I downloaded the Call of Duty 4 SP demo too.

I really wonder how much of a boost in performance will be provided when running two of thee beast cards at 2560x1600. I brought my monitor in to work just to show off too!

Update @ 17:41:
This is what the setup will look like when finished - it's a dummy setup obviously, there's nothing inside the case at the moment, and nothing is linked up. I just had to whip it out and take a look at it and take a few photos of it while I have some spare time at work.

how big's that monitor? what fps can u get on crysis on native resolution with 16x aa?

The monitor is 30 inches and it runs at 2560x1600 (4.1 Megapixels vs. 1080p's 2.07 Megapixels).

In my last system, Crysis in DirectX 10 in Very High mode with 8xAA, 16xAA with a 3GHz Core 2 Quad with 4GB of PC2-8500 5-5-5-15 and an 8800 Ultra Superclocked, I achieved an incredible 0fps, as in the system crashed completely. I think it will still run at 0fps with 2 4870X2's.

That case makes the monitor look SMALL! How is that even possible?

Now I definitely can't have that... Luckily, I will have it sitting on the floor beside my desk so it will be out of the way... if a case of this size can be considered out of the way?

Nope, I think someone might consider it a home size, lol.

I won't go walking past the bus station with it then

I would like to highlight the following for you:

What the?

TBH, I'm not surprised... Have you seen the videos of him at work?

Wouldnt it be more effective to purchase 2x 2gb ram sticks, rather than one 4gb stick for overclocking, and if it potentially breaks down?

Also, i would probably go for a higher PSU, just to be safe, even though ATI cards dont rape power supplies as much as nVidia cards do.

He's buying a 4GB matched pair, which is 2x2GB. And a 1.1kW PSU is plenty overkill, and there's not much bigger you can get. Tagan PSUs are quality, so should be rock solid.

Hello. Yes, I am getting a 2x2GB pair from OCZ and running them at 1600MHz. My power supply is definitely overkill. I could probably get away with a 700W.

Yes, but i doubt this PC would go by without ANY sort of upgrades, and in a few years, a better PSU could come in handy.

Most new components use about the same wattage as old ones. Graphics cards increase a bit, but processors don't use a right lot. I think the C2Qs might even use less than P4s. There isn't much higher he could go, anyway, 1.3kW seems to be the highest, but I'm not sure if any modular ones are available at that wattage. Xilco do make some higher rated ones, but thy don't perform and provide less in reality.

It is a very high wattage PSU, I doubt I would need to upgrade it for a very long time. Unless I need a special power cable for i7 or for memory, or an additional third connector for a graphics card... I could see it as being one of the longest living components.

Well extra connectors can always be gained through adaptors. Tagan might even make special cables to add to it's modularness.

I've got a feeling that OCUK might be true to their word with AMD and not release these 4870X2's until Tuesday. So, I am pretty confident that I will now buy two of them and have them delivered to my home address that weekend. I'll build it at home, and take lots of photos.

Awesome! Can't wait to see it!

I've got Azraeleus and my girlfriend coming over on that day too so lots of photos will be taken for sure.

To think, in less than a weeks time, I will be fragging to my hearts content... at maximum resolution and maximum detail!!

As discussed in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1776&start=20

Due to a decline of a finance application (yes I know, I am cheap scum) my delivery date has now been pushed back to 23rd August instead of 16th August. But whatever, I was expecting it on 30th August or even late September originally, so this is still ahead of schedule.

I'll make sure to upload all my progress in the form of lots of photo's! And also, I will be sharing with you all of the problems I am having.

Questions that still remain unanswered:

a) Does the Intel Q9450 overclock as well as the Q6600
b) Does the Zalman 9700 fit in the Rampage Extreme
c) Does the 1333MHz DDR3 (or 1600MHz) memory run as blisteringly hot as my 1066MHz DDR2
d) Does the 4870X2 crossfired work well on my system
e) DOES ANTIALIASING EVEN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT 2560X1600?

I have just remembered the answer to e) is No. Nobody needs AA at 2560x1600, it's fine enough as it is. Pun intended.

Update: So close, yet so far...

Looking good!

Maybe you could provide some screenshots to show the difference with AA at that resolution?

I will do.

You will notice a difference on your monitor as you have a standard dot pitch of either .27mm or .28mm. I have a dot pitch of .25mm so things naturally look a bit sharper on this monitor.

And what with my eyes and everything...

The main thing I need is a super-high FPS at 2560x1600. And that's something that my last system just couldn't really provide to me.

I have a dot pitch of <0.26mm (308mm tall with 1200px).

I don't think a 10% difference in dot pitch will really effect the jaggies much, but having more pixels referring to the same visual picture might help. I think you might still need some AA, but maybe only half as much as usual.

Screenshots will be necessary to be conclusive ^^

Naa, it really makes no difference [in quality] to me. If it reduces my frame rate then it's really not required!