s transfer speed  :o It will certainly kill the 980 ???
http://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/anton-shilov/amds-radeon-r9-390x-fiji-xt-may-feature-4096-sps-extreme-memory-bandwidth/ (http://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/anton-shilov/amds-radeon-r9-390x-fiji-xt-may-feature-4096-sps-extreme-memory-bandwidth/)

Thanks for that link, GKID  :-X

That gives me something new to look forward to  >:D

 :-X :) >:D

Guts feeling keeps me from advising any AMD GPU's. I think the GTX980 is the one to aim for. But as long as you keep aiming, PZ, you don't hit sh*t :-D

I'd say your gameplay could use a proper PC boost, so maybe you'd pick a nice system already and enjoy. The list of desires (GPU, SSD for OS and TB space sounds as a good start. Why not visit a local hardware store and have them set the right stuff together? I agree on the alienware idea. You pay for the name, not for the quality, although it has quality.

Anyway, when will we be seeing your new RIG specs? :angel:

My gut says otherwise.  :angel:

nVidia trackrecord:
- Drivers that destroy your card, and trying to cover this up, and lying about it too.
- 970 fiasco
- FX 5900/50 series card
- Driver stability since Vista

Just to sink this in real nicely, millions of flies cant be wrong, eat...  >:D

Quote from: Binnatics on March 10, 2015, 10:26:42 AM
Anyway, when will we be seeing your new RIG specs? :angel:

I think I posted this somewhere else, but this is the rig I was considering: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227591 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227591)

This is what Binnatics said about that rig :-()

Quote from: Binnatics on December 19, 2014, 12:43:18 PM
First, I think it's a very good rig. The name says it all ^-^

Water cooling must deliver very good cooling, which is always good.But I just read a review about water cooling that it is not very quiet compared to air cooling systems. Well, on load it won't bother, first of all because the difference to air cooling disappears, but second of all because you will have gaming audio that occupies your eardrums ^-^
But on idle it is quite noizy with its pumps running, compared to a good air cooling system.

Which doesn't mean that I would advice you to buy air cooling, but just to let you know. I think that my next future rig will also have some sort of water cooling in it. I like the concept, and it delivers great cooling power ;)

 :-()

I'd recommend to build your own ;) Much cheaper than pre-builds. Btw, I think the processor is overkill, an i5-4690K will be better if you're going to game only. ;) I'd like to ask the guys at r/buildapcforme, but I need you to answer those questions:

• What will you be doing with this PC? Be as specific as possible, and include specific games or programs you will be using.
• What is your maximum budget before rebates/shipping/taxes?
• When do you plan on building/buying the PC? Note: beyond a week or two from today means any build you receive will be out of date when you want to buy.
• What, exactly, do you need included in the budget? (Tower/OS/monitor/keyboard/mouse/etc)
• Which country (and state/province) will you be purchasing the parts in? If you're in US, do you have access to a Microcenter location?
• If reusing any parts (including monitor(s)/keyboard/mouse/etc), what parts will you be reusing? Brands and models are appreciated.
• Will you be overclocking? If yes, are you interested in overclocking right away, or down the line? CPU and/or GPU?
  
• Are there any specific features or items you want/need in the build? (ex: SSD, large amount of storage or a RAID setup, CUDA or OpenCL support, etc)
• Do you have any specific case preferences (Size like ITX/microATX/mid-tower/full-tower, styles, colors, window or not, LED lighting, etc), or a particular color theme preference for the components?
• Do you need a copy of Windows 7 or 8.1 included in the budget? If you do need one included, do you have a preference for one or the other?
• Extra info or particulars

I would like to know why would that CPU be an overkill from a gaming point of view?  :knockout

The i7s have hyperthreading which video games doesn't utilize/benefit from for now. But, they are very useful if you'd like to do video editing and other tasks which can utilize hyperthreading. I have an i7-4770K (doing video editing), but I would choose an i5 if I would do gaming only.

In the future, things may change so games may utilize hyperthreading ;)

Thanks GKID - I appreciate the trouble you are going to  :-X - I built my current gaming rig, so I do not have a problem getting it done as long as all the parts fit  :-()

I'll be doing w@&k at home as well as gaming, so the i7 is a better choice for me.  My wife and I both have Surface Pro 3 machines - hers is an i5 and I opted for the i7 and am glad I did.  I use MS office programs on it and record all screen activity simultaneously using Camtasia Studio - will likely do the same on the new box. I answered the questions in bold below:

Quote from: GKID7891 on March 11, 2015, 12:50:25 AM
I'd recommend to build your own ;) Much cheaper than pre-builds. Btw, I think the processor is overkill, an i5-4690K will be better if you're going to game only. ;) I'd like to ask the guys at r/buildapcforme, but I need you to answer those questions:

• What will you be doing with this PC? Be as specific as possible, and include specific games or programs you will be using. High end games mostly, but video capture, Office, and rendering as well.
• What is your maximum budget before rebates/shipping/taxes? I'd like to keep it at around $2k
• When do you plan on building/buying the PC? Note: beyond a week or two from today means any build you receive will be out of date when you want to buy. Not sure here - likely within the next few weeks would be reasonable
• What, exactly, do you need included in the budget? Just the tower(Tower/OS/monitor/keyboard/mouse/etc)
• Which country (and state/province) will you be purchasing the parts in? If you're in US, do you have access to a Microcenter location? Idaho, USA - no microcenter
• If reusing any parts (including monitor(s)/keyboard/mouse/etc), what parts will you be reusing? Brands and models are appreciated. I'll re-use the current monitor - standard widescreen 1080p, Logitech G15 wired gaming keyboard and mouse
• Will you be overclocking? If yes, are you interested in overclocking right away, or down the line? CPU and/or GPU? I'll not over-clock
  
• Are there any specific features or items you want/need in the build? (ex: SSD, large amount of storage or a RAID setup, CUDA or OpenCL support, etc) Definitely an SSD for the OS and perhaps the more demanding games -250 GB or so.  Then a TB or two of HD should do fine - I've network storage for general data files
• Do you have any specific case preferences (Size like ITX/microATX/mid-tower/full-tower, styles, colors, window or not, LED lighting, etc), or a particular color theme preference for the components? No preference really, I rarely look at the thing :-()
• Do you need a copy of Windows 7 or 8.1 included in the budget? If you do need one included, do you have a preference for one or the other? W10 would be nice - might actually wait to do the build until it becomes available.  I like W8.1, but prefer the old interface, which 10 is said to bring back
• Extra info or particulars Probably the most important feature other than the power of the build is quiet as possible, so some kind of liquid cooling, or whatever is available to make it quiet. I made the mistake of purchasing a local server with loud fan noise, and the thing drove me so crazy I hardly fire it up.

http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapcforme/comments/2yoy8a/a_friend_of_mine_wants_to_build_a_new_rig_from/ (http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapcforme/comments/2yoy8a/a_friend_of_mine_wants_to_build_a_new_rig_from/)


Here is the whole thread from r/buildapcforme.

Quote from: GKID7891 on March 11, 2015, 04:13:09 AM
The i7s have hyperthreading which video games doesn't utilize/benefit from for now. But, they are very useful if you'd like to do video editing and other tasks which can utilize hyperthreading. I have an i7-4770K (doing video editing), but I would choose an i5 if I would do gaming only.

In the future, things may change so games may utilize hyperthreading ;)

Just a suggestion, read the press releases of MS DX12 and whitepapers on AMD Mantle.

Yeah, I checked it out. Apparently, DX12 will enable multi-threading support and offer a low-level API similar to Mantle. Seems like i7s will not be a "bad" choice for gaming anymore :-() ;)

Thanks for all your w@&k on this, GKID +1  :-X

Looks like both are good builds - I was surprised to discover that liquid cooling is noisy - definitely will want to keep it more quiet.

Most of the noice comes from the fluid IIRC ;) I am using a Hyper 212 EVO aircooler. Most of the noice in my PC comes from the GPU. The fans in the cabinet is quiet.

What do you guys think of this monitor?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0AJ2NA4648 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0AJ2NA4648)

I've not installed an OS in a while - do I need an optical drive or can I just install from a network drive?

You can download it as an .iso file (from Microsoft's webpage) and put it on an USB stick. EDIT: You can, but it is more complicated so you can either mount your old DVD drive into your PC. The monitor seems very good. 1080p+144Hz is a good combo with the GTX 980. I can RUN FAR CRY 2 at 1080p/144fps @ Ultra with my MSI R9 290 :-D Alternatively, you can go for a 1440p monitor.

Thanks GKID; after reading the thread at the build forum you supplied, it seemed reasonable to get a new monitor to take full advantage of the graphics card.

I'm still a bit on the fence regarding the new R series AMD card that is coming up in the future.  The articles I've seen indicate that a new age of graphics hardware is upon us.

It is your money so you can either wait for the R9 390X or buy a GTX 980.

The monitor looks great PZ. I also have a 24" HD Acer monitor, but mine is a 60Hz I think.
The 144 is especially for 3D, making it possible to have 3D without losing fluid movement. I hate it when I go to the Cinema nowadays and am confronted with images that don't move fluidly, as if the framerate drops below 25Hz. That is because these cinema systems offer 3D images over a system that can apparently only cope with 50 or 60 Hz/FPS.
Even regular digital movies are shown with that horrible stuttering framerate, which heavily reduces my joy of going to any movie atm :angry-new:

Stiku, correct me if I'm wrong in my explanation plz, but I think when you don't bother 3D gameplay (or 3D movies on your PC) it's better to invest your money in a 1440p screen, which will give you more detail and probably a bigger image. ;)

Quote from: Binnatics on March 12, 2015, 10:03:46 AM
Stiku, correct me if I'm wrong in my explanation plz, but I think when you don't bother 3D gameplay (or 3D movies on your PC) it's better to invest your money in a 1440p screen, which will give you more detail and probably a bigger image. ;)

Good question - I was wondering the same, whether to go with a better frame rate or with a better image.  I read a review in which a person purchased a 144hz unit and his friend scoffed until he tried it for himself - he now has one as well.  The claim was that even without 3D, the movements were much more fluid.

Quote from: PZ on March 12, 2015, 10:17:44 AM
Good question - I was wondering the same, whether to go with a better frame rate or with a better image.  I read a review in which a person purchased a 144hz unit and his friend scoffed until he tried it for himself - he now has one as well.  The claim was that even without 3D, the movements were much more fluid.

You should definitely go for a 1440p 144Hz monitor :-() ;)

 :-()

EDIT: upgraded/changed a couple of parts and vendors

I joined partspicker and developed a build that looks to have flexibility, yet should be quiet.  Here's the build:

What do you think?

PCPartPicker part list (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ZHqZP6) / Price breakdown by merchant (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ZHqZP6/by_merchant/)

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i74790k)  ($337.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Nepton 240M 76.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rln24m24pkr1)  ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-z97gaming5)  ($131.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f31866c10d16gab)  ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-internal-hard-drive-ct256mx100ssd1)  ($104.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Toshiba  3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/toshiba-internal-hard-drive-ph3300u1i72)  ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB STRIX Video Card (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-strixgtx980dc2oc4gd5)  ($567.48 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr5bk)  ($123.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX TS 650W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1650gts3x)  ($76.08 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615)  ($102.98 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-S12A ULN 120mm  Fan (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-case-fan-nfs12auln)  ($17.85 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-S12A ULN 120mm  Fan (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-case-fan-nfs12auln)  ($17.85 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Acer GN246HL 144Hz 24.0" Monitor (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/acer-monitor-umfg6aab01)  ($249.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $2056.14
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-12 19:12 EDT-0400

I like the Scythe Mugen coolers. They are usually cheaper and perform best amongst other air CPU coolers. I have one myself, which made it possible to crank my 3.2GHz clocked i7 now run @ 4.2GHz, stable and cool, yet no significant noise raise.  :-X

For the rest, I'd say that is a marvellous collection of gear you picked :-X :)

Looks good  :-X :) May your framerates be high and your temperatures low, PZ  :-D :-()

Change the SSD, I haven't seen a single crucial ssd based lineup, that haven't had dataloss issues.
Consider something in line of Samsung 850 Pro, OCZ lineup or Sandisk.

If your planning to store photos and movies into the HDD, then that 5400rpm is good, but if you want to run games, applications from it, get a 7200rpm one.(differences is actually notable in real life scenarios)

Powersupply : http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/EVGA/NEX750G/11.html (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/EVGA/NEX750G/11.html)
Serious problems in high usage scenarios, also not a quiet PSU.

Yeah I'd say ditch the Crucial drive, I've had three of them fail in three different computers. Plus upgrade to 500GB just for the breathing room.

Maybe go to an 800 watt power supply, again, for breathing room. Might be a tad noisier, but it's nice to have those extra connections if you need them in the future.

Thanks guys - how about this parts list? (Might go higher capacity SSD)

PCPartPicker part list (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/XGRW7P) / Price breakdown by merchant (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/XGRW7P/by_merchant/)

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i74790k)  ($317.98 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Nepton 240M 76.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rln24m24pkr1)  ($102.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-z97gaming5)  ($131.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f31866c10d16gab)  ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7ke256bw)  ($149.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Toshiba  3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/toshiba-internal-hard-drive-ph3300u1i72)  ($99.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB STRIX Video Card (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-strixgtx980dc2oc4gd5)  ($554.99 @ B&H)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr5bk)  ($109.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 850W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-hx850)  ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615)  ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-S12A ULN 120mm  Fan (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-case-fan-nfs12auln)  ($19.49 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-S12A ULN 120mm  Fan (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-case-fan-nfs12auln)  ($19.49 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Acer GN246HL 144Hz 24.0" Monitor (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/acer-monitor-umfg6aab01)  ($258.11 @ B&H)
Total: $2064.96
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-13 11:31 EDT-0400

Quote from: Dweller_Benthos on March 13, 2015, 08:00:14 AM
Yeah I'd say ditch the Crucial drive, I've had three of them fail in three different computers. Plus upgrade to 500GB just for the breathing room.

Maybe go to an 800 watt power supply, again, for breathing room. Might be a tad noisier, but it's nice to have those extra connections if you need them in the future.

Which Crucial drives were you using ???? ? I'm using the MX100 and it works great. Haven't experienced failures with mine. The build draws almost 400 W so I consider a 800 W overkill, unless you need future upgrades (extra GPUs etc)

Quote from: GKID7891 on March 13, 2015, 09:03:16 AM

Which Crucial drives were you using ???? ? I'm using the MX100 and it works great. Haven't experienced failures with mine. The build draws almost 400 W so I consider a 800 W overkill, unless you need future upgrades (extra GPUs etc)

Original was a bx, but then changed to the mx100.  Online reviews indicate that the Samsung units are highly rated and hardly more expensive.  The rig was estimated to draw 391 watts but you never know - might add an additional GPU in the future, more memory sticks, and I might salvage a 10,000 rmp velociraptor out of my current rig, so a little extra wattage might not be a bad idea

The other PSU I was considering was a 650 watt unit: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207034 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207034)

The MX100 got a firmware update recently ;) Haven't bothered to install it  :angel:

http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/support-ssd (http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/support-ssd)

Crucials are well known for their faults, you can actually do a quantitative research about it with multiple forums and get the idea how bad the crucial ones are, most worst are the MX100 and M500 series ones. Their performance is great for their price range, but the risk losing data from your drive isn't something that anybody would want.

Also stay away from Samsung Evo drives also, Pro drives are the best that the market has to offer right now.

PZ, if you need more space on the SSD, then get a bigger one, but basic windows and necessary apps will take usually about 50-100gb from the drive(windows,office,drivers, etc)

On the note of PSU, you said that the power draw would be ~400w, so a 850w supply would run around ~47% capacity, pretty much at the best power efficiency.
Guru3d test on HX850W supply unit (http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/corsair-hx-850-watt-gold-psu-review,1.html)

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Thanks for the information , Stiku  :-X

My main reason for the SSD is the OS, so the 256 should be fine so I'll probably save a little $ and spend it on a new monitor I have my eye on, the Acer XB270HU, an IPS unit that offers G-sync and has a resolution of 2,560x1,440 pixels, a 144MHz refresh rate,  quick 1 millisecond response time - it has HDMI 2.0, DVI and DisplayPort 1.2 connections so I can use it with my console as well.

The monitor is not out yet, but I'll build the PC and wait for the monitor to release later this month (as long as the monitor industry does not follow the same release rules as the gaming industry)  :-()  Also, the rumor is that the price will be around $800 US, which I will spend, but not much more.

just a thought on the monitor resolution

As far as I understand the matter: many games have a "native" resolution suitable for full HD TV (a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9 = 1920x1080) because they were developed for consoles using a TV. Any other monitor resolution means scaling up or down. Same goes for your average movie. So unless you plan to do some type of artwork or use some special programs that support higher resolutions, you might get more for less money if you get a 1920x1080 monitor.

That is a good thought :-X

Thought was ok, but reality is different.

Though some games have their designed resolution(Mobile and console platforms mainly), most games won't look any worse with higher resolutions, and graphics. It will actually lower the jagged edges, and increase the overall sharpness.

Game frames are rendered before they are shown, videos on the otherhand are pre-rendered(when recorded) and then played, hence need scaling. just a simple example is when a painter paints a painting, he does it once, if you want to increase the size, it needs to be stretched(scaled) into the new size, in games, the painter will always paint the picture again, and again to the higher size.

Interesting thoughts, gentlemen :)

I would go for a sharp image. So the smaller the pixels, the happier I am. 1440p means more points on your screen, thus lines that are more fluid. Almost like a 'real painting' heheh

Most of you gent know that the graphics are extremely important to to me in my gaming experience.  Until now, I think the only incredibly fast response time (1 msec) monitors with 144 hz refresh was using TN (twisted nematic) techology out of the 80s.  I like fast response time because it helps reduce the ghosting you would see with rapid on-screen movements.  In contrast the IPS (in plane switching) technology improves on the flaws in TN with regards to poor viewing angles and color reproduction. As I understand it, IPS is what the Apple Retina display has.

As I was looking at monitors the past week, it appeared that if you wanted fast refresh and 1 msec response, you had to live with TN technology, and if you wanted the true color reproduction of IPS, 5 msec response and 60 hz refresh.  So I faced a decision on which way to go.  Now with the introduction of this new monitor, it seems that you can have the best of both worlds - fast response and IPS.  My only question now is exactly which IPS technology this particular monitor uses.  I'll definitely look at reviews for a while, but am leaning toward this new technology because it should serve my monitor needs for years to come, so should be a good investment.

Why get a 144hz monitor?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ97Ni4Hb3c&ab_channel=VeryTraumatic

Quote from: GKID7891 on March 13, 2015, 09:03:16 AM

Which Crucial drives were you using ???? ? I'm using the MX100 and it works great. Haven't experienced failures with mine. The build draws almost 400 W so I consider a 800 W overkill, unless you need future upgrades (extra GPUs etc)

The one I have on hand says it's an M4 SSD 2.5? There's no other model number I can see. I would imagine the other two were the same, bought about the same time in pre-built systems from the same company. One has been trashed, I'm using the other at home as my transfer drive, hooked up to a USB interface when needed. All three had the same malfunction, the computer would just reboot for no reason, and sometimes not come back up until a full power down and power up cycle occurred. Sometimes you'd get the NTLDR missing error, sometimes not. I even tried putting one in as a secondary drive and it would still make the computer reboot for no reason even if there were no files being accessed on it, just having it hooked up caused the error. The one I'm using as a transfer drive is still working, but I don't have it hooked up for very long. I never had a data loss with any of them, it would just stop working, causing a reboot.

Dang, D_B, talk about a computer horror story  ???

AMD R9 390X, Nvidia GTX 980 Ti and Titan X Benchmarks Leaked – GTX 965/ 960 Ti Shows Up Too

http://wccftech.com/amd-r9-390x-nvidia-gtx-980ti-titanx-benchmarks/ (http://wccftech.com/amd-r9-390x-nvidia-gtx-980ti-titanx-benchmarks/)

Quote from: Dweller_Benthos on March 16, 2015, 08:13:30 AM
The one I have on hand says it's an M4 SSD 2.5? There's no other model number I can see. I would imagine the other two were the same, bought about the same time in pre-built systems from the same company. One has been trashed, I'm using the other at home as my transfer drive, hooked up to a USB interface when needed. All three had the same malfunction, the computer would just reboot for no reason, and sometimes not come back up until a full power down and power up cycle occurred. Sometimes you'd get the NTLDR missing error, sometimes not. I even tried putting one in as a secondary drive and it would still make the computer reboot for no reason even if there were no files being accessed on it, just having it hooked up caused the error. The one I'm using as a transfer drive is still working, but I don't have it hooked up for very long. I never had a data loss with any of them, it would just stop working, causing a reboot.

I'd press "F" to pay respect for your PC (if you get what I mean ;) :angel: )

Quote from: PZ on March 19, 2015, 08:19:51 AM
AMD R9 390X, Nvidia GTX 980 Ti and Titan X Benchmarks Leaked – GTX 965/ 960 Ti Shows Up Too

http://wccftech.com/amd-r9-390x-nvidia-gtx-980ti-titanx-benchmarks/ (http://wccftech.com/amd-r9-390x-nvidia-gtx-980ti-titanx-benchmarks/)

Titan X was released allready, and legit perf benches are up, good news are that the card is really good at that 2560x1440 resolution.
But the price tag is abit steep.

http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/nvidia-geforce-gtx-titan-x-review,1.html (http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/nvidia-geforce-gtx-titan-x-review,1.html)

Earlier Titans also showed exceptional prices, and they were quickly overtaken by much cheaper next-gen cards. I wouldn't bet on a titan ;)

Agreed, if you want top of the line performance, go for the R9 390X when it launches or the GTX 980 :-D

I saw that the Titan X had released, and checked the sale on Amazon @ $999, which is a bit steep.  Newegg doesn't carry it yet, and I've seen prices as high as $1400 so I'll not invest that much in technology that is rapidly superseded.

However, I am interested in the AMD 390, which is said to release some time in June, but that is only rumor so far.  Also rumored are the prices which are as high as $700 or so, which is a bit better than the Titan, but still quite a bit more than the 980, so it will depend on performance.

If I get the 390, then I'm interested in the free-sync version of the 27-inch Acer that is coming out this month

If I decide on the 980, then the 1 msec G-synch IPS Acer, also scheduled for distribution this month.

Because there is still so much good technology closely on the horizon, I'm excited to get something now, but my more prudent side tells me to wait until summer and see what happens with the AMD

I'm going to start purchasing the parts as they come on sale.  Just purchased the Corsair power supply and 3 TB drive

Cool  :-D :-X 1+

Quote from: PZ on March 25, 2015, 07:45:53 AM
I saw that the Titan X had released, and checked the sale on Amazon @ $999, which is a bit steep.  Newegg doesn't carry it yet, and I've seen prices as high as $1400 so I'll not invest that much in technology that is rapidly superseded.

However, I am interested in the AMD 390, which is said to release some time in June, but that is only rumor so far.  Also rumored are the prices which are as high as $700 or so, which is a bit better than the Titan, but still quite a bit more than the 980, so it will depend on performance.

If I get the 390, then I'm interested in the free-sync version of the 27-inch Acer that is coming out this month

If I decide on the 980, then the 1 msec G-synch IPS Acer, also scheduled for distribution this month.

Because there is still so much good technology closely on the horizon, I'm excited to get something now, but my more prudent side tells me to wait until summer and see what happens with the AMD

Personally I would go for the 390x/390, just because I gotten so much crap from nVidia always when I have had one of their cards, but if you look at it more closely, nVidia has better driver support, better driver(at least now) and better product(currently),
and AMD is in big trouble financially. So you should actually just wait what the 390 launch will bring, hopefully make nVidia drop the titan X's price tag.

Dang, I ordered those parts only a couple of hours ago, and they are already shipping  :-X

Thanks Stiku, I was thinking along those lines as well.  The 390(x) does look enticing, and I like the idea of free-sync above G-sync since monitors with the nVidia version of support are charging a couple hundred extra for the privilege.

Well, the two Acer monitors I'm interested in are now available, but there are caveats.

If I go with the $799 XB270HU 1 msec IPS monitor, which sports G-sync, then I have to stick with an nVidia graphics unit.  A disadvantage of the XB is having only a displayport, but no HDMI, through which I would like to have to connect my console. On the other hand, the $499 XG270HU offers FreeSynch technology, but with older technology TN hardware.  With this one, I'll need to stay with an AMD compatible unit.

You could try to get a displayport-hdmi adapter.

Yeah, I thought that might be a reasonable solution, but I didn't like the idea of plugging/unplugging cables.  However, it would w@&k if G-sync is the way to go

Funny to see how much you get sucked into the whole "putting-it-myself-together-phenomena" again, along the process of buying your new rig. I'm sure it's gonna be a super-rig, make sure to post some pics when parts fit nicely :-X :)

This Gsync vs Freesync is what nvidia actually wanted, you have to choose which brand of GPU to buy, and stick with that brand unless you want to buy a new monitor and keep this feature.

Also IPS vs TN. always go for the IPS, its far too superior, there is no doubt about that.

Quote from: Binnatics on March 26, 2015, 10:00:32 AM
Funny to see how much you get sucked into the whole "putting-it-myself-together-phenomena" again, along the process of buying your new rig. I'm sure it's gonna be a super-rig, make sure to post some pics when parts fit nicely :-X :)

Yeah, it is kind of funny - never thought I would build another rig.  GKID got me started with pcpartpicker.com, and here we are  :-()

Quote from: Stiku on March 26, 2015, 10:13:39 AM
This Gsync vs Freesync is what nvidia actually wanted, you have to choose which brand of GPU to buy, and stick with that brand unless you want to buy a new monitor and keep this feature.

Also IPS vs TN. always go for the IPS, its far too superior, there is no doubt about that.

It is too bad that business politics and greed comes into play - the G-sync option costs more due to the extra hardware and nVidia profit needs, but the new Acer IPS monitor is sure a nice enticement.  However, that locks me into the nVidia line for a long time because of the proprietary nature of G-sync.  Might not be too bad though, because I've had good luck with my current 295 for quite a few years (I remember when that was a top of the line unit)

Quote from: PZ on March 26, 2015, 12:00:31 PMYeah, it is kind of funny - never thought I would build another rig.  GKID got me started with pcpartpicker.com, and here we are  :-()

:-D ^-^

Well gents, I decided to go ahead and go the nVidia route to get the new Acer IPS monitor.  I know... I know.... it locks me in to nVidia, but it is really not that big of a deal.

Here's the parts list I just ordered, and even kept the price below $2k:

PCPartPicker part list (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Lwhvcf) / Price breakdown by merchant (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Lwhvcf/by_merchant/)

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i74790k)  ($334.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Nepton 240M 76.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rln24m24pkr1)  ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-z97gaming5)  ($151.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f31866c10d16gab)  ($120.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7ke256bw)  ($140.49 @ Newegg)
Storage: Toshiba  3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/toshiba-internal-hard-drive-ph3300u1i72)  ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB STRIX Video Card (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-strixgtx980dc2oc4gd5)  ($559.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr5bk)  ($123.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 850W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-hx850)  ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-optical-drive-drw24b1stblkbas)  ($21.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615)  ($102.98 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-S12A ULN 120mm  Fan (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-case-fan-nfs12auln)  ($19.39 @ Mwave)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-S12A ULN 120mm  Fan (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-case-fan-nfs12auln)  ($19.39 @ Mwave)
Total: $1921.12
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-26 15:52 EDT-0400

1(337)+ :-X :-X

I suppose that new rig of yours will be able to handle FC2 just nicely.  :-D

I get 144+ fps with my R9 290 with Ultra High settings :-D. Have to limit my fps or the NPCs simply bounce :laugh: :D ???? :laugh:

Cooling system

Front: 2 – 120/140 mm fans (included is 1 Fractal Design Dynamic GP14 fan, 1000 RPM speed)
Rear: 1 – 120/140 mm fan (included is 1 Fractal Design Dynamic GP14 fan, 1000 RPM speed)
Top: 3 - 120/140 mm fan (not included)
Bottom: 2 – 120/140 mm fan (not included)
Side: 1 – 120/140 mm fan (not included)
Fan controller: 3 step fan controller for up to 3 fans
Dust filters: Bottom and front intakes

If you can, change to 140mm fans, higher airflow with the same noise(db)

Thanks Stiku  :-X - may need to upgrade cooling - dang fast shippers though, my order has already been processed

I don't think I'll have any problems with FC2, AB  :-()  Although FC4 has dropped to $29, I resisted the temptation to make a purchase

Wow, a good part of my order is already being packaged for shipping - can't change it any longer

Nice Rig PZ!!!  :) :-X

And great that we can count you amongst the dedicated PC-ers once again :-() :-X

Thanks, Binn - at least I can now play some of the newer games again  ^-^

My goodness, most of my order has already shipped ???

Just in time for GTA V PC then ^-^ :-X

 :-()  sure is good timing!

Not sure if I will get it yet though - I'm likely to wait and see how you guys like it first (and watch a few videos)  GTAV is still full retail, and FC4 is down to $29.99 at Amazon, so that might actually be my first go - Kyrat should be beautiful using PC graphics.

Its not that much better in PC,
And when you order parts from companies that know the ABC of customer services, they tend to ship stuff to you quite quickly, usually within one business day.

Good to know  :-X

http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/geforce-gtx-980-ti-has-3072-cuda-cores-and-6gb-of-gddr5.html (http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/geforce-gtx-980-ti-has-3072-cuda-cores-and-6gb-of-gddr5.html)

\:/

 :o ???

Just received the first of my packages from Newegg yesterday - the PSU and hard disc.  Checking my email yesterday, I noticed that the MSI main board I'd ordered was on sale for $24 discount, and W8.1 was $20 less with promo code.  I almost chalked it up to a loss, but sent them an email expressing my dismay at the loss of sale price.  They replied within hours that my credit card would be credited with $44.  Not only do these people send their items out in a timely way, they are also responsive to customer satisfaction.

I'm a fan of Newegg

Very nice service indeed!
I have my own address in Holland which also is known for excellent customer support, which is priceless ;)

Nice that they funded you back, just a tip, try out the system BEFORE you put everything into the case, just to see that everything works like its supposed to w@&k. Also makes an easier troubleshooting if you run into a problem.

 :-X  I was planning on a POST to be sure the main components were working

I never did that. Sounds logic indeed, but isn't there a risk that the mobo connects to the floor and causes trouble?

Place the MB on a cardboard, rubber or other material that can be considered insulating(the anti-static bag isnt a good mattress btw, the outside isn't always insulated and protected).

 :-X thanks for the tip

Well, I now have everything except a few parts (the main processor, 980, and a couple of fans) laid out on my living room floor.  Hope to get the rest of the parts by this weekend

waiting for Easter eggs, then, are you?  :-()

Time to hone those TIM(Thermal Interface Material) applying skills then(let the cooler do the spreading), and luckily that CPU cooler bundles with it too.

Stuff came earlier than I expected - everything is here except 2 Noctua fans - am starting the build as I write  ^-^

Hope it turns out okay

Well gents; this is my first post on the new PC  ^-^

Cool, at least you can type with it already, so most basics have been installed correctly then :angel:

@ Stiku, what happened to your nametag?

 :laugh:  I was never so relieved to see CMOS pop up  :-()

Looks like Stiku changed his account parameters

PZ, wow, that was quick :) impressive :) Have fun with your new rig and all the good new games to come  :-D :-X

Re Stiku's account - looks as if he "emptied" it ????

Thanks, AB  ^-^  I did a full photo shoot while spending the day yesterday assembling the new rig, which was very pleasant.  Assembling a few parts, then checking YouTube videos, and so on - was quite relaxing.  I've chores to do, and then I plan to post an album of my adventure.

It was funny to see the water cooler - looked like I was building a small sports car  :laugh:

 :-D

 :-X :)

Looking forward to the slideshow PZ!!

My next rig will probably have water cooling as well. For now, I'll just have to be satisfied with my massive air-cooling motorcycle-look-a-like rig :-D

 :-D

I'm transferring my Picasa photos as I write - there are over 35,000 pics in the database, and will do catch-up, and then get the photos up.  The last one is a real kicker - it is one of those door tags like the "Do not disturb" tags you put on your hotel door.  This one is from MSI - the main board manufacturer - it reads "I'm not here" - naturally it is already hanging on my office door :laugh:

 :-D

Well, it was a really fun build, and I'm glad I took GKIDs advice to make a go of it.  I spent the better part of a day relaxing and checking videos online so I would not make any mistakes.  Even had plenty of snacks and a bottle of red for refreshment.

Here's the link to the web album (https://plus.google.com/photos/115880926969978238488/albums/6133390631361835041?authkey=CNaIz9fil73lQQ) - if you click on the first image you see, the caption should appear describing the image, but they are rather self-explanatory as well

Very nice, enjoyed the pics.  Good job PZ.  :-X

Thanks, mandru - it was a fun build.  ... and quiet!  Despite all the fans, the rig is almost completely silent.

I played a bit of FC2, FC3, and AC: Brotherhood, and the machine didn't even break a sweat.  My old rig had it's fans screaming after only a few minutes of gaming.

I'm using the SSD only for the OS, and it starts to desktop in less than 10 seconds.

Man, I really like this rig  :-X

wow, nice rig :-X :)

That's a whizzbang setup PZ :-X Very clean-looking interior, no cables snaking back and forth all over the place - unlike the inside of my box, which looks like a can of crazy string exploded in it...

I enjoyed looking at your pics, nice album 8)

You may now consider me green with envy :-()

 :-()

 :laugh: @ fragger's can of crazy string


Liquid for cooling anywhere near ultra sensitive electronics always freaks me out.   ???

Mrs. mandru inadvertent killed our first internet access system (a Web TV module) by vigorously watering a potted plant that was located directly over the unit where it was parked in a makeshift bookcase.  Ah well, water under the bridge (so to speak).  That mishap lead to us getting our first real computer with a comparatively speedy dial up connection and the ability to play Myst.  ^-^


Do you have to monitor the fluid levels in the cooling system periodically?

The thought of an in-the-tower access port to top off coolant from time to time makes me recall some of the spills I've had trying to get motor oil back into an auto engine after performing an oil and filter change.

I don't even want to consider a drain and disconnection of fluid lines if servicing some unrelated problem should arise.  :-\\

Thanks for the comments guys  ^-^

I spent quite a bit of time routing the wires, fragger and that the PSU is modular really helped keep it neat and ticy because I only had to use two snap-ins for extra power.

The radiator and pump are a sealed system, mandru so you never need to do anything for maintenance (wish my car worked that way)

I really enjoyed your slideshow PZ! Excellent Rig!! :-X

It is quite comparable with mine actually. I also have an MSI mobo, although a bit older of course, and I have the GTX780, also the asus with with Direct CUII cooling block. Excellent build, I suggest you experiment a bit on one of your favourite demanding games with different settings in the asus GPU Tweak program that surely was provided with the card. I could seriously crank up mine making a lot of difference in FPS on high settings ;)

Oh man, I am with you Fragger, I'm green up to behind my ears :-D

And an excellent job putting the whole stuff together. Weren't you afraid something would go wrong attaching the CPU and the cooler to the mobo? I always let that do by the hardware shop I buy the stuff. They mount that plus test it for only €10,- which gives me just that little insurance with these sensible parts ;)

Great w@&k, mate, a kudo well deserved :-X +1

Thanks for the info, Binn!  Yes, there are tweak programs for the GPU and the CPU which I have yet to explore.  However, I installed ArmA3 today, maxed out all the settings and was achieving 60 fps - the system controlled fans hardly spun up at all.  The rig was still completely silent, and stayed cool.

I must say that on maxed out graphics, ArmA3 looks really good, and the game mechanics are excellent.

I wasn't too concerned about the CPU and cooler attachment because I searched for installation YouTube videos and they were very good.  I could easily follow them and the installation went very well.

My FPS dropped a lot when I was in a battle situation, with a bit more complex stuff going on. The GPU tweak made a big difference.
Arma 3 is amazing isn't it ;)

Yes, it is like none other.  Right when you fire it up, you can tell t is not the usual video game - it really has the feel of a simulation.  However, like has been said, it will take a while to get all the commands down - good thing I'm using a gaming keyboard and mouse.

 :-X

PZ, make sure to do the side missions which will appear at the base, listening to conversations. They direct you to places where you can find the best sniper rifles and scopes. Already on the first Island, Stratis if I'm right. Once you enter the base lead by the Englishmen, Miller, you will be able to assign them and explore in free roam mode. Snipers make life easy in Arma 3. And fun!! :)

Thanks, Binn!  It is very helpful to have tips because this truly is completely open world where you'd better know what to do  :-()

I already added an AS50 mod, but it is an alpha so I'm not sure it will be available in the game as of yet.  It is really easy to add mods - all you need do is put them into a folder and point the Steam loader to it, then tick the mods you want installed - really slick system.

AWESOME RIG! :-D :-X 8) :-()

Thanks GKID  ^-^  I would not have it if you hadn't promoted the idea of me building it myself +1  :-X

Also many thanks Stiku for your obviously very well informed advice  :-X +1

 :) ^-^ :-D

It's a good thing you got your new rig completed before I mentioned typing "HAF Stacker" in a Google search and browsing the Images tab.  ;)

And you thought your old HAF case was a space hog.  :-D


"Steampunk case mod" is also an amusing Google image search.  :-X

 ???  WOW is all I can say

On an aside, I rearranged my desk and am now using both the new and the old gaming PC.  I do that because I have always regretted getting rid of an old computer for it's files, installs, or something that I failed to migrate.  The two boxes are now side-by-side, and I connect to the old box when needed by terminal services, so no monitor, keyboard, etc.

If I need something on the old PC, I just fire it up and then connect via terminal services - can even copy/paste via services.

Some of those steampunk cases are amazing ??? :-X

Here's my new toy

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Contents of the box
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My new gaming station
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The two boxes, the small one is the new one, and the other is the one I built in 2009
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This just makes me feel cozy - a television, DVD library, and gaming - how does it get better than that!
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very nice :)

+1 :-X for making a dream come true :)

Thanks, AB!  Now I'm set for a while until the price of the GTX980 comes down and I can SLI  ^-^

SLI!  ??? :laugh: OK then, carry on  :-X :-D

For thinking SLI monster +1  :-X

lol, thanks, mandru - probably won't actually do it, but it sure is nice to dream.

Quote from: PZ on May 02, 2015, 05:16:15 PM
This just makes me feel cozy - a television, DVD library, and gaming - how does it get better than that!
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Don't flip the glass by accident so you ruin your rig/ keyboard  :angel: ;)

 :-D

Bigger desk, 2 more monitors, and 40" TV, recliner and you'll have the same setup as I do,

Sounds like we have similar setups only mine is on a smaller scale - I'll get there one of these days  ^-^

Nice little man-cave you have there, PZ :-D :-X

 :laugh:

Thanks, fragger!  :-D

It is rather fun to spend time there  ^-^

I'll also get there one day, when my ship arrives without sinking coming around cape point

 :-D I think my ship disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle

I have a good idea where my ship went.  8-X

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDlGzpLaSaI#)

Nuff said.

 :laugh:

well. It didn't look like a sub at the beginning, didn't look like a sub in the end, either. I think the guy who operated the crane will be found with an anchor wrapped around his head.  :-D

 :laugh:

 :laugh: :-X