So this is my second build ever. The first one is about 3 years old and now a paperweight so I’m hoping to build a more stable, and compatible system that will meet future needs and last a while if i take care of it.

Purpose:

Now: Editing SD video and gaming

Future: HD video editing and gaming
(using Adobe Production Studio CS3 or later)

Setup:

Motherboard: TYAN S2696A2NRF (SATA) Dual Socket 771 Intel 5000X Extended ATX Server Motherboard - Retail 399.00

Processors: 2X Intel Xeon X5355 Clovertown 2.66GHz Socket 771 2U Passive Processor Model BX80563X5355P - Retail $1,179.00 each

Memory: WINTEC 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 FB-DIMM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) ECC Fully Buffered Dual Channel Kit Server Memory Model 3C955341BK-IL - Retail 449.99

Video Card: BFG Tech BFGR88768GTXOC2E GeForce 8800GTX 768MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail 599.99

Sound Card: Creative SOUND BLASTER X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail 182.99

HDD1: Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM 209.99 (for programs, games, and small files)

HDD2: Seagate Barracuda ES ST3750640NS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $309.99 (video capture and storage)

HDD3: 250gb 7200rpm HDD previously in my old computer (storing photo files and other large files.)

Case: LIAN LI PC-V2000Bplus II Black Aluminum Server Computer Case - Retail 279.99

Power: ENERMAX Galaxy EGX1000EWL ATX12V/ EPS12V/ BTX 1000W Power Supply - Retail 359.99

OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit $378.99

Total price: 5529.91 without shipping. (Over 1,000$ cheaper than the newest 8-core Intel based G5 Power Mac)

I’m going to use the monitor, keyboard, mouse, DVD+-RW Drive, and a USB device for wireless internet all from my old computer.

Future plans: Increase number of HDD to create a RAID 0 for HDV video capture. Upgrading to 16 GB of FB-DIMM DDR2 when editing and gaming software utilize 64-bit system capability.

My concerns so far:

1. Inadequate power for future needs

2. Known sound card issues with Vista. (Should I wait for Creative to make new ones?)

3. Anything going wrong after a week of research and one dead computer that's only 3 years old. I’m super paranoid about it not working.

4. Should I wait a few more weeks for prices to drop?

5. This whole system is dumb, I should just get a QX6700 based system. Who wants 8 cores anyway?

6. Inadequate cooling now and future.

Any advice, comments, or criticism would be appreciated especially if it all looks like it will work.

Thanks,

-Kahuna

You'd get some of the same functionality from a QX6700 or QX6800 system, but the extra bandwidth afforded by 8 cores will certainly come in handy, especially when rendering in HD.

For storage, look into Hitachi's new 1TB model, it retails for ~$400 and absolutely kills the Seagates in most benchies, in fact, in real-world performance it nearly equals the Raptor.

The 8800GTX may or may not be a good buy; wait until the 23rd and see how ATI's new 2900 looks, with 320 shaders it should outperform the 8800 by a fairly decent margin. Either way, its pending release will cause prices on the 88's to start sliding down.

For cases, Lian Li is awesome, I love them. If you're really worried about cooling, take a look at CoolerMaster's Stacker, it has an insane amount of aircooling built into it. You may want to slap a couple upgraded air coolers onto your CPU's, but do some research to see what'll fit first.

Also, Window Vista Ultimate OEM is only 199.99, so you'll save some there, I see you have it down as being 400.

Do you really need an xfi? Get a cheapo card until the drivers work themselves out, it's not worth the headache imo.

Overall it looks like it should be a beast. Give it at least another few weeks, as the price cuts should lower the Xeons too. Good luck.

Here's a link to that case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119103

The HDD:
http://www.excaliberpc.com/Hitachi [...] 75604.html

and HDD review:
http://www.anandtech.com/storage/s [...] =2949&p=10

According to the benchies that are leaking out this isn't actually the case. Apparently the 2900XT is about equal in performance to the 8800GTX. Though I agree that he should wait a week or two since prices will certainly drop on the Nvidia cards and since the ATI card may still be priced better.

I agree 100% about getting the Hitachi terabyte drive though. Hell, not really any reason to get a Raptor either, just get one of those and be happy. Or if you want to go really overboard, get two TB drives and stick them in RAID 0. Hey, HD video takes up a lot of space, doesn't it?

None of the benches I've seen look even remotely legit. Either way though, prices will fall. I wouldn't RAID0 two terabytes of data, how the hell could you back up all that stuff?

The answer for both question are yes.

If I were you I would take the QX6700, overclock a bit, get the best mobo at a reasonable price...then upgrade frequently. Computer Technolgies change very fast and the price drop real quick, so no need to buy high end at too high price and you will have up to date and real machine all the time. Think about the new upcoming CPU, memory, chipset, GPU that will be in the next 6 months? by that time your 8 cores will be obsolete.

Edit: typo

wow, it's really nice to get such a quick response! Thanks so much for all the advice. I'll definatly be looking into the 1TB HDDs and the Radeon. Not to mention OEM windows to save a few more bucks. Building is so much more fun than buying a system premade. Can't wait to see what happened at NAB in reguards to HDV and all that.

I forgot to mention that the 2900 has HDMI 1.3 output and HD audio onboard. Should make it ideal for Video editing/gaming.

you should wait a few weeks for prices to drop, 8 cores will keep your system very futureproof, although it may be a waste of money for editing, especially video. wait for nvidia to launch its 8900gx2 and ati to launch its HD 2900xt/2900xtx


the best card you could buy for that $500+ pricetag will be the 8900gx2 since it is two cards in one basically, which would also help alot with editing


as far as x-fi issues are, creative finally released some stable drivers for vista. I am currently using an x-fi xtreme music and it works great, before when vista first came out i could hardly get the dang thing to work. Also, xfi is the only line of sound cards that will work with vista because of open AL. The reason vista has problems with older sound cards is because stupid MS got rid of direct3dsound


oh just a quick thought, amd's upcoming FX processor series is 8 cores for only $1000. Its the dual socket solution though, two quad cores on one mobo, but as far as the price is concerned its an excellent deal.

X-Fi doesn't support HDCP, so when working with HD content it wouldn't allow playback.

This is the case you need.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811133020

Ah, it's always refreshing to see someone building a workstation and not a gaming rig. Anyways, that looks fantastic although I'd look into those upcoming 45nm quad-cores coming out (I know, never wait for the future, it'll never come, but just like as an upgrade path) but other than that it looks fantastic. Yeah, 1TB hdds, look into them. Performance and storage, what else could you ask for? Other than that, smashing man, I've got the Lian-Li PC 201B case, love it.

i realized also my motherboard has built in sound that will work fine for now. HDMI is not super important for me. All current cameras link via firewire and it can handle just about anything I would need for capture. Otherwise I would get a more professional capture card from AJA or sometihng like that. HDMI is not really going to be inportant until graphics card and monitor connections use it standard instead of digital or vga.

As far as waiting goes, i'm sitting here with no computer and a work in progress on my dead machine so i'm looking forward to getting one soon. If i wait two weeks, then i'll have to wait two more for the next big thing. But it is tempting to wait for just two more weeks for a price drop.

HDCP is definatly going to be inportant in the future. The 8800 i selected has it, as well as my monitor. I'm sure it will be standard relativly fast and then just as quickly hacked. I think it's mostly important for watching HD and Blue Ray DVDs though so i'm not sure this would affect editing HDV footage unless blank media has HDCP built in or something. I have not looked into it really. I just plan to be compliant.

We'll see what happens in the next few weeks.

Just wanted to point out that HDCP has not been activated on any movies yet and may never be (xbox 360 has HD-DVD and component outputs). Besides, if you are editing your own content why would you need to be complient? That would only matter when playing back HDDVD/BR movies, not making your own. Unless you plan on enabling HDCP in your own work...

Hahahaha, I'm going to enable HDCP in all MY work... Seriously, I hope it's never implemented, but if it is, it's going to be a huge pita for all involved.