New system build/upgrade

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sandrot

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First off - great service here, guys are really helpful and knowledgeable!


My primary PC use is trading equity futures (sadly my gaming days are long past),
and I'm looking at a midrange to high end update. Personally, I've never felt it wise to buy the absolute latest - I was more of a midrange upgrader based on value.

General wants/needs as I see:

64 bit OS (the extra memory to a number of apps) XP or Vista? FYI, alot of my apps are java based
motherboard/CPU combo (Intel vs AMD etc)?
monitors and video - currently have dual but i'd like quad. Monitor advice not necessary (have good 22") but i question whether a quad card provides value (premium priced) or fine to go with 2 cards via SLI or crossfire? and which ones?
Case is quality construction but only 450W, do i need more W??
hard drive im good

I realize that optimization is important so I'm really at a loss regarding certain combinations.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Jimmy
 
gkay09

gkay09

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Jul 28, 2008
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Give your budget range...

Just taking Mid-Range as less than $1000 and
High Range as above $1000 and less than $1500 or mayb even upto $2000

For a start,
Midrange -
CPU - Phenom II 940
GPU - 4830 2 cards
(Not in crossfire beacuse to get a quad montior setup, u shuld not crossfire...I mayb wrong though)...

High Range
CPU - core i7
GPU - same as above...

Chose 4830 because we just need a card tat supprt 2 monitors...and actually u can get even to a less powerful card like the 4670...

Give us the budget and we can suggest the best value component for tat range...
 
huron

huron

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If you aren't doing much gaming, you can certainly build pretty cheap.

I'm not sure exactly what you need, but I just build a computer for my Grandma for $250:

E5200
G31 motheboard
4GB Corsair RAM (DDR2 800)
500 GB HDD
Corsair PSU

It's a nice machine for basic tasks.

If you have money to spend, you can get a very nice machine for $800 or less. If you have more than that, check out i7 or Phenom II.

With a more concrete budget and purpose, it'll be easy to refine the scope and pick you out some parts
 
xthekidx

xthekidx

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Dec 24, 2008
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If your "gaming days are long past" you can just use onboard video and be fine for most things, unless you do video encoding or photoshop, which do benefit from a good GPU. Again as the others have said, without knowing exactly what your budget range is then its difficult to make a suggestion, but if you want a medium to higher end rig, then go for this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.165047

And if you still want the option for moderate gaming, get a discrete GPU like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102822

If the PSU came bundled with your case and it isn't like an antec or other reputable brand, then I would buy a different PSU as well, like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817702008
 
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sandrot

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Thx huron, wasn't sure how much detail to provide. I can spend $1000 or less and my main use is for trading futures, so I run a my trading application (basically a grid with live data), excel with custom calculations based onlive data, 2 charting software, on top of standard apps like outlook, IM, and web browsing.


 
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sandrot

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Thx for the links xthekidx.
Not totally ruling out gaming but wanted to mention my primary purpose - thought it might be relevant whether it is 2D or 3D
As I mentioned to others, $1000 is about the max i'm willing to lay out.

Wanted to add: I'd like to moderately improve cooling beyond the basics. Any suggestions on what to consider or definitely avoid?


 
xthekidx

xthekidx

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Dec 24, 2008
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Well ok here is what I would do if I were you:
https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=8899425
You can buy the CPU and motherboard in a combo deal and save a bundle:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.165047
Then you get $30 MIR. That should bring the total to about $1000 after shipping, if its still too much, then you can either get a cheaper PSU (the one included there is assuming you will add a second GPU later for crossfire, if gaming is not a huge concern then a downgrade to a 550w would be fine) to something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817702008&Tpk=ls-550
or you can downgrade the case to something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec%20300
either one of those changes should put it within reach for you.
 
gkay09

gkay09

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Jul 28, 2008
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Here is config, I feel will be good for you...
There will be many parts what other have suggested too, implies they are the most preferred...

1. AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor Model HDZ940XCGIBOX - Retail
2.GIGABYTE GA-MA790GP-UD4H AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

1. AMD HDZ940XCGIBOX: $225.00

2. GIGABYTE GA-MA790GP-UD4H: $138.99

Combo Discount: -$50.00
Combo Price: $313.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.165047

RAM - G Skill 2X2GB...$39.99
Free Shipping*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

CASE + PSU combo --Well actually the PSU is a overkill but the combo is a worthy buy...
The case has so many additional fans slots...will provide adequate air flow...

1. Corsair Memory, Inc. CMPSU-850TX: $129.99

2. Cooler Master RC-690-KKN1-GP: $79.99

Combo Discount: -$30.00
Combo Price: $179.98
$20.00 Mail-In Rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.176939


CPU heatsink + HDD combo(Ya I know its weird)
Both the best components...
1. XIGMATEK HDT-S1283: $36.99

2. Western Digital WD1001FALS: $119.99

Combo Discount: -$5.00
Combo Price: $151.98
$10.00 Mail-In Rebate

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.177110

First I had given the 4830 as the option, but the best option will be to go wit the 4850X2 $279.99
Free Shipping*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102809

Reasons why I chose 4850X2 :
1. Within the budget.
2. I read in a forum about a guy running 4 monitors with this easy when he is not gaming(Disabling the crossfire in CCC) and when he feels like playing, he enables it...So no hassle of using 2 seperate cards...

So the total comes to $966 without rebates...
Well within $1k...
So with the extra money buy addtional case fans...
 
xthekidx

xthekidx

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Dec 24, 2008
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That is a great build but if he needs an OS to fit in that budget you will need to cut back a little bit...
 
gkay09

gkay09

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Jul 28, 2008
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:D Thanks...
But adding an OS to the build will add about $60 more to the budget...which am sure he can adjust with ;) ...
 
S

sandrot

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Thank you very much! Last question before i order - any benefit to go to a faster RAM or is the suggested optimal for the config?


 
xthekidx

xthekidx

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Dec 24, 2008
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If you can find 1066mhz ram for the same price then you can go for it, but make sure it has decent timings. You won't see much benefit from getting faster ram so its usually not really worth it.
 
S

sandrot

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Mar 20, 2009
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gkay09 and xthekidx - extremely helpful advice, thank you.

Small issue - NewEgg is forcing me to order from newegg.ca.... I've been able to find almost everything but motherboard.

M/B - either of these?
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131368

Video card - is there a pro or con other than price to getting say one 4850x2 or 2 4850 cards?
 
gkay09

gkay09

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Jul 28, 2008
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As for the 4850X2, read my post above where I had given the reasons for going with...
"I read in a forum about a guy running 4 monitors with this easy when he is not gaming(Disabling the crossfire in CCC) and when he feels like playing, he enables it...So no hassle of using 2 separate cards... "

But if you want to go for 2 separate cards, then its fine...But go for the 1GB version as it can handle higher resolutions very well and would compliment the quad monitor setup very well...

But I would suggest you go for the 4850 X2 2GB because it is cheaper than 2 4850 1GB...
 
S

sandrot

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Mar 20, 2009
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I forgot to post a conclusion:
I went with the AMD Phenom II X4 940 black, Giga GA-MA790GP-UD4H, G Skill 4X2GB, ATI 4850 X2 2GB, Cooler Master RC-690, Corsair CMPSU-850TX
Case is exceptional value, added 4 more fans (8 total) and it is quieter than my old system LOL

One problem:
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 obstructed 2 RAM slots with this motherboard, so i sent it back and i am currently using the stock cooler - so no overclocking at the moment

VERY happy overall and thanks to gkay09 and xthekidx for their expert advice.
And Newegg customer service is outstanding - first time i've dealt with them and i will return.

thx again
 
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