New Workstation Build.

[Midnight Rambler]

I don't understand passing on the DZ77GAL-70K Intel mobo for $140. That's a very good price for that board ... currently it's $205 + $7.50 shipping at Newegg, and $229.99 at Microcenter. ???

 

[mfenn]

I don't understand passing on the DZ77GAL-70K Intel mobo for $140. That's a very good price for that board ... currently it's $205 + $7.50 shipping at Newegg, and $229.99 at Microcenter. ???

Chasing "highest percent discount" isn't a very good way to build a cost-effective computer. The DZ77GAL-70K could be marked down to $140 from $1000 and it still wouldn't matter.

The fact of the matter is that the board costs $140 and David can get a board that does everything he needs for $100.

 

[Davidh373]

Chasing "highest percent discount" isn't a very good way to build a cost-effective computer. The DZ77GAL-70K could be marked down to $140 from $1000 and it still wouldn't matter.

The fact of the matter is that the board costs $140 and David can get a board that does everything he needs for $100.

I'm with you on that!

Can I get a variety of recommendations from you guys? I'm thinking more and more about that ASRock Extreme, but I also would like some other recommendations. Also, 16GB RAM in 8GB Dimms would be killer as well. I notice G.Skill Value is out in 16GB now, but are there other, better alternatives?

I just ordered the processor, says it should be here in the next 6 weeks... I really hope it won't be that long, lol!

 

[mfenn]

There is really only one motherboard that is the best for any given set of requirements. That being, the least expensive one that hits all the must haves. So I don't really see the point of discussing alternatives just for the sake of doing so. If there's something that you feel the ASRock Extreme is lacking, please do say so.

8GB DIMMs are pretty much at parity with 4GB ones in terms of cost per GB, so there's really no reason not to get them. I particularly like this $60 G.Skill kit. It's CAS 11 instead of CAS 9, but the Intel memory controller does a good job at hiding latency.

 

[Davidh373]

Is there by any chance something with Thunderbolt from ASRock? That might be a nice feature. Otherwise I'm all ready to pull the trigger for my New Years build

So far I'll have

1. ASRock Mobo (or Tb alternative)

2. 16GB GSkill RAM (2 x 8GB)

3: Some form of 2 x 2TB HDD. (I'm thinking Caviar Black or RE)

 

[mfenn]

You could get a Z77 motherboard with Thunderbolt, but they cost way too much and Windows support is pretty much non-existent. Since Thunderbolt is just external PCIe with DisplayPort added on, there is no reason why you won't be able to buy a Thunderbolt card when it matures.

 

[Davidh373]

I decided (Finally, I know) to go with the ASRock Z77 Extreme3. It works great and I'm enjoying the new computer upgrade. I know it's been a while, but the store has finally allowed me some time to get my hands dirty with my computer build.
This was the first time I haven't needed to fix something I've overlooked in a build. So I was happy with that. My build is currently as follows.

Antec Sonata Solo II with 3 Antec Truequiet 120MM

Corsair 650TX (Old Model)

i7 3770K

ASRock Extreme3 z77

16GB GSKill ValueRAM 1600MHz

EVGA GTX 670

intel 330 (Maple Crest) 120GB SSD

2x 1TB Caviar Black (Old Old Model )

I'm hoping to replace the Blacks with 2x 2TB Blacks or RE drives. They are going on 5 years old and have important data on them, which is backed up of course. I will be getting them one at a time.

The other things I want to get are two Dell Ultrasharp U2412Ms. I will be purchasing these one at a time and will have them calibrated soon after I own them both via hardware.

I was wondering if you guys may know a decent hardware calibrator, and if you guys would recommend the Dell for Video Editing and Color Correction. I could also use you guy's advice for some sort of video splitter to have a uniform output for my new displays. If I'm going to pull off this upgrade and go through the trouble of calibrating I want to have uniform color between the two displays. I have one of each output it seems... :

HDMI x 1

Displayport x 1

DVI-D x 2 (1 x Via Virtu MVP, 1 x Via GTX 670)

DVI-I x 1 (1 x Via GTX 670)

VGA (1 x Via Virtu MVP)
I can of course move this to a different section, but I always trust you guys most.

 

[mfenn]

HDMI, Displayport, DVI-D, and DVI-I are all digital, so the colors will be the same for all of those. HDMI and both DVIs are literally the exact same signal. What I would probably do is use both my DVI's from the GTX 670, but that's mostly because I like things to be consistent.

As for calibration tools, Anandtech uses the i1Display Pro in their display reviews and it seems pretty good. It's kind of pricy at $250 though. Whatever you do, make sure you recalibrate the first monitor when you get the second one. Displays naturally drift over time, and you want to get them in sync.

 

[Davidh373]

I was looking for hardware around $100-$150.

Since I'll need it to work on dual displays, this is the best I've seemed to have found review-wise for the price. Some seem lower in price but lacking in features or quality somehow.

http://www.amazon.com/Datacolor-Spyd...lay+calibrator

Also, how are these for alternatives for the Dells? They are about the same price range.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236287

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236292

 

[mfenn]

I would get a Dell over an ASUS in the same price range. The Dell is so much more of a known quantity.

The colorimeter you picked out is probably fine. When doing multiple displays, you just want to try to get them as close to the same target as possible. The settings on each monitor will likely be different because every panel is unique.

Buying both monitors at the same time from the same vendor is preferred if you can afford it. They way you're likely to get two monitors from the same batch.

 

[Davidh373]

I can't do both at once. I'd love to, but it's just not in the cards. Reversing some of the cheapy mistakes I made in my youth is catching up with my wallet is all. I don't need pitch perfect color matching, but being able to get close would be wonderful.

The reason I was thinking about the ASUS is because I see a lot of people complaining about the Anti-Glare on the Dell, while I see people recommending the ASUS for the light Anti-Glare. It also has USB 3.0 over 2.0 on the Dell. I've also heard a little about "IPS Glow." This concerns me, because part of my understanding was that LED displays didn't have very much light bleed, if none at all. I've looked at off-screen camera shots of both and the ASUS seems to have a little less. I realize no matter what I upgrade to will likely be a pretty vast improvement from these 23" HANNS-G cheapies, but I want to make sure I'll see a pretty big difference for the $600+ investment.

 

[mfenn]

Going from a glossy panel to a matte one is always a bit of a change. I personally don't mind the anti-glare coating on my Ultrasharp and I really appreciate the lack of glare, even with a window located almost directly opposite my monitor. Then again, I have used Ultrasharps for the past 7 years and so am pretty used to their quirks.

 

[Davidh373]

I have had Matte finish on every monitor I have ever owned. I only have owned one LED display and that's my new TV. Matte has never bothered me, but I don't know if it's hindered me either. I want as close to color accuracy as I can get (once calibrated). So if the anti-glare is going to hinder that, I may want to look at the ASUS. If not, I'm pretty sure I want the Dell.

 

[mfenn]

I don't see how an anti-glare coating is going to mess with color accuracy unless it was horribly botched (which the Dell isn't). The most it's going to do is make the monitor slightly dimmer, and there's plenty of backlight headroom to compensate.

IPS does look different than TN or PVA/MVA, especially when you're up close. I imagine that you will initially need some adjustment.

 

[Davidh373]

Do you know where I might be able to get a good price on it soon? I'm hoping to buy it on the 8th, and the price on Amazon changed six times last night... Newegg has a sale for $300 with free shipping, but that sale ends on the first. Dell has it for like $100 more than I need spend elsewhere. I might have to choke and cross my fingers that a third party seller on amazon will ship it gracefully.

 

[Sleepingforest]

Try B&H. I don't know if they're trying to compete with Newegg or something, but they also have it at $300.

 

[Davidh373]

Try B&H. I don't know if they're trying to compete with Newegg or something, but they also have it at $300.

If I can get it reliably shipped for $300 I will be happy. I've heard B&H is wonderful for cameras. I'm sure they'd be reliable. How fast can they ship, and what's their return policy?

 

[Sleepingforest]

If I can get it reliably shipped for $300 I will be happy. I've heard B&H is wonderful for cameras. I'm sure they'd be reliable. How fast can they ship, and what's their return policy?

It looks like it's a thirty day (from purchase date) return policy, and the item must be returnes with all acessories and original packaging. No returns on monitors larger than 37". Shipping seems to be through the usual private channels (UPS, Fedex) so probably is 3-5 days depending on your distance from their warehouses/New York main store.