Some questions regarding a 3xs i7 system build

[adrianl]

Hi all, great to see this forum here as I did have some questions regarding the configs i've been playing with, partly relating to the other threads here. BTW, I found this link via google, it isn't clear that there's any forum where you can ask questions like this from the scan home page...is that intentional?

Anyroad, so having built systems for years I've decided to let a pro do it for me, and I'm opting for the latest mobo and chip so as not to have to mess with those, easily the most fiddly bits to upgrade. I tend to play mmo a fair bit, but might try fallout 3 and love it when i can set things to max everywhere

The system spec, quickly, is a 925 i7, 6gb ram, 60gb ssd, 1tb storage, blu ray drive, 24" dell lcd...but my questions are around the graphics, network card and the ssd

I've been reading about hdmi and displayport tech, and will use system to watch blu ray films, and I wanted to ask whether these deliver better graphics (film or videogame) than dvi. I notice there's a 4870 that has displayport and hdmi support (not on the configurator), but most of the cards just have dual dvi? I certainly would like to ensure that my system has the best possible graphics inputs, and the dell lcd seems to support everything anyway, so am i right in thinking that it's good to play it safe and get a hdmi and or displayport equipped card with my 3xs build? If such a card is not on the configurator, is it possible to specify one to be installed instead?

On the N1 belkin card, I assume that supports any lower spec, i.e. if i'm going into rented accomm and they have a virgin wireless broadband that supports 802g, it'll be fine to take the belkin? In 6 months or so i'll have my own place again and will get an adsl conn from a good provider and my own wireless router, so want to ensure i'm going to be ok with this one.

On the SSD/storage drive front, the intention was to put windows and my mmo on the ssd and office etc. on the storage drive. Is that viable? I know the raptor delivers similar performance, but as i'm constantly loading textures as i zone to different areas in the game, I wanted the fastest possible experience of an online game.

Finally, I notice here that there's the option to add fans to the case where it supports them, and a dual fan not a single, but neither additional fans or the dual cpu fan are on the configurator.

How would I go about ordering a system where there are some parts not on the configurator?

Thanks in advance,

Adrian

[Ben @ Scan]

Hi Adrian

Welcome to the forum

Hdmi will graphically look better and is worthwhile to have on the system, I have a media center system at home that conects via hdmi and the quality is better than vga or dvi.

If the card you want is not on the cofigurator if you give Sales a call on 0871 472 4747 they can customize the system further.

The Belkin N1 will work with lower speed wifi but have you also considered these as an alternative

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ZyXEL...xclusive-Price

We are all using these now and impressed by the speed and you get a 100% solid connection not like wifi

With reference to the OS on the SSD we advise that you dont do this, you can run your games off it but performance would be better off a SATA drive (Velociraptor)

If you need any more help please let us know and I will see if we can set a link up from the 3xs website to this forum in the near future

Cheers

Ben

[adrianl]

First of all thanks for the very speedy reply

So those plugin air fresh... I mean network devices look cool, and conn is hugely important to me as an MMO raid leader Given I'm renting in a house that has a virgin broadband with no doubt a very average router, is it the case that I can somehow configure these things to connect my pc and the modem/router together? I can't mess with my landlord's setup really beyond getting myself connected to that modem wirelessly (as my pc is in another room). If so, a brief how to do or a link would be cool.

I'm interested to understand why you wouldn't put OS on an SSD, but of course as a velociraptor is madly quick I'm happy to select that option instead.

Finally, thanks for the phone number, is it that I would ring Phil with regard to the question or to notify him of submission of a configuration that I wanted to add/swap bits too, like the dual cpu fan, extra fans and a suitable graphics card. BTW, on that front I didn't want to pay the mega premium of a 280 or 4870, I was originally thinking the 260, but if I only find an ATI card has the HDMI and or displayport is the 4870 closer to the 260 than the 4850?

Questions questions!

Thanks
Adrian

[adrianl]

One more question if I may, I'm looking at the 4870 Gigabyte HDMI card to swap in for the ones on the configurator, but I wondered if it was worth getting a custom fan on it, or whether the ones supplied do a perfectly good job. I doubt I'd be overclocking it, but I know a good fan can increase the life of the components. If it's worth it, what would you guys recommend.

Cheers
Adrian

[Mossy]

Hi AdrianL

I have responded to your query this morning via our web system

Regards

[adrianl]

Just to update. Had my system a couple of weeks now, the support and dialogue with the build engineers was excellent, they asked about how I wanted Windows and my hard drives configured and overall I felt I had a lot of control over how the system would perform 'out of the box'.

Cable management etc. all excellent, all working perfectly, so thanks to the guys there for that. Really happy with it all.

I would say that I specified a gigabyte HD4870 with displayport, not on standard configurator, and the displayport socket on the back of the card sits slightly high, and thus, when exposed at the rear of the pc, may be partially obscured. I checked how it was sat in the slot as supplied, that was all fine, and the HDMI port and DVI ports were fine.

Thanks
Adrian