I7 SSD build $1000-2000 Development / light gaming

[bushmango]

I'm looking for a good developer box centering around an i7 920 and a SSD for booting and main programs, perhaps two SSDs in a performance raid. Ideas? $1000-2000 budget.

Some light gaming will be done on the computer so I'd at least like a good single card. More than one video card isn't really necessary unless I decide to run three monitors at the same time. Two will probably be my limit.

 

[jbakerlent]

Edit your post to match the form in my sig and we'll be glad to help you out. Also, a narrower budget would help.

 

[bushmango]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Within one month

BUDGET RANGE: $1000-2000, so about $1500 but willing to go higher if necessary.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Development, gaming

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: 2nd monitor

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg, TigerDirect

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel

OVERCLOCKING: Yes (will be first time overclocking)

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Not right away

MONITOR RESOLUTION:1920 x 1200 main, 1680x1050 2nd maybe 1680x1050 third.

PARTS I'M LOOKING FOR RECOMMENDATIONS ON: all

 

[bushmango]

Sorry, forgot to add the common format the first time I posted.

OS: Windows 7, already have a OEM copy so don't include it in the budget.

 

[jbakerlent]

Welcome to the forum. Something like this should be nice. It comes to just under $1,400

Intel Core i7 860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115214

ASUS P7P55D PRO LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131405&cm_re=p55_motherboards-_-13-131-405-_-Product

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227478

XFX HD-585A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5850 (Cypress Pro) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150442

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&Tpk=f3%20500gb

Intel X25-M Mainstream SSDSA2MH080G2C1 2.5" 80GB SATA II MLC Internal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167016

Antec TruePower New TP-750 750W Continuous Power
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371025

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066&cm_re=antec_300-_-11-129-066-_-Product

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151192

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-GP 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

 

[akash3656]

^^^Nailed it but you should change the motherboard to this: It has no difference in price+ has SATA, USB 3.0 support.
GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD4P
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128409

And get the 1TB version of the hard disk jbakerlent suggested. Which is here:
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

About the SSD and since you are running Windows 7(there is TRIM support). Dont know what is it? Check here when your free: http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3667
Although there is a firmware bug, rest assured once Intel fixes their firmware you will get TRIM. W/o TRIM SSDs slow down gradually after use. that link I gave you will explain everything nicely

 

[bushmango]

Thanks guys!

Yes, I'm excited about the TRIM support! Unfortunately, I hear that it doesn't work with RAID - in case I wanted to combine two SSDs to make a larger boot drive.

How quiet is this going to be? Ultra quiet isn't necessary, but quiet is nice.

Also, do I need anything special to mount the Intel SSD? Isn't it laptop sized?

There also seems to be a lot of debate between the 860 and 920 - which is better for everyday use? There's also some things that are pretty CPU intensive in programming / development.

 

[bushmango]

I think I'll upgrade the case to something fancier:

COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
+$40

Do I need any thermal paste, etc. for the cooler?

Do I need any extenders, etc. because the power supply is on the bottom or does this power supply take care of that?

Thanks again.

 

[bushmango]

Also I'm looking at

Hanns·G HG-281DPB Black 28" 3ms Widescreen LCD HDMI Monitor 500 cd/m2 800:1 Built-in Speakers - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254026
+$310

but I could wait a bit on that.

 

[spoofedpacket]

I would stay away from Hanns monitors. If you are going to spend a lot of time in front of a computer, S-IPS or IPS would be superior for image quality. I personally use the HP2475 and find it worth every penny. It's got the best color for the money and comes with a 3 year HP warranty (under their business line, so it's not the ratty retail warranty if you ever have a problem).

Startech.com makes a good 3.5" to 2.5" adapter w/ power and sata cable for about $12 at Microcenter.

 

[spoofedpacket]

And get the 1TB version of the hard disk jbakerlent suggested. Which is here:
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

The point in the 500GB is performance. The 1TB model has 2 platters, the 500GB is a single platter drive. Combined with NCQ, the single platter drive is quite a performer. Grab a few of those for a raid0 or raid1 setup and they will be screamers.

 

[blackhawk1928]

OP asked for an i7 920, but whatever.
Also OP, you asked in an earlier post about how quiet an SSD is...well it has no moving parts, its silent. First time i use one, i couldn't tell if it was on or off

 

[Sertac]

^^^Nailed it but you should change the motherboard to this: It has no difference in price+ has SATA, USB 3.0 support.
GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD4P
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128409

And get the 1TB version of the hard disk jbakerlent suggested. Which is here:
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

About the SSD and since you are running Windows 7(there is TRIM support). Dont know what is it? Check here when your free: http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3667
Although there is a firmware bug, rest assured once Intel fixes their firmware you will get TRIM. W/o TRIM SSDs slow down gradually after use. that link I gave you will explain everything nicely

he doesnt need a massive mobo

 

[DanielSupertalentSSD]

Another Super Fast SSD solution for $1000 dollars more..the 256GB version of the RAID DRIVE GS from SuperTalent Technology
Link
http://www.supertalent.com/products/ssd_category_detail.php?type=RAIDDrive