Hi,
I am trying to build a decent workstation for programming & trading (mostly 2-D graphics but need to handle data burst well and work with 2-4 monitors). I went to couple custom building places but they either don't have much options or have too many options.
Here is my shot on the list from one shop(myaopen but 3 items here needs to be special ordered so it can cost more):
1. Some generic Aluminum mid tower case with 9cm front fan and 12cm back fan (their Nouveau model)
2. Intel D975XBXLKR $209 but it only supports up to 667mhz memory or Asus P5W DH $221 which supports ddr2-800
3. E6600, $236 or E6700, $335
4. 2GB or 4GB of Crucial Ballistix pc-6400 $110 (want 4GB but afraid of getting into 64 bit OS and drivers hunt and problem running old software) or Patriot Extreme performance $75
5. Ocz GameXstream 700W Powersupply $127 (I want to overclock slightly to a stable system running 3.2 Ghz but can't stand noise from loud fans so hopefully this one is quiet) or AerocCool Zerodba-s620
6. Zalman CNPS 9500 CPU cooler $50 (still debating whether to use the stock cooler)
7. Seagate 320 GB 7200rpm 16mb $92 (may get a second/third one for RAID 0/1)
8. Sapphire X1950Pro 256MB TV/2DVI, $183 or Asus Geforce 7900GS 256MB TV/2DVI, $189
9. Sony AW-Q170A DVD/r/w
10. Windows XP Pro 32 bit or 64 bit
11. May get a sound card if the onboard sound card slow things down(saw in one review on the Asus board)
12. Probably get a gigabit LAN card since onboard LAN usually have problem with data burst according to some.
It comes down to $1237 with E6600, 2GB of Ballistix and the Intel board. $220 more if E6700 & 4GB & the Asus board.
What do you think? Anything to add or subtract? Any incompatiblity here? I basically want a decent quiet workhorse that can do math and handle data burst quickly.
I haven't played game since I joined Gamers Anonymous years ago so any gaming aspect of the box probably lost on me.
I am trying to build a decent workstation for programming & trading (mostly 2-D graphics but need to handle data burst well and work with 2-4 monitors). I went to couple custom building places but they either don't have much options or have too many options.
Here is my shot on the list from one shop(myaopen but 3 items here needs to be special ordered so it can cost more):
1. Some generic Aluminum mid tower case with 9cm front fan and 12cm back fan (their Nouveau model)
2. Intel D975XBXLKR $209 but it only supports up to 667mhz memory or Asus P5W DH $221 which supports ddr2-800
3. E6600, $236 or E6700, $335
4. 2GB or 4GB of Crucial Ballistix pc-6400 $110 (want 4GB but afraid of getting into 64 bit OS and drivers hunt and problem running old software) or Patriot Extreme performance $75
5. Ocz GameXstream 700W Powersupply $127 (I want to overclock slightly to a stable system running 3.2 Ghz but can't stand noise from loud fans so hopefully this one is quiet) or AerocCool Zerodba-s620
6. Zalman CNPS 9500 CPU cooler $50 (still debating whether to use the stock cooler)
7. Seagate 320 GB 7200rpm 16mb $92 (may get a second/third one for RAID 0/1)
8. Sapphire X1950Pro 256MB TV/2DVI, $183 or Asus Geforce 7900GS 256MB TV/2DVI, $189
9. Sony AW-Q170A DVD/r/w
10. Windows XP Pro 32 bit or 64 bit
11. May get a sound card if the onboard sound card slow things down(saw in one review on the Asus board)
12. Probably get a gigabit LAN card since onboard LAN usually have problem with data burst according to some.
It comes down to $1237 with E6600, 2GB of Ballistix and the Intel board. $220 more if E6700 & 4GB & the Asus board.
What do you think? Anything to add or subtract? Any incompatiblity here? I basically want a decent quiet workhorse that can do math and handle data burst quickly.
I haven't played game since I joined Gamers Anonymous years ago so any gaming aspect of the box probably lost on me.