Help with Workstation build, pls!

[toolshed]

I've built a few PC's over the years, and recently most of those have been HTPC/low-power/quiet computing type of rigs. Now I've been asked to build a powerful gaming/workstation, and admit to being out of touch with the components. And, as for gaming, I know very little. Other than it needs very powerful graphics, but video-editing (the 'workstation' task) does not. Another question is, with an i7 Extreme CPU, is there any point in overclocking (I have limited experience there).

So I'm thinking of something like:

i7 Core Extreme 3.2GHz CPU
Noctua NH-U12P Special Edition 1366
Gigabyte EX58 UD3R
Corsair Dominator 3 x 2GB DDR3
Corsair HX1000W PSU
Samsung Spinpoint F1 1TB*
EVGA GeForce GTX 295**
Akasa Omega***
Dell Ultrasharp 2709W 27" Widescreen LCD Monitor

*maybe need something better here
** 1 or 2?
*** maybe OK for air, but not water...

 

[Blain]

In general "workstation PCs" should not be overclocked.

Here are two build guides for workstation PC's that will handle any game you can throw at them.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Originally posted by: Blain
In general "workstation PCs" should not be overclocked.

Here are two build guides for workstation PC's that will handle any game you can throw at them.

I think this might be an exception, a stable overclock should work fine for the intended uses.

Spinpoints are fine, rated up there with Caviar Black drives.

1 295 should be enough, does this person have no budget at all?

Water is a route mainly taken by overclockers, no overclock = no need for anything more than air.

Also, such an expensive CPU isn't really necessary, an i7 940 should be more than enough (and that's already $550) or even a 920 ($300 region). Also, Extreme edition CPUs from Intel have a large large mark-up for the major reason that it's typically the best chip to overclock with, Extreme usually comes with an unlocked multiplier so overclockers can hit the chip's potential and not the ram/mobo.

 

[fffblackmage]

that's one uber setup, but if budget is something that needs consideration, an i7 940 or 920, as krnmastersgt mentioned, will do just about as well as the EE for much much less.