[les]

I've been out of the loop for several years as far as PC hardware is concerned, so I've come to my old hangout to ask for some help. Basically I'm looking to build a new system for my wife and I to work on. I'm not in the market for a gaming machine, I just want a professional workstation for software development, editing HD videos/photoshop, and other random crap. I have a few requirements:

• Price range is $800-1000USD, preferably towards the bottom of that range.
• Capability to power a 32" monitor, flanked by two 19" monitors (desktop extensions). Monitors aren't included in my budget.
• I know I want a small(ish) solid state drive for use as my main drive, 64GB should be plenty. I'll also need a drive for storage, 500GB would be fine.
• I want a nice case, and by that I mean something that is easy to work in with nice cable management, easily accessible USB ports, and isn't noisy. Any lights or flashy design are absolute deal breakers.
• In a perfect world, I'm buying all of my parts from the same source; though multiple sources to save money is an option.
• DVD burner suits my needs, blu-ray not required. I'll also need a bay mounted flash memory reader.


It'll be a Windows 7 box for now, until Windows 8 becomes a viable option. I have no platform preferences, though I've heard that the Core i5-2500K is the optimum price/performance ratio candidate at this time. If you guys could help me out with some suggestions on parts that would suit my needs, I'd buy you all a coke. Thanks in advance.

Edit: I've had some issues in the past, so a PSU isn't an area where I'm willing to compromise. I don't need the ultimate PSU, just something rock-solid reliable, and modular connections would be a huge plus.

This post has been edited by les on Tuesday, Mar 27 2012, 03:55

[Xcommunicated]

I would suggest holding out for Ivy Bridge to launch in April to see if either the 2500K's successor, the 3570K, is a better price/performance option or if the price is reduced on the 2500K making it the better option, unless, of course, it's a system you need to have up and running in a couple of weeks.

Ivy Bridge processors
Sandy Bridge processors

I'm not too knowledgeable with PSU quality, but I got this no name PSU and it's enough to support a 2600K oc'd to 4.5ghz, a 6970 oc'd to 950/1450, 6 hdds and 1 ssd without a single bsod in the 15 months its been running. Guess I just got lucky.

But anyways, a 500W would probably be ample supply for your usage, so this Seasonic would work, plus it's modular. Here's a cheaper modular Seasonic.

[Slamman]

If you don't require Sandy Bridge or newer, buy my Biostar system, it's up and running Windows 8 Dev Preview with a 500GB drive, 4 Gigs of DDR3 and the i3 CPU Intel 550. Along with all that!, it has the ATI Radeon HD5450, running with all drivers as far as Windows 8 and the hardware I setup, asking only $300. I am out of work, of course, I need to make some money
It's a new system, truly, I set it up, ran it for only hours at a time and it's been stored since

[Stinky12]

Here's what I came up with

Intel Xeon E3 1230 @ 3.2GHz $239.99 (4c/8t)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115083
Crucial M4 64GB SSD $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820148441
Cooler Master Hyper 212+ $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16835103065
Asus P8B WS $219.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131725
Mushkin 8GB DDR3 1333 $42.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820226095
Corsair 650w $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817139020
HIS HD7750 $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814161403
Samsung F3 500GB $84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822152181
NZXT Source 210 $84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811146075
Sony DVD writer $17.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16827118067

subtotal$ 970.90

[les]

Thanks for making up that list for me! It's been a while since I've really studied parts, but I was under the impression that the xeon series was mainly for servers. Are there specific advantages to using this platform as opposed to the core i5?

[les]

I've got my eye on this mobo:

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3


Thoughts?

[Stinky12]

Xeon are designed for the 24/7/365 environment. They pass a stricter test and gets branded as Xeons. Those that didn't are binned as Core i7/i5 and so forth.
Because you use a system for professional work, I decided to go with the the Xeon E3 as it's cheaper than a Core i7 and you still
get HyperThread. In that it's a 4 core/8thread CPU, which benefits in programs like image/video editing.
The P8B WS has 2 internal USB ports so you safely store any dongle keys used for special programs.
That Asrock Z68 board is good too, but once you pick that, you have to change the CPU to a Core i5 or a Core i7.
It's said you can run a Xeon on a non-Xeon certified board as they both use the same socket 1155. This is a gamble as you won't know if it
actually works or not, if it does then you're good. If not you will get micro code errors.

Here is a comparison
http://ark.intel.com/compare/52271,52210,52214

[yojo2]

Most (if not all) LGA1156 mobos could run Xeon CPUs, I'd assume that it'd be the case with LGA1155 too

[Stinky12]

Yeah, I believe the same with 1155, but to be on the safe side OP can select a i5 or i7.
Unless he really wants a Xeon with a non tested board, he has to see if others have any success with it.

Looks like the Xeon E3 1230 is supported on that Asrock Extreme 3 Gen 3 with a bios update
http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-ASRock/Z68_Extreme3_Gen3.html

Also I've made a mistake on the build. I've selected a Xeon E3 1230 instead of 1235.
Difference between the two is one has onboard graphics and the other doesn't.
One that doesn't run at 80w, while the one that does runs at 95w and cost around $25 bucks more.

Xeon E3 1230 (no IGP/TDP: 80w $240)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115083
Xeon E3 1235 (IGP/TDP: 95w $265)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115087
http://ark.intel.com/compare/52210,52214,52272,52271

[les]

I'm looking for the best graphics card under 100 bucks that can power a triple monitor system. Any thoughts on this?

[Stinky12]

AMD graphic card starting with the HD5000 series can power up to 3 monitors, but one has to be display port.
Here's one for under $100
Asus HD6670
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814121442
For display port, you will need a monitor that has it or grab a active displayport adapter.
This allows the image to be spread across 3 screens and these guy cost around 30 bucks for single link and up to $100 for dual link.
Dual link are used to drive 30" monitors at resolutions of 2560x1600
I doubt your 32" is actually a monitor, but actually a HDTV? For that a single link should be fine as the resolution is probably 1920x1080
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814999030
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16812607011

One issue I can't confirm on is whether a Eyefinity supported card allows the use of 3 monitors for independent use,
since Eyefinity is actually a single desktop spread across the 3 screens. Maybe other here who has this setup can let you know.

This post has been edited by Stinky12 on Wednesday, Mar 28 2012, 02:00

[Slamman]

I popped into MicroCenter this past evening, wound up buying a Dell D series module battery. They got a few from parted office hardware, DVD combi drives and the battery module bays, They initially wanted $40, I paid $4 bucks today! NICE markdown. Anywho, of the Z68 boards, things like that, you're looking at $80 to $130 range for some nice modern mobos. The CPUs for the 1156s they had were all i5, selling at $200 or more! Not cheap! I nearly bought one stick of DDR3 4GB for $22, but it would have wiped me out, and I'd prefer a kit of 8GB total, two sticks, which can be had for $35 I believe, not the best memory brand, but I'm sure good enough, since I buy the cheap stuff all the time!

This might not help you, but you can buy from MicroCenter online, I get to buy from their local store here!

One of the few left around with such a nice selection. Speaking of Display Port, it's become connected with APPLE mainly, but I did see some mobos that have Display Port, HDMI and DVI, that would perhaps be preferred if the CPU GPU supports it, not sure

This post has been edited by Slamman on Wednesday, Mar 28 2012, 08:51

[Wolf68k]

One thought of what you could also do for the 3rd monitor.
Something like this AOC E2251FWU 22 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0073BOCNU/ It's an USB driven AND powered LED monitor. You only need it for additional viewing space so having 3D graphics driven to it shouldn't be that big of a deal.



They also have a nice little portable model as well that is 16in

[Slamman]

If you're not a gamer, forget overclocking, it's foolish to suggest to the average PC buyer, since it shortens the life span and it requires knowing something about it, the new DYNAMIC nature of the tech will allow things like SPEEDSTEP, the ability of the component to ramp up it's requirements under load / task

[abottig]

QUOTE (Slamman @ Wednesday, Mar 28 2012, 18:43)

If you're not a gamer, forget overclocking, it's foolish to suggest to the average PC buyer, since it shortens the life span and it requires knowing something about it, the new DYNAMIC nature of the tech will allow things like SPEEDSTEP, the ability of the component to ramp up it's requirements under load / task

If you keep your overclock within a reasonable temperature range, then it shouldn't degrade your processor at all, am I correct?

[Slamman]

There's no need to overclock unless you're performance driving your memory, video and CPU, not really one over the other, Speedstep example is more in keeping with laptops and battery power, but Speedstep still seems possible on a desktop, from settings available, not sure.
Cooling is paramount in over-clocking, yes, but if there's no recommend on what you can over-step in feeding more power, there is that chance it's just going to burn down over time, because it's being forced, like a blower added to a car's engine, or Turbo effect, hence the name being used

If you want a quad core, jump on this auction!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Core-2-Quad-Q66...=item231ba10d17

This post has been edited by Slamman on Thursday, Mar 29 2012, 04:18

[les]

QUOTE (Slamman @ Wednesday, Mar 28 2012, 22:43)

If you're not a gamer, forget overclocking, it's foolish to suggest to the average PC buyer, since it shortens the life span and it requires knowing something about it, the new DYNAMIC nature of the tech will allow things like SPEEDSTEP, the ability of the component to ramp up it's requirements under load / task

I'm only out of the loop on the newest parts, not incompetent. I used to be into overclocking, even pin modded a t-bred 1700+ back in the day. I'm not even sure why you're talking about it.

[Slamman]

Never did I say you were incompetent, buddy, I believe if your plan is a machine for a non-gamer, it makes sense that you don't need that type of build, that's what my point centers around

[les]

QUOTE (Slamman @ Friday, Mar 30 2012, 01:27)

Never did I say you were incompetent, buddy, I believe if your plan is a machine for a non-gamer, it makes sense that you don't need that type of build, that's what my point centers around

Gamers aren't the only people who need performance. I think I've got my setup, I decided to go with the i5 in lieu of the xeon; seems that the i5 will suit me alright, especially when OC'd. I don't really want to spend the extra cash in that particular area of my build. What do you guys think, would you switch anything out for something else?

Newegg wishlist

[YankeesPwnMets]

Ignore Slamman. He has no damn clue what he is talking about.