Will my PC Run this? What CPU/GPU to get? What settings? System Specifications.

[pclipse 10]

Okay, well if you go here:

http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=M2N32-SLI%20Deluxe

Look at the Third BIOS update (Version 1903) Says that it supports AM2+

So I guess this mobo will support it?

Can somebody confirm please?

[[frl]myke 14]

@pclipse

a complete list of all supported CPU's for your board you can find here.

To make it short: it supports AM2+ CPU's with a few exclusions:

Phenom X4 9950 is not listed, though not supported.

Newer Phenom II series isn't supported at all.

A sidenote about the 9950: there were 2 versions out of this CPU, only difference is the TDP, there's one with 125W TDP and one with 140W TDP. The specs for the 125W version are absolutely identical with the 9850 which is supportd by your motherboard. Might be that Asus won't say officially that the board could handle this CPU in case someone mounts accidentally the 140W version.

It's kinda longshot but i guess the 9950 with 125W TDP should work.

[echo1 0]

The original Phenoms were terrible CPUs. You'd be better off replacing the motherboard with something that can support the newer Phenom IIs. You can pick up reasonably decent ones for about €70-80.

[pclipse 10]

Kay guys.

I have a $300

Myke, all I need is CPU and Mobo, and I want your CPU, what mobo should I get?

Also can I OC a bit higher on air? And will upgrading to that AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz from what I have and still keeping the 8800GT give me a lot better of performance in ArmA 2?

Edited May 11, 2009 by pclipse

[PTV-Jobo 820]

Ok seriously, how many times do I have to say I already purchased a 1000w psu?!:icon_wink: I was originally going to try overclocking and crossfire for the first time ever when planning and purchasing and have quite a few HDD's in there as well with my shiny new i7. In addition I wanted something that'll last a nice long time so I don't have to always buy a PSU every time I upgrade/build. :rolleyes: :icon_slap:

Sorry if it seems like I'm angry at anyone, I'm not. But it's getting really annoying having to repeat myself non-stop. Anyway, is it really necessary to complain about my choice of PSU when I purchased it awhile ago and it's been sitting in my room for well over a month? For the love of all that is good in the world--quite complaining about my power supply. LOL <bangs head on desk repeated and laughing> :nerner:

I have a feeling I will have to repeat it, so let me do it now...

Going into this I was thinking of OC/Crossfire/etc, but recently decided to try just one card and not overclocking for now to start. I also wanted to have a psu that will hold for a long time in the future. Period. End of story. Even if you think its unbelievably asinine and if I wanted to go smaller--too late. Purchased long ago.

Should I make it as a .png all pink n' sparkly too? :p

Joking aside and back on topic, thanks CH for the heads up. Right now on my current PC I'm running XP 32bit, and too chicken to dive into Vista. If I wasn't so chicken I'd shoot for Vista 64 bit (aside from gaming I do a LOT of photoshop so whichever is better for that as well I'm all for). I wish I had more money in the ol' pocket...I'd kill to be able to both build this new system and afford a Wacom Cintiq 21UX. Ahhhhh.. <drools>.

Anyway, I'll just leave it at 3GB and then get more at a later time. Thanks again CH--been extremely helpful as always. Much appreciated!

[echo1 0]

No problems Betsalel, and I wouldn't bother with Vista either, Windows 7 is likely to be out later this year (despite what MS are saying about a January 2010 release) and it's much better than Vista by far.

@pclipse: Get a Phenom II X3 720 and a Gigabyte GA-MA780G-UD3H motherboard. That motherboard will be able to accept your old RAM.

[Supernova 0]

Well as I've already said I have those parts--so complaining they're supposedly all crap (yet the reviews on the mobo seemed pretty well from when I looked around) is pretty much useless since I don't have another 2 grand sitting around so I can just toss everything out of the window and start all over. Unless you wouldn't mind lending me some money? lol

Concerning the video card and loudness--I wasn't "claiming" anything but stating what I kept reading on sites such as newegg and well as a few forums and review sites. But if it sounds like over-exaggeration, well then I'm quite relieved to hear otherwise obviously. Thanks for letting me know.

Once again, I said I purchased the 1000w because I was undecided what I was going to do (oc, crossfire, or not), besides instead of having to always buy a new psu I wanted something I could use for quite awhile so I can in turn use that money towards things like cpu and video cards. Please take the time to read my posts a little bit, so I don't have to constantly repeat myself.

As far as the case, maybe you had a bad experience. I pulled this thing out of the box the day it arrived and was impressed. Might take off those two little doors though since they always get in my way. I'm quite happy with it. But thanks for your opinion on all my horrible choices for everything I already purchased months ago and will live to regret.....I think. <ponders a bit> roflol j/k

Anyways @ rest:

Thanks for all the great feedback and help. I spent all of mother's day yesterday on the computer checking out reviews on cards and I think I might actually go Nvidia this time, if anything to try something new since I've only used ATI in the past up till now. But something is telling me the best bet first is to try and hold out until Arma 2 is released and the feedback starts coming in. However knowing me, I might not make it till then. <starts to fidget like a little boy in a toy store>

I do have another question though. Since I got the 3 GB of ram, should I get another 3 for arma 2 or would the 3 still be ok? I wish I would have asked this before I purchased the sticks a few weeks ago, argghhh.

Anyways, I just wanted to thank you guys for helping me out. At least now I'm not tossing and turning thinking about what to do as much now. :D

1. I never believe what reviews usually say unless there is a pattern emerging in many reviews that point to usually the same figures.

2. Newegg reviews you have to be kidding me. Thats one of the worst sources for reviews ever.

3. That Phenom II review you linked was a PREVIEW benchmark and it showed the 940 model which is AM2+. The 955 model I showed you is on a new socket (AM3+) and can use either DDR2/DDR3.

4. You will never use that 1000W anyway. You bought it before consulting us so you might us well use it.

5. Not a bad experience but horrible experience. Many others who are serious computer enthusiasts and don't care about plastic looking POS Thermaltake cases will agree that the top three are Antec, Cooler Master and Lian Li.

[pclipse 10]

Kay guys.

I have a $300

Myke, all I need is CPU and Mobo, and I want your CPU, what mobo should I get?

Also can I OC a bit higher on air? And will upgrading to that AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz from what I have and still keeping the 8800GT give me a lot better of performance in ArmA 2?

Help guys? ;)

[echo1 0]

Pclipse-

Read the post above Universal's.

[Sinistercr0c 0]

Hi all, cheeky question coming up.....

Currently my rig consists of:

OS: Vista 64 Ultimate

Mobo: Asus A8R32-MVP Deluxe

CPU: Socket 939 Athlon 64 3800 x2 (OC'd to 2.5Ghz)

RAM: 4 x 1Gb DDR400 Crucial (running 427Mhz OC)

GPU: PowerColor 4870 x2 (2Gb GDDR5)

PSU: Hiper Type R 580W

Disc: 2 x 300Gb Velociraptor in RAID 0

Currently I'm running ARMA at medium to low settings (No AA) due to only getting 20 - 30 FPS average. I know my limitation is my CPU, and given I have very little spare cash to upgrade, I'm after an Athlon 64 FX60 CPU (2.6Ghz stock hoping to OC to 3.2Ghz) in order to run ARMAII

Does anyone on the UK side of the pond/community have one they'd consider selling....?

As I said, cheeky question, but hey we're in a credit crunch don'cha know!!

[echo1 0]

I was in the same boat with a Socket 939 motherboard. However, I found that the FX-60s and Opteron 185s were so expensive that it was just better to get a new motherboard, CPU and RAM. If you're on a budget (not sure that would the case if you could afford a HD4870X2 :p) I'd get a Core 2 Duo E7300, 2GB of reasonably good DDR2, and some half-decent ASUS or Gigabyte motherboard and overclock the hell out of the CPU (I've read those chips are capable of hitting about 4GHz).

[binkster 0]

1.

5. Not a bad experience but horrible experience. Many others who are serious computer enthusiasts and don't care about plastic looking POS Thermaltake cases will agree that the top three are Antec, Cooler Master and Lian Li.

Yes this is one of the best cases Ive ever owned the Antec P-182. Nice black heavy case. I cant stand the cheap plastic cases.

[Steakslim 1]

strange...my Armor is in no way light or overly plastic other than it's side panel.

[Sinistercr0c 0]

@ch 123....

I got lucky on the GPU, the retailer replaced my RMA'd 4870 with it by mistake....:D, and the raptors were a another lucky spot on Ebay.

As you say the original FX-60 was hugely expensive when it was first released (rare but cheapish nowadays), but upgrading mobo, CPU and RAM is just not an option at the moment....tho I wish it were.

[echo1 0]

There's one on eBay for about 180 euros... they're expensive relative to what you get (my AM2 Athlon x2 2.7GHz CPU, motherboard and 4GB RAM cost all together about the same)

[Sinistercr0c 0]

Interesting.....I might just look at an interim upgrade then...

My ideal system would have been based around DDR3 and the new i7, but that needs a mobo thats just a ridiculous price...

thanks for the opinion....tis appreciated.

[pclipse 10]

Kay guys.

I have a $300

Myke, all I need is CPU and Mobo, and I want your CPU, what mobo should I get?

Also can I OC a bit higher on air? And will upgrading to that AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz from what I have and still keeping the 8800GT give me a lot better of performance in ArmA 2?

ch_123, will this CPU not be able to go on a mobo that supports my RAM?

[echo1 0]

@Pclipse:

@pclipse: Get a Phenom II X3 720 and a Gigabyte GA-MA780G-UD3H motherboard. That motherboard will be able to accept your old RAM.

[boomar. 10]

DELL make best cases in my opinion.

[Potatomasher 0]

Hi all, cheeky question coming up.....

Currently my rig consists of:

OS: Vista 64 Ultimate

Mobo: Asus A8R32-MVP Deluxe

CPU: Socket 939 Athlon 64 3800 x2 (OC'd to 2.5Ghz)

RAM: 4 x 1Gb DDR400 Crucial (running 427Mhz OC)

GPU: PowerColor 4870 x2 (2Gb GDDR5)

PSU: Hiper Type R 580W

Disc: 2 x 300Gb Velociraptor in RAID 0

Currently I'm running ARMA at medium to low settings (No AA) due to only getting 20 - 30 FPS average. I know my limitation is my CPU, and given I have very little spare cash to upgrade, I'm after an Athlon 64 FX60 CPU (2.6Ghz stock hoping to OC to 3.2Ghz) in order to run ARMAII

Does anyone on the UK side of the pond/community have one they'd consider selling....?

As I said, cheeky question, but hey we're in a credit crunch don'cha know!!

There's something wrong with your rig or setting of it...

I have exactly the same processor and i run Arma very high to high with AA and AF. My average FPS stays in about the same as you. Occasionally it goes all the way to 60 or down at 15, but not lower ever.

[Yapab 10]

I was about to say the same thing Potatomasher.... something is not right.

Sinistercroc... are you sure your PSU can deliver enough power for your video card? Did you know that if there is not enough power the GPU can clock down which affects performance.

Sometimes if your PSU is just a bit under powered it wont crash or trigger the safety switch.. but your GPU will clock down giving you low fps.

Your PSU has 2x 12v rails which are 20amps for CPU and 18amps for all peripherals and your GPU! 18amps is not enough for the 4870X2 :)

Yapa

[PTV-Jobo 820]

Universal, I'd just like to take this time to humbly request your forgiveness for not consulting you months ago. It was downright foolish of me. As was all my poor choices and not meeting the level of your expertise and seriousness. It won't ever happen again..I promise. I'll be sure to sacrifice a virgin or a goat in your honor--whichever I can find first. :j: :p

@all: I apologize for being OT above. It won't happen again. A friend of mine helped me up till this point on getting something decent for ArmA 2 and a bunch of other games I'm looking forward to, as well as my designing. Unfortunately both work and having a new baby boy has caused him to go MIA for quite sometime, thus here I am with the intent on figuring out a video card mainly on my own. Being on the budget I am on and have already spent long ago, it gets under my skin when people try to constantly tell me I went all wrong or hearing "well basically everything you got was a POS" toned-posts knowing full well it's too late anyway, but still posting it anyway. So again I'm sorry.

@Ch - Yeah that's probably the best for me to do. I'll stick with XP till Win7 is out instead of wasting more money on Vista right now if I don't absolutely need it and risk more headaches. Thanks for all the help and patience. I came and asked for help and certainly got it from you and guys like g-c, yapab, and deadfast. I think I'm set from hereon in and look forward to building my POS system within the month.

[pclipse 10]

@Pclipse:

Yes I know, but I don't want an X3, I would like the X4 Daneb. Will the "Gigabyte GA-MA780G-UD3H" support the X4?

[Sinistercr0c 0]

@Yapa, Potatomasher....

Thanks for the replies....must admit I'd not really considered my PSU as an issue given nothing has ever shut down on me.....

Using the eXtreme Power Supply Calculator Lite v2.5 (http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine)

It calculates I need a 750W PSU (given the plethora of fans, HDD's etc etc.) for peak load usage.....Ho hum...time to dig out the credit card.

On a side note, the reason I only run ArmA at low/medium settings is that it makes no difference if I have the settings on high/low/disabled as the FPS is always around 30FPS, therefore I've reasoned that I might as well squeeze as many FPS as I can by not having the GPU bother calculating high AA and extra textures/shadows....does this make sense?

[echo1 0]

On a side note, the reason I only run ArmA at low/medium settings is that it makes no difference if I have the settings on high/low/disabled as the FPS is always around 30FPS, therefore I've reasoned that I might as well squeeze as many FPS as I can by not having the GPU bother calculating high AA and extra textures/shadows....does this make sense?

I'm a bit confused by this... If there's no performance difference between low and high, surely you'd want to turn it up to high so that you get the best quality?