The main advantage of the sapphire is that you are almost 'guranteed' the ability to unlock the extra PixelPipelines (from reading newegg comments it seems Sapphire has been unlocking the extra pipelines themselves). The extra 4 pipes can significantly improve the preformance. It is pretty much a x850xt but being sold as a x800gto.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The HIS cards seems to be factory overclocked. If you do not want to play around with unlocking or overclocking (and hence risk voiding warranty) then this would be the better purchase. The HIS is also a Retail version which could result in a better bundle, and with rebate it is by far the cheapest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The powercolour (Do you mean this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814131317 ), it does look great on paper. But the 1600xt fails to preform in real life. There seems to be a bottleneck somewhere which prevents it from preforming. I have heard a few people saying that it is designed to run in furture games.... although I am suspect of such claims and would beleive it when I see it.

So in your personal opinion which should I go with the HIS or the Sapphire?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and can you explain overclocking to me. I've heard it alot just never had it actually explained.

So in your personal opinion which should I go with the HIS or the Sapphire?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and can you explain overclocking to me. I've heard it alot just never had it actually explained.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Out of the above two i would probably go with the HIS, because it is currently cheaper. Although the Sapphire is a excellent card, for only a few dollars more (after rebate) you can buy a true X850XT.... (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814161164)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another option, which slots in between the two is the eVGA Geforce 6800GS CO SE.

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814130271

 

 

 

At $169.00 (after rebate) it is easily faster and has better features then the His x800gto.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overclocking is increaseing the 'speed' which a component operates at to highter then stock settings. There are several methods on how this is done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a guide on overclocking.

 

 

 

http://forums.overclockers.co.nz/showth ... eadid=7041

 

 

 

(Getting quite old but still has useful content)

I think im just going to go to the Sony website and customize one of their PC's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That way I know i'll be getting something with good quality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hahahaha, ironic quote of the century!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember that if you're building your own machine and aren't into piracy then you'll have to budget for a copy of windows too.

 

I think im just going to go to the Sony website and customize one of their PC's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That way I know i'll be getting something with good quality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hahahaha, ironic quote of the century!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember that if you're building your own machine and aren't into piracy then you'll have to budget for a copy of windows too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's around 94 dollars at newegg for OEM XP Home .... and another hundred for the retail :P

 

So in your personal opinion which should I go with the HIS or the Sapphire?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and can you explain overclocking to me. I've heard it alot just never had it actually explained.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Out of the above two i would probably go with the HIS, because it is currently cheaper. Although the Sapphire is a excellent card, for only a few dollars more (after rebate) you can buy a true X850XT.... (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814161164)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another option, which slots in between the two is the eVGA Geforce 6800GS CO SE.

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814130271

 

 

 

At $169.00 (after rebate) it is easily faster and has better features then the His x800gto.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overclocking is increaseing the 'speed' which a component operates at to highter then stock settings. There are several methods on how this is done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a guide on overclocking.

 

 

 

http://forums.overclockers.co.nz/showth ... eadid=7041

 

 

 

(Getting quite old but still has useful content)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think I might go with that HIS video card because its only 18 bucks more than the Powercolor one and like 2 bucks more than the other HIS card (after rebate)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also is there any way I can check the sizes of these peices so I can make sure their actually gunna fit into that case

I've got the biggest conceivable graphics card and it will fit into any case just fine. It's only a problem for me because I'm using so many hard drives that it blocks out one of the bays. Unless you're using a smaller standard case like ITX or MicroATX then you won't have to worry about things fitting in.

I've got the biggest conceivable graphics card and it will fit into any case just fine. It's only a problem for me because I'm using so many hard drives that it blocks out one of the bays. Unless you're using a smaller standard case like ITX or MicroATX then you won't have to worry about things fitting in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

my case is an ATX Mid Tower so i'd assume everything would fit in there

It should, unless it's a very cheap case where the dimensions aren't well thought out. A ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâã20 case that I was installing a friend's machine to had 2 of the 5.25 bays blocked off by the motherboard, which was just idiotic of the designers.

I looked at some other cases today and I think I might have narrowed it down to two

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My original X-Dreamer II

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811144026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My new Xion case

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811208001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The reviews on the dreamer say that the LED lights burn out quick (I saw that like almost every review said that).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The reviews for the xion case were alot better I noticed alot of the reviews had no cons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The power supply on the dreamer is a 420W.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The power supply on the xion is 450W.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dreamer has 2 80mm fans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The xion has 1 80mm and 1 120mm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suggestions or comments anyone?

I looked at some other cases today and I think I might have narrowed it down to two

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My original X-Dreamer II

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811144026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My new Xion case

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811208001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The reviews on the dreamer say that the LED lights burn out quick (I saw that like almost every review said that).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The reviews for the xion case were alot better I noticed alot of the reviews had no cons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The power supply on the dreamer is a 420W.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The power supply on the xion is 450W.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dreamer has 2 80mm fans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The xion has 1 80mm and 1 120mm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suggestions or comments anyone?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You should probably buy the PSU seperately unless you're getting a case from a company known for quality power supplies (such as antec). Also, the bigger the fans, the slower they have to spin and the quieter they are :)

I'm not quite sure what PSU stands for but from the name brand im assuming you mean what i'm already planning to buy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-450 450W Power Supply - $66.99 -

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817103936

The xion does look like the better case, although the supplied power supply could be underpowered....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Might want to look into getting a better quality PSU when finances allow. A 400-450watt Enermax or Antec powersupply would be fine.

The xion does look like the better case, although the supplied power supply could be underpowered....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Might want to look into getting a better quality PSU when finances allow. A 400-450watt Enermax or Antec powersupply would be fine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-450 450W Power Supply - $66.99 -

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817103936

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That isnt a PSU?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If it is then I have already planned to buy one of those.

 

The xion does look like the better case, although the supplied power supply could be underpowered....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Might want to look into getting a better quality PSU when finances allow. A 400-450watt Enermax or Antec powersupply would be fine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-450 450W Power Supply - $66.99 -

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817103936

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That isnt a PSU?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If it is then I have already planned to buy one of those.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you already planned on it then why not buy a case that doesnt come with one, it would save you money for a better case or pocketchange.

Because I figured it would be better to have both. Or is that a bad thing?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I figured I needed that for whatever case I got >_<

Because I figured it would be better to have both. Or is that a bad thing?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I figured I needed that for whatever case I got >_<

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You really only need one power supply, I really can't think of anything that would require more than one per case

k, that is a PSU.

 

 

 

 

Because I figured it would be better to have both. Or is that a bad thing?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I figured I needed that for whatever case I got >_<

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You really only need one power supply, I really can't think of anything that would require more than one per case

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have 5 power supplies. They are useful to keep around just in case one dies or something.

k, that is a PSU.

 

 

 

 

Because I figured it would be better to have both. Or is that a bad thing?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I figured I needed that for whatever case I got >_<

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You really only need one power supply, I really can't think of anything that would require more than one per case

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have 5 power supplies. They are useful to keep around just in case one dies or something.

 

 

 

u have 5 PSU's in case 1 dies?? or something? what other use is there for them

Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to power supplys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get that Xion case if its what you really want then sell off the power supply unit that came with it on ebay or just keep it with you incase you ever have the need to use it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its not always possible to separate a power supply from a case so you might as well just take it and stick a new one in there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So yeah, get the antec power supply you posted and what ever case you choose then stick the antec power supply in the case you buy and keep/sell the power supply that came with it.

I suggest the Xion II case. Dual 120mm fans and 1 80mm side pannel fan. Tons of room in this case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am currently using this case, it's awsome. Comes with a 450watt power supply, but it stinks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black with blue LED:

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811208008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White:

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811208006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black with green LED:

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811208005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For everybody suggesting don't get a case with a power supply then, I find the better cases come with power supplys and no one uses them :wink: .

I suggest the Xion II case. Dual 120mm fans and 1 80mm side pannel fan. Tons of room in this case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am currently using this case, it's awsome. Comes with a 450watt power supply, but it stinks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black with blue LED:

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811208008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White:

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811208006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black with green LED:

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811208005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For everybody suggesting don't get a case with a power supply then, I find the better cases come with power supplys and no one uses them :wink: .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Xion II looks nice except for the front part. At the bottom it looks like theres some kind of meshy cloth material down there and that looks ugly to me. Maybe it isnt that but I dunno.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[EDIT] Also is there a CD drive anyone can suggest? I would like to burn CD's but if it burns DVD's that would be a plus also.

This is somewhat like the dvd burner i have and its been reliable so far. Id look into it if it intrests you.

SONY 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW 52X CD-ROM 1.5M Cache ATAPI/EIDE Combo Drive - Retail

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827106830

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think thats the CD Drive i'm going to get. It's a CD/DVD Combo Drive like I want and looks nice from what I can see bit pricey but oh well. Too bad it doesnt come in black :(

Ok guys here are the final FINAL specs for the computer (I hope)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gigabyte GA-8I945P-PRO ATX Intel Motherboard - $124.00 -

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128293

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intel Pentium D 920 2.8 GHz 800MHz FSB LGA 775 Dual Core Processor - $262.00 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819116237

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Dual Channel Kit System Memory - $88.99 -

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820145526

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Western Digital Caviar SE 160GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $80.00 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822144415

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HIS Hightech HX80GOQT256-3TOEN Radeon X800GTO IceQ II Turbo 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail - $195.00 -

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814161146

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEC Display Solutions LCD1770GX-BK Black 17" 8ms LCD Monitor - $339.99 -

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824002284

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XION Ultimate Engineering XON-001 Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450 Watt Power Supply (P4 & AMD Ready) Power Supply - Retail - $64.99 -

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811208001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Logitech Black Wired Value Keyboard - $7.00 -

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6823126170

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Logitech Value Black Mouse - $6.00 -

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6826104181

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Logitech X-530 5.1 Speaker - $58.99 -

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6836121118

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SONY 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW 52X CD-ROM 1.5M Cache ATAPI/EIDE Combo Drive - Retail - $54.99 -

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827106830

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total - $1,276.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That price comes before all of the rebates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total - $1146.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the price after rebates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total - $1246.94

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then add in 99.99 for XP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total - $1366.94

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then add in ~$120 for the Wireless router

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total - $1,353.83 <--- (after rebates) $1496.94 <--- (before rebates)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then add in shipping and handling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That should be EVERYTHING I will need to build the computer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monitor (Check)

 

 

 

Motherboard (Check)

 

 

 

Video Card (Check)

 

 

 

CPU (Check)

 

 

 

Memory (Check)

 

 

 

Hard Drive (Check)

 

 

 

Case (Check)

 

 

 

Keyboard (Check)

 

 

 

Mouse (Check)

 

 

 

Speakers (Check)

 

 

 

Cd-Drive (Check)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will be building it myself, unless I see that I cannot do it. I will NOT be buying a PSU because it comes with one. If the one it comes with is DOA or burns out then I will replace it but untill then I wont.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That price is alot better than I figured it would be. This actually looks do-able now :-P

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If anyone sees ANY problem with what I have choosen please speak now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to think EVERYONE that helped me get to this. Militaris and Stuart_G I owe most of this to you. I thank you guys SO much. But if anything screws up im coming after you two ;-) haha kidding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[EDIT] Holy crap I just noticed I spelled most wrong >_<