What if?

[FallOutBoyTonto]

If you had an unlimited budget and wanted to build a killer system, what would you end up with? I'd like to hear your opinion on what would be today's ultimate personal computer. It doesn't matter if its an AMD or Intel platform (most likely would be Intel for best performance though).

The kind of info I'd like to see are as follows:
- CPU
- Chipset
- Mobo
- RAM
- HDD
- Vid Card

Bring it on! I'll be posting my own opinion soon.

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?id=24106" target="_new"> My System Rig</A>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=535386" target="_new"> 3DMark03</A>

 

[richdun]

Alright...first off, a very cool looking case...silvery, metallic, with clear panel and fancy little lights that would impress people who are more impressed with lights than performance (ya know, so non-geeks would still like it)

But seriously:

CPU - Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz w/800Mhz FSB (for now, 3.2GHz later this summer, 3.4, 3.6 after that, etc.)

Chipset - i875P Since money isn't a factor, there's no use to save some bucks on a 865PE.

Mobo - Abit IC7-G Most feature packed Abit board, all the RAID, SATA, 6.1 sound, Firewire, and Gigabit ethernet, and its Abit so overclocking isn't a chore if you want to go that route.

RAM - Four 1 GB DDR400 ECC sticks, probably Crucial or Kingston fancy RAM (my term for the high performance, overclockable, heat spreading, low latency sticks)

HDD - Now this is a good question. Probably would go with a couple 250GB 7200RPM WD drives, but a couple SATA drives RAIDed together would be nice. The SATAs are just too small, even if the board does support four of them.

Vid Card - Geforce FX 5900 Ultra w/ 128mb (or 256 if someone ships it) DDR2, S-video/DVI. I like Nvidia, and the 5900 Ultra narrowly beats the 9800 PRO in most tests I've seen (and since I don't care about money, every narrow bit counts).



Me machine in me profile.

 

[Steven21]

- CPU I'd wait for the 3.2 P4 to come out
- Chipset Intel 875
- Mobo Asus or MSI
- RAM Corsair 512 x 2 PC 3500
- HDD WD Raptors
- Vid Card I'd wait for the GF FX 5900's to come out


<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by steven21 on 06/10/03 02:37 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[okietex]

if money to burn ... i like my setup -- but, i'd spend more $$s probably and get the following:

-- wd raptors for HDD

-- mobo - i like my Abit IC7-G but I *hear* the Asus is good too.

-- cpu - get the most recent 3.0 or 3.2 (coming out maybe??)

-- def go with 875P ...

-- RAM - as was said on another post, seems like the PC3500LL DDR from Corsair will work ok with the IC7 ... go with it (if not, go safe with the C2).

-- and, again, I love my RADEON 9800 PRO ...

.... now, if you want to spend more $$s and plan on playing with this and doing some OC'ing ... get some watercooler stuff and put on there. Or, just make sure you get some really good heatsinks and fans ... to arm your case with!

again ... this is money to burn but I came close to doing some of this just in my own rig (see sig). But, I don't want to burn the money ... ie, if there's a $200 difference between a 3.2 GHZ and a 3.0 GHZ ... there's no way I'm spending $200 on that CPU ... BUT, if there's a $50 diff... I might do that.

Anyway ... have fun. -ot

IC7-G 1.1| P4 2.8 800 | SLK900-U / 92mm Fan (AS3) | 2x512mb Corsair PC3500C2 | 2x120gb SG SATA RAID 0 | CM ATC201B-SXT | 520W | Radeon 9800 Pro | Audigy2

 

[Suzy]

hi
ok, i am going to ask - why is everyone wanting a HD that is a Raptor? whats it got that the Western Digital special edition 7200 doesnt?
(since i seem to be wanting the best system, i might as well ask before i buy the special edition)
oh, 80 gig.
thanks
suzy

 

[Stain]

It's Serial ATA, 10000RPM, 8MB cache, and Western Digital. It's only downside is its capacity.

Read AnandTech's review if you want to know more:
<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.html?i=1799" target="_new">Western Digital's Raptor - Part I: The World's Fastest Desktop Drive</A>

 

[skrapptocs]

You should get compression/refrigeration cooling if you are going to build a dream system.

I'm too unimaginative to think of a good quote.

 

[FallOutBoyTonto]

For me, this is what I would get:

- Start with the <A HREF="http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20030610/index.html" target="_new"> Prometeia Mach 2</A>, that'll give me cooling and a case.
- CPU would be Intel 3.0 GHz w/800FSB
- Chipset would be 875P
- Mobo would probably be Asus or Gigabyte for DPS
- RAM would be Corsair TWIN-X 3200LL
- HDD would be 2x WD Raptor in RAID 0
- Vid Card would be Radeon 9800 Pro 256MB

And I would OC for sure, trying to reach over 4.1 GHz.

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?id=24106" target="_new"> My System Rig</A>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=535386" target="_new"> 3DMark03</A>

 

[Prof133]

- CPU = Fastest "C" variant P4 currently available
- Chipset = 875P (Canterwood)
- Mobo = Abit IC7-G
- RAM = Two Corsair XMS 512MB PC3500 memory modules
- HDD = BitMicro E-Disk <i>Solid State Disk</i> (For OS, Apps/Games, current projects), Two Maxtor 200GB Serial ATA Hard Drives in RAID 1 (Redundancy)
- Vid Card = ATi 9800 Pro 256MB
- Other = Prometeia Cooling w/ Lian-Li Case

<b><font color=blue>I agree with that solution ... because it is a logical one.</font color=blue></b>

 

[FallOutBoyTonto]

Bump. May I ask why you chose the "C" variant P4 Prof133? Also why RAID 1 instead of 0? I'd rather have speed instead of redundancy.

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?id=24106" target="_new"> My System Rig</A>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=535386" target="_new"> 3DMark03</A>

 

[Prof133]

May I ask why you chose the "C" variant P4 Prof133?

Would provide the most speed for what I want to do. 3.2C (800MHz FSB, HT) if currently available, else 3.0C (800MHz FSB, HT).

Also why RAID 1 instead of 0? I'd rather have speed instead of redundancy.

The two maxtors in RAID 1 is for backup and extra storage. Speed is not the primary concern for that. The solid state drive will have the OS, games, apps and current projects.

<b><font color=blue>I agree with that solution ... because it is a logical one.</font color=blue></b>

 

[nowareman]

Hi Prof

How about <A HREF="http://www.superssd.com/products/tera-ramsan/" target="_new">this</A>.

 

[Prof133]

Wow, that looks pretty sophisticated. Up to 1024GB of Solid state storage. The cost of such a solution would be quite high.

<b><font color=blue>Logic over all.</font color=blue></b>

 

[Mephistopheles]

solid state storage? wow... great! interesting technology indeed. but...

talk about overkill...

 

[Prof133]

talk about overkill...

Yeah, it is. But, since it's an "unlimited" budget, I figured I would get something different from the norm.

<b><font color=blue>Logic over all.</font color=blue></b>

 

[mito]

Unlimited budget?

I'd contact NASA and have them build something special for me.



/\/\ito