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  • Subject: Want to build a PC? PC Building Guide and FAQ of The Flood
Subject: Want to build a PC? PC Building Guide and FAQ of The Flood

I guess I'd be smart to post this here as well. I'm considering a 3rd Monitor on my PC Build. GTX 550 Ti so I can do it:

Right now I'm using 2 monitors on my PC build and I am considering adding a third. I'm in the process of learning 3D Modeling and Animation and so far I'm doing alright, watching videos or reading a guidebook on one screen while working on the other. As I'm in the learning stage this is all I[think I] need right now. I can imagine an instance or two in which another may be useful but not much of a priority atm.

In the future though, I may need more. I may need to have multiple programs at once, as I am just learning one thing at a time now, I don't need it immediately. I'm thinking multiple monitors may be needed when I'm like modeling something and going to animate in another screen or with Animating Suites which are multiple programs. I'm considering whether or not to start putting some money aside to get one.


What are some pros and cons to having another screen. Should I bother? I'm not talking about Gaming here. At this point I could care less about gaming on the PC with multiple monitors(Yeah it's awesumz PC Mastur Razur Woohu- I don't care.), I'm just focused on learning and using it for development rather than anything else.

Do you have 3 monitors? Is it useful? I know of people that use even more.

  • 11.17.2012 4:43 AM PDT

So, you want to hear a story eh? One about treasure hunters? Have I got a story for you!

Can someone rate this build? How will the performance be and will all the parts work together?

Mother board: MSI Z77A-G45, Socket-1155
CPU: Intel® Core i5-3350P
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 660Ti 2GB PhysX CUDA
CPU fan: Noctua NH-D14 CPU fan
RAM: Corsair XMS3 DDR3 2000MHz 12GB CL9
PSU: Cooler Master GX 550W PSU

Do I need to upgrade something or downgrade something? What games will I be able to run and what settings?

  • 11.17.2012 6:17 AM PDT
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I like Cheese

Posted by: Rami730
Can someone rate this build? How will the performance be and will all the parts work together?

Mother board: MSI Z77A-G45, Socket-1155
CPU: Intel® Core i5-3350P
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 660Ti 2GB PhysX CUDA
CPU fan: Noctua NH-D14 CPU fan
RAM: Corsair XMS3 DDR3 2000MHz 12GB CL9
PSU: Cooler Master GX 550W PSU

Do I need to upgrade something or downgrade something? What games will I be able to run and what settings?

Looks fantastic.
Though, I'm kinda skeptic on the CPU.
Get either the 2500k or the 3570k.
I use the 3570k and I love it, but whatever your choice.
Though, still great build!Also, more then 8GB of RAM is overkill, unless you're planning on heavy music/video/image editing and such.
So 8GB will be enough.


[Edited on 11.17.2012 6:47 AM PST]

  • 11.17.2012 6:46 AM PDT

So, you want to hear a story eh? One about treasure hunters? Have I got a story for you!


Posted by: thebig100
Posted by: Rami730
Can someone rate this build? How will the performance be and will all the parts work together?

Mother board: MSI Z77A-G45, Socket-1155
CPU: Intel® Core i5-3350P
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 660Ti 2GB PhysX CUDA
CPU fan: Noctua NH-D14 CPU fan
RAM: Corsair XMS3 DDR3 2000MHz 12GB CL9
PSU: Cooler Master GX 550W PSU

Do I need to upgrade something or downgrade something? What games will I be able to run and what settings?

Looks fantastic.
Though, I'm kinda skeptic on the CPU.
Get either the 2500k or the 3570k.
I use the 3570k and I love it, but whatever your choice.
Though, still great build!Also, more then 8GB of RAM is overkill, unless you're planning on heavy music/video/image editing and such.
So 8GB will be enough.


Good stuff, thanks for the info bro. I'll look into the CPU and the RAM.

Another question, how will the gaming performance be?

[Edited on 11.17.2012 6:58 AM PST]

  • 11.17.2012 6:57 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
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I like Cheese


Posted by: Rami730

Posted by: thebig100
Posted by: Rami730
Can someone rate this build? How will the performance be and will all the parts work together?

Mother board: MSI Z77A-G45, Socket-1155
CPU: Intel® Core i5-3350P
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 660Ti 2GB PhysX CUDA
CPU fan: Noctua NH-D14 CPU fan
RAM: Corsair XMS3 DDR3 2000MHz 12GB CL9
PSU: Cooler Master GX 550W PSU

Do I need to upgrade something or downgrade something? What games will I be able to run and what settings?

Looks fantastic.
Though, I'm kinda skeptic on the CPU.
Get either the 2500k or the 3570k.
I use the 3570k and I love it, but whatever your choice.
Though, still great build!Also, more then 8GB of RAM is overkill, unless you're planning on heavy music/video/image editing and such.
So 8GB will be enough.


Good stuff, thanks for the info bro. I'll look into the CPU and the RAM.

Another question, how will the gaming performance be?
You're welcome, bro!
Performance with these parts would be great, I won a similar rig and everything preforms nicely on either High or Ultra.
The 660ti is a great GPU, I'd get that if I didn't built the rig 2 weeks before it was released.
So, yeah. :)
Have fun!

  • 11.17.2012 7:00 AM PDT
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t3hAvenger77 - XBL (BF3, ME3, Blops)
decla1mer104 - Origin (BF3)
Steam

3550P? Kind of an odd designation used by Intel. It also appears to be a more efficient 3550.

If you're not planning to overclock, you don't have to get an unlocked CPU like the 3570K.

  • 11.17.2012 7:38 AM PDT

Roll tide

Posted by: darthnazgul
Posted by: Mike_Bson
Posted by: darthnazgul
See the rapist.
I don't like rap.

*facepalm*

I currently have a ATI Radeon HD 5450 in my computer.

Instead of getting an expensive new card and power supply, would I increase my graphics in games and stuff significantly if I just bought another 5450 and had two of the same graphics card in my desktop?

BTW I have a 250 watt PSU

  • 11.17.2012 10:09 AM PDT

Xbox LIVE gamertag: Dat3lessNutella
Steam username: TopWargamer
To look up my Halo stats...search for the gamertag TopWargamer.
SAVED THREAD PAGES: 283
One does not simply get rid of TopWargamer so easily.
You know this to be true.
ALL HAIL GABEN


Posted by: Comrade Napoleon
I currently have a ATI Radeon HD 5450 in my computer.

Instead of getting an expensive new card and power supply, would I increase my graphics in games and stuff significantly if I just bought another 5450 and had two of the same graphics card in my desktop?

BTW I have a 250 watt PSU

1) The 5450 is already a bad GPU....it can hardly play any games as it is. Throwing another one in there won't do any good.
2) Even if you did throw a 2nd 5450 in there, your 250 watt PSU would NOT be able to handle it....plus it's more than likely not even 80 plus certified...which means that it may explode.....seriously.

  • 11.17.2012 10:22 AM PDT

Roll tide

Posted by: darthnazgul
Posted by: Mike_Bson
Posted by: darthnazgul
See the rapist.
I don't like rap.

*facepalm*

Posted by: TopWargamer

Posted by: Comrade Napoleon
I currently have a ATI Radeon HD 5450 in my computer.

Instead of getting an expensive new card and power supply, would I increase my graphics in games and stuff significantly if I just bought another 5450 and had two of the same graphics card in my desktop?

BTW I have a 250 watt PSU

1) The 5450 is already a bad GPU....it can hardly play any games as it is. Throwing another one in there won't do any good.
2) Even if you did throw a 2nd 5450 in there, your 250 watt PSU would NOT be able to handle it....plus it's more than likely not even 80 plus certified...which means that it may explode.....seriously.
1) My 5450 isn't that bad. It runs all Source games very well, got 15-20 frames per second for Battlefield 3 and Planetside 2.
2) This PSU has been able to handle this card very well, as well as two monitors that are constantly being used. I think you might be underestimating the power of my computer.

  • 11.17.2012 10:27 AM PDT

Xbox LIVE gamertag: Dat3lessNutella
Steam username: TopWargamer
To look up my Halo stats...search for the gamertag TopWargamer.
SAVED THREAD PAGES: 283
One does not simply get rid of TopWargamer so easily.
You know this to be true.
ALL HAIL GABEN

I call bull-blam!-. The 5450 doesn't even meet the minimal system requirements for either Battlefield 3 or Planetside 2.

  • 11.17.2012 10:30 AM PDT

Who the hell do you think I am?


Posted by: Comrade Napoleon
Posted by: TopWargamer

Posted by: Comrade Napoleon
I currently have a ATI Radeon HD 5450 in my computer.

Instead of getting an expensive new card and power supply, would I increase my graphics in games and stuff significantly if I just bought another 5450 and had two of the same graphics card in my desktop?

BTW I have a 250 watt PSU

1) The 5450 is already a bad GPU....it can hardly play any games as it is. Throwing another one in there won't do any good.
2) Even if you did throw a 2nd 5450 in there, your 250 watt PSU would NOT be able to handle it....plus it's more than likely not even 80 plus certified...which means that it may explode.....seriously.
1) My 5450 isn't that bad. It runs all Source games very well, got 15-20 frames per second for Battlefield 3 and Planetside 2.
2) This PSU has been able to handle this card very well, as well as two monitors that are constantly being used. I think you might be underestimating the power of my computer.
Your 250W cannot power another 5450. I'm also calling bullcrap on getting 15-20 FPS in BF3. We aren't "underestimating your computer." And you can't use source games as an example because the engine is more than a decade old.

Can you give us the rest of your specs at least?

  • 11.17.2012 11:32 AM PDT

Roll tide

Posted by: darthnazgul
Posted by: Mike_Bson
Posted by: darthnazgul
See the rapist.
I don't like rap.

*facepalm*

Posted by: THE SALTY CHIP

Posted by: Comrade Napoleon
Posted by: TopWargamer

Posted by: Comrade Napoleon
I currently have a ATI Radeon HD 5450 in my computer.

Instead of getting an expensive new card and power supply, would I increase my graphics in games and stuff significantly if I just bought another 5450 and had two of the same graphics card in my desktop?

BTW I have a 250 watt PSU

1) The 5450 is already a bad GPU....it can hardly play any games as it is. Throwing another one in there won't do any good.
2) Even if you did throw a 2nd 5450 in there, your 250 watt PSU would NOT be able to handle it....plus it's more than likely not even 80 plus certified...which means that it may explode.....seriously.
1) My 5450 isn't that bad. It runs all Source games very well, got 15-20 frames per second for Battlefield 3 and Planetside 2.
2) This PSU has been able to handle this card very well, as well as two monitors that are constantly being used. I think you might be underestimating the power of my computer.
Your 250W cannot power another 5450. I'm also calling bullcrap on getting 15-20 FPS in BF3. We aren't "underestimating your computer." And you can't use source games as an example because the engine is more than a decade old.

Can you give us the rest of your specs at least?
It was the beta, so I can't play it now.

The rest of my specs are a 2.7 gHz dual core processor (AMD Athlon xII), 3GB of Ram, and 500GB of memory

  • 11.17.2012 11:38 AM PDT

MLP: FiM Master Moderator: | Homepage | My Steam Profile | My Computer |

I'm not going to bother trying to tell you why a second 5450 is the worse idea in the world. Unoptimized drivers, old architecture, larger power usage, more heat, etc. Just get a 7850 and a cheap 500W Corsair PSU.

  • 11.17.2012 11:39 AM PDT

Roll tide

Posted by: darthnazgul
Posted by: Mike_Bson
Posted by: darthnazgul
See the rapist.
I don't like rap.

*facepalm*

Posted by: PMC Fluffy
I'm not going to bother trying to tell you why a second 5450 is the worse idea in the world. Unoptimized drivers, old architecture, larger power usage, more heat, etc. Just get a 7850 and a cheap 500W Corsair PSU.
Parents won't let me upgrade my computer too much since I'm going to college next year and I'll be getting a laptop then.

Speaking of which, any good laptops out there to run some games?

  • 11.17.2012 11:41 AM PDT

You're like a slinky. Good for nothing, but you bring a smile to my face when I push you down the stairs.


Posted by: Comrade Napoleon
Posted by: PMC Fluffy
I'm not going to bother trying to tell you why a second 5450 is the worse idea in the world. Unoptimized drivers, old architecture, larger power usage, more heat, etc. Just get a 7850 and a cheap 500W Corsair PSU.
Parents won't let me upgrade my computer too much since I'm going to college next year and I'll be getting a laptop then.

Speaking of which, any good laptops out there to run some games?
This won't be maxing out Battlefield 3 in 1080p, but it's not too shabby and it's $1,000 off right now..

  • 11.17.2012 11:51 AM PDT

Who the hell do you think I am?


Posted by: Comrade Napoleon
Posted by: THE SALTY CHIP

Posted by: Comrade Napoleon
Posted by: TopWargamer

Posted by: Comrade Napoleon
I currently have a ATI Radeon HD 5450 in my computer.

Instead of getting an expensive new card and power supply, would I increase my graphics in games and stuff significantly if I just bought another 5450 and had two of the same graphics card in my desktop?

BTW I have a 250 watt PSU

1) The 5450 is already a bad GPU....it can hardly play any games as it is. Throwing another one in there won't do any good.
2) Even if you did throw a 2nd 5450 in there, your 250 watt PSU would NOT be able to handle it....plus it's more than likely not even 80 plus certified...which means that it may explode.....seriously.
1) My 5450 isn't that bad. It runs all Source games very well, got 15-20 frames per second for Battlefield 3 and Planetside 2.
2) This PSU has been able to handle this card very well, as well as two monitors that are constantly being used. I think you might be underestimating the power of my computer.
Your 250W cannot power another 5450. I'm also calling bullcrap on getting 15-20 FPS in BF3. We aren't "underestimating your computer." And you can't use source games as an example because the engine is more than a decade old.

Can you give us the rest of your specs at least?
It was the beta, so I can't play it now.

The rest of my specs are a 2.7 gHz dual core processor (AMD Athlon xII), 3GB of Ram, and 500GB of memory
I would just buy entirely new hardware, those are all very old and your processor will likely bottleneck newer cards.

You can even save your case and hard drive.

  • 11.17.2012 11:52 AM PDT

Hurr


Posted by: Marvelous Bauble

Posted by: Comrade Napoleon
Posted by: PMC Fluffy
I'm not going to bother trying to tell you why a second 5450 is the worse idea in the world. Unoptimized drivers, old architecture, larger power usage, more heat, etc. Just get a 7850 and a cheap 500W Corsair PSU.
Parents won't let me upgrade my computer too much since I'm going to college next year and I'll be getting a laptop then.

Speaking of which, any good laptops out there to run some games?
Thiswon't be maxing out Battlefield 3 in 1080p, but it's not too shabby and it's $1,000 off right now..
That's terrible, even for a laptop

  • 11.17.2012 12:54 PM PDT

You're like a slinky. Good for nothing, but you bring a smile to my face when I push you down the stairs.

Alright guys. I've got a hard drive coming in the mail for my new build. I want to know a few things. If I put it in my current computer which already has a hard drive and XP, could I take out the old drive, put in the new one and install windows 8?

If I can, then would I be able to put the windows 8 drive in the new build with no problems?

  • 11.17.2012 12:56 PM PDT

You're like a slinky. Good for nothing, but you bring a smile to my face when I push you down the stairs.

'm getting a new HDD in the mail soon, and I was wondering if I could use two OS's on one computer, IE

>XP SP3 on current 400GB drive
>Getting a 1TB Drive in the mail, same brand. Both are SATA

>Can I install Win 8 on the new 1TB drive?
>Can I put both of these drives into a brand new PC build when the time comes?
>How do I set the the Windows 8 drive as my main drive?
>Is this safe / advisable?
>Could I upgrade to windows 8 on the 400GB drive, and then move all of my files (including windows 8) to the 1TB drive?


[Edited on 11.17.2012 1:43 PM PST]

  • 11.17.2012 1:25 PM PDT
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t3hAvenger77 - XBL (BF3, ME3, Blops)
decla1mer104 - Origin (BF3)
Steam


Posted by: Marvelous Bauble
'm getting a new HDD in the mail soon, and I was wondering if I could use two OS's on one computer, IE

>XP SP3 on current 400GB drive
>Getting a 1TB Drive in the mail, same brand. Both are SATA

>Can I install Win 8 on the new 1TB drive?
>Can I put both of these drives into a brand new PC build when the time comes?
>How do I set the the Windows 8 drive as my main drive?
>Is this safe / advisable?
>Could I upgrade to windows 8 on the 400GB drive, and then move all of my files (including windows 8) to the 1TB drive?
This is not /g/.

Yes, you are able to dual boot between 8 and XP.

But why do you even need to run XP? I'm sure most apps are already compatible with Vista/7/8.

  • 11.17.2012 4:06 PM PDT

You're like a slinky. Good for nothing, but you bring a smile to my face when I push you down the stairs.


Posted by: ThirstyAvenge

Posted by: Marvelous Bauble
'm getting a new HDD in the mail soon, and I was wondering if I could use two OS's on one computer, IE

>XP SP3 on current 400GB drive
>Getting a 1TB Drive in the mail, same brand. Both are SATA

>Can I install Win 8 on the new 1TB drive?
>Can I put both of these drives into a brand new PC build when the time comes?
>How do I set the the Windows 8 drive as my main drive?
>Is this safe / advisable?
>Could I upgrade to windows 8 on the 400GB drive, and then move all of my files (including windows 8) to the 1TB drive?
This is not /g/.

Yes, you are able to dual boot between 8 and XP.

But why do you even need to run XP? I'm sure most apps are already compatible with Vista/7/8.
My computer is currently running XP.

  • 11.17.2012 4:14 PM PDT
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t3hAvenger77 - XBL (BF3, ME3, Blops)
decla1mer104 - Origin (BF3)
Steam

I bet you will be given a boot prompt to select which OS.

  • 11.17.2012 5:58 PM PDT

You're like a slinky. Good for nothing, but you bring a smile to my face when I push you down the stairs.


Posted by: ThirstyAvenge
I bet you will be given a boot prompt to select which OS.
What if I install Win 8 on my current HDD and then clone it to the new, bigger one?

[Edited on 11.17.2012 6:03 PM PST]

  • 11.17.2012 6:02 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

t3hAvenger77 - XBL (BF3, ME3, Blops)
decla1mer104 - Origin (BF3)
Steam

The only upgrade option from XP to 8 is a clean install. I'd suggest you just back up your existing files and do a clean install.

  • 11.17.2012 6:47 PM PDT

You're like a slinky. Good for nothing, but you bring a smile to my face when I push you down the stairs.


Posted by: ThirstyAvenge
The only upgrade option from XP to 8 is a clean install. I'd suggest you just back up your existing files and do a clean install.
Alright, final question. Is there any way, after the install, to move Windows 8 to the 1TB HDD?

  • 11.17.2012 7:01 PM PDT