Sandy Bridge Critique

[kaztenburg]

Hey Guys, heres my build so far please tell me your opinion if you think im screwing up somewhere, i do not game so graphics do not matter to me, also i do not plan on overclocking, I just need a machine that i can use for practice that will run hyper v thanks for reading and thanks for any comments.


Approximate Purchase Date: 4/22/2011

Budget Range: (e.g.: 600-800) $800

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Server 2008 with hyper V i need to run at least 3 virtual machines, windows 7 another server 2008 and ubuntu going to use this for practice

Parts Not Required: :keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, and case

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: : newegg.com

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: I am definitely going with the i7 sandy bridge and i have to go with asus for the motherboard no other preferences

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1600x1200

Additional Comments: No gaming

Build

Motherboard: ASUS P8H67-M EVO (REV 3.0)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131710

CPU: Intel Core i7-2600 Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115071

Ram: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231312

Hard drive: Seagate Barracuda ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s Quantity - 2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701

Power Supply: SILVERSTONE ST40F-ES 400W ATX 12V 2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256060

DVD: LG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD±RW SuperMulti Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136216

Total Cost = $803.10

 

[sadams04]

HD - Swap that Seagate with a Samsung F3.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&cm_re=samsung_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product

PSU - Without a GPU you are on the right track with a smaller PSU, but I would still stick with an Antec or Corsair.
Corsair Builders Series 430w => http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017&cm_re=corsair_power_supply-_-17-139-017-_-Product
..or if you want to go a little larger...
Corsair Builders Series 600w =>http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139019&cm_re=corsair_power_supply-_-17-139-019-_-Product

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

Overall it looks like you are on the right track, it sounds like the Intel® Core™ I7 2600 is the right processor for you or maybe one of the new Intel® Xeon® E3-1200’s for a server environment. I like the advice on the power supply, Antec has always done well for me.

Christian Wood

 

[kaztenburg]

HD - Swap that Seagate with a Samsung F3.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&cm_re=samsung_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product

PSU - Without a GPU you are on the right track with a smaller PSU, but I would still stick with an Antec or Corsair.
Corsair Builders Series 430w => http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017&cm_re=corsair_power_supply-_-17-139-017-_-Product
..or if you want to go a little larger...
Corsair Builders Series 600w =>http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139019&cm_re=corsair_power_supply-_-17-139-019-_-Product

Hey, Sadams04 thank you for the reply, I think I am going with your power supply thanks for the help. I had the hardest time finding a 400w power supply with a 24 pin connector at a low price, one question though why do you like the Samsung better than the Seagate? Especially since the Seagate is 6.0Gb/s and the Samsung is only 3.

 

[kaztenburg]

Overall it looks like you are on the right track, it sounds like the Intel® Core™ I7 2600 is the right processor for you or maybe one of the new Intel® Xeon® E3-1200’s for a server environment. I like the advice on the power supply, Antec has always done well for me.

Christian Wood

Hello Intel Enthusiast thank you for reading and thanks for the reply, i started to look into building my own server and found that it was not in my price range, I think the I7 will work for me though at least i hope.

 

[WWBD]

I too am interested in why the spinpoint over the barracuda. I know the spinpoint is a perennial favorite around here and a great drive, but doesn't the advent of these 6.0 gb/s drives sort of leave it in the dust?

 

[sadams04]

Mechanical spindle drives won't even max out a SATA 1 (1.5Gb/s) connection. In order to utilize the higher bandwith of SATA 2 (3Gb/s) or SATA 3 (6Gb/s) you will need to look toward an SSD. The Samsung F3 is a fast drive, reliable drive that will give great performance.

 

[kaztenburg]

Mechanical spindle drives won't even max out a SATA 1 (1.5Gb/s) connection. In order to utilize the higher bandwith of SATA 2 (3Gb/s) or SATA 3 (6Gb/s) you will need to look toward an SSD. The Samsung F3 is a fast drive, reliable drive that will give great performance.

Thanks again for the reply and the info i am googling more info on the 6.0 Gb/s but it looks like im going to go with both of your recommendations thank you i really appreciate it.

 

[kaztenburg]

Best answer selected by kaztenburg.