New über PC suggestions

A

Aankhen

Geek Trainee
I'm finally getting a chance to go all out and get the PC of my dreams (some time in the next month). I need advice on both the components and where to buy it from (I'd like to build it myself but I don't really have the time for that nowadays). Money is not a problem, but I do want to stay within reasonable limits because I can't justify buying a terabyte worth of SSDs, for example, to myself.

This computer will be used for everything short of media editing. I do a lot of programming (including debugging with virtualized OSes under VMWare), surfing the 'Net and gaming, primarily.

Here's what I've thought of so far:

CPU: Core 2 Quad QX6800
Motherboard: ???
RAM: 4 GB, ???
Graphics card: GeForce 8800 Ultra
HDD: 2 × Seagate Cheetah 15K.5 300 GB (SAS) in RAID 1+0
N* × Hitachi 7K1000 in RAID 5
SAS/RAID card: Broadcom BCM8603
Optical drive: Plextor PX-755SA (SATA)
Keyboard: Logitech Media Keyboard Elite**
Mouse: Logitech MX518**
Speakers: Logitech Z-2300**
Case: ???
Power Supply: ???
Display: 24", ???

* I want to fill up every remaining bay in the case with these drives.
** I already have these components.

So, these are the things I have no clue about:
  • A motherboard
  • RAM
  • Case
  • Power supply
  • Which 24" monitor to buy
And, of course, if you have any suggestions about the other components, I'd be happy to hear them. :) SLi is out of the question for me as something about it bugs me.

I'm going to be running Windows XP for now, and I've heard that if you have 4 GB of RAM, the OS reserves 1 GB; is this true? Should I go with 3 GB instead?

The Broadcom SAS/RAID-on-a-chip is the only one I know of, so if you know of a better one, do tell!

Finally, I don't know where to buy this from. I want it custom-built to be as quiet as possible. As I said, money is not a problem.

Thanks in advance!
 
For a motherboard, this one looks like a very good high end one: Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-N680SLI-DQ6 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

The motherboard has built on SATA RAID controllers, so you may not need the RAID card.

Your video card looks like it will handle anything you can throw at it for the time being.

As for your power supply, you're gonna want a hefty high quality one. This one looks ok for your needs: Newegg.com - FSP Group (Fortron Source) CB700-60THNX3 700W(400W+300W) ATX-GPU POWER COMBO - Retail

As for the case here's a suggestion, but by no means decide finally on it. Antec.com - Performance One The case comes with antec's own power supply, which are generally very good and you won't need to buy the other one if you get this case. Pricey though, at $499.
 
Addis said:
For a motherboard, this one looks like a very good high end one: Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-N680SLI-DQ6 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
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Yes, that does look good. :)
The motherboard has built on SATA RAID controllers, so you may not need the RAID card.
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The card is actually a combination SAS and RAID card, for the Cheetah drives.
Your video card looks like it will handle anything you can throw at it for the time being.
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Oh, I have no doubts about that. ;)
As for your power supply, you're gonna want a hefty high quality one. This one looks ok for your needs: Newegg.com - FSP Group (Fortron Source) CB700-60THNX3 700W(400W+300W) ATX-GPU POWER COMBO - Retail
Click to expand...
Hmm, would that be enough for two Cheetah disks, 6–8 Hitachi 1 TB disks, a GeForce 8800 Ultra, and a Core 2 Quad?
As for the case here's a suggestion, but by no means decide finally on it. Antec.com - Performance One The case comes with antec's own power supply, which are generally very good and you won't need to buy the other one if you get this case. Pricey though, at $499.
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That seems appropriate, especially with the dual power supplies for a total of 1200W, as long as it fits my 8800 along with eight hard disks (of which two would be placed in the 5.25" bays using convertors, I suppose).

Thanks for the suggestions. :)

EDIT:
So, after some more research…

The Broadcom chip I was looking at doesn't appear to be available at retail. It's more of a system builder thing.

I'm going to put in a Creative X-Fi Elite, and I want a pair of 2.1 speakers to match it. Nominations? :)
 
I would not botherd getting the 8800Ultra, its not worth the extra cost over an 8800GTX. Also if possible get a Logitech Z5500 over the Z2300.

Make sure the 8800 fits, there like 10.5"
 
The Fortron is a good choice.

You also may want to consider the Corsair 620HX. It sports 50A between 4x +12V rails, and given thats where CPU's, PCIe video cards and hard drives (SATA, probably SAS too) draw off of, that would be a great choice. It's also been spotted running dual 8800GTX's in SLI just fine. 620W may not sound impressive, but it's a very efficient PSU, so don't dismiss it.

I agree with Willz on the 8800 Ultra. Yes, it is the fastest video card out there, but at $200-250 more than the typical 8800GTX, it's not fast enough to warrant that kind of price jump. Buy it if you want, but you're getting hosed on the performance for that money.

Here's some SAS/SATA PCIe cards...
 
Yea, infact if someone wants to overclock an 8800GTX to Ultra they might as well get the watercooled version which is cheaper and proberbly does better.

I think that the Ultra uses 0.8ns memory compared to the 1.0ns memory on the 8800GTX and maybe different voltages on the core? But I think there may be 8800Ultra bioses for 8800GTX providind an 8800GTX can take the clocks.
 
Sorry for the delayed reply, I've been a bit preoccupied.
Willz said:
I would not botherd getting the 8800Ultra, its not worth the extra cost over an 8800GTX.
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Like I said, I'm going blindly for the best. ;)
Also if possible get a Logitech Z5500 over the Z2300.
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That's a 5.1 set, isn't it? I don't have the space for a 5.1 set, unfortunately, which is why I want a really good 2.1 set.
Make sure the 8800 fits, there like 10.5"
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I believe the Antec just about fits it.
Big B said:
The Fortron is a good choice.
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I'm not sure it makes sense to buy a separate power supply since the Antec already has dual power supplies.
I agree with Willz on the 8800 Ultra. Yes, it is the fastest video card out there, but at $200-250 more than the typical 8800GTX, it's not fast enough to warrant that kind of price jump. Buy it if you want, but you're getting hosed on the performance for that money.
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As I said, blind purchase. ;)
Here's some SAS/SATA PCIe cards...
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'll take a look at that. Any particular recommendations?
Willz said:
Yea, infact if someone wants to overclock an 8800GTX to Ultra they might as well get the watercooled version which is cheaper and proberbly does better.
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I don't plan to overclock anything… in my experience, computer components are fragile enough without pushing them beyond stock.
 
If what I heard about their SCSI parts is true, the LSI cards would be excellent performers while not costing an arm and/or leg. While Adaptec is fine, they charge quite a bit more for the privilege.
 
Aankhen said:
I don't plan to overclock anything… in my experience, computer components are fragile enough without pushing them beyond stock.
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Well since the water cooled version of the 8800GTX are watercooled specifically for overclocked and allot of 8800GTX's overclock and work prfectly for there life span.

You even get factory overclocked card.


Either way, the 8800Ultra is a complete waste of money and litrally is an overclocked 8800GTX...

The 8800Ultra is not the best, its what one calls a rip off or a gimmick.
 
Big B said:
If what I heard about their SCSI parts is true, the LSI cards would be excellent performers while not costing an arm and/or leg. While Adaptec is fine, they charge quite a bit more for the privilege.
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Ah, then I'll probably go with LSI.
Willz said:
Well since the water cooled version of the 8800GTX are watercooled specifically for overclocked and allot of 8800GTX's overclock and work prfectly for there life span.
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Alright, this discussion has finally convinced me that the Ultra would be a criminal waste of money. :) Now I turn to you again for a recommendation on which particular GTX to buy, favouring silence and power efficiency (in a modern graphics card? LOL) over brute speed. ;)
 
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