New Build Advice - Desktop for number crunching - Help!

[Hoobi]

[PCPartPicker part list](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/X2sHD3) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/X2sHD3/by_merchant/)
Hi everyone,

I need some help with my first build please!! I am a grad student that does part time work at home as a data analyst. My work mainly uses statistical programs such as SAS v9.3, R/Rstudio for data analysis (ie lots of number crunching!). Some of the data files I use are very large (5-10 GB). I will not be using the PC for games. I also use ArcGIS, a spatial data analytic software/mapping software that uses raster and vector data. I am building my own PC because all the pre-built PCs are too expensive and I think I can build something to match my own needs. I don't have a lot of money. I live in Australia where everything is a bit more expensive. my budget is approx $US 1000 -1200 (~AUD 1300-1500). Below is the best setup I could come up with (best performance for $). I went with the 4790K because a lot of statistical software are not optimized for multicore so thought best single core speed maybe important. May overclock in future (hence the Z MB) - not sure though if this is worth it though. Picked the K620 graphics card as this is a workstation card (albeit entry level). I thought this may help with the ArcGIS although I am not sure how much better it is over the in built graphics. I don't really want AMD CPUs. I have monitor/keyboard/OS software etc etc.

The specific questions that I have are:
(1) Is this a reasonable setup for the tasks that I have outlined above?
(2) Is there anything I can modify/add to improve performance without a substantial cost?
(3) Is there anything here that is overkill and I can get rid off ?

I am no computer expert and I want to get this right cause I don't really have much money to spend. -any help/advice much appreciated !!


Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i74790k) | $430.00
**Motherboard** | [ASRock Z97M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z97mpro4) | $139.00 @ CPL Online
**Memory** | [Kingston Fury Black Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-memory-hx318c10fbk216) | $140.00
**Storage** | [Crucial MX200 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-internal-hard-drive-ct250mx200ssd1) | $140.00
**Storage** | [Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001) | $101.00 @ Centre Com
**Video Card** | [PNY Quadro K620 2GB Video Card](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/pny-video-card-vcqk620pb) | $210.00
**Case** | [Thermaltake Versa H25 ATX Mid Tower Case](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/thermaltake-case-ca1c200m1nn00) | $53.00 @ Umart
**Power Supply** | [EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-100w10430kr) | $55.00
| *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |
| **Total** | **$1268.00** AUD (~$1050 USD)
| Generated by [PCPartPicker](http://pcpartpicker.com) 2015-05-02 22:07 AEST+1000 |

 

[kanewolf]

Your situation is a good case for a i7-5820K -- 6 cores , 12 threads and quad channel DDR4. The memory bandwidth will benefit all the applications you mentioned. You probably want 32GB since you are quad channel.

 

[kedwa30]

I'm no expert, but I was under the impression that for number crunching, a 'simple instruction set' CPU was superior than a CIS CPU. For example, the GPU is SIS and is used for number crunching by specialized software. I don't know anything about the software you use, but for Bitcoin mining, as an example, specialized number crunching clusters were designed. Maybe you would do better to get one of those rigs? If your software is capable of taking advantage of the GPU, then you would want to get the best for that purpose.
You might want to get several single board computers such as the Odroid and network them to create a cluster, but only if you have the software to be able to break the problem up into pieces for distribution to the cluster.

 

[no-public-name]

using an i7-5820K is insane ( approx 10 000$)

i7 2600k will serve as well and costs even half the price of a i7 4790k.
in addition to this, buy an moderate ASUS board with an adequate socket for i7 2600k.
In case you will use a gpu for crunching, make sure it has an pci-e *16 slot.
it also should be able to clock the the cpu with 4.6ghz.
(i run an maximus x-treme Z)
if you watch for offers, you will get a desktop cruncher for 400€.

 

[kanewolf]

using an i7-5820K is insane ( approx 10 000$)

i7 2600k will serve as well and costs even half the price of a i7 4790k.
in addition to this, buy an moderate ASUS board with an adequate socket for i7 2600k.
In case you will use a gpu for crunching, make sure it has an pci-e *16 slot.
it also should be able to clock the the cpu with 4.6ghz.
(i run an maximus x-treme Z)
if you watch for offers, you will get a desktop cruncher for 400€.

I'll assume you made a typo and meant $1000 ... But a 5820K is under $400.

Since this is an old thread and the original OP hasn't been back it is probably a mute point anyway....