3D surround rig

[ladious]

Hi,

I want to purchase a new PC with 3D surround. Have already gone thru some of the components but would like seniors to advise on better parts & give me components that i am missing.

Thanks in advance. Much appreciated.

MBoard:
CPU: Intel I7 3960X
Ram: (Thinking of the Corsair Dominator GT)
Monitor: 3 x Asus VG278H
GFX: GeForce GTX 690 SLI
Sound Card:
HDD:
Power Supply: CoolerMaster SilentPro Hybrid 1300W
Cooler Unit:
Casing: Silverstone TJ11 B-W
Blu-ray player

 

[Mycrus]

Would not reco 690 sli because your vram is limited to 2gb only...

Better get 680 sli at most tri sli with 4gb vram... Try to get blower type, reco evga...

 

[Mycrus]

Asus vg278h is good because it is light boost enabled

However Asus coming out with 144hz versions already...

If you just plan to game then sb-e lga 2011 is too much... Lga1155 will do... But try to get mobo that is 3way sli to future proof

 

[raidorz]

If planning to get Silverstone case, do check out Niceday warehouse sale if they got it at a discount
Niceday warehouse sales! HOOT DAH!~ - Page 5

 

[ladious]

Thanks for the quick replies,

After posting in this thread, I surfed further and found

Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition & ASUS Rampage IV Extreme ~ $1949
G.Skill RipjawsZ DDR3-2133MHz 16GB (4X4GB) Kit~ $249
MSI HD 7970 Lightning CrossFireX ~ $1388 or PowerColor Devil 13 HD 7990 or MSI GTX 690 Quad SLI or MSI GTX 680 SLI ~ $1738
OCZ Vertex 4 256GB or Crucial M4 256GB or Intel SSD 520 240GB
Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 32MB for Storage ~ $160
HP dvd1270i SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $37
Corsair Professional Series Gold AX1200 1200W PSU ~ $469
Corsair Obsidian 800D ~ $499

Is this rig good, or is there anything i can upgrade further?
Want to future proof this new rig.

 

[Gaminator]

AMD/ATi is better at Surround, while nVidia takes the crown for 3D, so going for 3D Surround is 'iffy' at best. If you go AMD, you'd have to get a 3rd party software for S3D, like iz3d. I can vouch that, for games that support EyeFinity, they look spectacular when played at max setting @, say, 6036x1200. I played BF3's Going Hunting mission in EF mode at Ultra + 4xMSAA and it was an awesome experience. I have 2x GTX670 in SLi for modest S3D gaming @1080P.....yep, I kept them separate because, imo, running games maxed out @6036x1080 maxed out + S3D takes more GPU grunt than most cards can do today, even multiple card systems like what I have.

 

[Mycrus]

This would be a beast to build, which will prob take u thru the next 5 years unless u still not satisfied with 80+ fps gaming at max settings.

Please lah... Dont anyhow recommend if you not sure...

Where got surround 3d in 80fps????


Ts, ill answer your pm when i get home...

 

[enenyi]

Please lah... Dont anyhow recommend if you not sure...

Where got surround 3d in 80fps????


Ts, ill answer your pm when i get home...

Dude i was just joking. Forgot to put smilies. Just exaggerating the 6k budget. No need so serious.

Anyway GTX670 in SLI playing at 51.9fps for BF3 is already not bad liao la. Divide by 2 due to 3D gaming u get at 25fps which is playable. Any higher GPU (680 or 690) will only increase fps by 3-4...'

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 SLI Review | techPowerUp

 

[Gaminator]

Dude i was just joking. Forgot to put smilies. Just exaggerating the 6k budget. No need so serious.

Anyway GTX670 in SLI playing at 51.9fps for BF3 is already not bad liao la. Divide by 2 due to 3D gaming u get at 25fps which is playable. Any higher GPU (680 or 690) will only increase fps by 3-4...'

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 SLI Review | techPowerUp

Bro, I have 2x GTX670 SLi and I can tell you that IF I were to try BF3 in S3D Surround, guarantee + chop CMI liao. Remember, the GPU have to do 5760x1080 (w/o bezel compensation) + S3D, no way Jose! With 3x HD7970 CFX, sure I can play BF3 with Ultra + 4xMSAA @6036x1200, but if I were to enable S3D, CMI too.

 

[enenyi]

Bro, I have 2x GTX670 SLi and I can tell you that IF I were to try BF3 in S3D Surround, guarantee + chop CMI liao. Remember, the GPU have to do 5760x1080 (w/o bezel compensation) + S3D, no way Jose! With 3x HD7970 CFX, sure I can play BF3 with Ultra + 4xMSAA @6036x1200, but if I were to enable S3D, CMI too.

so is it nvidia S3D CMI or GTX670 in sli not enough power? This was discussion in this forum before, but no conclusive answer coz pple who owned GTX670 in SLI and on S3D didnt reply.

 

[Mycrus]

TS, if you don't mind i'll answer here for the benefit of the community

Thanks Mycrus for the reply, got a few questions.

"Would not reco 690 sli because your vram is limited to 2gb only..."
- Is the Vram upgradable , i thinking of 690SLI for future proof.

VRAM is not upgradable - these chips are soldered to the PCB and can not be replaced...

There is a reason why AMD card (which are geared for eyefinity) have more VRAM than a typical NVDIA card

for me i'm using only a 1.5GB card so i'm limited to 2x AA -- it was okay for me because when i put my rig together there were no larger VRAM on nvidia cards...

but for you since you are buying from scratch now - don't make the same mistake...

btw, you see i'm using 580SLI only but i overclock the h*ll out of it so i can still get playable refresh rates... but since you are buying now get the most powerful card from the get go

"However Asus coming out with 144hz versions already..."
-the 144hz versions is vg278HE, not sure if its better thou, many ppl recommend the vg278h.

Vg278H is good enough - it is already a lightboost enabled screen = this is what is called 3D vision 2.

BUT - the 144Hz version has been shown already and you should think twice whether to drop money now on 3 screens of older tech when the new ones are just around the corner..

if you want future proof - then 144hz IS the future... it is simply the highest refresh rate found on consumers screens today...

why is refresh rate important in 3D gaming?

Nvidia 3D vision uses a shutter system - so the image is split into the left & right eye..

120Hz (typical 3D monitor) divided by 2 = 60hz = so the max FPS you can get when 3D is enabled is only 60FPS

with a 144Hz screen you can get max 72FPS

the only catch is when will the distro bring in this new version - the vg278H was brought to our shores many many months after US release and that only with a lot of lobbying by the community...

so it depends if you want to pay top dollar now or wait long long...

"If you just plan to game then sb-e lga 2011 is too much... Lga1155 will do... But try to get mobo that is 3way sli to future proof"
- what is sb-e lga 2011?

LGA2011 is a socket type and is used for Sandy Bridge E chips... Typically, these have 6 physical cores (12 cores in total with hyperthread)...

Games do not utilize these much cores - typically only 2 (some use 4 cores)... this is what we mean when we say that games are not that well multi-threaded...

so having an SB-E cpu just for gaming is a waste... but if you use your computer for other stuff that requires heavy computing then by all means get it...

so to get good performance in game, you will need faster cores rather than more cores... generally, a sandy bridge 2500K will overclock better than a 3570K so i still prefer sandy bridge over ivy bridge... but getting a 3570K is already okay...

AMD/ATi is better at Surround, while nVidia takes the crown for 3D, so going for 3D Surround is 'iffy' at best. If you go AMD, you'd have to get a 3rd party software for S3D, like iz3d. I can vouch that, for games that support EyeFinity, they look spectacular when played at max setting @, say, 6036x1200. I played BF3's Going Hunting mission in EF mode at Ultra + 4xMSAA and it was an awesome experience. I have 2x GTX670 in SLi for modest S3D gaming @1080P.....yep, I kept them separate because, imo, running games maxed out @6036x1080 maxed out + S3D takes more GPU grunt than most cards can do today, even multiple card systems like what I have.

TS, the experience is equal to none and 3D surround is not for the faint of heart as the hardware commitments are quite steep... and Gaminator is very correct that the cards of today are not really suited for it...

Gaminator can get away with using 670SLI because he is using passive 3D on 60hz screens... active shutter 3D will take a bigger performance hit..

if you really want to do 3D surround - then go for at least a 680SLI with 4GB VRAM

Get a real 3-way sli LGA1155 mobo -- so when next gen cards you get a cheap 3rd 680 (again to future proof)...

use reference cards so you can do sandwich SLI if you use a DCUII/TFIV/WF3X card you will need 1 slot gaps between them to work -- this will prevent you from going 3-way sli in the future...

BUT - GK110 should be releasing early-mid 2013... looking at the rumored specs this would finally be the card that will 'tame' the 3D surround beast once and for all... the previous gen cards (480/580/680) were only proof of concept and you have to make too much graphical sacrifices to get decent FPS (while paying top $$$$ to get it)....

Ts, i'm not discouraging you to go 3d surround - but just saying everything so you can make an informed decision...

so what is the alternative? = just plan to build a surround(or eyefinity) rig or wait until GK110 launch

because 3D Surround > Surround/Eyefinity

but Surround/Eyefinity> 3D single screen

Dude i was just joking. Forgot to put smilies. Just exaggerating the 6k budget. No need so serious.

Anyway GTX670 in SLI playing at 51.9fps for BF3 is already not bad liao la. Divide by 2 due to 3D gaming u get at 25fps which is playable. Any higher GPU (680 or 690) will only increase fps by 3-4...'

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 SLI Review | techPowerUp

sorry to go harsh on you --- but we need to be responsible with the recommendations we make because the bros that ask us for help do spend real $$$$$ and will face real headache if we get it wrong...



//off topic rant -- feels really sh#*ty to type this long on a membrane keyboard//

 

[Gaminator]

Mycrus is correct, I'm using for S3D with my 2x GTX670 SLi is the passive type, in my case, the Zalman ZM-M240W TriMon. I tell you, it looks damn good although you cannot move much to maintain the 'sweet spot' for S3D. In Dead Space 2, Isaac almost popped right out of the screen dah! The reason why I went for passive S3D is as Mycrus had pointed out, it takes less %age hit (~20%) vis-a-vis active shutter ones (~50%).

This is why I maintain two good rigs, one for EF surround gaming, the other for S3D gaming. BTW, Zalman S3D is supported in the nV control panel, with the option to enable/disable.

 

[enenyi]

No prob Mycrus, at least u clarified the 3D gaming part which was left open in previous discussions on this forum. Coming from a non-3D background, I didnt noe the limitations of 3D gaming so I only recommended to TS wad he requested in his first post. I couldn't say yay or nay to his intended build components coz it takes a 3D gamer himself to point out the good and the bad abt 3D gaming. Glad u clarified from a user point of view. Great learning curve for the community abt 3D gaming as well. Keep it up!

Maybe u wanna post here on the minimum rig to get so it can be a reference for people, though rarely, who intend to build such rigs in future?

 

[ladious]

Thanks a lot.

Plenty of detailed explanation which i have to reread a few times more.

By passive 3d u mean a 3d monitor?

I could purchase 3x 3d monitor to achieve that right?

graphics card wise, is GTX680SLI the best bet now? i was thinking at least GTX690SLI, getting the most powerful card atm.

monitor wise, Vg278HE is not in singapore yet?

" generally, a sandy bridge 2500K will overclock better than a 3570K so i still prefer sandy bridge over ivy bridge... but getting a 3570K is already okay..."
-Does this mean that getting 3960X will be a performance drop overall?

brother enenyi's post mentioned to channel more $$ into GPU, but i thought GTX690SLI is already there?
my budget for this is hopefully not higher than 10k.

If possible can help me fill in the parts or missing parts I stated in my starting post?

Really appreciate this.
Thanks

 

[skyline72]

690 is only 2GB in VRAM.

You would need more than that doing surround. I think more doing 3D surround.

 

[Mycrus]

By passive 3d u mean a 3d monitor?

I could purchase 3x 3d monitor to achieve that right?

2 kinds of 3D monitors - active shutter & passive

active shutter = this is the standard/recommended monitor for 3D vision

for 3D vision Surround - yes you will need 3 x 3d monitors

graphics card wise, is GTX680SLI the best bet now? i was thinking at least GTX690SLI, getting the most powerful card atm.

A single GTX690 is equivalent to 2 GTX680 in SLI with a slight underclock.

The problem with 690 is that VRAM is limited to 2GB - i have not heard of 4GB versions getting released yet...

Surround resolution is typically - 5760 x 1080 / that's 3 times normal HD and you will need more VRAM to enable higher settings

more GPU is not necesarily better because of scaling issues (for illustration, example of a scaling issue is)

1 GPU = 100% performance
2 GPU = 200% performance
3 GPU = 275% performance
4 GPU = 325% performance

the sweet spot is still 2-way SLI/XFire... the most should be 3-way SLI for gaming application...

4-way SLI/XFire typically is only for benching or CUDA/Compute intensive applications -- there is very very little benefit in gaming..

2 GTX690 = 4-way SLI

The most you should get if you really die die must have 3D surround today is 3-way GTX680 SLI / but you should be able to get-away with using 2-way SLI GTX680 but you need the 4GB versions...

i am recommending to you reference type cards (blower type) so you won't have overheating problems... to make mine work i literally have 18 fans in my build -- you don't want to do that right?

i don't normally reco brands/makes but if i will buy today - i would get 2 x EVGA GTX680 Classified 4GB / maybe 3 if i had no money problems

monitor wise, Vg278HE is not in singapore yet?

nope, probably not available yet... and probably not for a long time...

if die die you need today then ASUSVG278H is as good as it gets...

" generally, a sandy bridge 2500K will overclock better than a 3570K so i still prefer sandy bridge over ivy bridge... but getting a 3570K is already okay..."
-Does this mean that getting 3960X will be a performance drop overall?

the only reason why i would get lga2011 for gaming is if i will do a full on watercooling loop - this is because of socket longevity

intel will not change lga2011 for at least 1 more CPU architecture
-- they still have yet to release IVB E CPU

LGA1155 is good enough for gaming... but word on the street is that socket will change when next gen CPU will come in (Haswell)

2500K vs 3960X

ignore all the synthetic benches in the link and go straight to the game benchmarks... you will see that a tiny 2500K can go head to head against the 3960X --- so tell me you willing to pay 4 times more for a CPU that you will not need?

the reason why i like 2500K is because you can overclock the h*ll out of it... i believe 4.6GHz is easy peasy and 5GHz should be possible --- but if you want Ivy Bridge then a 3570K will suffice as well...

why i personally bought a 2600K vs 2500K? --- because i use this computer for heavy duty data mining excel work / 500,000++ lines / multiple pivot tables / formulas & linking

If possible can help me fill in the parts or missing parts I stated in my starting post?

CPU - we cover already

GPU - we cover already

RAM - if you going LGA1155 route then 1600 C9 can already at least 8GB

HDD - storage/media/junk drive, up to you what to use...

CPU Cooler - there are only 3 that i would use, Corsair H100/H80 & Noctua D14... but just research to decide for yourself what you want... air coolers you need to research well if physical space wise will it fit your case / ram / mobo

closed loop cooler (like H100/H80) just need to research only about case just in case you need to do push pull fan config...

SSD - Single or 2 x in RAID 0

do you need SSD for gaming? Big Yes - and not only for quick 'loading'... remember textures reside in your SSD and it is fed to the graphics card progressively to be stored VRAM...

i have not confirmed - but i have read that if textures are not fed quick enough, the GPU will recycle textures in the VRAM buffer...

do you need SSD RAID 0? -- i'm not sure haven't tried using single SSD only, when i got my SSD i paid S$600++ for each 256GB... if i bought today S$600 will buy 2 SSD already... oh well...

my GUESS is you don't need RAID 0 for gaming and just an SSD can already...

what SSD brand / make - up to you..

PSU - if your route is to future proof and eventually 3-way SLI, then make sure that your PSU wattage can support the upgrade plan...

Mobo - this is the important part... get a Z68 or a Z77 board that supports 3-way sli... just be careful when selecting and really make sure that it is a 3-way SLI...

Z68/Z77 do not natively support 3-way SLI - they require plx or nforce chips to allow them to do this

with Z77 you have PCI-E Gen3.0 support (doesn't matter with the current graphics card, but nice to have since you want future proof).

Z68 is only PCI-E Gen2.0 (but is enough for the current generation of cards... not sure if the AMD HD8000 or NV GK110 will saturate PCI-E Gen 2.0)...

many good mobo out there - so would leave you to do your research...

of lesser importance but important nonetheless is aesthetics... mobo color / heatsink design

btw, Z75 can also - it's like a Z77 jr

CASE - up to your preference, but bigger is better in my book... anything with 8 slots and above is good in book... 800D is just 7 slots... so i'm waiting when they release the 900D

Input Devices -

this one very important to gaming... get a good gaming mouse at least 5700dpi... believe 8000+dpi have come out... never used it yet... but i believe 5700dpi is good enough...

i cannot play anymore without my g13 gameboard - this one i have had for a long time (believe since product launch)... gameboard is literally a game changer... go google to see what i mean...


okay enough typing for now - i think i point you in the right path but you need to do your own research as well..

 

[Op_Valkyrie]

coming from a GTX 690 sli setup i would say the heat dissipation is pretty high to the point that i think it is an essential to on your aircon if needed... lol i turn mine to 23-24 deg still feeling warm from my rig when playing BF3 or D3.

Still hoping for a MARS III release, but last heard its not going to be coming out...

anyway your initial ideal rig specs pretty much similar to mine however i do more benchmarking and run virtualization on my rig hence the 3960x C2 stepping with VT-d, extra cores and RAM slots helps!

 

[fockyerdod3r]

For GPU, isnt it better to go 3 way SLI with 680 4GB than 2x 690?

 

[Op_Valkyrie]

i am recommending to you reference type cards (blower type) so you won't have overheating problems... to make mine work i literally have 18 fans in my build -- you don't want to do that right?

 

[Op_Valkyrie]

For GPU, isnt it better to go 3 way SLI with 680 4GB than 2x 690?

For gaming yes you are right, but for virtual environment the more GPU/cores the better