High-End personal Workstation Guidance

[Alvin Smith]

Well ... It looks like the world might survive, without me, after all .... I can R.I.P.

X58 (any proc) ... GTX570... 12GB-DDR3 (any speed) ... 650~750 Watts ... Boot SSD ... yer golden.

.
Required ... Hyper 212+ cooler ... SATA DVDR ... Mass Storage (of choice ... watch pwr reqs)

Optional ... RevoDrive ... Blackmagic Intensity or Shuttle ... x1 Firewire, etc.

 

[ryvin]

Wow love the help! I'm going to read through these a while and figure out what i'm doing. There IS a micro center from me about 40 min away....near my gf.....2 birds?? lol

I didn't know that Intel wasn't making the sandy bridge as a work center chip and were intending it more for media usage...it kinda makes sense now though as i look at benchmarks.

As for time frame...can't wait until lga 2011 - hoping to find WORK by then lol so looks like im leaning x58

the triple channel memory i knew about from a previous build i was looking at before i heard about sandy bridge.

This build seems a lot better to me since i can get a better video card then i could afford trying to buy a 2600k...makes me feel like the whole machine is well rounded instead of bottle necked at the GPU.

Is my 650w power supply going to be able to handle these thing? I know you said 650 - 750 Alvin but you having me at the lower end worries me a little lol. I know it probably wont when i get a second card but i wont be doing that anytime soon (job first money later lol)

WISH i could get a SSD right now but i may be able to a little down the road....birthday is coming lol

For mass storage power requirements anything specific you think i should look out for? How can i tell when im running outta juice man?

Also when you say x58 (any proc) you mean pretty much any x58 board right? lol just wanna be sure....would hate to miss the mark.

 

[Alvin Smith]

I recommend ASUS or Gigabyte (possibly MSI or ASROCK) ... but ONLY THOSE mobos.
Should be X58 based and should sport SATA3/USB3 ...
.... LANE ALLOCATION "configs/options" are the MAIN BIG DEAL, when choosing mobos.

Look at those builds that I approved (Like Illy's) ... 8x8? ... or 16x16 (SLI) ... ? ? ?

... 750 Watts SHOULD BE PLENTY ! ... If you expect to SLI Quadros, then, mabe 950W.

750Watts will handle one 570 plus a hefty internal RAID and 12GB, with overhead, to spare.

Go to the PSU section, at newegg and USE THE EGGY POWER CALCULATOR,
(located half way down the page, on the LEFT SIDE-BAR) .

BE SURE TO POPULATE THE "MULTIPLES FIELDS" (FAR RIGHT) CORRECTLY !!

http://c1.neweggimages.com/BizIntell/tool/psucalc/index.html?cm_sp=Subcat58_PowerSupply_left-_-PowerSupplyFinder022610-_-http%3a%2f%2fpromotions.newegg.com%2fproductfinders%2fpowersupply.jpg

 

[ryvin]

So here is what im looking at now

CPU - i7 950 from microcenter $200
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0346210

CPU FAN - Hyper 212+ $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

GPU - ASUS ENGTX570/2DI/1280MD5 GeForce GTX 570 $350
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121412

OPTICAL - ASUS Black 24X DVD+R $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

MOTHER BOARD - ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366 $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131665

MEMORY

im trying to decide between this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231356

and this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226096

Neither one is on the certified memory list for the board though...the gskill came close but not exact match

Also i may have to drop down to the 560ti GPU in case i cant afford the extra $100 for a 570

so will this be okay if i have to?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130604

Already have:

CASE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

MONITOR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059

TIM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150080

HDD #1 for now
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136544

 

[ryvin]

lol alvin i have 650W don't know if that was just a typo to me?

Total is running right at around 1200 with the 560ti card...just an fyi to anyone interested

 

[Alvin Smith]

So ... Looking at the power calculator ...

With TWO 570s, FOUR RAPTORS, and 12GB RAM on an Enthusiast mobo ... ? ? ?

... A Sesonic-X or any corsair, of 950Watts, should be plenty (*MAX* config ! ).

Power requirements are trending, RAPIDLY DOWNWARD ... anything over 950Watts would be wasteful, for any sort of pro-graphics workstation.

 

[iliya77]

The question of SLI keeps coming up. Can I give my opinion? For the cost of another high-end video card, you could buy a nice 24" IPS-type Dell or HP monitor, which assuming you don't already have at least one already, is something it seems to me would be way more useful. These are nice 1920x1200 monitors that, for workstation use, are a big improvement over the cheaper TN type of monitor.

In addition, they are going to continue to be useful over the life of many computer up-grades. You'll have them for a long time. Even if you upgrade to a 30" someday, I guarantee you'll still keep your 24's.

 

[ryvin]

Cant afford a 950W right now, going to return my 650W and get a 750W to keep me running for now. When it comes time to go SLI ill have the extra cash for a new Power supply as well. But for now assuming 2 hard drives, 1 dvd drive, and all the ram i can get a 750W should be great.

Going to get the 560ti to keep cost down, i'll make due with it.

Going to go ahead and order this stuff in a few days now, and pick up the cpu by hand at micro center

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP! This is an amazing build and i can't wait to get my hands on it!

 

[Alvin Smith]

I *LOVE* that mobo ! ... PURRR-Fect ! Great price ... great Slot Allocations/Layout.

Wanted to show you this, as one "place-holder" option ...

You have to put it in your cart, to see that it is $190 USD ...

PNY XLR8 VCGGTX4601XPB-OC GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) OC 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133326&cm_re=460-_-14-133-326-_-Product

The 560ti is just great, too ... the 460 ain't bad and would mean less initial outlay/cost and would still give option to SLI ... or ... "chuck it".

... The 460 can (also) be used (now or later), in NON-SLI mode, as a 2nd gpu, to run a 3rd and 4rth display.

********************************

WE CAN DO BETTER, ON THE SYSTEM RAM ... LEMME LOOK ...

******************************

 

[Alvin Smith]

**********
Just got back, from checking the RAM ... I would go with the Mushkin, that you originally picked. (but the ripjaws looks kewel ... so ... $5 more? ... nahww ! ).
**********

 

[Alvin Smith]

While the HAF-922 is certainly worth the extra $30 ...
... The Antec 300 ILLUSION case, comes with fans and is quite adequate ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066&Tpk=antec%20illusion

 

[ryvin]

Just got off chat with newegg, got an RMA with NO RESTOCKING FEE for my PSU! God i love newegg.

Picking up a 750 Corsair PSU in its place

Going with the Gskill Ram

Already picked up the HAF 922 a few days back

Going to go with your new option of a GPU alvin, then SLI later with another

 

[ryvin]

ill post my final build here in a few after i hit checkout

 

[jfklimek]

I say go big on one card now then sli later if you need it.

He has $800 to spend now. 'going big' is a luxury not everyone can afford.

 

[ryvin]

wow it really makes the heart pound when you hit that submit button!

Okay final build!

CPU - i7 950 - $215 from micro-center

CPU Fan - Cooler Master H212 - $30

CASE - HAF 922 - $100

PSU - Corsair 750W - $90

Motherboard - Asus Sabertooth x58 - $200

RAM - Gskill - Ripjaw - 12G (4x3) DDR3 1333 - $135

GPU - GeForce GTX 460 1gig mem - $170

OPTICAL - ASUS Black 24X DVD - $20

HDD - WD 640GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb - $60

MONITOR - ASUS VH236H Black 23" 2ms - $160

Total Price: $1,180.00

THANK YOU for all your help! Im crazy excited!

 

[ryvin]

Did i forget anything? Cables? Cords?

I do have TIM so thats okay

 

[jfklimek]

GPU - GeForce GTX 460 1gig mem - $170

I don't think this is the right decision. I think the GTX 560 ti is much better in terms of power consumption, heat,and noise w/o needing an aftermarket fan (I think the gtx 400(s) need alternative fans like the Thermalright Shaman, but it might only be the 470.
Read this article and decide.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-gtx-560-ti-gf114,2845.html

I can't say anything about the cords and auxillary stuff.
Everything else looks alright in my book, but i'm just PUFFin' away, don't take my word for it. Alvin, approve?

 

[ryvin]

Already pulled the trigger on the order, so hopefully he does lol

 

[iliya77]

I don't think this is the right decision.

They already resolved this. The super-affordable 460 will/can be used at some point later to run monitors 3 and 4 if a more powerful GPU becomes necessary.

 

[Alvin Smith]

Even if he chucks the 460, it will get him at least one year, down the road.

The cost of any power supply upgrades (or not!) will (at some point), come to bear .

... The cost of the GPU solution (initial and upgrade vs. SLI) cannot be viewed seperately from the initial and sustained power (supply plus consumption) costs.

... HVAC bills (household BTUs) even play into that "sustained operational" cost.

... That 460 shaves a good $70 off the cost ...

... You will notice that I did not push a boot SSD, either ... I really should have.

... the OP was joking about selling blood ... but I took that to mean that budget was "prime".

... He prolly shoulda gone with my "Developing World AMD/AM3 Rig".

... I will certify it ... ** IF ** he includes a Kingston 64GB Boot/OS SSD.
... (He would also need a ~$4 SATA Data cable) and some pressure tape, to mount it.

= pfffft! =

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvnMI7uddmQ

 

[ryvin]

I actually used to sell my plasma a few years back...i recommend no one ever doing it..

and the SSD is a distinct possibility, just a few months from now. It would be too much to spend all at once. I get a large sum of cash that i need to use to pay every cost for the next 6 months...im rather good at this...so i am careful about money usage.

Found the info i needed about what comes with the motherboard....i'm so pleased

 

[ryvin]

I really do appreciate the help over these last 24 hours...thank you very much. Its rare to come across knowledgeable AND helpful people these days.

 

[Alvin Smith]

I really do appreciate the help over these last 24 hours...thank you very much. Its rare to come across knowledgeable AND helpful people these days.

Well ... ya know ... "later" is gonna be too late ...

... My whole point, about pushing you to do the SSD (NOW) is so that, you can "organically" install/tweak the OS, Drivers, Apps, Service Rollups and Security updates ... Screen layouts ... Color Schemes, etc., etc., etc ...

... Just one time ... and have that environent last.

Nothing to do with speed ... EVERYTHING to do with environmental integrity.

Your call ... I (personally) would head straight down to the plasma bank.
(or ... wait and save up the extra $124).

Don't be penny-wise and pound-foolish !

.

 

[Alvin Smith]

*****************************************************

If you have ANY technical issues, be sure to consult this TS guide ...
... Everything that I know (and several other techs) is in it ...
It *DOES* solve over 90% of probs with any new build (or failure).
... KEEP IT HANDY !!
...READ *BEFORE* BUILDING !
***********************************
SPECIAL THANKS (AND CREDIT) TO "SHORT-STUFF"
(Author/compiler/maintainer/hero) !!


PERFORM THESE STEPS before posting about boot/no video problems!

"System won't boot" and "no video output" checklist


This checklist is a compilation of troubleshooting ideas from many forum members. It's very important to actually perform every step in the checklist if you want to effectively troubleshoot your problem.

1. Did you carefully read the motherboard owners manual?

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-boot-video-problems

***************************************************

Also, this is our builder's guide ...

AGAIN ... READ *BEFORE* BUILDING !

Step-by-Step Guide to Building a PC
Last Updated on November 6, 2010

This thread is to provide a step-by-step guide to how to build a PC. These are the general steps required in building a PC, which can be performed what sequence you feel best fits your needs.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/274745-31-step-step-guide-building

 

[Alvin Smith]

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I am just guessing that this would apply to graphics pros using Sandy Bridge Notebooks.
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Adobe* Premiere® Pro/Premiere® Elements Encoder plug-in using Intel® Media SDK and Intel® Quick Sync Video Technology

http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/adobe-premiere-propremiere-elements-encoder-plug-in-using-intel-media-sdk-and-intel-quick-sync-video-technology/