Need to Build a Multi-Monitor Stock Trading PC

[nlhaines]

Approximate Purchase Date: Next week or so
Budget Range: $1200-$1800
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Stock Trading, Streaming videos, Surfing web
Parts Not Required: (e.g.: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS): OS
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: no loyalty, using Newegg to find components
Country of Origin: USA
Parts Preferences: AMD chip for value
Overclocking: Maybe some very modest OCing if the configuration lends itself to it.
SLI or Crossfire: No, but maybe 2 graphics cards
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
Additional Comments: Needs to be stable and fast. I'm not sure if I should go with 4 cores or 6.

Case and PSU: Antec EarthWatts EA750 750W, Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX - $125
Motherboard: ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G - $120
CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition - $266
Video Card: PowerColor AX5770 1GBD5-5D Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 CrossFireX Support Eyefinity 5 - $220
Memory (4): Kingston 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) $316
Hard Drive (2): Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s $180
Monitor (3) Acer G235HAbd 23'' WideScreen LCD monitor $480

 

[ScrewySqrl]

ok, what the 1600 (OC) means is it will run DDR3-1600, but you have to manually enter it in the BIOS, just like you were overclocking the memory.

It doesn't mean you actually overclock it, just that you have to manually enter the memory speed and timing.

If that worries you, just get the 1333. there's very little performance difference between the two speeds

 

[Proximon]

While the MB BIOS is the place where you control the memory, the memory controller, that is the part of your hardware that interacts with the memory, is built in to the CPU.
So, the CPU is certified for 1333Mhz, anything more is considered overclocking.
The board is capable of supporting a wide range of speeds probably. It can supply stable voltages to the memory, and can tell the CPU to run the memory at xxxxMhz.

Hope that clarifies a bit.

The PSU is a nice find. It has 9 SATA connectors and is modular. It was well reviewed.

I want to caution folks that you must be very careful when dealing with Cooler Master or Thermaltake PSUs. They can and will switch models without changing names... make very sure that ALL the number and names line up with the reviewed unit exactly.

 

[nlhaines]

You guys have been incredibly helpful. I'm going to go with the 1333 Memory and save the $40 unless someone on the stock-trading forum objects. That puts my total cost at about $1590, and I'm really happy with the components.

 

[nlhaines]

As of now I just need to select a good UPS. Anybody have any suggestions for that? I have no idea what to look for.

 

[Proximon]

The better ones have - well, let me find the right article for you.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/284128-28-tomshardware

I know that's a lot. The bottom line is that power supplies and UPSs don't always get along, and the best bet is to get a pure sine wave type, but they cost a bit more.

If you don't actually have to rely on it frequently, stepped sine is probably fine.
This one should do it:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842111027&cm_re=UPS-_-42-111-027-_-Product