$2500-$3500 Workstation

[ForesterGIS]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 07/10/2009BUDGET RANGE: $2500-$3500

Current PC – 2004 Alienware, 3.2 GHZ, 4 GB ram, 3 Raid 1 Mirror arrays, ATI 512MB Graphics Card (recently upgraded), firewire

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Work, GIS mapping, aerial photo processing, video editing, photo processing, multi-tasking, internet, gaming

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, amazon.com, tigerdirect.com, open to suggestions

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel, 85% efficient power supply, workstation, dual flat panels 19”-22”

OVERCLOCKING: Yes SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: Dual DVI flat panels 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I need a fast, intensive, stable workstation that is quiet and efficient. I want a computer that will last for as many years as possible.

Motherboard
1. ASUS P6T6 WS Revolution LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131358
2. ASUS P6T7 WS Supercomputer LGA 1366 Intel X58 CEB Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131390

CPU
1. Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor – Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115211
2. Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor – Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115211
3. XEON??????

Cooling Options
1. Heat Sink
2. Liquid Cooling

Hard drives
Raid 1 Array (1) (Mirror)
(2) Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS 300GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive – OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136322
Raid 1 Array (2) (Mirror)
(2) Western Digital RE3 WD1002FBYS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136313

RAM
4 GB – 6 GB – Suggestions please……

Graphics Card(s)
I like Nvidia, but I am open to suggestions. I need to be able to run Graphics intensive applications. SLI? ArcGIS 9.3

Power Supply
1000Watt – for future proofing – at least 85% efficient

Case
Large Full tower – 8 internal 3.5” bays – at least 1 external 3.5” bay ESATA

Firewire card – if decide to go with MOBO without firewire

I plan on running XP Professional 32 bit until Windows 7 64 bit comes out.

 

[royalcrown]

I'd personally go for this drive instead, I own the blue model and it AVERAGES 80 megs per sec in windows. Unless you're constantly reading and writing millions of tiny files, you probably wont notice a difference in real life and will have money in your pocket.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319


As far as ram, since you said workstation I am assuming no overclocking. That being the case, any memory should do. I find mushkin to be trouble free. It seems also from what I read on here that boards either work great with OCZ or not at all. I'd go with another brand so as to not be a guinea pig myself. On newegg the 4870 x2's dropped to $340, so why not skip crossfire and use the money you save on drives for that ? or out it towards a the Geforce 295...hehe.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102768

If you're doing work stuff like CAD or #D modeling then get a workstation card of course. Also, I have heard some water cooling setups on youtube and they can be pretty loud because of the pump, just something to ask about. I dunno because I air cool.

 

[royalcrown]

oops, overclocking after all, don't have experience with that.

 

[ForesterGIS]

I read an account from a user that had problems with the WD Caviar Black and WD would not warranty because he was using it in a Raid Array.


Which is the best processor? speed, efficiency for $
Core I7 over clocked
Xeon at lower speed
Core 2 Quad