Taking Hardware Suggestions for a new Workstation

[darkfoon]

So, I rarely have enough money for a PC, but I've saved up, and I need a workstation that will last me at least 5 years. I personally want to build it, so I can choose the parts.

This system will do just about everything: A/V Editing/TV recording, gaming, software development, internet.
I want it to run nice and stable, because I need it to last me for so long. But a motherboard/CPU/RAM that can overclock nicely will be valuable in extending its usefulness as it gets older.
RAID 0 support is a must in the motherboard, also it must LACK a TPM chip. (I don't like those)

I will do my own research, so I'm not just trying to be lazy by asking for opinions/suggestions; I like anecdotal evidence and I find it helpful in narrowing the search when there is so much to research.

I was thinking of an Intel Core 2 Duo E6700, Asus motherboard (the last I looked was the P5D Deluxe but I'm sure its obsolete now), nVidia 8800GT (I like ATI, but right now their performance just isn't there), 2 to 4 GB of dual channel DDR2-800 (suggestions of good brands are welcome), a pair of seagate 250GB SATA drives to raid, a nice quiet case (with PSU preferred), plextor DVD burner.

As always, if this is in the wrong forum, would a mod please inform me so I know for future reference.

Thank you for your suggestions in advanced.

 

[myocardia]

If you're trying to avoid a processor with a TPM, a Skt 939 dual-core is the fastest thing you can buy. Unfortunately, you've waited about a year too late, unless you buy used. And yes, this is the right forum, and please don't try to rely on the psu that comes with a case. Some of them are decent enough to keep for backups, but most aren't decent enough for anything, except paperweights. There is an exception, though, some of the Antec cases now come with Antec Earthwatts psu's, that are made by Seasonic, and they aren't the best in the world, but they're awfully good.

 

[darkfoon]

myocardia,
thank you for the information about the TPM; it is as I feared: that I had waited too long to buy.
I apparently haven't had the pleasure of buying a (faulty) PSU, but I'll keep in mind your advice that not all PSU the come with the case are as good as gold.

[edit: I'm not going to let the presence of a TPM stop me from buying a new workstation. It was just something that I had hoped to avoid.

So I am still open to suggestions for hardware. I've had 15 views, and I doubt that all those people don't have SOME kind of hardware opinion.]

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: darkfoon
Taking Hardware Suggestions for a new Workstation

...I need a workstation that will last me at least 5 years.

This system will do just about everything: A/V Editing/TV recording, gaming, software development, internet.

I want it to run nice and stable, because I need it to last me for so long.

RAID 0 support is a must in the motherboard, also it must LACK a TPM chip. (I don't like those)

I was thinking of an Intel Core 2 Duo E6700, Asus motherboard (the last I looked was the P5D Deluxe but I'm sure its obsolete now), nVidia 8800GT (I like ATI, but right now their performance just isn't there)

a pair of seagate 250GB SATA drives to raid, a nice quiet case (with PSU preferred), plextor DVD burner.

1. You want a workstation to do everything and very high-end "today", in order to last for the 5 year long haul.
2. You want a stable machine, I assume that the work you're doing is important to you.
3. You've got a few old parts to use in the fresh workstation.
4. You failed to post a budget. You want a 5 year workstation, so the budget is assumed to be $2000-$3000.

* The E6700 is a nice enough chip right now, but it's not a 5 year chip for the type of work you're doing. You need at least a Q6600 or Xeon X3230 if the budget allows.
Why a Xeon X3230 instead of the cheaper Q6700...
You've go an eye towards OCing in the future. So you'll need a CPU that's got some thermal headroom to do that OCing.
The Q6700 G0 stepping only has a thermal specification of 71C, where as the X3230 has a thermal specification of 85C. Both operate at the same speed today, but the Xeon is a higher quality CPU.

* RAID drives if you want. But you should have some kind of redundancy built into your workstation if you want "nice and stable" operation. The 250GB Seagates are getting some age on them.
I'd suggest the better performing WD RE2 750GB drives. They are designed for RAID operation and have the 5 year warranty.
If you must run a RAID array, I'd suggest a RAID 10.

* In order to have a PS that's still stable in 5 years, you need high build quality as well as more power that required for your workstation "today". The caps will age and degrade over time.
Get at least a 620W Corsair or possibly a 750W PC Power & Cooling. Remember that in 5 years they won't be pumping out the wattage they are today.
* Along those same lines you should invest in a high quality UPS with AVR (automatic voltage regulation).
A good surge suppression system added to your electrical panel box is best.
Like a Delta LA302R & CA302R. Remember that you're not only protecting equipment but also helping protect data.

* I know you've listed "gaming" as one of your machine's tasks. But DEPENDING on your "A/V Editing" and "software development" needs, you might want to consider a FireGL or Quadro card. Most workstations use one of the two cards.

* "A/V Editing"... If you're importing video via firewire, try to find a MB with a TI (Texas Intruments) controller. Avoid MBs that use a VIA controller to handle firewire.

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: Blain
* I know you've listed "gaming" as one of your machine's tasks. But DEPENDING on your "A/V Editing" and "software development" needs, you might want to consider a FireGL or Quadro card. Most workstations use one of the two cards.

* "A/V Editing"... If you're importing video via firewire, try to find a MB with a TI (Texas Intruments) controller. Avoid MBs that use a VIA controller to handle firewire.

Caveat - If you choose an editor from Pinnacle (Studio, Liquid), go with ATI and 256MB of memory. The X19xx or X2xxx are suitable and a workstation card works against you.

ABSOLUTELY - almost all firewire issues I have seen with editors are related to the chipset being Via and not TI. TI firewire for the win!

 

[darkfoon]

How foolish of me! I forgot to post my budget. Well, $2000 - $3000 is a little steep; I pegged my budget around $1500, but I can go a little higher if need be.

First, thank you for your response, Blain. I tend to use Newegg to buy parts, but I can't seem to find a Xeon X3230 in their listings. I guess I'll have to wait a little while (which is fine). But I have one problem with Xeon processors. I believe that they require FB-DIMMs for RAM, and if I recall correctly, FB-DIMMs are lower performance, higher priced, and higher thermal output than regular DDR DIMMS. If Xeons (or I should say the chipsets that support them) no longer use FB-DIMMs, I would definitely consider them more closely.

Now on to harddrives. I haven't had a good time with Western Digitals. Of the ones I've encountered, they've been loud, and few of them are totally bricked and out of warranty. The drive that you have pointed out looks good on paper, but if I could be pointed to some reviews of it (harddrive reviews... seem sorta rare given the ho-hum nature of drives) that'd be great.

I have long recognized PC Power & Cooling as a high quality manufacturer of PS units. I have one running the 7 year old computer I am using to type this up. Its the quietest PSU I have ever used, too. Given that this workstation will be used to do some audio recording, quiet is important.

For power needs, I'll have to consider those options. Since I do not own the property where I live, I am hesitant to put a surge protector in the breaker box, in case I forget to take it with me, or if it somehow violates my contract.

As for video cards and A/V Editing, none of my boxes right now run anything like a Quadro or FireGL. They have regular graphics cards. A relative of mine builds high-end A/V editing workstations for studios, and I asked him what kind of graphics card he puts in those, and he told me that he puts Matrox Parhelia 512s in them. Granted, I play games like TF2 and Portal (and the rest of the HL2 franchise) which are not the most demanding games today, but I don't think that a Parhelia could handle those very well. I may just go with a GeForce 8800GT, and look for one with a good TV-out for a client monitor.

I may just disable the onboard firewire and use a FireConnect 4300 PCI that I've been moving from computer to computer for the last few years. It has worked well for me, but I don't know what kind of chipset it uses. Most of my video editing has been done in Final Cut Pro, so I will have to try out various Windows-based video editors before I pick one that I like.

In closing, I would like to mention that I looked at AnandTech's October Midrange Buyers Guide, and looked at the Intel Workstation that they have listed there, to get some idea of prices. Here is a link to that page: http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=3125&p=5.
Indeed, that is not a 5-year workstation, but it could be upgraded over time (mostly new harddrives). Which I might also consider, given the cost is spread out over time.

I would also like to thank gsellis for his contribution to the topic.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: darkfoon
I tend to use Newegg to buy parts, but I can't seem to find a Xeon X3230 in their listings. I guess I'll have to wait a little while (which is fine). But I have one problem with Xeon processors. I believe that they require FB-DIMMs for RAM, and if I recall correctly, FB-DIMMs are lower performance, higher priced, and higher thermal output than regular DDR DIMMS. If Xeons (or I should say the chipsets that support them) no longer use FB-DIMMs, I would definitely consider them more closely.

Now on to harddrives. I haven't had a good time with Western Digitals. Of the ones I've encountered, they've been loud, and few of them are totally bricked and out of warranty. The drive that you have pointed out looks good on paper, but if I could be pointed to some reviews of it (harddrive reviews... seem sorta rare given the ho-hum nature of drives) that'd be great.

I have long recognized PC Power & Cooling as a high quality manufacturer of PS units. I have one running the 7 year old computer I am using to type this up. Its the quietest PSU I have ever used, too. Given that this workstation will be used to do some audio recording, quiet is important.

For power needs, I'll have to consider those options. Since I do not own the property where I live, I am hesitant to put a surge protector in the breaker box, in case I forget to take it with me, or if it somehow violates my contract.

As for video cards and A/V Editing, none of my boxes right now run anything like a Quadro or FireGL. They have regular graphics cards. A relative of mine builds high-end A/V editing workstations for studios, and I asked him what kind of graphics card he puts in those, and he told me that he puts Matrox Parhelia 512s in them. Granted, I play games like TF2 and Portal (and the rest of the HL2 franchise) which are not the most demanding games today, but I don't think that a Parhelia could handle those very well. I may just go with a GeForce 8800GT, and look for one with a good TV-out for a client monitor.

* Provantage has the retail boxed Xeon X3230.
Provantage Reseller Rating. I've ordered from them several times in the past few years. Shipping has always been very fast for me.

The Xeon X3230 is a socket 775 CPU not one of the 771 versions. The 775 Xeons run on DDR2 or DDR3 depending on MB chipset.

* TechReport review of the RE2 750GB

* The PC Power & Cooling Non-Dell "Silencer" line has a 5 year warranty, with the Turbo-Cool line blasting in with a 7 year warranty.

* The Delta LA302R and CA302R can both be purchased for about $63 + shipping. I've bought several of these sets from Northern Arizona Wind & Sun over the past couple of years.
Your landlord may be open to installing the set if you purchase them. Installation for both takes less than one hour and is very simple.
Delta has very clear instructions even for the DIY'r.
My view is that even if they are left behind when you move, they provide good protection for a reasonable cost.

* The Parhelia's are nice cards for what they were designed for. But they aren't designed for gaming and don't come cheap.

 

[gsellis]

Also, if you are looking at Premiere, there is a Matrox option that kicks butt. But it costs most of your budget and is not a gaming card. You can see info on it at Videoguys as well as some of their DIY projects.

 

[darkfoon]

Thank you for the information, and the links.

One last question,
any suggestions for motherboards? I know the chipset/motherboard scene has changed since I last looked at them.

Also,
I think I will wait until the yorkfield xeons (nehalem 45nm) are available in january. More cache, quad-core, some execution improvements. Sounds win-win to me.

Still taking suggestions