This is my 1st time build and I've really gotten into it. I've heard a lot of positive things about this community and I've been a lurker for a few weeks. I appreciate your input in advance!
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: within next week or 2
BUDGET RANGE: no limitations but trying to keep it reasonable + justified (<$1000)
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Seeking a replacement for my 5-yr old desktop, looking for performance to do more than one task simultaneously. Primarily used for stock trading software (streaming charts), watching (downloaded) movies, surfing the net, itunes, MS office, etc. Little gaming requiring ultra high-end graphics performance (<$150 on graphics) – may pick it up in the future if I fall in love w/ my system.
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Already have Windows 7 OS, keyboard, mouse, speakers,
2-22” monitors
Antec 300 case ($40)
Corsair 550W PSU ($70)
1 TB Samsung Spinpoint F3 ($80)
Core i5 from Microcenter ($170).
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com or equivalent. Free shipping is key. There is a Microcenter in Chicago, BUT tax is 10% so any benefit is quickly extinguished.
PARTS PREFERENCES: Reputable, highly regarded companies.
OVERCLOCKING: Yes, nothing crazy
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050 times 2
I still need to purchase a mobo, memory, video card, CD/DVD, wireless card, perhaps heatsink. I’m very interested in people’s feedback about P55 mobos and graphic cards. Products I’m considering/questions remaining are as follows:
Graphics
XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card – Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150436 $125
Edit: I was looking at 4850s but the prices don’t seem that much better than the 4870 I have here. Does anyone have any info on the 57xx series coming out soon? I may wait for those darlings.
Mobo/Memory
GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2 LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail and
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH - Retail (DDR3 1600 PC3 12800 CAS 7 1.65V) http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.264221 $185
Price is not necessarily the ultimate factor here, I could spend more for an ATX mobo but am I going to derive any value from it, especially if none of them have true dual PCI Express x16? There is the potential I may upgrade to 2 GPUs in the future, however, given the fun I’ve had so far I may start from scratch for my ultimate trading machine (4-6 monitors…a dream). With this mATX, is there enough room for a graphics card like the 4870 AND a wireless Ethernet card?
Wireless
LINKSYS WMP54G IEEE 802.11b/g, PCI 2.2 and 2.3 32bit PCI2.2 Wireless-G Adapter Up to 54Mbps Wireless Data Rates WEP, WPA, CCX 2.0 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124115 $40
I know most of you don’t use wireless but is it worth it to even spend this much or should I just get some bargain basement card for like $15, i.e. Trendnet
CD/DVD
Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner with LightScribe LightScribe Support – OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118032 $30
Heatsink? Thermal Paste?
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: within next week or 2
BUDGET RANGE: no limitations but trying to keep it reasonable + justified (<$1000)
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Seeking a replacement for my 5-yr old desktop, looking for performance to do more than one task simultaneously. Primarily used for stock trading software (streaming charts), watching (downloaded) movies, surfing the net, itunes, MS office, etc. Little gaming requiring ultra high-end graphics performance (<$150 on graphics) – may pick it up in the future if I fall in love w/ my system.
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Already have Windows 7 OS, keyboard, mouse, speakers,
2-22” monitors
Antec 300 case ($40)
Corsair 550W PSU ($70)
1 TB Samsung Spinpoint F3 ($80)
Core i5 from Microcenter ($170).
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com or equivalent. Free shipping is key. There is a Microcenter in Chicago, BUT tax is 10% so any benefit is quickly extinguished.
PARTS PREFERENCES: Reputable, highly regarded companies.
OVERCLOCKING: Yes, nothing crazy
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050 times 2
I still need to purchase a mobo, memory, video card, CD/DVD, wireless card, perhaps heatsink. I’m very interested in people’s feedback about P55 mobos and graphic cards. Products I’m considering/questions remaining are as follows:
Graphics
XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card – Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150436 $125
Edit: I was looking at 4850s but the prices don’t seem that much better than the 4870 I have here. Does anyone have any info on the 57xx series coming out soon? I may wait for those darlings.
Mobo/Memory
GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2 LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail and
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH - Retail (DDR3 1600 PC3 12800 CAS 7 1.65V) http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.264221 $185
Price is not necessarily the ultimate factor here, I could spend more for an ATX mobo but am I going to derive any value from it, especially if none of them have true dual PCI Express x16? There is the potential I may upgrade to 2 GPUs in the future, however, given the fun I’ve had so far I may start from scratch for my ultimate trading machine (4-6 monitors…a dream). With this mATX, is there enough room for a graphics card like the 4870 AND a wireless Ethernet card?
Wireless
LINKSYS WMP54G IEEE 802.11b/g, PCI 2.2 and 2.3 32bit PCI2.2 Wireless-G Adapter Up to 54Mbps Wireless Data Rates WEP, WPA, CCX 2.0 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124115 $40
I know most of you don’t use wireless but is it worth it to even spend this much or should I just get some bargain basement card for like $15, i.e. Trendnet
CD/DVD
Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner with LightScribe LightScribe Support – OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118032 $30
Heatsink? Thermal Paste?