New System - Advice on spec?

[Powderhound]

LOL can they actually do that? Quite neat

Yeah, FSX is made for multi monitor; you have on for straight ahead, then one either side and maybe one for the primary six dials as well. I've even seen a pic at a press event of FSX running on eight monitors.

[NightshadowUK]

System Spec Rev2:

Q9550
Water Cooling for CPU from my Armor LCS
Asus Rampage Formula (DDR2 Version)
8GB DDR2 1066
2 x Radeon 4870 (Same as above)
Monitors: Prob 1 x 24 1920*1200, and 2 x 22" 1650*1080 But maybe 3 x 24".

System drive will probably be Raid1 or 0 320 GB drives, as I have them to hand. Then a pair of 1.5TB seagates in Raid 1 for data. (All my audiovisual files are worth a lot to me, and after a previous HDD failure I like the added security this gives)

PSU probably a high end 900W Tagan (I like the look of them )

I'd think a single HD4870 would be fine for video editing over three displays, FSX aside would you only use one for gaming?

A 900W PSU is WAY OTT...

[moogle]

Two sets off PC2-8500 memory would be easier to get hold of.
A 900W PSU is WAY OTT...

Isn't 1066 = 8500 ;D

900W PSU is ott yeah..

[NightshadowUK]

I knew that...

[Kata]

Wow - thats quite a setup for FSX! I would use one monitor for most games, 2 for Supreme Commander, and 3 for FSX and for EVE Online (1 Account on each screen). EVE is not *very* demanding on the hardware, though. FSX would mostly just be for keeping my hand in on instrument flying and scouting out new airports - since getting a pilots licence, it has rather lost its shine for general blatting about

So, in conclusion, 3 monitors for EVE, 2 for SupCom, 1 for any other games (barring any good new ones that appear with multi monitor....)

I went for the 900W as my current 750W ended up blowing up some hard drives, and I suspected it may have been due to me overloading it. However, Maybe I'll dial back even further to an 800W, but I don't want to keep this XClio :s

[staffsMike]

800W would cover the PC and probably the lighting for your street (or runway)

[NightshadowUK]

I went for the 900W as my current 750W ended up blowing up some hard drives, and I suspected it may have been due to me overloading it. However, Maybe I'll dial back even further to an 800W, but I don't want to keep this XClio :s

We're not saying skimp on the PSU but a 600W quality unit would still be more than enough, we promise.

[Kata]

Haha, ok, thanks

[moogle]

We're not saying skimp on the PSU but a 600W quality unit would still be more than enough, we promise.

I'll pull out my Kill A Watt and see what my system is pulling seeing as you're getting the same CPU

[Kata]

What kind of Ampage am i looking for on the 12V rails for a system like this? My reading suggests each card will draw 4A through the rail, and another 7 or so through the PCI-E cables. Leading me to think that the six 20A 12V rails should be ok on the PSU I'm looking at..

OK, I'm starting to see what you mean about the PSU!

[moogle]

Max Amps on the 12V ATX spec is 19A I think. So the PSU's have multiple rails.

Anyhow right now my system <---- or (Sig) is pulling 250W Idle (240-250) 25W of that is a pump.
and just before it crashed at 450 x 8.5 = 3833MHz it was pulling 333W under graysky's x264 encoding test

But me I'm running 3 SATA HDD's + 1 SATA DVD Drive + 9800GTX + 9 x 120mm + 1 x 200mm fans all on full + Pump and overclocked like that it's taking 333W. I'll do a 3DMark after dinner which will give higher power loads but I'm sure I wont even reach 500

But if you're going for the X2's then 600 or 700 would be enough

[richieuk]

Slightly offtopic here, but on FSX, can that run with a 22" LCD showing dials and above it a lowres HD 32" TV above it with the window view?

[McstylisT]

That sounds like a very nice setup.

If you have the financial resources to make it then good for you. I like anything OTT , makes for less upgrading in the future ( PSU , Graphics card , Memory ).

I am looking at a ATI 4870 or 4870x2 myself. Awesome powered cards. More than overkill but it makes us happy. I would also like the new OCZ 16GB p45 special RAM. But its like &#163;250 ........ so a distant memory at the mo.

Good luck with the build m8 , and i would love to see some pic's when you get chance to build it.

McT

[moogle]

Good luck with the build m8 , and i would love to see some pic's when you get chance to build it.

Which reminds me I haven't heard or seen from the guy who specced a ridiculously expensive skulltrail system which I and others believed to be BS until some person from this extreme pc place backed him up. Unless I missed the updating of the post while I was away.

We better get some pictures!

[Kata]

I'll be happy to post pics once it's built Will be a while, as I have to get the parts out to Holland from Scan, and then find somewhere to put it together - am living with a friend in her new appartment, and currently the only furniture we own is a bed (got to get the priorities straight!) A desk big enough for both my PC and hers will come as soon as we have sorted lounge furniture

[NightshadowUK]

Let us know what the final spec you decide upon is matey.