1x Mage prepping for Cata

[Kawasa]

if you are running 1x mage on a system you will only need a QUADCORE, a reasonable graphics card (Radeon 5850 1024MB RAM) and 4GBGB ram (the ram you currently have is OK).
your power supply (550watt will be ok to run this)

How long do you guys think my computer would last on high/max graphics according to Mike's suggestion with a few changes? Maybe going for a computer that can last high graphics for a few years (3?) then medium graphics for last 2 before I upgrade again (: (< i only upgrade my comps once in a blue moon lol)

So Radeon 5850 is better than GeForce GTX 470?

[Kawasa]

Also, I am thinking of using multiple monitors to solve my alt-tabbing sickness (possible 2 at first, 3 if any of you have nice setups)
Do any of you mind showing me a picture of your setup (monitor placement, etc)?
I just want to get an idea of how cool I can set them up from the PROS!

[mikekim]

my machines are all low end quad core (q6600's & q9400) here is the link to the thread on my setup.

your best bet would be to look at getting the best eyefinity card you can afford, which will allow you to run three screens. you can then rotate the 2x side screens, or leave them as normal, like the bottom row of screens in my current setup (both shown in the link)

I picked up a 5850 Toxic 2gb and was playing around with the three screen option and it seemed to work ok.

As for the issue of lasting three years, my machine is over 2 years old now and runs whatever i need fine (i get 60 fps in wow (capped) lowering to 50 at peak times in dal) when i play the occasional other games(Bioshock and Crysis) they run very well on medium to high settings on a 24" screen (1920x1200).

I have been toying with the idea of upgrading, but tbh it serves me fine for the moment (but then if i went on the upgrade route it would probably set me back £2,500 -3,000)

[alcattle]

How long do you guys think my computer would last on high/max graphics according to Mike's suggestion with a few changes? Maybe going for a computer that can last high graphics for a few years (3?) then medium graphics for last 2 before I upgrade again (: (< i only upgrade my comps once in a blue moon lol)

So Radeon 5850 is better than GeForce GTX 470?

Get either one, they will be fine until they hard wire the video to your brain. lol not going to happen. The rest of the machine is good now but it is on the last upgrade. After that, save for the next gen stuff. Good thing is the video card will travel with the new machine, and you can put the 8800 back in for a backup/web surfer.

[thefunk]

You'll need a full new installation to 1-box cata. My suggestion:

http://www.kunstonline.dk/indhold/pics/venedig4.jpg

I'll get you fit too

[Kawasa]

Mike, your monitors are just so fucking sexy.

And they sell dual monitors that are hooked together!?

[Kawasa]

Can I put a Intel Xeon e5440 processor into a desktop motherboard AND having it fully functional?
like say this random one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-394-_-Product

Or do I have to be SPECIFICALLY a server motherboard? I heard that they weren't for gaming tho...

And what does Eyefinity do exactly? Is that what allows you guys to have more than 2 monitors?
What is Crossfire and Sli?

Muhaahahaha my sexy new comp is coming to fruition.

[mikekim]

Can I put a Intel Xeon e5440 processor into a desktop motherboard AND having it fully functional?
like say this random one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-394-_-Product

Or do I have to be SPECIFICALLY a server motherboard? I heard that they weren't for gaming tho...

And what does Eyefinity do exactly? Is that what allows you guys to have more than 2 monitors?
What is Crossfire and Sli?

Muhaahahaha my sexy new comp is coming to fruition.

without knowing your motherboard this question cannot be answered.

eyefiinty is an ATI multi monitor solution that allows you to run 3 (or 6) monitors from one graphics card.

crossfire and SLi are ATi & Nvidia's solutions for running more than one graphics card in your machine. (you will get no benefit form this in WOW, but woill help greatly in other games, ie first person shooters)

as for your question re joined monitors, look at a company that produce multiple monitor stands (i got mine from here)

[Kawasa]

Processor: http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=33082
server processor Intel Xeon e5440

would these mobos be compatible with it?:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157175 $60

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131393 $82
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128380 $80
the bottom one says its memory standard is 1066, will it still take 800mhz?

one more thing, what is an SSD?
one more thing, what is that thing about having your windows and games on different harddrives?
one more thing, is this the best (close enough) 5850?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-330-_-Product

[mikekim]

the motherboard you specified is has a 775 processor slot, the cpu you have linked to is a 771. It will NOT fit onto the motherboard.

you would be better off looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116347 (it will work in the motherboards you have specified)

yes the board will take 800mhz ram

an ssd is a solid state drive (think along the lines of big fast memory stick, that looks like a disk drive :P)
if you run windows and wow on different drives you get a speed boost as the game and O/S are not reading from the same drive at the same time (this is what most people use an ssd for)

as for the best 5850 = http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...k=5850%20toxic