Building a computer? Need advice/suggestions? Come here!

[Cortexian]

Choice 2 is superior.

[bleach]

Is there any implication that I overclock in order to obtain HD5870 performance (as I most likely have to keep this video card for the next 3 years)?

[=sw=warlord]

Is there any implication that I overclock in order to obtain HD5870 performance (as I most likely have to keep this video card for the next 3 years)?

Overclocked parts tend to have a shorter life span due to increased temperatures, there is a serious risk of severely damaging the card if you overclock the card too hard as well.

[Cortexian]

And that's what after-market cooling solutions are for. Keep your temperatures below or on par with what the stock cooling did, except do it at faster speeds.

[=sw=warlord]

And that's what after-market cooling solutions are for. Keep your temperatures below or on par with what the stock cooling did, except do it at faster speeds.

Which is why i said about temperatures in the first place, increased speed still decreases life span even if you add a after market cooler.

[Cortexian]

No... My CPU runs cooler overclocked than it did at stock speeds with the stock fan, sure it's running faster but it's also running cooler. Lifespan will hardly be effected, at least it never has been in the last 3 PC's I've gone though.

[Pyong Kawaguchi]

How is the 8800gts EVGA superclocked for physx usage?

I'm getting one really cheap and was wondering what I should expect.

[Cortexian]

Should work fine, PhysX in general doesn't boost performance a whole lot from what I've seen on my PC.

[bleach]

Freelancer, I guess the fact that the HD5850 consumes much less power than the HD5870, has a shorter length, and has greater overclock-ability combine together to make it something I should shoot for! Also anyone have any suggestions as to bidding increments and when to bid in order to increase chance of winning an auction?

[Cortexian]

It's eBay right? Just enter the amount you're most willing to pay and it will auto bid for you until that amount is reached. Near the end of the auction you should start watching it, and "Buy It Now" if you really want it and there are still active bids.