The Computer Megathread

[Acid]

Have you tried unlocking the 4th core with that CPU? It would greatly help performance, then you could get Nickelob's suggested GPU.

Im no computer techy so I had no idea my CPU had a 4th core? How would I go about unlocking this?

[Ad Bot]

[Ethan]

at what point would anyone ever need a 2k watt psu

Never right now, however a quad SLI or quadfire setup would draw around 1200W?

Im no computer techy so I had no idea my CPU had a 4th core? How would I go about unlocking this?

There is only ever one proper triple core processor, and that was the one that went into the Xbox 360.
All AMD triple cores are 4 cores with one core disabled. Some of their dual cores are even quads with the 3rd and 4th disabled.

Theres a setting that some motherboards have in the BIOS to enable it. Research "unlocking 4th core athlon II".

[Acid]

Thanks ethan and nickel. :)

[Ethan]

Thanks ethan and nickel. :)

Forgot to mention, there are risks, but that's a small percentage chance.
You'll probably come across them with your research.

[Squideey]

I'm torn between a few components here.

Motherboards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131705
$150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130579
$80

And

Videocards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130604
$250
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127562
$290

Obviously I want the best performance for my money, but a cheap price always carries the fear that it will explode and/or melt as soon as I place them in my case. I'm attracted towards the ASUS motherboard mostly for the graphical BIOS. As for the two GPU's, I'm more concerned about efficiency than price, since they only differ by $40. Which ones should I choose?

Also, if there's anything even better, I'd like to hear about it.

[Ethan]

I'm torn between a few components here.

Motherboards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131705
$150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130579
$80

And

Videocards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130604
$250
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127562
$290

Obviously I want the best performance for my money, but a cheap price always carries the fear that it will explode and/or melt as soon as I place them in my case. As for the two GPU's, I'm more concerned about efficiency than price, since they only differ by $40. Which ones should I choose?

Also, if there's anything even better, I'd like to hear about it.

About the motherboard:
The Asus is definitely the better board, however MSI boards are great, and I can't really justify the price difference. Instead, get this for $125:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
Z68 chipset, which is a bonus, plus two PCI-E 3 slots, which is awesome.
Good RAM support and gold capacitors? Can't go wrong, lol.

As for the graphics card, the 6950 is the better card, has more VRAM, and it also has a way better cooler. The Twin Frozr II cooler is amazing. I definitely recommend that one over the reference 560Ti card you have linked.

[Squideey]

Speedy response. Tanks.

[Acid]

http://www.misco.co.uk/Product/173670/Sapphire-Radeon-HD6870-1GB-PCI-Express-Graphics-Card

This could work well, but as my Algebra II teacher always says, "I could be wrong, anyone else get a different answer?"

One more question about this sorry. Does it have the same ports as the GT 430? (To check if it would fit in my computer) I'm pretty sure it does but i want to make sure i'm not getting something that won't work with my system.

[Righteous One]

pretty much every graphics card released in the last 5 or so years uses PCI-E. So yes, it does.

It is, however, quite a bit longer and will require that you have either two 6 pin connectors on your psu or four molex connectors available. Both of those are assuming that your power supply will put out enough wattage to support it.

[Squideey]

This is my build list as of now.

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
$220

GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127562
$250

Mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
$125

Power Supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016
$65

HD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
$60

Memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
$52

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146061
$36

Total Price = $808

Does it seem good?

[HerpaDerp]

How much Phenom II x2 555 UNLOCKED to 4 cores bottleneck a 6870/560 Ti? I hear that it would have same performance as a stock 955.

[Righteous One]

This is my build list as of now.

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
$220

GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127562
$250

Mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
$125

Power Supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016
$65

HD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
$60

Memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
$52

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146061
$36

Total Price = $808

Does it seem good?

What resolution are you playing at? If you're at or under 1920x1080 the 1gb card will give you the same performance and save you $50.

Looks like a pretty solid build though. Glad to see you did research before trying to throw something together.

[Squideey]

What resolution are you playing at? If you're at or under 1920x1080 the 1gb card will give you the same performance and save you $50.

Looks like a pretty solid build though. Glad to see you did research before trying to throw something together.

I'm going to be using 1920x1080, which is clearly right on that threshold. Should I stick with these components then?

[Fredulus]

you dont need 2GB of vram. downgrade the card.

[soba]

now I want to buy a new computer, even tho I already have one that can run crysis 2