New computer for D3?

**Raging_Zealot** · 29-08-2011, 21:00

The rig I built Nov 2009 is still going strong, and I intend to use it for D3:

Windows 7 64 bit Professional
DFI LanParty DK X58 T3eH6
Intel i7 920 Quad Core LGA1366 (running at ~4Ghz)
OCZ 700w StealthXstream PSU
OCZ Gold 12GB (6 x 2GB) DDR3 1600
ATi HD 4850 X2 2GB (a bit soft these days, but was about the best for the ~200 dollars I wanted to spend at the time, and it still gets the job done)
90GB SSD for OS
2x 500GB SATA II drives in raid0 for data (I backup to another drive so I don't mind the lack of redundancy in the raid0)

Trying to convince myself that I don't need to upgrade the video card, since I don't game all that much anymore, and the 'ol gal still does pretty good. I am using 2 19" monitors that might need to get upgraded to something a bit larger/higher res though...

Originally Posted by HartAttack

Wow, lots of tech-specs here about processors, video cards, cooling, etc.

My question is... Running what? Programs (games) have to be installed under an Operating System, and I'm curious to know if people are still running WinXP, or Win Vista, or if anyone has a working Windows 7 system. In anticipation of D3, I bought a brand-new Windows 7 system from a custom builder but couldn't get it to run for an hour without going blue-screen on me. I wasn't trying to play fancy games, either, just web-browsing and looking at videos on YouTube or CNN or wherever.

What do all you highly-technical hardware builders recommend as an O/S ?

I've been using Windows 7 64 bit for nearly 2 years on my custom built, with no issues, and used 7 beta and RC on another older custom built I had before that. Like others have said, sounds like you have some drivers issue with the hardware in the custom built. I would suggest getting the latest drivers for everything, and/or contacting whoever built it for further support.

**starrise** · 29-08-2011, 21:52

Originally Posted by Tilitoon

For the price it's a good setup, ready for D3. I approve.

Only thing is even if your 6870 supports crossfire, your mobo doesn't. You won't need it anyway but I thought I would point it out in case someone else would want to build a similar computer.

Actually I just noticed, re: poster being responded to above, instead of 2x250gb hard drives, look into a reasonably sized SSD. The load times will be astonishingly faster. Unless of course that is what you were talking about, in which case cut back to one and spend the saved cash on better other items!

**Tilitoon** · 30-08-2011, 01:22

Originally Posted by starrise

Actually I just noticed, re: poster being responded to above, instead of 2x250gb hard drives, look into a reasonably sized SSD. The load times will be astonishingly faster. Unless of course that is what you were talking about, in which case cut back to one and spend the saved cash on better other items!

Of course an SSD is alway a welcome addition, however I'm under the impression that he doesn't want to spend more than that. Personally if I would be restricted by that budget, I would buy only one Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB for the moment, and save for a Kingston SSDNow 64GB. They are pretty cheap, about 80$ CAN, and 64GB is enough to install Windows + Diablo 3 on it. Then on your 500GB you could install everything else + storage.

**starrise** · 30-08-2011, 01:51

That would be a great plan. I just hope they're still reading =)

**Dahmer** · 30-08-2011, 06:53

Originally Posted by Panopticon

Sounds like a conflicting hardware or driver issue. Win7 has been rock solid for me, by far the best windows I've run to date.

Couldn't agree more. I've been using Windows 7 since the first alpha or beta version was available and had it installed on my system since, every time upgrading and upgrading to eventually have full Windows 7 Home Premium x64 and I didn't format at all. It just runs really great

@HartAttack :
My first idea would be faulty ram (settings). One of the main causes of blue screens on a new system. On mine the bios had the voltage too low, it put it at 1.5V when they required 1.65V -> random blue screens

**HartAttack** · 31-08-2011, 16:18

Thanks for the replies and ideas. I did take it back to the builder, along with screen-shots of post-blue-screen info dialogs. He claimed that there was nothing "wrong" with the original memory except that it's hard to configure, but he replaced it with something "better" and I no longer get Defective Hardware messages from Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.

So, I have Windows 7 Home Premium, 64 bit, Service Pack 1 with an Intel Core i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80 GHz with 4.00 GB RAM, and I'm eagerly awaiting Diablo 3 along with everyone else. Should be somewhat faster than the old cards-and-dice method, right?

**alexlaw** · 31-08-2011, 16:30

Originally Posted by HartAttack

Thanks for the replies and ideas. I did take it back to the builder, along with screen-shots of post-blue-screen info dialogs. He claimed that there was nothing "wrong" with the original memory except that it's hard to configure, but he replaced it with something "better" and I no longer get Defective Hardware messages from Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.

So, I have Windows 7 Home Premium, 64 bit, Service Pack 1 with an Intel Core i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80 GHz with 4.00 GB RAM, and I'm eagerly awaiting Diablo 3 along with everyone else. Should be somewhat faster than the old cards-and-dice method, right?

Uhh...hard to configure memory?

The machine should be able to handle D3 perfectly fine, I may consider upgrading to more RAM eventually, otherwise i looks solid to me. May want to check into the v-card.

**Tilitoon** · 31-08-2011, 19:11

"hard to configure memory"
Definition : When the computer builder has no clue how to configure the memory voltage, frequency and SPD settings in the BIOS.
Proper step to resolve the problem : Read the motherboard's manual.
Newb step to resolve the problem : Swap the modules for cheaper value RAM which do not require any tweaking.

Well at least it's working, have fun with D3

**APLT** · 31-08-2011, 22:53

im buying an alienware m11x netbook, diablo 3 wherever i go, sweeeet.

**Tilitoon** · 01-09-2011, 00:42

Originally Posted by APLT

im buying an alienware m11x netbook, diablo 3 wherever i go, sweeeet.

If you are buying the m11x-r2, the video card is a GeForce GT 335M, which performs at about 30fps with "High" settings in Starcraft 2 and about 45fps at "Medium" settings. You should expect similar results for Diablo 3 (maybe slightly better since I think the benchmark results I've seen are done in a higher resolution than the maximum 1366x768 supported by this notebook).