(another thread on) Hardware advice

[SurfingAlien]

Hi Guys!
been away for a while waiting for the day I'd be able to run Octane on a proper machine... now that this has become more than a hobby for me I'm ready to pull some bucks on a dedicated machine and I'd like your advise regarding CPUs (won't be an Octane only pc...) and GPUs:

CPU: i7 2600 vs. i7 2600-k (unlocked) - I don't think I'll overclock but is it worth to get the -k just in case? difference is about 30€

GPU: GTX560 Ti vs. GTX560 (both with 2Gb) - the difference in performance is worth 30€?

thanks for any advice,
hopefully I'll be able to really join the community

cheers,
Alessandro

[Jaberwocky]

Try one of these

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/produc ... id=3894#ov

with a cheap AMD 6 CORE 1090T (as they are being replaced by Bulldozer very soon).

AND 8GB DDR 3 - 1600 MHZ ( 2 X 4GB DUAL CHANNEL RAM) TO START WITH

THE 560 TI - 2GB WOULD BE THE ONE TO GO FOR UNLESS YOU CAN AFFORD A GTX 580 3GB MODEL.

DON'T FORGET A GOOD POWER SUPPLY TO GO WITH IT.

SOMETHING LIKE THIS

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... =CA-045-BQ

THAT SHOULD GET YOU STARTED.

[SurfingAlien]

thanks for the quick reply!

560/560Ti was a stupid question, I just noticed they have 336/384 cores so for 30€ it's a no brainer... sorry.

didn't know there was a (real) 3Gb 580... I knew of the 590 3Gb but it's 1.5 per GPU afaik. I will check my fav shop for the price (maybe I'll consider a future upgrade since I guess it will be more or less double price)

I know there are good deals with AMDs but I need to go the intel way this time... thanks anyway!

cheers,
Alessandro

EDIT: as power supply I think I'll go for a Corsair GS 800W and an ASRock P67 extreme4 MoBo (pretty cheap but should do)

[SurfingAlien]

update:

GTX580 3Gb -> 489€ per 512 cores | 3Gb
GTX560Ti 2Gb -> 219€ per 384 cores | 2Gb
2x GTX560Ti 2Gb -> 438€ (second card added in future) per 768 cores | 2Gb

honestly I don't care that much for the difference in performance but I wonder if I will regret not having 3Gb....? anyway, will probably go for the 560Ti and eventually switch later if needed (I can always sell the old one to lower 580 price...)

I also think I'll go for the "locked" i7-2600 (as I said I won't OC anyway)

with saved money I'll get an SSD instead

[Timmaigh]

Hi Guys!
been away for a while waiting for the day I'd be able to run Octane on a proper machine... now that this has become more than a hobby for me I'm ready to pull some bucks on a dedicated machine and I'd like your advise regarding CPUs (won't be an Octane only pc...) and GPUs:

CPU: i7 2600 vs. i7 2600-k (unlocked) - I don't think I'll overclock but is it worth to get the -k just in case? difference is about 30€

GPU: GTX560 Ti vs. GTX560 (both with 2Gb) - the difference in performance is worth 30€?

thanks for any advice,
hopefully I'll be able to really join the community

cheers,
Alessandro

I would get 2600, SSD and EVGA GTX570 2,5GB if i were you.

[Jaberwocky]

Oooohhh.... missed that EVGA 570 2.5gb.....

Must check their site.... see what the damage is

[SurfingAlien]

I would get 2600, SSD and EVGA GTX570 2,5GB if i were you.

thanks for the heads-up! will check it too (they're gonna hate me!)

[jamnique]

i7 2600-k is totally worth it. I built a system with it for a friend and after really slight overclocking it outperforms the 6-core Intel monster we have at work.

[Timmaigh]

i7 2600-k is totally worth it. I built a system with it for a friend and after really slight overclocking it outperforms the 6-core Intel monster we have at work.

Maybe you should overclock that 6-core as well
Anyway you need to get 2600k to 4,8 -4,9 GHz (seems pretty much possible on most chips) to be on par with 980x on 3,8 Ghz in Cinebench r11.5 performance-wise.

[SurfingAlien]

i7 2600-k is totally worth it. I built a system with it for a friend and after really slight overclocking it outperforms the 6-core Intel monster we have at work.

If it was for a friend of mine, I wouldn't spend a minute wondering and overclock it to hell... LOL!

just kidding but I really don't think I'll OC that machine because I'm using some very demanding CPU apps too and I'd like to have it with me for a few years... that said I'll maybe go for the -k anyway because of the built-in HD3000 (I'd like to try if it's possible to use it for display only while using Octane... if not I'll add a cheap nVidia like a GT430 later)

cheers,
Alessandro