Birthday Hardware!

[Calneon]

Well, as some of you may know, it's my birthday tomorrow (yeah, three in two days). I've been wanting a new monitor for a long time now, and I want something decent to fully utilize it. So, i've been thinking of ordering tomorrow:

280GTX (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-143-LT)
and
Hazro HZ42Wi (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-002-HO)

Yes, £685 of pure graphical and visual power :D. The monitor was a choice between that and the Dell 2408WFP, and the Hazro. Because the Dell's revision isn't out (or has just started shipping), and I've heard great things about the Hazro, I've decided that it would be the best buy, even though it is more expensive.

I think that the 280GTX would be the best buy, I was going to get a 4870X2 a while back, but I only have a HX520 Corsair PSU and I'm not to sure how it would cope with it. That, and it costs £350 while the 280GTX is only £240, runs cooler, quieter, and uses less power. I could wait for the 280GTX+ (55nm), but that would no doubt cost more, and it isn't out for months, I can't wait that long!

The rest of my rig can be found on the left, I'm pretty sure everything will work fine together. This is a rather big investment, so any thoughts would be appreciated! :D

[ez64]

gz on birthday hardware :D

24" monitors are where its @

But I wouldnt be suprised even with a 520w PSU in benching and high power games you get random restarts even with the rest of the pc being the bare minimum plugged in.

[Calneon]

Nah, I have no doubt my HX520 PSU can handle a 280GTX. If the worst comes to the worst, I can upgrade, but I don't want to spend any more at the moment (I'm paying for half lol).

[VoX]

You mean a GTX280 not a 280GTX lol.

Looks good, again I find myself jealous :p.

[Calneon]

You mean a GTX280 not a 280GTX lol.

Looks good, again I find myself jealous :p.

Yeah I do mean that :D Damn Nvidia and stupid naming conventions xD.

[ez64]

Nah, I have no doubt my HX520 PSU can handle a 280GTX. If the worst comes to the worst, I can upgrade, but I don't want to spend any more at the moment (I'm paying for half lol).

Are you really sure your PSU has the 2 8 pin connectors for the really really new cards and 180w/15a on the graphics card rail?.

[Calneon]

I was going to check the pins before I ordered and if not, Ill buy an adaptor. I can also check it has what you say, but it's a relatively new PSU from a very well known (and good) brand, so I think it will...

[ez64]

Fair nuff.

[Chalex4]

I know I said that I wanted a new 24" monitor as well, but since there seemed to be a stupid amount of people on the OcUK forums with issues with their new Hazro monitors, I decided to give it a miss. Also, ever since I started using dual monitors, I haven't had the need for a bigger monitor! If you are wondering what I spend my cash on instead, I went and bought myself a netbook today (MSI Wind - £280), and it is totally awesome. It will be especially useful for all of my coursework next year, and is soooo portable since it only weighs 1KG and has an almost full size keyboard too! Unfortunately, I have one small gripe with it (fan issue), so I am going to be bullying the guys in Currys on Sunday to replace it with a problem-free model :). Here are the specs if you are interested:

1GB RAM
1.6GHz Intel atom
80GB HDD

One thing I was surprised by was how fast it is (for a laptop), so I am very happy with it!

Anyway, enough about me. I hope your Hazro is perfect in every way and you don't experience any of the problems many others have had. Also, the GTX280 seems like a good idea, although I personally would probably get the 4870 or wait for the die-shrunk 55nm nvidia cards coming soon.

[Calneon]

Well, stuff has come. Monitor is excellent, haven't installed GFX card yet. Piccies will come soooooon. :D

[ez64]

birthday hardware install's are the best day's of the year :D

[Calneon]

Sorry for the delay, I did a reformat and only just got round to installing Photoshop. These pics were taken when Chalex came round to check out the new monitor and install the GTX280 with me.


http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/8060/dscn4451dm4.jpg

http://www.atkcommunity.com/imagehosting/19748b7cd50980a9.jpg

http://www.atkcommunity.com/imagehosting/19748b7cd50bfd4f.jpg

http://www.atkcommunity.com/imagehosting/19748b7cd50e6a90.jpg

http://www.atkcommunity.com/imagehosting/19748b7cd75b5786.jpg

http://www.atkcommunity.com/imagehosting/19748b7cd75dbcb7.jpg

[ez64]

Very nice setup, ive got the same keyboard and it has saved my wrists :D

Please tell me you didnt put the backside of the graphics PCB straight on the carpet ^&^

[Calneon]

Very nice setup, ive got the same keyboard and it has saved my wrists :D

Please tell me you didnt put the backside of the graphics PCB straight on the carpet ^&^
Chalex mentioned when he did that, that somebody would say something :D. Never-the-less, the PCB on the GTX280 is covered both sides by the cooler, but the PCB of the GTS is on the carpet :P. And yes, great keyboard (though it doesn't look great, the curves and the Hazro's straight edges.

[VoX]

Using a curved keyboard doesn't seem natural to me, but I guess that it is something that once you are used to it, you prefer it.

I'm still jealous that you are upgrading FROM an 8800GTS.