Feedback on software development build

[t-ray]

I've pieced together a machine for java software development (and some virtualization [VirtualBox]) and would like some feedback. I had originally planned on trying my hand at overclocking, but have since decided against it. I don't necessarily have a budget in mind, but I'm thinking <$700 US, excluding displays and storage. There will be absolutely no gaming on this machine, so I won't need to spend a lot on power supply and gpu. Anyway, here are the part's I've selected:

CPU: i7 4770
Cooler - CM Hyper 212
Mobo: MSI H87M-G43 - H87, Micro ATX, HDMI/VGA/DVI/DisplayPort
Case - Rosewill LINE-M
PSU - Rosewill CAPSTONE-450
Memory - Kingston HyperX 16GB (2x8)

I will be using my existing displays, but would eventually like to extend that to three displays, depending on Haswell's implementation and Linux. I also have a Samsung 840 Pro 256 waiting on this build.

Other thoughts: Do I really need a cooler? Will the oem cooler be sufficient? The only time the CPU will be under load is when running builds, or when VirtualBox freezes up.

And I think the PSU may be a little overkill. The only things drawing much current will be the CPU/mobo.

So, please, provide some feedback.

 

[t-ray]

Bumpity

 

[pcunite]

I just built this for soft dev, running VM, etc. Crazy fast with Sata III drives. If I was building today and might have went with the Asus Gryphon Z87. However, the V Gene is a very tough board.


$220 - Intel i5-3570K
$190 - Asus Maximus V Gene mATX
$110 - Crucial CT2KIT102464BA1339 16GB
$90 - Corsair 650TX
$100 - Fractal Design Define Mini
-------------
$710 USD

 

[BrightCandle]

A better cooler is normally quieter than the OEM so that is often worth it for a work machine.

Java compilation once fed with an SSD is entirely driven by CPU performance, and mostly by single threaded performance. Depending on your tests and application you might get use out of the hyperthreading on that chip, but the cache and clock speed is worth having regardless. I don't know if the Java compiler shows benefits from the usual IPC improvements or not but its quite likely since previous incarnations have shown benefits from Intel's legacy speed improvements.

 

[t-ray]

A better cooler is normally quieter than the OEM so that is often worth it for a work machine.

Java compilation once fed with an SSD is entirely driven by CPU performance, and mostly by single threaded performance. Depending on your tests and application you might get use out of the hyperthreading on that chip, but the cache and clock speed is worth having regardless. I don't know if the Java compiler shows benefits from the usual IPC improvements or not but its quite likely since previous incarnations have shown benefits from Intel's legacy speed improvements.

Thanks for the feedback. Right now I'm running an i5-2300, 12gb of ram, and a Kingston HyperX 128gb SSD. This thing is plenty fast enough.

But I am still wanting something a little faster. Going from an i5-2300 to a 4770 will likely be mostly imperceptible for what I do. It's hard to justify building another rig - but I just have that "itch" at the moment.

 

[Cerb]

Other thoughts: Do I really need a cooler? Will the oem cooler be sufficient?

No, and yes. If you want something quieter under load, look at the Xigmatek Gaia (idle will be fine with the stock cooler--depending mobo, the fan may even be turned off a fair bit of the time). The Hyper212+ Evo will be wasted w/o an OC (the non-Evo more-so).

The E3-1245V3 is $30 cheaper than the i7-4770, and I can't find any combo set that saves more than that, without ballooning the budget (the Turbo speed is only 2.6% slower, base clock is the same). Your selected MSI board looks like a nice one, and it officially supports the E3 Haswells. I'm using the B85 version just for saving $10. Just add $10 for the H87 .

Note: I used the Corsair 500W because of the MIR. It also has a $5 promo code until 6/16 (it's a Beastly power supply ). The regular CX430, CX430M, or Antec VP-450, are all good no-rebate alternatives.

Corsair CX500M - $65-$5-$20
MSI B85M-G43 - $80
GeiL 2x8GB 1333MHz - $105
Xeon E3-1245V3 - $290
Silverstone SST-PS07B - $75
Xigmatek Gaia cooler - $20, and entirely optional, purely for reducing noise when the CPU is under load.

I get $645 shipped, after which there will then be a $20 MIR for the PSU. That still leaves storage, of course.

 

[t-ray]

Wow thanks for the info and all the effort. I had not even considered a Xeon. I've been out of the hardware game for a while - what really distinguishes the Xeon from the 4770?

And after further thought, I might just stick with the stock cooler. I'm having some weird issue with VirtualBox where it will lock up a core until I give the main window focus. If I can audibly hear the fan cycle up I can use that as my indicator.

 

[Cerb]

Wow thanks for the info and all the effort. I had not even considered a Xeon. I've been out of the hardware game for a while - what really distinguishes the Xeon from the 4770?

Marketing, pretty much. Just make sure the board has some of them on its supported list.

i7-4770K: 3.5GHz base, 3.9GHz Turbo, no TSX, unlocked
i7-4770: 3.4GHz base, 3.9GHz Turbo, TSX, locked
E3-1225V3: 3.2GHz base, 3.6GHz Turbo, TSX, locked
E3-1245V3: 3.4GHz base, 3.8GHz Turbo, TSX, locked
E3-1275V3: 3.5GHz base, 3.9GHz Turbo, TSX, locked

The Xeon needs a C-series chipset to use ECC, so that's N/A, and they all have HT and 8MB cache. All the E3-12x5V3 CPUs have IGP, the E3-12x0V3 ones do not. The Xeon IGP gets slightly different drivers, also, like Quadro v. Geforce do. The 1275V3 is more than the 4770K, the 1245V3 less than the 4770.