Stable Office PC for database work (please critique config)

[Daovonnaex]

The work to be done is primarily start MRP on Windows 2000 Professional, along with word processing. The database must crunch quickly, and requires low latency (therefore, DDR SDRAM was selected and not RDRAM). I chose the Pentium 4A processor (mated with the Intel i845D chipset) due to its data prefetch, 512k L2 cache, and super-high stability. Please critique my configuration.

Case: Antec SX630
Mainboard: Gigabyte GA-8IRXP (chosen for stability, ECC support, and onboard LAN)
CPU: Pentium 4 1.6A
HSF: Stock
Memory: Crucial 512mb ECC PC2100 DIMM (I chose to use only one DIMM due to signal integrity issues with multiple DIMMs--remember, this must be stable)
Graphics: Matrox G550DH (chose for superb 2D, and likely use of dual monitors)
Hard Disk: Maxtor 7200rpm ATA133 20gb with fluid bearings (chose for silence, reliability, and performance)
CD-ROM: AOpen 56x
CD-RW: Lite On 32x

Thoughts?

 

[dbwillis]

Sounds good and solid..I like the hardware..

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< Sounds good and solid..I like the hardware.. >>

That's my opinion, but I'm open to suggestions.

 

[jcmkk]

Are you planning to use the onboard sound? It doesn't really have much to do with stability, but I just can't stand onboard sound. Other than that, it looks good.

 

[AGodspeed]

<< The work to be done is primarily start MRP on Windows 2000 Professional, along with word processing. The database must crunch quickly, and requires low latency (therefore, DDR SDRAM was selected and not RDRAM). I chose the Pentium 4A processor (mated with the Intel i845D chipset) due to its data prefetch, 512k L2 cache, and super-high stability. Please critique my configuration.

Case: Antec SX630
Mainboard: Gigabyte GA-8IRXP (chosen for stability, ECC support, and onboard LAN)
CPU: Pentium 4 1.6A
HSF: Stock
Memory: Crucial 512mb ECC PC2100 DIMM (I chose to use only one DIMM due to signal integrity issues with multiple DIMMs--remember, this must be stable)
Graphics: Matrox G550DH (chose for superb 2D, and likely use of dual monitors)
Hard Disk: Maxtor 7200rpm ATA133 20gb with fluid bearings (chose for silence, reliability, and performance)
CD-ROM: AOpen 56x
CD-RW: Lite On 32x

Thoughts? >>

Any particular reason you want to go with a Pentium 4 (do you need that fast a processor for database crunching?). If you went with a 1.1GHz Celeron (.13u, 32K L1, 256K L2) instead of 1.6A P4, you'd save ~ $50-60 (do you care about price?). You would also save another $50-60 with a Celeron board over the GA i845 P4 board, and you'd get the same stability. There's the ASUS i815 or 440BX boards that you could use from with this 1.1GHz Celeron (you need an adaptor I believe, but talk to someone with a lot of experience with Tualatins).

Otherwise, everything else is fine (get SDRAM instead though).

 

[ToBeMe]

Actually, that's about the same basic config. I chose for several builds I won the contract on for a local business! They are expanding and doubling their network to 16 systems...................I build 8 additional ones. LMK how things go with the board, I chose it for the same reason and won't be starting the builds for about 3 weeks.

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< Any particular reason you want to go with a Pentium 4 (do you need that fast a processor for database crunching?). If you went with a 1.1GHz Celeron (.13u, 32K L1, 256K L2) instead of 1.6A P4, you'd save ~ $50-60 (do you care about price?). You would also save another $50-60 with a Celeron board over the GA i845 P4 board, and you'd get the same stability. There's the ASUS i815 or 440BX boards that you could use from with this 1.1GHz Celeron (you need an adaptor I believe, but talk to someone with a lot of experience with Tualatins).

Otherwise, everything else is fine (get SDRAM instead though). >>

I chose the Pentium 4 over the Tualatin core (PIII, Celeron, etc.) due to its greater cache, and especially its data prefetch (very useful for database work). Price is an issue, but not a huge one. I chose DDR SDRAM over SDRAM due to bandwidth, and this will occasionally use some bandwidth-intensive 2D CAD applications. I chose not to use RDRAM due to latency penalties that cannot be overcome without overclocking.

 

[AGodspeed]

<<

<< Any particular reason you want to go with a Pentium 4 (do you need that fast a processor for database crunching?). If you went with a 1.1GHz Celeron (.13u, 32K L1, 256K L2) instead of 1.6A P4, you'd save ~ $50-60 (do you care about price?). You would also save another $50-60 with a Celeron board over the GA i845 P4 board, and you'd get the same stability. There's the ASUS i815 or 440BX boards that you could use from with this 1.1GHz Celeron (you need an adaptor I believe, but talk to someone with a lot of experience with Tualatins).

Otherwise, everything else is fine (get SDRAM instead though). >>

I chose the Pentium 4 over the Tualatin core (PIII, Celeron, etc.) due to its greater cache, and especially its data prefetch (very useful for database work). Price is an issue, but not a huge one. I chose DDR SDRAM over SDRAM due to bandwidth, and this will occasionally use some bandwidth-intensive 2D CAD applications. I chose not to use RDRAM due to latency penalties that cannot be overcome without overclocking. >>

Right. Well then, you've definitely got it down. I can't find much wrong with your picks, assuming there isn't an ASUS i845 board with equivalent specs to the Gigabyte GA-8IRXP.

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< Right. Well then, you've definitely got it down. I can't find much wrong with your picks, assuming there isn't an ASUS i845 board with equivalent specs to the Gigabyte GA-8IRXP. >>

Apparently, Asus's offering does not support ECC memory, nor do most boards on the market have the onboard LAN.

 

[SuperSix]

<<

<< Right. Well then, you've definitely got it down. I can't find much wrong with your picks, assuming there isn't an ASUS i845 board with equivalent specs to the Gigabyte GA-8IRXP. >>

Apparently, Asus's offering does not support ECC memory, nor do most boards on the market have the onboard LAN. >>



Asus doesn't have a comparable board to the 8IRXP, no one does, it has a wonderful feature set.

As for the onboard sound, it's great for all but the hardcore gamer, it's a Creative CT5880, (PCI 128) and will do all you need it to do in the environment this machine is going into.

Great parts selection, I would recommend the Teac 24X CDRW in place of the Lite-on, better DAE speeds, software, etc..

PCGamer just tested on, and it beats the Plextor as far as raw speeds. And the Lite-on is just ugly..

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< I would recommend the Teac 24X CDRW in place of the Lite-on, better DAE speeds, software, etc.. >>

As would I, but DAE won't be used. The faster seek times would be useful, though. However, the extra $30 is annoying.

 

[odog]

how many are you building? just one?

 

[nortexoid]

why 2 case-cluttering, power-consuming, heat-dissipating, ugly roms? - just stick w/ a single CDRW on secondary master.

the pics look ok - but for nearly half the price, u can pick up an ATI radeon VE dualhead (over the G550)...of course, u don't get dual DVI, but most people don't require dual DVI, so...

everything else looks fine.