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Need advice on new build that I'm going to Marry

B

BernieCodes

Junior Member
Hello,

Okay, so maybe we can't legally be married yet, but I expect her to be by my side hours a day, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until obsolescence do us part. I also expect that she will nag me incessantly with comments like "you know dear.. you're going to have to give me admistrator access to do that".. or "Are you sure you want to delete that file?"

At rate, I have put together a component list for this beauty, and hope to get a once over from the collective. I also have a few questions at the bottom. I appreciate any help you can offer.

Approximate Purchase Date:
This week.

Budget Range:
Up to $2000.00 USD

System Usage from Most to Least Important:
The system will mostly be used for software and web development and all the myriad tasks that come along with it (graphic and video editing, development database services, etc) I will also use it for watching videos online, surfing the web, and casual gaming (nothing too graphically intense).

Parts Not Required:
keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, video cards. I have 2 BFG GeForce 7800 GT OC cards (not in SLI configuration) and will use those. I will also be installing Windows 7 Professional 64 bit edition.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts:
Newegg

Country of Origin:
USA

Parts Preferences:
I have no preferences other than I have always used Intel vs AMD.

Overclocking:
Maybe, but probably not. I have never done it, and don't feel I need to incur the risk of having an unstable software development environment.

SLI or Crossfire:
Probably not with my current cards. I have 3 monitors, SLI with these cards does not support multiple monitors. As far as I know, even on later versions, SLI only supports dual monitors.

Monitor Resolution:
1280x1024,1920x1200,1280x1024

Additional Comments:
My biggest goal is a highly responsive and versatile box that I can use mostly for software development, and whatever else I need to do for the next 4 years. Also, as I mentioned above, stability is critical. This will be my main home office system, so I basically just need it to work.

Parts list:
1x - ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135204

3x - Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3250318AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148451
These will be configured in a RAID 5 configuration and used as my local data storage and local backup drive.

2x - CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145224

1x - Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115211

1x - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

1x - ASUS Rampage III Formula LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131666

1x - Crucial RealSSD C300 CTFDDAC128MAG-1G1CCA 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148362
This will be used as my Windows 7 and application drive

1x - COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119160

Additional Questions:
- Do you all feel that the stock heatsink will be enough? I've tried to get a largish box, not only for expansion, but also for handling the large amount of cabling from from PSU, and just general airflow.

- I saw some mention in the newegg reviews for the Crucial SSD about it taking a couple of tricks to get it work for SATA III. Seems that it first has to be installed as SATA II. Heard anything like that?

- Is the power supply big enough? My current machine probably has a similar power profile and is currently running an FSB 650 Watt, but wanted to up it a bit. I don't want to go too high as i'm on a 20 AMP circuit in my home office.

- NewEgg is currently of out stock of the triple channel DDR3 2000 memory, and I don't want to wait. Do you think there will be that much of a difference between DDR3 1600 and DDR3 2000?

- I read in one of the NewEgg reviews that the motherboard uses screws instead of push-pins for the headsink, but I thought that was a decided by the headsink and not by the motherboard. I hate push-pin locks, so that was appealing to me.

Once again, thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

Kind Regards,

Bernie
 
Sp12,

Thanks for the info. The hard drive is a great idea. I wonder about the lower user rating and high number of RMAs for this hard drive. Makes me a bit nervous.

I have not had any experience with GSkill mem. I'll check it out.

Thanks,

Bernie
 
1) Why are you getting 3 250GB drives? Make your RAID 5 out of 2TB drives. Much manlier. And much more useful.
2) Why are you keeping your 7800GTs? It would be much better for performance, and for power consumption, to just get a single HD5xxx card to run all 3 displays off.
3) You don't need such an expensive motherboard, and that RAM is going completely overboard. This would be sufficient for RAM.

Okay, so maybe we can't legally be married yet, but I expect her to be by my side hours a day, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until obsolescence do us part. I also expect that she will nag me incessantly with comments like "you know dear.. you're going to have to give me admistrator access to do that".. or "Are you sure you want to delete that file?"
Click to expand...
I'm uncomfortable with such PDAs.
 
I agree with everyone else about the mobo, PSU, and RAM being ridiculous overkill. The HDDs and GPU's are kind of silly as well. I'll add that you probably don't need the 1366 platform at all. Since you aren't (and shouldn't!) OC, an i7 870 will give you the useful features of the 950 with a higher turbo mode.

i7 870 + GA-P55-USB3 $392
2x G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB 2x$140 Apromo = $280
5770 $140 AR
Active Displayport to single-link DVI adapter $27
3x Samsung F3 1TB 3x$75 = $225
DVD Burner $20
3.5" Agility 2 120GB = $203 AR
Antec P183 $155
430CX $30 AR (plenty for a system with a 5770).
Total: $1472

This will give you a much better system than the one you were planning for $500 less. If you want the performance to really go through the roof, grab a real hardware RAID card like the ARC-1212.
 
Thank you all for the info, I really appreciate it. I will review all of the components listed and make some decisions.
 
It's a romantic notion you have, but dropping down a notch on performance to get better bang-for-buck (and putting the savings towards the next upgrade/rebuild) gives better performance in the long run than throwing your wallet and your heart into a beauty/monster that ages far faster than you will.
 
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