New Build, Could use advice.

Hey,
It's my 21st on the 30th this month, and I've got a grand to build a new pc, so that my gf can use this one.
Here's what I've got planned;

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 LGA775 2.66GHz 12MB-cache
{Apparently it's easily overclockable to 3.2GHz without a huge heat increase}
£209.14

Asus Rampage Formula Intel X48 Motherboard
{Should help with that overclocking}
£187.99

Zalman NPS9700 CPU Cooler
{Again, want to keep it cool if I'm going to overclock}
£42.29

Thermaltake ToughPower 750W Power Supply
{Not sure if the power is overkill or not, but I guess that's what the post is for... any advice}
£88.11

G.Skill 4GB DDR2 PC2-8500CS
{It's probably a little overkill, but i'll be on vista x64 and I want crysis full god damn it!}
£82.24

Samsung 1TB SATA-II 7200rpm 32MB-cache
{I've got ALOT of files - digital artist}
£96.34

Powercolour ATI Radeon 4870 512mb GDDR5
{Might go two of these, but only if i'm convinced}
£176.34

I've already got the monitor, case, etc. This isn't my first build, probably my 5th, but i'm new to overclocking - Any advice on optimising anything there or anything to change etc. Would be hugely apprechiated. Oh, and all those prices include VAT.

Basicaly, my goals are;
Crysis, hopefuly at 1680x1050 (my 22" monitor doesn't go higher) on high to full settings
World in conflict, same as above
Age of Conan, same as above
Farcry 2, same ^
Crysis Warhead, same ^
Spore, same ^

Cheers.

EDIT:

Forgot to mention, I wont be ordering until the start of august - so if there's anything better coming out or anything like that - please let me know.

With that X48 motherboard you will surely want a second hd4870 later, and one hd4870 requires 2 pci-e connectors. So I'd change the Thermaltake power supply to a Corsair 750TX 750W because it has 4 pci-e power connectors, and your Thermaltake has only 2. The Corsair is also cheaper. I know you can use 6 pin adapters, but i'd rather not.

Apart from that, i have no other changes to suggest. Very nice build.

"Zalman NPS9700 CPU Cooler
{Again, want to keep it cool if I'm going to overclock}
£42.29"

Jesus, that's a lot for a cooler isn't it :P.

I mean in general terms, it's nothing much to it is there :P.

will the 4870x2 be in the same price range as the 4870 currently is? Also, when in august do they launch? (worth waiting for?)

will the 4870x2 be in the same price range as the 4870 currently is? Also, when in august do they launch? (worth waiting for?)

kieran88

HD4870 = 300USD, HD4870X2 = 500USD (at launch, could be lower due to GTX price drop) They are slated to release at the end of july.

[QUOTE="kieran88"]

will the 4870x2 be in the same price range as the 4870 currently is? Also, when in august do they launch? (worth waiting for?)

Staryoshi87

HD4870 = 300USD, HD4870X2 = 500USD (at launch, could be lower due to GTX price drop) They are slated to release at the end of july.

Cool, might hold out for that, i'll wait to see the UK prices though lol :D (we always get humped )

Here it is, black PCB and the rumors say that it will have 2 GB of GDDR5:

Edit: Sorry, here's the link.

If this is for gaming and you want a good proccesor to overclock get the new 45nm dual core processors from intel. i got a E7200 but there is slightly better ones for a bit more. They are great processors also get a new heatsink for your cpu and artic silver(wont regret it makes ocing so much, get the freezer 7 atleast.

but if this is for video encoding or extreme multitasking then go for the quadcore and don't listen to people who say the quadcore is more "future proof" because it isn't, we will be rolling with 8-16 core cpus in the not so distant future i bet. So thats my 2cents.

hmm cheers, dunno, the quadcore at 3.2 should be insane for 3ds max and zbrush etc...kieran88

Not to mention if you love RTS games. RTS games would really benefit from a Quad.

The HD 4870x2. Is that two GPUs in one card like the 9800GX2? If it's coming out later this month, I'll definitely hold out for it as well. I'm planning to get TWO HD4870s for crossfire but I didnt know Crysis doesnt support it. Good think I came across this thread!Elann2008

Haha, yeah. I'll deffinetly hold out for the 4870X2. I hope they're not too expensive. I'm set on getting that quad core (and yes, i'm a big fan of RTS Elann2008).

The HD 4870x2. Is that two GPUs in one card like the 9800GX2? Elann2008

Yes, though i'm not sure if it will work like Crossfire on one card or just as a single gpu. It's supposed to perform better than 2 HD4870 in CF. There's not much info about it so far. It should be priced at 450-500$ at launch.

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]The HD 4870x2. Is that two GPUs in one card like the 9800GX2? matrixian

Yes, though i'm not sure if it will work like Crossfire on one card or just as a single gpu. It's supposed to perform better than 2 HD4870 in CF. There's not much info about it so far. It should be priced at 450-500$ at launch.

Oh snap. Anywhere I can read some info on it? (Thanks for being such a big help in here btw) Also, I'm still lookin for advice as to overclocking that SOB.

Oh snap. Anywhere I can read some info on it? (Thanks for being such a big help in here btw) Also, I'm still lookin for advice as to overclocking that SOB.

kieran88

They're more like rumors than info, ATI is pretty tight-lipped about it. I learn about it on sites like:

vr-zone
forums at Beyond 3D
forums at Rage3D
last but not least fudzilla lol

About OC, i'm sure you can get 3.2 ghz or even 3.4 ghz and have low idle and load temps with that Zalman cooler. Here's a thread on overclocking the Q9450, I just googled that.

[QUOTE="kieran88"]

Oh snap. Anywhere I can read some info on it? (Thanks for being such a big help in here btw) Also, I'm still lookin for advice as to overclocking that SOB.

matrixian

They're more like rumors than info, ATI is pretty tight-lipped about it. I learn about it on sites like:

vr-zone
forums at Beyond 3D
forums at Rage3D
last but not least fudzilla lol

About OC, i'm sure you can get 3.2 ghz or even 3.4 ghz and have low idle and load temps with that Zalman cooler. Here's a thread on overclocking the Q9450, I just googled that.

Man, thanks for the massive help :D

I'm planning to get TWO HD4870s for crossfire but I didnt know Crysis doesnt support it. Elann2008

My mistake in an earlier message, Crossfire works for Crysis, but doesn't work well. Only 10 more fps.

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]I'm planning to get TWO HD4870s for crossfire but I didnt know Crysis doesnt support it. matrixian

My mistake in an earlier message, Crossfire works for Crysis, but doesn't work well. Only 10 more fps.

Ah I see. Cool beans. If the HD4870x2 card is better than HD4870's in crossfire, that's going to win big. I cant wait for the benchmark on that thing.

[QUOTE="matrixian"]

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]I'm planning to get TWO HD4870s for crossfire but I didnt know Crysis doesnt support it. Elann2008

My mistake in an earlier message, Crossfire works for Crysis, but doesn't work well. Only 10 more fps.

Ah I see. Cool beans. If the HD4870x2 card is better than HD4870's in crossfire, that's going to win big. I cant wait for the benchmark on that thing.

Totaly.