Help For New Build With 6 Monitors Budget $3-5k

Hi All,

A middle aged man needs help (40) please! I am looking to start my 4th build, as my 3rd build (12 months ago) has never been completely "right". I seem to have suffered many performance issues.

I use my computer solely for work purposes, using code editors, CS4, light video editing and database work. My computer is on 24 hours a day and uses 6 Samsung monitors (4 x 19" with 1280 x 1024), 1 x 23" widescreen (2048 x 1152) and 1 x 24" widescreen (1920 x 1080). I always have at least 5 programmes running at the same time.

My main requirements are for a "super stable" system, running RAID 1, that can handle multiple programmes open at the same time.

My current build set up is:

XP Pro SP3 32-bit
Cooler Master Cosmos 1000
ThermalTake TMG i1 CPU Fan
Core Duo E8500 3.16GHz
Intel DX48BT2 Motherboard
4GB Crossair 1333MTz DDR3 (CM3X1024-1333C9DHX)
2 x Western Digital 120GB 7200rpm hard drives (both using Blowfish data encryption)
2 x ATI Radeon 3870
1 x VisionTek Radeon HD4870

I have been researching and come up with the following specs for my 4th build:

XP Pro SP3 32-bit
Cooler Master RC-1100 Comos S
Cooler Master V10 CPU Fan
Intel i7 920 or 950
ASUS P6T6 WS Revolution Motherboard
RAM - not sure
2 x Western Digital VelociRaptor 150GB 10,000rpm
3 x VisionTek Radeon HD4870 or BFG GeForce GTX 280

What do you all think? Please post any idea's on this or suggest a your system build. Budget $3000 - $5000, new parts only.

Thanks!

1ST PC CORP. 12" 8-pin/P4+P4-pin EPS female converted from molex 4-pin male Cable Model CB-4M-8F - Retail
Item #: N82E16812706003
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$7.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6812706003



SAMSUNG DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223L LightScribe Support - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151188
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

$32.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151188



COOLER MASTER COSMOS S RC-1100-KKN1-GP Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811119150
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$199.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119150



SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822152181
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

-$5.00 Instant $109.98
$99.98 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152181
($49.99 each)



SAPPHIRE 100282SR Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Retail
Item #: N82E16814102857
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

$519.98 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102857
($259.99 each)



CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail
Item #: N82E16817139006
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

-$60.00 Instant
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$179.99
$119.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139006



Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound - Retail
Item #: N82E16835154003
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$2.00 Instant $6.99
$4.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835154003



G.SKILL 12GB (6 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9T2-12GBNQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231260
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
$239.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231260



ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131365
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

$289.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131365



Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115202
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
-$9.00 Instant $288.99
$279.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115202



XIGMATEK Intel Core i7 compatible Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail
Item #: N82E16835233029
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

$44.98 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233029
Subtotal: $1,840.86



With two 5850 you save buying 3 GTX280s thos 2 should run 6 displays check out some websites might be able to do 6 displays with 1 card if so i would get the 5870

http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10 [...] single-ca/

http://www.amd.com/us/products/tec [...] inity.aspx

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/a [...] ,8637.html

You will want to look into buying win 7 so you can use more ram

I'd switch out the ram for 2 of these kits:

OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227365

$149 each with $30 Mail In Rebate for each

Also, if you're not going to game get 2 of these instead:

XFX HD-575X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5750 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
Double Lifetime Manufacture Warranty
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150448

$139.99 If You Buy 2 or More

And then of course get Windows 7 64 bit