Building a system, still unsure of Video Card

[Tyval]

I'm currently building up my system and I have pretty much figured out what I want for the various components with the exception of the video card. (CPU intel 6core, SSD drives, 12 Gig memory etc..)

I've read and search through here but I still had a couple of parts I was confused on.

I use InnerSpace and ISBoxer for my MBing software.

My goal is to have my main box on one monitor and my 4 slaves on another.

If I understand things correctly, SLI or crossfire don't matter in terms of WoW performance.
I did read though that it is possible to run a monitor on each card if I have two video cards. I now can't remember if it is possible or recommended to due that on one card.

The cards I've pondered are
5970: Though this is really two cards, so wondering if this would work for a 2 monitor solution.

I've read that the 480GTX runs pretty hot, so unsure if I want two of those in my ssytem.

580GTX Not sure how available these are yet, and if there would be the normal issues with new cards and iffy drivers.

So my questions:

1 or two video cards and which ones would folks get if they were getting cards today.
(money isn't really an issue)


Thanks for any thoughts you might have.

T

[Lax]

I suggest sticking with 1 card, and someone in the ISBoxer Chat Room said a day or two ago that they got the new 580GTX and have not had any problems with it. That person is currently playing WoW in Direct3D11 mode (with the dev build of IS).

About using multiple video cards, read this for some basic info: http://isboxer.com/index.php/guides/...le-video-cards. I recommend sticking with 1 card because, as the link outlines, you may be opening yourself up for performance hits if you're intending to swap windows between the monitors. Using 1 video card will not incur this penalty and should perform just fine (especially if it's a high-end video card). The 5970 counts as 2 cards for the purposes of this paragraph.

[Void]

im using the 470 gtx with no problems people say it runs hot but totaly not true mines sitting at 55 right now with fan speed at 50 i cant even hear it. thats with 5 wows open and streaming!

[Sam DeathWalker]

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=msi....c0.m270.l1313

Don't outbid me on the low price one though lol .....

[d0z3rr]

I would've gotten a 5970, but none were in stock at my store. So I picked up a 5870 instead, it is fabulous, huge upgrade to my 260gtx.

[Tyval]

So getting ready to order my machine, but figured I would post the specs to get elicit feedback, just in case before I purchase.

I went a little crazy, but I have a xmas bonus this year to cover the cost hehe.

The important bits:

Motherboard. Asus Rampage III Extreme
CPU i7-980X EE
12 gig ram 3x4gig cosair cominator
Crucial RealSSD C300 (x2)
Corsair Hydro H70 CPU cooler
EVGA superclocked GTX 580
Silverstone ST1000 1000W Power suply

Merry xmas to me!

Thoughts?

[Sam DeathWalker]

I assume you will raid the SSD's? I like the revo's better but if you raid them I can't see much edge in the revo's.

Ya well thats about as good a system off the shelf that you can get. Lot of overkill but Merry Xmas!

"superclocked" is like going from 772 to 794 or some such small percentage, unless its like only $20 or so more dosn't seem worth it.

Might consider the water cooled gtx 580 if you are water cooling the cpu.


I won the 460 auction, should be good for my main (one client) at full effects in cata!

[Tyval]

Ya, I think the video card was only about 20 more, maybe less than that, was picked more because of availability not because it was overclocked a bit.

I still haven't pulled the trigger yet on buying as I'm still pondering, lot of money to spend.

The main thing I want to be able to do, is 5 box on two monitors and up the graphics settings on the main toon and have no lag issues etc.. Plus be ready for a few of the new MMOs coming down the pipe.

I may have an option to cut 400 off the cpu price via intel friend.

Decisions decisions.

[Tyval]

Got all the parts for my new system this week, and built it up yesterday.
Final system info.
i-7 980X (Intel friend was able to get me one at around 1/2 price or wouldn't have got this card.)
12 gig 1600 memory
GTX580 video card.
2x SSD drives

Everything went pretty smooth with the setup, with the exception of not paying attention to my m-board form factor, (it was E-ATX, my first computer case was not ....)

Gave it a quick try last night and was a happy camper. Was only on one monitor but could turn all chars on all ultra settings with the exception of shadows, I can have the master on ultra, but others must leave on high. With that was able to bebop around dalaran with my team with no issues.


Just in time for Cataclsym!

Now I'm getting things setup to use both monitors (23in 1920x1080).

I will probably start working on overclocking after making sure things are stable for a week or so, but am in no rush since I don't really need more power for WoW right now, and don't expect to be playing anything else at lesat for a few weeks after the expansion.

[Umbaalo]

Nice rig, pretty similar to what I'm going to have finished in another month or two. Really happy to hear that the gtx 580 delivers such nice performance while running around Dal with the settings that high.
Just one question though, if you are happy with the performance, why bother overclocking? Maybe a small boost would be nice, but with how pricey those parts are, I'm just too faint of heart to push that system too far. Good luck regardless and keep us updated with progress and issues and such!