Dolphin PC buying guide

SN3S · (This post was last modified: 04-28-2011, 10:29 AM by SN3S.)

(04-27-2011, 04:37 PM)Ness Wrote: This should be updated monthly haha. I'm gonna assume people just discuss it in replies, that's why it's still at the top of the thread list with 60 pages?

Basically yes, we just keep it running since the OP isn't around IIRC. Are there any questions or builds you want to discuss?

(04-27-2011, 09:47 AM)admin89 Wrote: The smaller one is fine , adding more fan to keep the temp under 50C - 122 F

Sweet! The case I'm getting comes with some fans, but I might swap em out for some quieter ones. Seriously though, 30$ off for one fan and a smaller size is totally worth it Big Grin

I might get an arctic cooler fan for the processor too.

Ness · 04-28-2011, 10:36 AM **#602**

So, guys, what do you think for a ~$900 build then?

I want to be able to play mainstream games (Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, Homefront, Left 4 Dead) at max settings and record them with FRAPS without a noticeable FPS drop, and of course I also wanna be able to run PCSX2 and Dolphin full speed at 1080p and be able to 16xAF and 4xAA most games. I won't mind toning down to 720p or whatever of course.

SN3S · 04-28-2011, 01:45 PM **#603**

(04-28-2011, 10:36 AM)Ness Wrote: So, guys, what do you think for a ~$900 build then?

I want to be able to play mainstream games (Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, Homefront, Left 4 Dead) at max settings and record them with FRAPS without a noticeable FPS drop, and of course I also wanna be able to run PCSX2 and Dolphin full speed at 1080p and be able to 16xAF and 4xAA most games. I won't mind toning down to 720p or whatever of course.

Well, are you doing any recycling?

I'm also planning on a build, but mine is running about 1200$ However, I am going for a pretty overkill processor, 2 Hard drives (one a SSD), and it's in a form factor case so I'm sure you could go with a slightly less new processor, a full ATX instead of a micro ATX motherboard, and maybe only one drive instead of a SSD on the side, and you should hit 900 - 1000$.

You can look over the last few pages to see my ramblings. :p

Ness · 04-28-2011, 01:52 PM **#604**

(04-28-2011, 01:45 PM)SN3S Wrote: Well, are you doing any recycling?

I'm also planning on a build, but mine is running about 1200$ However, I am going for a pretty overkill processor, 2 Hard drives (one a SSD), and it's in a form factor case so I'm sure you could go with a slightly less new processor, a full ATX instead of a micro ATX motherboard, and maybe only one drive instead of a SSD on the side, and you should hit 900 - 1000$.

You can look over the last few pages to see my ramblings. :p

Alright

and no, except for maybe the disk drive.

Ness · 04-28-2011, 03:09 PM **#605**

Hows a GT-430 for Dolphin? It'd only be for a few months anyways, until I can fork up enough money for a 6950 (or a 7950 if it's out yet) Because there's an i7-2600K computer at iBuyPower for $839..

And how about a GTS 450 and 4GB DDR3, because there's another one for $899 with an i7-2600(not K) and a GTS 450.

**ExtremeDude2** · 04-28-2011, 09:28 PM **#606**

(04-28-2011, 03:09 PM)Ness Wrote: Hows a GT-430 for Dolphin? It'd only be for a few months anyways, until I can fork up enough money for a 6950 (or a 7950 if it's out yet) Because there's an i7-2600K computer at iBuyPower for $839..

I would not buy a 6950 (unless you have a huge screen) I would go a 6870.

Ness · 04-29-2011, 05:37 AM **#607**

(04-28-2011, 09:28 PM)ryancollins Wrote:
(04-28-2011, 03:09 PM)Ness Wrote: Hows a GT-430 for Dolphin? It'd only be for a few months anyways, until I can fork up enough money for a 6950 (or a 7950 if it's out yet) Because there's an i7-2600K computer at iBuyPower for $839..

I would not buy a 6950 (unless you have a huge screen) I would go a 6870.

Is 23" LED 1080p screen good enough? And I'm a gamer in general too.

**dannzen** · 04-29-2011, 06:17 AM **#608**

whats that for a question?
sure is 23 with led backlight good enough

SN3S · 04-29-2011, 12:19 PM **#609**

(04-29-2011, 06:17 AM)dannzen Wrote: whats that for a question?
sure is 23 with led backlight good enough

Well if he's waiting on the GPU, that's not a problem. Will the i7-2600K be able to handle dolphin? The CPU bottleneck is the hardest part, as those aren't easy to replace. GPU is easy to swap out :p

But I'm assuming yes, since I'm going for an i5-2500K, and a few have said that's overkill for dolphin anyways.

Ness · (This post was last modified: 04-29-2011, 05:29 PM by Ness.)

(04-29-2011, 06:17 AM)dannzen Wrote: whats that for a question?
sure is 23 with led backlight good enough

Not backlight, full LED. And what I mean is, Ryan said not to get a 6950 unless I have a huge screen. 1080p is probably the highest performance resolution, because unless you're enthusiast you're not gonna have a $1000 2560x1600 monitor Tongue

Oh, and how do you guys think an i7 950 + 2x GTX 460's would do? I know someone selling his rig (that + 6gb DDR3) for $850, and honestly it seems like a steel to me..