Gaming Video Card for new Mac Pro

[sneezymarble]

Not an easy thing to do, as I've been looking into this for awhile.

But, I think I've managed to crack it. Dual Harpertowns (exact part determined by individual budget), and cheaper. A little over clocking is required though.

Two e5410s will overclock to at least 2.8GHz with stock cooling and only cost $275 a piece. Use a Skulltrail board and you might be able to get beyond 2.8GHz with a little better cooling.

 

[nanofrog]

Two e5410s will overclock to at least 2.8GHz with stock cooling and only cost $275 a piece. Use a Skulltrail board and you might be able to get beyond 2.8GHz with a little better cooling.

I've actually been looking at the ASUS Z7S WS.

Still trying to decide between the cost/performance of the E5420 or the E5430. Likely the E5420 though. It would help acquire the case and PSU I need.

As far as cooling, I need to get something, as I'd buy OEM CPU's. So I've been looking at a Dynatron H46G, and the Thermalright 120 and a Xeon mounting bracket. So heat shouldn't become a problem I would hope.

By chance do you know if the Thermalright would fit?
I don't have the measurements.

 

[sneezymarble]

I've actually been looking at the ASUS Z7S WS.

Still trying to decide between the cost/performance of the E5420 or the E5430. Likely the E5420 though. It would help acquire the case and PSU I need.

It tends to save cash on the external RAID enclosures.

That's a nice board. It just lacks in the overclocking department since you can't make vcore adjustments. Here's how the performance/cost breaks down:

e5410 = 8.67MHz/$1.00
e5420 = 7.37MHz/$1.00
e5430 = 5.50MHz/$1.00

Since you're less likely to get high overclocks using the ASUS board you'd be better off setting your goal at 2.8GHz and buying the e5410 which would net you the highest performance/cost ratio. All the reports I've read indicate the the e5410 reaches 2.8GHz on stock cooling with no problem and with no need to increase the vcore (which you wouldn't be able to do with the ASUS board).

If you'd like to go higher than 2.8 and try to match or exceed the performance of a 3.0GHz or 3.2GHz Mac Pro then you'd probably be better off getting the Skulltrail board since you'll more than likely need to up the vcore. Also, If you're shooting for 3.2GHz or higher then out of those three chips you probably ought to go with the e5430.

Overall, I'd be a bit hesitant to spend that kind of money on parts with Nehalem just around the corner. If you played your cards right you could have an OSX Nehalem machine before the release of the updated Mac Pros at less than the cost of a new Mac Pro which also might perform better with some overclocking.

Just my $0.02

 

[nanofrog]

That's a nice board. It just lacks in the overclocking department since you can't make vcore adjustments. Here's how the performance/cost breaks down:

e5410 = 8.67MHz/$1.00
e5420 = 7.37MHz/$1.00
e5430 = 5.50MHz/$1.00

Since you're less likely to get high overclocks using the ASUS board you'd be better off setting your goal at 2.8GHz and buying the e5410 which would net you the highest performance/cost ratio. All the reports I've read indicate the the e5410 reaches 2.8GHz on stock cooling with no problem and with no need to increase the vcore (which you wouldn't be able to do with the ASUS board).

If you'd like to go higher than 2.8 and try to match or exceed the performance of a 3.0GHz or 3.2GHz Mac Pro then you'd probably be better off getting the Skulltrail board since you'll more than likely need to up the vcore. Also, If you're shooting for 3.2GHz or higher then out of those three chips you probably ought to go with the e5430.

Overall, I'd be a bit hesitant to spend that kind of money on parts with Nehalem just around the corner. If you played your cards right you could have an OSX Nehalem machine before the release of the updated Mac Pros at less than the cost of a new Mac Pro which also might perform better with some overclocking.

Just my $0.02

The last time I looked at doing this, was back in May/June. The math just didn't work at that time.

On a whim, I looked again this morning.

As far as specifics, I hadn't quite gotten too far into the mother boards. I was looking for a board that could OC, and the Asus had been less expensive than the Skulltrail. I do appreciate the mention of the Vcore issue, as I wasn't aware of this. I thought it was. Thanks.

I've been holding off as a result of costs, and that Nehalem is coming. As per OCing a Nehalem rig, I'm not so sure. My needs are a little different, and the second CPU would benefit me.

Decisions, decisions. Add waiting to this, and I'm going nuts.

 

[AdiosVista]

By chance do you know if the Thermalright would fit?
I don't have the measurements.

Depends on which case. I had a Thermalright in an Antec 900 and it barely wedged in. That heatsink performs among the best but it is a MONSTER. I was kind of worried about the sheer weight of it hanging off the motherboard.

 

[nanofrog]

Depends on which case. I had a Thermalright in an Antec 900 and it barely wedged in. That heatsink performs among the best but it is a MONSTER. I was kind of worried about the sheer weight of it hanging off the motherboard.

The case would be a Lian Li PC-V2100. Nice and big. Really big, so it shouldn't be an issue at all.

I'm used to issues with mother boards. Usually heatsinks and/or caps in the way, and I haven't had my hands on this board to really see. No measurements to work with.