Trying to build a 6-screen system - please critique my shopping list!

[MazdaMP]

Hello!

Trying to build a 6-screen system, mainly for trading and office work. I don't really play games on the PC.
Please critique my shopping list from Newegg and let me know what I am missing / not getting good enough parts or spending too much on something that won't be used. Are these parts even compatible (I used to assemble my own PCs - but that was ~8 years ago)
I deliberately left the prices in here, so if something seems 'way' overpriced (i did some eBay comparisons and everything looks OK) please let me know....

Thanks a lot!

=======================================================
Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price

RAIDMAX Tornado ATX-238WY Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate
$41.99

HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000 HDS721075KLA330 (0A35154) 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$89.99

Foxconn A79A-S AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard
$60.00 Mail-in Rebate
$164.99

AVerMedia AVerTVHD Volar (A868R) 7 95522 96074 0 USB 2.0 Interface
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$39.99

Galaxy 95TFF8HUFEXX GeForce 9500 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 SLI Supported Video Card
$50.00 Mail-in Rebate

$155.98
($77.99 each)

Galaxy 95TFE8HUFEXX GeForce 9500 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$56.99

XIGMATEK MC NRP-MC751 750W ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V Ver. 2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
$60.00 Mail-in Rebate
$124.99

CORSAIR Dominator 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-8500C5D
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate
$45.00

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK
$54.99

AMD Phenom 9600 Agena 2.3GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Quad-Core Processor Model HD960ZWCGDBOX
$119.99

ASUS Triton 85 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler
$15.00 Mail-in Rebate
$56.99

=====================================================

Subtotal: $951.89 - $10 in Promo Codes +$30 for shipping, so $972 out the door.
there is also a total of $325 in MIRs, so after shipping i'm looking at around $645 all-in. Sounds fair?

Especially concerned about the Power Supply / Case / video cards - never installed a PCI-e card before ...

thanks for all of your help!!!

 

[DSF]

Installing a PCI-e card isn't any different than installing any other expansion card. You carefully push it into the slot. (Yeah, yeah, yeah, let me stop you all there and say it for you: that's what she said...)

How CPU-intensive are the applications you use? There are Intel processors that are significantly faster than that Phenom, although they are more expensive.

Are you planning to overclock? If not, there's no reason for a $50 CPU cooler. Also, your motherboard will come with an ATA cable and two SATA cables.

 

[MazdaMP]

Originally posted by: DSF
Installing a PCI-e card isn't any different than installing any other expansion card. You carefully push it into the slot. (Yeah, yeah, yeah, let me stop you all there and say it for you: that's what she said...)

How CPU-intensive are the applications you use? There are Intel processors that are significantly faster than that Phenom, although they are more expensive.

Are you planning to overclock? If not, there's no reason for a $50 CPU cooler. Also, your motherboard will come with an ATA cable and two SATA cables.

thanks for the response! what cooler would you suggest? most of them do not state they are compatible with a Phenom...
there won't be overclocking - i'll be glad if it boots up.

also replaced the MB with a Foxconn board, any opinion on this?

thanks a lot!!!

 

[MazdaMP]

oh, took out the cables, also. thanks!

don't think i need too much CPU power, i have an Intel P4 right now and it runs pretty good. only reason to upgrade is the additional 3 screens.

 

[tynopik]

Originally posted by: MazdaMP
what cooler would you suggest?

the one that comes with the cpu

if you look at the specs, it says "Heatsink and Fan included"

also, what OS are you running?

if it's not 64-bit there's no need for 6GB ram . . .

 

[MazdaMP]

Originally posted by: tynopik

Originally posted by: MazdaMP
what cooler would you suggest?

the one that comes with the cpu

if you look at the specs, it says "Heatsink and Fan included"

also, what OS are you running?

if it's not 64-bit there's no need for 6GB ram . . .

re: the cooler - do i feel stupid right now....
i was thinking about Vista 64-bit, reviews as to its stability seem to be getting better and i have a not-for-resale license i got for some survey.

thanks for your help!

 

[jae]

RAIDMAX Tornado ATX-238WY Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate $41.99

AVerMedia AVerTVHD Volar (A868R) 7 95522 96074 0 USB 2.0 Interface - Retail
-$30.00 Instant
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate $69.99
$39.99

(2) EVGA 256-P2-N751-TR GeForce 8600 GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
$40.00 Mail-in Rebate $159.98
($79.99 each)

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
-$10.00 Instant
-$30.00 Combo

$20.00 Mail-in Rebate $154.98
$114.98

EVGA 256-P2-N751-TR GeForce 8600 GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4 - Retail
-$5.00 Instant
-$9.99 Combo

$40.00 Mail-in Rebate
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate $124.98
$109.99

EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813188024

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail
-$50.00 Combo

$30.00 Mail-in Rebate $402.98
$352.98

Subtotal: $819.91
Zip Code: 60411
UPS Guaranteed 3 Day Service -- $11.43

Don't know where you at in Chicago, so this is it shipped to Chicago Heights. Should be about the same. If you want Quad-Core there is also a combo deal with the same motherboard and q8200 for $2 dollars more. The q8200 has 2 extra cores but the e8500 is clocked faster.

$230 in MIR. $819-230=$589 A/R - $10 Promo code

 

[MazdaMP]

Originally posted by: jae
...

amazing! thank you!!!
will get the quad-core version of what you posted...

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: MazdaMP

Originally posted by: jae
...

amazing! thank you!!!
will get the quad-core version of what you posted...

If your applications are running pretty well on a P4 why the spend extra money on a quad core?

Edit: You realize quad cores aren't automatically twice as fast as dual cores, right?

 

[MazdaMP]

Originally posted by: DSF

Originally posted by: MazdaMP

Originally posted by: jae
...

amazing! thank you!!!
will get the quad-core version of what you posted...

If your applications are running pretty well on a P4 why the spend extra money on a quad core?

Edit: You realize quad cores aren't automatically twice as fast as dual cores, right?

good point, so don't spend the extra $2?
i actually found the video cards at Tigerdirect *shudder* for $45 a piece after rebate.

 

[jae]

no do not spend the extra 2 bucks, the e8500 should be more than enough. i just wanted to make sure to tell u about the option. The only thing I would personally change in the build is the case.

 

[heyheybooboo]

You may run dual monitors on the IGP of the Asus M3A78-T 790gx w/sb750. One via d-sub and one via digital. There are 3 PCIe x16 slots available, meaning theoretically, I guess, you could run up to 8 monitors including the IGP.

There are a bunch of motherboard/cpu combo deals available as low as $239 or you could buy an X2 5050e 45w for $63 and wait for Deneb next month (or Spring, when the price comes down).

It would help if you gave a brief description of how you hope to work between the displays, your desktop settings and any experience you may have with software such as Ultramon, Hydravision or nView.

Newer video cards that may be suitable are passively cooled and some consume less than 25w (roughly half of the 8600gt). Even with 'all' the video cards your power consumption should be no where near 750w (since you are effectively running ""2D"" graphic functions you won't even consume half of that ...).

What screen resolution(s) will you be running?

 

[jae]

cooler master 590 is nice..

 

[MazdaMP]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
You may run dual monitors on the IGP of the Asus M3A78-T 790gx w/sb750. One via d-sub and one via digital. There are 3 PCIe x16 slots available, meaning theoretically, I guess, you could run up to 8 monitors including the IGP.

There are a bunch of motherboard/cpu combo deals available as low as $239 or you could buy an X2 5050e 45w for $63 and wait for Deneb next month (or Spring, when the price comes down).

It would help if you gave a brief description of how you hope to work between the displays, your desktop settings and any experience you may have with software such as Ultramon, Hydravision or nView.

Newer video cards that may be suitable are passively cooled and some consume less than 25w (roughly half of the 8600gt). Even with 'all' the video cards your power consumption should be no where near 750w (since you are effectively running ""2D"" graphic functions you won't even consume half of that ...).

What screen resolution(s) will you be running?

I already have the monitors, 6 Samsung 923NW running at 1440*900, 60Hz.
the reasons for the additional screens is simply the fact that i run out of desktop space all the time and it seems like a good excuse to update the PC altogether.

on the PS issue, how's the PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W?
In the other thread people seem to like PCP&C units, this one seems to have enough power (thanks heyheybooboo) and right now runs $60 after rebate...

thank's to jae's advice i switched over to the recommended EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 board. got the combo deal with a 250gb HD (small, will be expanded eventually) and the CPU off of Amazon (got one of those 25% coupons from the Amex Wishlist)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.145140
note, btw, that the HD is effectively "free" since the combo is the same price as the MB....

any opinion on Geforce 9400GT vs GeFroce 8600GT? the 9400GT has 1GB of RAM (about as much as my current PC ;-) ) and costs the same
e.g.: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130390


right now, everything incl. shipping, an additional DVD burner and tax is coming to $655.

thanks everyone!!!

 

[heyheybooboo]

Send back the motherboard.

Good choice on the PSU - should be able to go as low as 500w if you wish.

Interesting question on the video ram - since you will be dealing in 2D at 1440x900 I think 512mb ram 128-bit should be fine

 

[MazdaMP]

haven't actually placed the order yet, so no need to send it back.

so i'll get the ASUS M3A78-T. i guess that way i only need 2 video cards since one's built in.
thanks!!

 

[heyheybooboo]

The Asus 790gx will serve you well and consume half the wattage (if not more) of the evga 780i.

If you want to stick with the Intel CPU take a look at the Foxconn ELA LGA 775 Intel P45.

 

[MazdaMP]

thanks for your help!
i'll post the final order here tomorrow before i place it (going out now...)