cheap-ish work horse

[kwejibo]

My girlfriend is in some desperate need of a real desktop for a new job she is starting that will heavily rely upon using ESRI's ArcGIS. I don't know a ton about the software other than that it is a huge mapping/modeling program that access and displays tons of data.

Anyway - I haven't built a PC in years and would love some good feedback/suggestions. Unfortunately (as always) price is an issue for her, so the cheaper the better and preferably I'd like to keep it under 800 (closer to $5-600 would be awesome, but I won't hold my breath).

This is currently what've I've been eyeballing:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115018 Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 ($185) - Seems like a great bang/buck

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131275 Asus P5K PRO ($105) - Asus has never treated me wrong...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145215 Corsair 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1066 Dual Channel ($126) - Can't do more than 4GB, will be running 32-bit XP

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133232 PNY GeForce 8800GT 512MB ($110) - Kind of a blind guess

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262 Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM 250GB (maybe a smaller 10kRPM?)

Case/Power Supply - no idea yet, don't need/want anything fancy... just something that'll work.


Just totalling the above, I'm already at ~$600 without a case/powersupply.


Thanks in advance for any advice !

 

[Nytmare]

-change to DDR2 800 memory. No need for 1066 if no overclock.

-P35 not bad, I would spend the extra $25 and get P45 MOBO. Me likes Asus also

-CPU: looks like quad core is best for what you describe the computer being used for. Good choice.

-PSU: Corsair, PC Power and Cooling, or Antec

-GPU: not sure, most people here are using their rigs for gaming...ATI 4870 / 4850. This would probably be overkill for her rig.

 

[dogisfat]

Most people will tell you to drop the DDR2 1066 and just get the cheaper DDR2 800 because the performance increase is not that great. And a cheaper motherboard maybe.

 

[dirtmountain]

Unless it's being used for gaming also, the 8800GT is way more than she'll need. A low end HD2600XT at $20 after rebate should be sufficient.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121082
or even integrated graphics from a budget G31 motherboard $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131288
or a G43 motherboard $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131332
case + power supply combo of good quality Antec Sonata + 500w antec earthwatts powersupply at $80 after rebate for both
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024
DDR2 800 RAM 2x2 GB 1.8v $89
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731

 

[cjsikk]

I agree with dirt ^.
I would go with the 2600XT over integrated graphics though since that program is a GIS program.
I wouldn't get any type of raptor drive but you should get a bigger HD since the GIS data can take up a lot of space.
The Gigabyte P35 DS3 board is good to and I think it's about $85 now.

I did some more thinking and I don't think you need a quad core because I don't believe the program is multi-threaded.
I would go with the E5200 for $90 to save some money.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072

 

[skywalker9952]

I am assuming she will be working from home so the data will be either
a) On her HDD
b) Online and cached locally as needed

If it is a) I would strongly recommend 2 hard rives, one for system the other for data. You run the program and windows off of one and pull data from the other. That way all the data requests have a dedicated drive. Arc GIS is slow on any computer so don't be disappointed when it is slow on hers. I dont think a workstation class video card would give you anything extra so I think dirt mountain hit it on the head with the HD2600XT for $20 after rebate. The speed of the program on your hardware is also really dependent on what version of the software she is using, what addins, what kind of map data she is using, how much she changes map layers.

So to sum it up: I recommend two HDD, lots of RAM (4GB), and a Quad Core. You can drop to DDR2 800 or even 667 if its is that much cheaper (I don't think it is).

If it is b) then you are screwed, your hardware will be waiting on the network all of the time.