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Suggestions for a PC build with dual monitors?

B

bX510

Golden Member
So, after 3 years of using a laptop for everything. I still feel attached to having a powerful desktop especially because I love to use a mouse and keyboard, and it feels weird to do that with a laptop.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming, and programming. I already have a monitor, but I will need another one, which should be included in the budget. I currently have a Viewsonic 1912wb 19inch (Supports DVI/VGA) and I have this monitor stand for it (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FLXW90).

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
I can spend up to $1000, and I don't mind spending a little less. The main goal here is to obtain a high resolution gaming computer for Heroes of Newerth and to prepare for Dota2. I do a lot of things while playing games, that's why I have 2 monitors. So I want to be able to do that easily. I hate having to close all my programs before turning on a game.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
None of the above. I'll take whatever is in the lead right now. However, I would prefer an Intel processor and I prefer nVidia because their drivers are superior to AMD drivers (IMO). However, I haven't touched AMD drivers in years.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Chasis: Antec P182 Gunmetal
Harddrives (Sata)
Dvd Drive (I think this uses IDE). I may or may not buy a new one.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
I read the ones on first page:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2170944
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2172940
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2175581

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
System defaults.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
At least 1440x900

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
This summer, unless there's something awesome worth waiting for.

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.
I am not thin skinned.

---

Also, I have some parts that I don't know what to do with (I don't mind selling it either).
Antec earthwatts EA380 380W
Mobo: ASUS A8R-MVP and its ram
Graphics Card: Radeon All-in-wonder X600 (I am not sure if it was a X600 or X800, I'll check and update this when I get home)
 
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Most important piece is missing, what is your budget?

What types of drives do you intend to re-use?

As for dual monitors, you can get support for that built straight into the MB these days, so that is a very easy goal to accomplish.

Any particular games you are looking at?
 
mvbighead said:
Most important piece is missing, what is your budget?

What types of drives do you intend to re-use?

As for dual monitors, you can get support for that built straight into the MB these days, so that is a very easy goal to accomplish.

Any particular games you are looking at?
Click to expand...

Ah. I thought I put that. I updated my original post too. I am reusing my DVD burner, and all my harddrives. I have about 3-5 harddrives with mixed sizes.

I will be playing Heros of Newerth and I am preparing for Dota2.

Here are the minimum requirements for HoN, and the Dota2 specs haven't been released.

Minimum:
Processor - 2.8GHz Pentium 4 / 2.0GHz Core 2 / AMD 2400+ or faster
RAM - 1.5GB of RAM
Video Card - 128 MB GeForce 5 / ATI 9800 / GMA 950
OS - Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7
Network Connection Required

Recommended:
Processor - 2.4GHz Core 2 or i3 / 2.2GHz i5 or i7 / AMD 3500+ or faster
RAM - 2.0+ GB for Win XP / 3.0+ GB for Win 7
Video Card - 256MB Geforce 7800+ or Radeon X1900+
OS - 32-bit Windows XP, 64-bit Windows 7
Network Connection Required (Broadband)
 
Assuming your harddrives are SATA, as is your DVD, I would say go ahead and use them. If not, I would replace as needed.

System requirements for those games seem pretty run of the mill, but I went ahead and spec'd a decent gaming card. My projected build comes in at $1045 out of pocket, but MIR total $60.

Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236059 - $180
2ms Response Time Asus

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125383 - $190
Gigabyte GTX 560

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371031 - $70 -$10 for promo
Antec NEO ECO 620watt

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231422 - $65
8GB 1.5v G.SKILL Value

OS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116986 - 100
Win 7 Home Premium x64 OEM

SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148441 - $120
Crucial M4 64GB

MB/CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.676009 - $320
Intel i5 2500k, Biostar Z68

Now, while you have suggested that you don't intend to overclock, the above CPU/MB are capable and are easily within your price point. Should you decide to overclock in the future, you should be able to squeeze a little bit more juice out of these components. And, due to the $30 instant discount for the combo, you're really not spending anything extra to get the components.

The SSD should pair nicely with the Z68 chipset, and provide you a boost in performance from a Windows standpoint.

I tend to stick towards NVidia, thus the suggestion of the GTX560. Some will steer towards ATI, but my last card was an ATI 4870 and I was really hoping to get the GTX260 instead.
 
One thing to keep in mind is that you have to match the monitors to the Cables to the video card. I asume if you mention gaming that you want some kind of video card. Then there is the possibility of mounting both Monitors on a stand which would add to the price a bit. The cheap way is to just put both monitors on the desk. Helps if they look similar, in size and color. It also depends if you have the VESA mounting holes.
 
piasabird said:
One thing to keep in mind is that you have to match the monitors to the Cables to the video card. I asume if you mention gaming that you want some kind of video card. Then there is the possibility of mounting both Monitors on a stand which would add to the price a bit. The cheap way is to just put both monitors on the desk. Helps if they look similar, in size and color. It also depends if you have the VESA mounting holes.
Click to expand...

I haven't thought about that, and I was just thinking of using my desk. My current monitor supports DVi/VGA and I bought a monitor stand for it (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FLXW90).
 
Z68 + SSD = SSD caching. Pretty much all of the benefits of SSD without having to manage a smaller SSD. Essentially, the chipset manages the most commonly read files, which in turns gives you SSD like performance while having things installed on a rotating disk.

Don't have to worry about running out of space on a small 64GB drive.
 
Mvbighead's build looks pretty good to me. I'd say that the PSU is a bit much considering the rest of the components. A good 430W like the 430CX is plenty.
 
mvbighead said:
Z68 + SSD = SSD caching. Pretty much all of the benefits of SSD without having to manage a smaller SSD. Essentially, the chipset manages the most commonly read files, which in turns gives you SSD like performance while having things installed on a rotating disk.

Don't have to worry about running out of space on a small 64GB drive.
Click to expand...

Is the SSD performance that much better than a SATAII HD? I was wondering, what if I just skipped out on the SSD and used a SATA2 HD thus spending more on other things or less overall.
 
bX510 said:
Is the SSD performance that much better than a SATAII HD? I was wondering, what if I just skipped out on the SSD and used a SATA2 HD thus spending more on other things or less overall.
Click to expand...

SSD is much, much, much, much better than a standard SATA2 drive. Essentially, one of the biggest benefits to SSDs is the lack of moving parts, which means that the drive does not have to seek to a bunch of smaller files to start your app.

Let me put it this way... when you start Internet Explorer, it has to load several DLLs, fire up certain EXEs, etc. It takes time for a rotating disk to seek to each one of those files. However, SSDs have much lower seek times as nothing in the disk actually moves. Seek times are generally less than a millisecond, whereas standard SATA2 disks are roughly around 9. And the more seeking the disk has to do, the longer it'll take to fire up the app.

The SSD is one of the single biggest improvements you can make to your system. It'll speed up pretty much anything you throw it in. And not only are the seek times phenomenal, but pretty much all SSDs have faster read/write times than rotating disks (some better than others).

So, while you could save some money by not adding an SSD, you're giving up a good amount of performance in doing it.
 
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