Eclipse Workstation Build

[gte619n]

Hey Guys!

I'm looking to build a new workstation and I was hoping you could help me with some of the components I've selected. I'm a Java programmer (Android and GWT, specifically) and spend most of my day in Eclipse. I have a three monitor setup and do a little bit of Photoshop here and there, but the majority of time is spent rockin' the Java Compiler. I'm really interested in building the fastest development machine I can. I'm looking to fire this badboy into a 2U Case. Noise is important, but I don't need to to be ABSOLUTELY SCARY QUIET.

I'm not looking to do any overclocking, with reliability being an important concern as well.

Here's what I've got so far:
NORCO RPC-230 2U Rackmount Server Case
Seasonic SS-460FL Fanless Power Supply
Intel Core i7 2600K
Scythe Kozuti
G.SKILL Sniper 8GB DDR3 1866
ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z Z68
Sony Optiarc Slim CD/DVD Burner
Koutech IO-RCM330 USB 3.0 Card Reader
VisionTek 900315 Radeon HD 5450 1GB
OCZ Vertex 3 Series – MAX IOPS 128GB
Nexus SP802512L-03 80mm Case Fan
Startech Slim Optical & 3.5in Mounting Bracket
TP-LINK TL-WN722N Wireless Adapter
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional

I think it's generally looking like a pretty solid build. The only fans would be the heatsink on the processor and the case fans, so I imagine it will be pretty quiet. I am not married to ANY of these components, so if anything is not the best/most reliable/whatever please let me know! I have a couple of questions I was hoping you could help me with:

1. Is that Kozuti enough to cool down the 2600K? I notice it is recommended for 65W TDP, but says it can do i7 if the fan is on.

1a. Would a SHURIKEN Rev.B fit in a 2U case? Would that be a better choice?

2. What the hell is going on with RAM these days? The more expensive chips I saw on Newegg have fans and stuff?! Is that necessary? Any thoughts on the reliability of this particular brand/product? Also, should I just go ahead and fire in 16GB? Any thoughts on the actual performance impact of 2200 vs 1833?

3. Will this video card, plus the on-board graphics, be able to run three monitors at 1920x1080? Also, do I need an ACTIVE DisplayPort to DVI adapter?

4. The Vertex 3 128GB MAX-IOPS seems to get great reviews; however, I can't find it in stock anywhere? The other option I was considering is a Vertex 3 240GB, but it's twice the price! Any opinions on that?

Thanks for looking and I appreciate any advice you guys can give me on these components!

Thanks!

E

 

[mfenn]

I'll comment on the specific parts first, then cover any specific questions that I don't answer along the way.

- Case: Why oh why would you want to use a 2U rackmount case unless you had to? It's going to be a lot louder than the equivalent tower. Get a Fractal Design R3 instead.
- PSU: A quiet PSU like this Seasonic 350W isn't going to add any appreciable noise to the case.
- CPU: Fine
- HSF: Fine, but there is no way that it is going to adequately cool a desktop CPU without a fan. From the product description, "The Kozuti is recommended for processors up to 65 Watt TDP (up to 95 Watt TDP only with maximum rpm)." Maximum RPM is going to be fairly loud. Since you will be switching the case anyway, get a tower cooler with a big, quiet 120MM fan like the Noctua U12P.
- RAM: Anything above DDR3 1333 is a waste of money for Sandy Bridge. Get this DDR3 1333 8GB instead.
- Mobo: Obscene waste of money. The Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3H will do everything that you need.
- ODD : Would not bother with as slimline drive (see case above). A normal $20 one will be fine.
- Card reader : It's not really going to take advantage of USB 3.0 unless you have really fast CF cards
- GPU: Too expensive for a 5450. Get one (or two!) of the cheaper ones instead.
- SSD : Too expensive for what it is. Get the normal Vertex 3 or an Intel 510.
- Fan: Unnecessary with case
- ODD Adapter : Unnecessary
- Wifi : Use a wire if at all possible, otherwise fine
- OS : Do you connect to a domain? If not, get Home Premium

As for the specific questions.

1. It has to have the fan on for all CPUs (except maybe a 25W or something). Anyway, see above.
2. Get DDR3 1333, the higher speed doesn't matter for Sandy Bridge. Also, see above.
3. Yes, it can. You can also get two 5450s and not have to worry about the onboard. Each 5450 can drive two DVI-type displays through a combination of native DVI ports and passive adapters. You need the active adapter for the 3rd display DVI-type display and up (not that the 5450 has two DisplayPort connections).
4. See above.

 

[gte619n]

mfenn,

Thanks a ton for your comments. Unfortunately, I'm committed to the 2U case so that it will fit nicely in the 2U slot I have under my desk.

About the heat sink, should I go with the stock fan, or is there a better, quieter one around?

RAM - Excellent, good to know. I might just go ahead and throw 16GB of the cheaper stuff in there then.

Mobo - Any recommendation for a MicroATX?

Video - Word.

SSD - I was under the impression that the normal Vertex 3 128GB was significantly slower than the 256GB model, and that's why the Max IOPS was there?

What's the tradeoff for the Intel 510? Is it a 2nd Generation controller or is it just cheaper?

Thanks for the help!!

E

 

[mfenn]

OK, but don't say I didn't warn you about the noise level!

As for them mobo, you can get the MicroATX version of the D3H, the GA-Z68MA-D2H.

Finally, the SSD. Yes, the normal 120GB Vertex 3 is slower than the Max IOPS. You probably won't be able to push the queue depths necessary to tell a difference though. The Intel 510 is a 3rd generation controller, same as the SF-2281 in the Vertex. It does pretty well in the real-world tests, but cannot push the raw IOPS that the Sandforce can.

 

[gte619n]

Oh awesome! That's a great chart! Thanks for the Mobo recommendation as well! You really saved me some cash!

 

[gte619n]

Oh sorry, one other question. The first video card had 1GB of RAM, the one you directed me too has 512MB. What sort of a difference would that make?

Thanks!

 

[Ayah]

Oh sorry, one other question. The first video card had 1GB of RAM, the one you directed me too has 512MB. What sort of a difference would that make?

Thanks!

With your 3 monitor setup, you'd need to (theoretically) run something like 600-700 bit colour to run out of video memory if you're only using it as a display and not to render/compute/etc.

 

[gte619n]

Ha! Okay! Thanks for the guidance!

 

[mfenn]

With your 3 monitor setup, you'd need to (theoretically) run something like 600-700 bit colour to run out of video memory if you're only using it as a display and not to render/compute/etc.

:thumbsup: