Motherboard: Asus Maximus Formula Special Edition Sound Card: SoundFX 2 RAM: 4.00 GB Hard Drive: 512GB OS: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Video Card: Asus EAH3870 512MB CPU: Q6600 Core 2 Quad 3.01GHZ(Overclocked) According to the specifications listed above, I am planning to replace my motherboard with the ASUS Maximus Formula 2, and I will also be replacing my video card with an ATI HD 4870X2. Is this a good choice for motherboard and video card? Will I be able to run dead space, crysis on very high settings? Thanks!
Hi i would say that you have made a good choice for your motherboard and graphics card. Tha garphics that you are getting would make mince meat out of my two 8600GTs on sli and even i can run crysis on mine on high with no AA of course. So yes a good choice for that card. And for the motherboard i would look at the diffrence like the Asus Maximus Formula has the x38 chipset and the Asus Maximus Formula 2 has the p45 chipset is better then the X38 chipset and that it also has 1600fsb so would be good for OCin and i can go way beondy that, so yes i wold do that upgarde , that board could even be the best board on the market dear i say. shoot me if i am wrong lol. that makes a wicked gaming rig. here is where i got the info from. Asus Maximus Formula http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V7_gd2CZt4 Asus Maximus Formula 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvM0xpWvMYI
The GPU is excellent (from personal experience), but I would go with a Rampage Formula, not the Maximus 2 as the P45 chipset is the successor to the P35, not the X38. The Rampage uses the 'full-fat' X48 chipset.
Thanks! Just wondering, what is the difference between the Rampage Formula and Maximus Formula 2? Also, are all of my parts compatible with each other and can I run crysis on full settings?
a) the Rampage uses the top end X48 chipset, b) yes, and c) I use that same graphics card and processor and Crysis is playable at 2560x1600 on all High, but not Very High - at 1920x1200 or lower, however, you will be able to use Very high without any problems.
http://ca.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=117 From the link above, which gaming motherboard is the best? And what is actually the best motherboard on the market?
So basically the Rampage Formula is the better Overclocking motherboard and performs better and faster than the maximus formula 2.
So if I get the Rampage Formula will it improve my system significantly such as running games faster(crysis), and just regular computer speed. Because now I have 4gb of ram, quad core cpue with 3.01 GHZ and a maximus formula but, sometimes my system seems slow. Also, I heared that the X58 is coming out this year. And I am planning to buy these parts over the christmas.
No, it won't make a bit of difference, it will just mean you have the ability to overclock your CPU faster. Your PC being slow in games is because you use an HD3870, which is an OK-ish card, but far behind the newer cards. The HD4870 is more than double the speed, and the X2 has two of those...
approximately what is the highest clock speed i can overclock my cpu and the 4870X2? Because on my maximus formula now, i can only overclock my cpu to 3.01GHZ
Depending on what version you have, at least 3.20, if not as much as 3.60. The HD4870X2 doesn't overclock very well, so I wouldn't really bother unless you're going for 3dmarks - it's fast enough anyway to not need overclocking.
What other parts would you recommend me to get. For example, should I get a better PSU or should i get water cooling?
I would recommend at least a 600W PSU from a good brand like Corsair for the 4870X2. I run one on a 520W HX, but it's probably not the best idea. I avoid recommending watercooling unless people are passionate about it as it can go very badly wrong very easily.
do u recommend any specific type of RAM? And should I upgrade to vista ultimate or just keep it home premium?
Home Premium is more than adequate for most users. As for RAM, as long as it's at least PC6400, you're fine.
For my video card, should I get the HD 4870X2 or the ASUS EAH4870X2 TOP/HTDI/2G? I hear that i should get the ASUS EAH because it is more compatible with my ASUS motherboard.
The brand of the graphics card has nothing to do with how compatible it is, all 4870X2s are the same. If anything I'd avoid the Asus TOP version as it's overclocked, and overclocked cards that use this much power tend not to be stable.
So I should stay away from the EAH4870X2 TOP and the EAH4870X2(original). By the way, i just went on asus website and saw something about smart cooling technology that cools the gpu. Should I look into that?
