A few questions regarding my future PC

[ubermachtig 0]

Hello guys,

A few days ago, my Medion computer decided to drop the bomb on me. The computer was able to play ArmA 2 with a lot of tweaks, but the framerate was not super impressive:

Videocard: 9600GT

Windows 7 Home Premium 32-BIT

Processor: Intel Core 2 duo @2.13MHz (E6400)

Mainboard: MSI 7318

RAM: 2 GB DDR2 533MHz RAM memory

HD: Seagate 5400 RPM, 300GB (Considered as the bottleneck by windows' index)

Resolution: 1024 x 1280

After some research, I have decided that this will be the PC I'll order within a few weeks (Amazingly, around the same price as the computer above, 3 years ago):

Windows 7 Home Premium 32-BIT

Processor: Intel I7-870 (2,93GHz)

Videocard main: Nvidia GTX460 1024MB edition

Videocard Physics: 9600GT 512 MB

RAM: 4 GB Kingston DDR3 1600MHz

HD: Western Digital WD1002FAEX

Resolution: Still 1024 x 1280, but significant chance I'll add additional CRT screens.

I have no doubt that this new system will easily outrun my previous system, but there are still a few important questions I have.

• The harddisk I've selected, I've heard it is a good performer, but are there any faster, similar alternatives (500GB minimum preferred)?
  
• Considering the fact that I will have the 9600GT as additional videocard connected (with a chance to be replaced with another GTX460 as prices drop), how powerful should my power supply be (700-800W)?
  
• I've heard a lot about Intel Turbo Boost, but to what extend is it profitable for ArmA 2's performance?
  
• There are 2 mainboards that fit the essential requirements (ASRock P55 Extreme and the MSI P55-GD65) but it is quite hard for me to decide which one to buy.
  
• Is the processor/videocard balance correct? (I7-870/GTX460 & 9600GT)
  
• Due to the 32 BIT windows (I still have a legal W7 32 BIT copy here), I am not able to add more than 4GB's of RAM, How much of a bottleneck is this? And, is it true that If I would install 64 BIT W7 software, and use my 32 BIT key for it, the computer would still function correctly and legitimate? (heard such rumours).
  
• Is it reccomendable to wait untill Nvidia releases the GTX560 (Pricedrop current series, if cheap enough maybe even an alternative to the GTX460)
  

Hmm, the amount of questions became much more than I've previously expected, but I hope I can find a solution/answer to all of them.

Thanks in advance.

[PuFu 4600]

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?t=72181

[ubermachtig 0]

I've seen that thread, yes, and of course I am aware that a GTX480 would outperform a GTX460. Regarding the purchase, it is not a question of knowing which card is the best one around, but the best one fitting into my €150 budget for a videocard.

ATI is out of the question, due to already possessing a 9600GT which will be used as physics processor; and having very good experience with Nvidia as a brand. So far, the GTX460 seems to be the best solution in my case (Not too expensive, but performing quite decent), but I'd like to have additional viewpoints on the new 5xx series.

Furthermore, I remember that when ArmA 2 was launched, the major emphasize was put on the CPU, rather than the GPU. I'm not sure whether this has changed due to the patches that have been released, but in case it hasn't I'd like to know your viewpoint on the other parts as well, rather than the GPU only.

Cheers

[rfc 10]

I'm aware of budget constraints, had that a lot too in my live. People were telling me that certain things didn't make sense, I said I had no money. But in the end it was my fun which suffered from it. I'm not a hardcore Arma player, but there are some things I'd change from your above configuration:

* 32 vs. 64bit: I wouldn't count on Rumor. Either call M$ and ask or just rather buy a 64bit now, because you are already at the limit of the supported RAM in W7 32bit. Since you never can have enough RAM, at some point the prices are cheap and you want to upgrade and you've to re-install your computer for that. I wouldn't want to do it.

* Get an SSD as your primary drive. The performance is just so much over the top compared what a mechinical drive can get you. Get a 160GB for the system and your most precious games, the rest on the other drive.

Of course there are many other things to recommend, e.g. a more powerful GFX car, but those two things I mentioned, in case you would do it later, would require re-installing the system (with the SSD part I mean using it a as system drive). That's why I'd to them now instead of later.

Just my 2c.

[Guest]

He linked you to that thread to ask your questions there instead of your own topic. This topic will be locked anyway as the moderators here want all discussions like this in one topic. So if you want help its better to continue there.

[W0lle 1051]

I've seen that thread, yes, and of course I am aware that a GTX480 would outperform a GTX460. Regarding the purchase, it is not a question of knowing which card is the best one around, but the best one fitting into my €150 budget for a videocard.

+1 infraction for starting a new thread on purpose just because you think you're question is so special it needs a new one. :mad: