Desktop Only Build $2000

smittyline · May 7, 2013

Approximate Purchase Date: ASAP
Budget Range: Approximately $2000 before tax+shipping. No mail in rebates.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: CPU crunching, multasking with FOUR 24" monitors. Low priority is Team Fortress 2 gaming.
Are you buying a monitor: No, already have four 24" monitors.
Do you need to buy OS: Yes will buy Windows 7
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: NCIX.com, newegg.com, amazon.com
Location: Canada and USA - I have addresses in both.
Overclocking: If I get an OC-friendly CPU, yes.
SLI or Crossfire: Yes - need 4xDVI ports to support 4 monitors. I currently have one video card with 2xDVI, plus 2xUSB->DVI converters. I'd rather go 4xDVI, which means 2 video cards.
Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200
Why I'm upgrading: My current computer has 16GB RAM and a quad core 2.67 GHz CPU. It runs OK but I'd especially like a faster CPU. My Intel 120GB SSD (that cost $450 back in 2010!) is also starting to feel cramped.

***Original Proposed Build*** For current build scroll down.

CPU:
$567 - Intel Core i7-3930K Sandy Bridge-E 3.2GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 2011 130W Six-Core Desktop Processor. May eventually overclock to 3.8-4.0Ghz
CPU Cooler:
$96 - CORSAIR Hydro Series H100i Water Cooler
Motherboard:
$290 - ASUS Rampage IV Gene LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Case:
$100 - NZXT Phantom 410 CA-PH410-W1 White Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
PSU:
$170 - CORSAIR HX Series HX850 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Memory:
$0 ALREADY HAVE - CORSAIR XMS 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMX16GX3M2A1333C9
Storage:
$348 - Samsung 840 Series Solid State Drive (SSD) 500 GB SATAIII 2.5-Inch MZ-7TD500BW. I don't need a lot of space. 120GB was barely adequate, 500GB will be more than enough for me for a while.
Video card:
$170 x 2 = $340 EVGA 02G-P4-3657-KR GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card.
OS:
$136 - Windows 7 Professional SP1 OEM 64-bit

Total so far = $2047

My concern is that the Intel 3930K CPU has already been out for a long time. I wonder if there'll be a new CPU very soon and a price drop?

*** Current Build ***

CPU:
$567 - Intel Core i7-3930K Sandy Bridge-E 3.2GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 2011 130W Six-Core Desktop Processor. May eventually overclock to 3.8-4.0Ghz
CPU Cooler:
$80 - Noctua NH-D14 SE2011 Quiet CPU Cooler for Intel LGA 2011 Socket with 6 Heatpipes, 140/120mm SSO Bearing PWM Fans NH-D14 SE2011
Motherboard:
$265 - ASRock Fatal1ty X79 Professional
Case:
$110 - Fractal Design Define R4 Black Pearl w/ USB 3.0 ATX Mid Tower Silent PC Computer Case
Case fans:
$18 x 2 = $36 Fractal Design Silent Series R2 140mm Fan
PSU:
$170 - CORSAIR AX Series AX850 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Memory:
$0 ALREADY HAVE - CORSAIR XMS 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMX16GX3M2A1333C9
Storage:
$348 - Samsung 840 Series Solid State Drive (SSD) 500 GB SATAIII 2.5-Inch MZ-7TD500BW. I don't need a lot of space. 120GB was barely adequate, 500GB will be more than enough for me for a while.
Video card:
$170 x 2 = $340 EVGA 02G-P4-3657-KR GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card.
OS:
$136 - Windows 7 Professional SP1 OEM 64-bit

Total = $2048

Fulgurant · May 7, 2013

Given your usage habits, I think you've pretty well nailed the build.

Wouldn't worry about the future. We can't know when or to what extent the prices will drop. Since the 3930k is a very high end part, the initially small (and soon to be dwindling) supply may very well offset the decrease in demand when the newer models launch. Actually, it's not clear to me that demand will decrease much at all, because a lot of people out there think as you do, waiting for the precise moment to pounce on newly retired tech.

For many, that moment never comes. Or they miss it.

smittyline · May 8, 2013

Thanks Fulgurant! Since I am using a Micro ATX motherboard here, can anyone suggest a smaller case? The NZXT Phantom 410 case is pretty damn big at 21" height. Smaller may be a bit better in my small office. This is what my current computer looks like:

g-unit1111 · May 8, 2013

smittyline :

Personally I wouldn't put a 3930K in such a small case. Mainly because the processor is based on a bigger CPU die than the 3770K is and it generates a lot of heat. I'd stick with an ATX tower. But I would also drop the gimmick liquid cooler in favor of a strong air fan like the Noctua D14.

smittyline · May 8, 2013

OK I agree, I'll stick with ATX. Instead of the micro ATX ASUS Rampage IV motherboard I listed in my build, how about this larger ATX motherboard for a little more room to install components?

Motherboard:
$320 - ASUS P9X79 PRO LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with USB BIOS

CPU Cooler:
$76 - Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler

Case:
$110 - Fractal Design Define R4 Black Pearl w/ USB 3.0 ATX Mid Tower Silent PC Computer Case

That case has a reputation for being very quiet, and it's only an extra $10.

g-unit1111 · May 8, 2013

smittyline :

Yeah the Fractal R4 is a great case, you won't be disappointed. Alternately consider the Nanoxia Deep Silence II, here's a finished build with the case: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/silverstone-ps06-nanoxia-ds2-lian-li-pc-9n-cougar-evolution,3483-7.html

You could do with a slightly less expensive motherboard like the Asrock X79 Extreme 6 as well and save some money there.

smittyline · May 8, 2013

The $230 Asrock X79 motherboard has 8 USB ports in the back, whereas the $320 ASUS P9X79 has 10 USB ports. I have lots of USB devices and I would like to avoid using a USB Hub if possible.

What about this $265 ASRock Fatal1ty X79 Professional motherboard? It has 10 USB ports too, although it states that 1 USB port is "a Fatal1ty Mouse Port" WTF? Is that just a marketing thing and it should function as a normal USB port?

The Nanoxia Deep Silince II case is interesting.. it looks somewhat similar to Fractal R4. I'll compare and decide.

Cheers

g-unit1111 · May 8, 2013

Yeah that should work fine.

I really like that Nanoxia case. I may use it in my next build down the line.

smittyline · May 12, 2013

I just noticed that this GTX 690 video card has THREE DVI ports and a display port. As a single card it probably could support 4 monitors easily. It draws 300W power if I remember correctly and outperforms most "current gen" SLI setup. This is probably the card I'd choose if I want to turn my computer into a gaming computer.. but it's an extra $700 over my budget!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=14-130-781&SortField=1&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Keywords=%28keywords%29&Page=1#scrollFullInfo

smittyline · May 18, 2013

OK, here's the build in pictures. Despite the large case I found this build more difficult to fit together than my old Mini ITX case. The big Noctua NH-D14 case fan blocks the PCI #1 port:

One option is to put the video card in the PCI #2 port, but it's 8x speed as opposed to 16x speed.

In order to free up the PCI #1 port I had to rotate the CPU cooler so it blows air out the top of the case:

The gap between the CPU cooler and video card is less than 1 cm.

Airflow:

Might this work better?

Be honest - would I have been better off with a Corsair H100i water CPU cooler?

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