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Ckool9567

Honorable
Aug 7, 2013
3
0
10,510
I am trying to design and build, for the first time, a high end desktop workstation. The most important aspect of the build is stability.

Here is my pc builder parts list http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1xLIB

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1xLIB) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1xLIB/by_merchant/) / [Benchmarks](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1xLIB/benchmarks/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i7-3770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637i73770) | $289.99 @ Newegg
**CPU Cooler** | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2) | $29.99 @ Microcenter
**Motherboard** | [Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz77xud3h) | $134.99 @ NCIX US
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance Performance 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cmz32gx3m4a1866c9) | $299.14 @ Amazon
**Storage** | [Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001) | $99.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001) | $85.98 @ Outlet PC
**Storage** | [Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001) | $85.98 @ Outlet PC
**Storage** | [Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001) | $85.98 @ Outlet PC
**Video Card** | [Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-100351vxsr) (2-Way CrossFire) | $359.99 @ Newegg
**Video Card** | [Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-100351vxsr) (2-Way CrossFire) | $359.99 @ Newegg
**Wireless Network Adapter** | [Rosewill N900PCE 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-wireless-network-card-n900pce) | $33.99 @ Newegg
**Case** | [Corsair 600T Mesh (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-cc600tm) | $134.99 @ NCIX US
**Power Supply** | [Corsair Professional Gold 1200W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cmpsu1200ax) | $263.78 @ Amazon
**Optical Drive** | [LG WH16NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-wh16ns40) | $81.98 @ SuperBiiz
**Optical Drive** | [LG WH16NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-wh16ns40) | $81.98 @ SuperBiiz
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8 Professional (OEM) (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-fqc05956) | $129.98 @ Outlet PC
**Monitor** | [Samsung S23A700D 120Hz 23.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-monitor-s23a700d) | $228.05 @ TigerDirect
**Monitor** | [Samsung S23A700D 120Hz 23.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-monitor-s23a700d) | $228.05 @ TigerDirect
**Monitor** | [Samsung S23A700D 120Hz 23.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-monitor-s23a700d) | $228.05 @ TigerDirect
**Monitor** | [Samsung S23A700D 120Hz 23.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-monitor-s23a700d) | $228.05 @ TigerDirect
**Monitor** | [Samsung S23A700D 120Hz 23.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-monitor-s23a700d) | $228.05 @ TigerDirect
**Monitor** | [Samsung S23A700D 120Hz 23.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-monitor-s23a700d) | $228.05 @ TigerDirect
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $3909.02
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-29 20:27 EDT-0400 |


I am not married to any of the components on the list. I would love to hear your feed back of what you think the advantages and disadvantages of the build I have laid out and what you would change.

Some of the must haves for my build are:
1) Stability - This machine will hold financial information, client information, as well as various other proprietary programs and algorithms. To make sure all of these things I was considering setting up 4 hdd in a RAID 5 as well as using an outside source to complete daily backups. Would RAID 5 be the most stable and cost effective way to store data or do you have a better solution in mind?

2) It needs to be able to independently drive a minimum of 5 monitors but would like the ability to add more as well.

3) This workstation must be able to perform extremely cpu intensive tasks such as data analysis, modeling, and simulations.

Those are the most important things that I can think of right now. I would love to hear what y'all think. I'm sure I left some things out so please let me know if there is any information I can add that would be beneficial.

Thanks in advance.
 
Solution
P
My humble opinion: This build should use a 3930K (With a Corsair H110 to keep it nice and cool when you hopefully take it to 4.5, but if you are against OC because you think it isn't stable then a hyper 212 will do. It is important to note that you can run prime 95 test for 7 days straight and that 4.5Ghz 3930k will be perfectly stable and COLD with its H110 partner in crime), HDDs with the best reliability (Western Digital's RE and Seagate's Constellation ES.3) used to store sensitive data are very expensive, so the best alternative is Seagate's NAS HDDs that spin at 5900 RPM and come with some modifications specifically designed for 24/7 reliability that is desired in NAS servers. I would strongly recommend them for data storage...
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Ckool9567

Honorable
Aug 7, 2013
3
0
10,510
Novuake,

You make a good point it probably is a bit of GPU overkill. My original build price was a little to rich for my blood, and this would be a great place to save a few dollars. I didn't add that I like to play around with flight simulators when dusting off the 'ol hawker costs too much, so I do a bit of "gaming" so to speak. Thank you for your help.
 
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Novuake

Novuake

Champion
Aug 27, 2011
14,308
0
56,960
Right OK.
Now what I have done is :

1. Dropped one HD7970, you can always add another if the performance is lacking.

2. Added a BIT more expensive monitor that is NOT 3D but has a 1ms response time and 144Hz refresh rate, also these monitors have DisplayPorts, which are MUCH better for a large monitor array, otherwise you start getting tooo many adapter, like this you can chain them with either a DisplayPort Hub or a more expensive per port adapter.

3. Dropped to a cheaper XFX PSU that is perfectly capable of running the whole config and 2 x HD7970s. 1200W is just too much and 4 times more expensive.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1xNJF
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1xNJF/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1xNJF/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($289.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Gaming Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($274.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($85.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($85.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($85.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($279.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill N900PCE 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($33.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 600T Mesh (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($134.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 750W 80 PLUS Silver Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG WH16NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($81.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG WH16NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($81.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 Professional (OEM) (64-bit) ($129.98 @ Outlet PC)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $3087.74
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-29 21:16 EDT-0400)


Now in minor issues I can suggest changing.

1. Cheaper Wireless card.
2. Drop the CPU cooler, you will not need it if you do not want to OC.
3. Get a K-series CPU if you ever want to play with OCing.
4. With the money saved, you can either up the platform to a 3830K, 2011 socket board,
OR you can get an SSD for Windows. I would do the SSD route.
 
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P

Praxeology

Honorable
Dec 16, 2012
397
0
10,860
My humble opinion: This build should use a 3930K (With a Corsair H110 to keep it nice and cool when you hopefully take it to 4.5, but if you are against OC because you think it isn't stable then a hyper 212 will do. It is important to note that you can run prime 95 test for 7 days straight and that 4.5Ghz 3930k will be perfectly stable and COLD with its H110 partner in crime), HDDs with the best reliability (Western Digital's RE and Seagate's Constellation ES.3) used to store sensitive data are very expensive, so the best alternative is Seagate's NAS HDDs that spin at 5900 RPM and come with some modifications specifically designed for 24/7 reliability that is desired in NAS servers. I would strongly recommend them for data storage because after all, 24/7 reliability is something all servers can utilize/desire. The 144Hz monitors I think are utterly wasteful and serve no practical purpose. If you are dead set on them then I will not bother trying to convince you otherwise. However if you simply saw 144, thought its the bigger number, and concluded that it must be better then I would definitely reconsider and not fall for that hype. If you use OpenGL then the 7970 is a good pick, and generally AMD has cheaper/stronger hardware than the green team's competition which relies on driver optimization for games to compete. Also, one 7970 will not run 6 monitors, so a CF solution is required. PSU is also overkill and overpriced (as usual with Corsair PSU) Links to the following products should be adjusted to the original build:

3930k

2011 Board

Acer 27'' Screens or 24'' Variants

Nas HDD

H110

Super Flower 850W Platinum PSU

Rosewill Supertower you might be interested in

32GB Corsair Vengeance Pro 1866

Sapphire 7990 - Required if you want to run 6 monitors, or a CF equivalent.

PS: The Azza PSU comes with the best components available in the market, platinum efficiency as a result, and the general awesomeness that comes with the BEST hardware. That said, Azza is the company that financed its production, and so IF something were to happen you have to deal with their LOUSY 2 year warranty that I just noticed. So here is Corsair's Gold 850 which is really good, but not the best. It comes with a 7 year warranty. If I was building a PC, I would still take the Azza because that PSU is so good, and even more so @ that price. But I thought I should inform you. Even a 2 year warranty is pretty good though when we consider motherboard/cpu/gpu warranties coming in at 3 years each. Real shame the higher ups at Azza aren't standing behind that PSU with a 10 year warranty like it's worth. EVGA has a similar platinum PSU @ 1,000 watts from Super Flower also except they offer a 10 year warranty on it because their higher-ups aren't idiots.

Total Price for the build btw, with 6 27'' monitors, 4 2TB NAS HDD, and the 7990 with AZZA or Corsair's PSU = $3,939.82

- Prax
 
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