Hey Guys 'n Girls,
The below is the startpoint (with some gaps!) for a configuration I am looking at for a next PC. I am looking for some sage advice as to componant selection, alongside some direct questions, some of these questions have very hard to find answers so please critique away!!
Purpose of Machine: This PC will need to do it all, I will work from home frequently and use a development enviroment alongside normal productivity software. I am an avid gamer and mmo fanatic, am currently in Vanguard which is a *^&%^ to run with great graphics, however they promise future hd gaming, sli, and multicore support (which I will want to take advantage off). It will also be used as the entire home entertainment system, I will be wanting to watch dvd and bluray content, as well as HD broadcast content, in addition to using the PC as a media server to my existing audio equipment. Just to stress the machine more I alos 'play' with 3dstudio and maya, use photoshop, and am just starting to create movies!
Oh, and if I have not yet mentioned it, I probably still want to do it!
Proposed Spec
Case: Silverstone Tamjin 'TJ09' or 'TJ07'
TJ09
TJ07
Frankly I prefer the looks of the TJO7, its a beast 'in the flesh' however the watercooling outlets, the hard drive cage protection, and the additional graphics cooling look usefull. Not to mention the usb access from the top of the case. Whichever is chosen it *will* be in black brushed aluminium! I guess that dimensions and routing for water cooling should be the defining factors - thoughts ?
Powersupply: PC Power and Cooling T1KWSR ???
This is one of my weakest areas (of my knowladge). The SLI certification seems to requires multiple rails. Yet this product T1K1SR seems to have one and be better for it! It also however seems expensive, and may even be overkill ? Moduler cables would also be nice, somthing not offered here.
Motherboard: Asus Striker Extreme
Link
From all I have seen, this will provide me the maximum headroom for overclocking, I believe there were early, bios issues, hopefully all ironed out ? I also guess that removal of the heatsinks may be an issue (will be watercooling the northbridge\southbridge). Am I missing anything ? Is there a better board out there ?
Memory: ???
Ok, I take it back, this is where I am faced by the most bewildering range of choices! The safe answer is probably low latency DDR-800 (4-4-4 ?) Which I think the Corsair xms2 Pro will give me. However there are a multitude of even Corsair parts at this price point. The requirement is 4GB, will buying two matched pairs give me 4 matching 1GB sticks ? Is the price\performance ratio for memory that I intend to overclock worthwhile to look at the (vastly) more expensive DDR-1033 Memory ?
Processor: Core Duo E6700
It appears that this is the price performance sweet spot, bearing in mind overclocking desires. I keep looking at quad core, but can see little real world benifit, especially if a E6700 (or lower suitably cooled?) can be talken to the same speeds. Are there two differing versions of this chip floating around ? (This is a vauge recolection from an article somewhere).
Drives: 2 x 150GB Raptor X. 1 x Seagate Barricuda 750GB.
I think thats the obvious choice! Bar the luidicrously priced 15k spindle speed cheeta's is there anything else out there ?
Graphics: 2 x Nvidia 8800 - But whos version ?!
XFX and BFG would probably be my default choices, simply from experience. Is there any value in buying already overclocked cards, assuming I can overclock myself ?
I will need to complete my HDCP loop, also I intend to run 2560x1600, and have support for 1080p HD content. So I assume I need Dual DVI on *both* HDMI outputs, and I am also looking for HDMI IN (it seems unclear is this is supported or not?) for any video capture I may wish to do. Further outputs to drive other devices may also be usefull. Finally I am a little unclear on agea Physix's implementations, some cards seem to have then included, others require a seperate daughter card, usually the additional PCI-E 8x slot.
Monitor: Dell 3700FWP
Its 30", its Dell, it has HDCP. I dont think that anything else can touch this yet for 2560x1600 res ? Oh, and I am cheating, I buy a *vast* amount of dell kit every year (work) and can buy this for 50% of the website price. That said lack of inputs is a possible concern.
Audio: XI-FI Fatil1ty extreme gamer.
My understanding is that this XI -FI card trumps the others in terms of capabilities, due to onboard vram. I would also consider the xi-fi platinum, but apparently the fatal1ty is actually more featured ? This may be important when you see the next choice!
Speakers: Logitech Z5450 Link
These would appear to be the best out there, but not quite what I am after. I would prefer: Wireless, THX Certified, 7.1 Suround. I am assuming that I will do all decoding via the PC. However there is one more possible option. I am lucky to have a pair of Nautilus 802's for my hifi, is there any way to press those into service as a left right pair, and convert a 5.1 system to 7.1 that way ? Thus I could use my 802's for all non surround audio. Might the silverstone Tech DA converter help with this ? Link Am I chasing a pipe dream or is using my superlative 802's as normal PC Speakers, and then using a 5.1 set to give me 7.1 surround for movies possible ?
TV Tuner: ???
Another Blank. I guess I am after a DVB-T , Ideally with two tuners (for MCE use) and also compisite outs. I guess I may also want it to be part of my HDMI chain, if I can ever find out how to get a HD feed to it! I should add, that I am in the UK, and use PAL.
Optical Devices: ???
Yet another blank (bah, the more I write this, the less I fell I know...), I will be looking for an DVD read\write, and a BluRay player. Only source seems to be grey imports, is anything offically available yet ?
Cooling: Koolance Watercooling. To everything!
Have always wanted to build a watercooled rig, and now is my chance it seems, this should help with the home theatre side of things (noise) and also with the overclocking. Koolance seem to offer a complete array of options, current thoughts center around processor\graphics\chipset\drives however I would like to hit 1KW of cooling, but am torn between the EXOS2 and the kit that takes the componants from the PCW-1026BK, but requires cutting a hole in my case....
If I go for the difficult (but better asthetic route?) I guess I will integrate the kit, has anyone out there tried this with a silverstone case ?
OS:
Will be a multiboot, am toying with a 64bit boot as well.
Reality Check Incoming!
The budget for the system is probably £4000. Note the price I pay for the monitor for anyone totting up. If we break this barrier my responces will be to go with a single 8800 (and then sell it and add a pair of 8900 or somthing later), and possibly reduce the watercooling. I have not yet really looked at pricing, I will start that journey once it seems there are no glitches in the spec. (a.k.a I dont dare look yet). Oh, and I am looking to get 2yr's lifespan from the box!
If anyone has anythoughts on what 3dmark scores etc *should* be possible with this rig, I will be all ears!
Many thanks to anyone who took the time to read this in depth, and comment.
The below is the startpoint (with some gaps!) for a configuration I am looking at for a next PC. I am looking for some sage advice as to componant selection, alongside some direct questions, some of these questions have very hard to find answers so please critique away!!
Purpose of Machine: This PC will need to do it all, I will work from home frequently and use a development enviroment alongside normal productivity software. I am an avid gamer and mmo fanatic, am currently in Vanguard which is a *^&%^ to run with great graphics, however they promise future hd gaming, sli, and multicore support (which I will want to take advantage off). It will also be used as the entire home entertainment system, I will be wanting to watch dvd and bluray content, as well as HD broadcast content, in addition to using the PC as a media server to my existing audio equipment. Just to stress the machine more I alos 'play' with 3dstudio and maya, use photoshop, and am just starting to create movies!
Oh, and if I have not yet mentioned it, I probably still want to do it!
Proposed Spec
Case: Silverstone Tamjin 'TJ09' or 'TJ07'
TJ09
TJ07
Frankly I prefer the looks of the TJO7, its a beast 'in the flesh' however the watercooling outlets, the hard drive cage protection, and the additional graphics cooling look usefull. Not to mention the usb access from the top of the case. Whichever is chosen it *will* be in black brushed aluminium! I guess that dimensions and routing for water cooling should be the defining factors - thoughts ?
Powersupply: PC Power and Cooling T1KWSR ???
This is one of my weakest areas (of my knowladge). The SLI certification seems to requires multiple rails. Yet this product T1K1SR seems to have one and be better for it! It also however seems expensive, and may even be overkill ? Moduler cables would also be nice, somthing not offered here.
Motherboard: Asus Striker Extreme
Link
From all I have seen, this will provide me the maximum headroom for overclocking, I believe there were early, bios issues, hopefully all ironed out ? I also guess that removal of the heatsinks may be an issue (will be watercooling the northbridge\southbridge). Am I missing anything ? Is there a better board out there ?
Memory: ???
Ok, I take it back, this is where I am faced by the most bewildering range of choices! The safe answer is probably low latency DDR-800 (4-4-4 ?) Which I think the Corsair xms2 Pro will give me. However there are a multitude of even Corsair parts at this price point. The requirement is 4GB, will buying two matched pairs give me 4 matching 1GB sticks ? Is the price\performance ratio for memory that I intend to overclock worthwhile to look at the (vastly) more expensive DDR-1033 Memory ?
Processor: Core Duo E6700
It appears that this is the price performance sweet spot, bearing in mind overclocking desires. I keep looking at quad core, but can see little real world benifit, especially if a E6700 (or lower suitably cooled?) can be talken to the same speeds. Are there two differing versions of this chip floating around ? (This is a vauge recolection from an article somewhere).
Drives: 2 x 150GB Raptor X. 1 x Seagate Barricuda 750GB.
I think thats the obvious choice! Bar the luidicrously priced 15k spindle speed cheeta's is there anything else out there ?
Graphics: 2 x Nvidia 8800 - But whos version ?!
XFX and BFG would probably be my default choices, simply from experience. Is there any value in buying already overclocked cards, assuming I can overclock myself ?
I will need to complete my HDCP loop, also I intend to run 2560x1600, and have support for 1080p HD content. So I assume I need Dual DVI on *both* HDMI outputs, and I am also looking for HDMI IN (it seems unclear is this is supported or not?) for any video capture I may wish to do. Further outputs to drive other devices may also be usefull. Finally I am a little unclear on agea Physix's implementations, some cards seem to have then included, others require a seperate daughter card, usually the additional PCI-E 8x slot.
Monitor: Dell 3700FWP
Its 30", its Dell, it has HDCP. I dont think that anything else can touch this yet for 2560x1600 res ? Oh, and I am cheating, I buy a *vast* amount of dell kit every year (work) and can buy this for 50% of the website price. That said lack of inputs is a possible concern.
Audio: XI-FI Fatil1ty extreme gamer.
My understanding is that this XI -FI card trumps the others in terms of capabilities, due to onboard vram. I would also consider the xi-fi platinum, but apparently the fatal1ty is actually more featured ? This may be important when you see the next choice!
Speakers: Logitech Z5450 Link
These would appear to be the best out there, but not quite what I am after. I would prefer: Wireless, THX Certified, 7.1 Suround. I am assuming that I will do all decoding via the PC. However there is one more possible option. I am lucky to have a pair of Nautilus 802's for my hifi, is there any way to press those into service as a left right pair, and convert a 5.1 system to 7.1 that way ? Thus I could use my 802's for all non surround audio. Might the silverstone Tech DA converter help with this ? Link Am I chasing a pipe dream or is using my superlative 802's as normal PC Speakers, and then using a 5.1 set to give me 7.1 surround for movies possible ?
TV Tuner: ???
Another Blank. I guess I am after a DVB-T , Ideally with two tuners (for MCE use) and also compisite outs. I guess I may also want it to be part of my HDMI chain, if I can ever find out how to get a HD feed to it! I should add, that I am in the UK, and use PAL.
Optical Devices: ???
Yet another blank (bah, the more I write this, the less I fell I know...), I will be looking for an DVD read\write, and a BluRay player. Only source seems to be grey imports, is anything offically available yet ?
Cooling: Koolance Watercooling. To everything!
Have always wanted to build a watercooled rig, and now is my chance it seems, this should help with the home theatre side of things (noise) and also with the overclocking. Koolance seem to offer a complete array of options, current thoughts center around processor\graphics\chipset\drives however I would like to hit 1KW of cooling, but am torn between the EXOS2 and the kit that takes the componants from the PCW-1026BK, but requires cutting a hole in my case....
If I go for the difficult (but better asthetic route?) I guess I will integrate the kit, has anyone out there tried this with a silverstone case ?
OS:
Will be a multiboot, am toying with a 64bit boot as well.
Reality Check Incoming!
The budget for the system is probably £4000. Note the price I pay for the monitor for anyone totting up. If we break this barrier my responces will be to go with a single 8800 (and then sell it and add a pair of 8900 or somthing later), and possibly reduce the watercooling. I have not yet really looked at pricing, I will start that journey once it seems there are no glitches in the spec. (a.k.a I dont dare look yet). Oh, and I am looking to get 2yr's lifespan from the box!
If anyone has anythoughts on what 3dmark scores etc *should* be possible with this rig, I will be all ears!
Many thanks to anyone who took the time to read this in depth, and comment.
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