Any suggestions for improvements would be great!
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: The next week, hopefully.
BUDGET RANGE W/O MONITOR: $1500 +/- 10% including shipping, before rebates (rebates can be unreliable, therefore I don’t count them until I’m depositing the refund.)
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: I’m an engineering student first and foremost, therefore related software (MATLAB, Simulink, Maple, SoildWorks, Ansys-finite element analysis), word processing; I’d like to be able to relax and play some of the modern games, surf the internet, and a platform to pursue my quest for world domination.
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg, tigerdirect – I’d like to be able to use the 12 months same as cash, so I guess mainly Newegg (unless there is some part Tigerdirect hugely undercuts in price.)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel CPU, the reset as long as they are reputable, reliable and offer decent customer service*
OVERCLOCKING: Yes, likely processor only.
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe, in the future (I’ve selected a PSU for the ‘just in case.’
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 (monitor is listed below parts)
*ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Being my first build, I will likely need help from manufactures, forums and any soul willing to help if something doesn’t work. Therefore, I've stuck with name brands, mostly retails versions as I wll need manuals for assembly.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parts and prices as of 01-17-2010
Here is the build that I have prepared thus far. Virtually every part choose was based on ratings at Newegg, suggestions found here at Tom's or by way of links to other reputable review sites. Feedback on any components or alternative builds is welcome.
Combo: ASUS P6X58D Premium LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard & Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 $589.98
Combo: Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case & Antec CP-850 850W Continuous Power CPX SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC $239.30
I'm not familiar with pulse width modulation PSUs and mainly selected this because I saw it suggest here on Tom's and it is a heck of a deal on Newegg assuming the PSU is quality
[strike]==>I'm also considering dropping the case & PSU combo shown above for:
Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case $159.99
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply $139.99
Combined these two are $60 more than the Antec/Antec combo above, so if the Antec PSU is quality I'd prefer it for the sake of value.[/strike]
[strike]Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme Universal CPU Cooler 120mm Magnetic Fluid Dynamic LED Fan and Fan Controller/Heatsink Rev.1 $62.99I based this on the reviews given at frostytech. My hesitation is that the product is new and aside from Frostytech, there are very, very few customer experience reviews.[/strike]
XIGMATEK Intel Core i7 compatible Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler $44.96
So after the suggestins made below and a fair bit more research I decided to scale back from a "premium cooler" as I don't plan on doing extreme overclocking, just some. Also helps keep cost closer to $1500.
[strike]CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8D $219.99
I had a hard time finding RAM on the QVL for the MOBO that wasn't deactivated (perhaps I just randomly picked badly). The cost is certainly higher then I want so I'd like some input on an alternative which is compatible and of course available.[/strike]
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ $149.99
Thanks a4mula
SAPPHIRE 100281SR Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity $399.99
Thoughts on the 5870 versus the 5850 which is $100 less would be great. Or if there is another card that is better but not more expensive than the 5870, I'd like to know that too.
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $89.99
Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM $25.99
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound $6.99
[strike]Sub-total (shipped): $1657.60[/strike]
Sub-total (shipped): $1569.60
---
MONITOR:
ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 20000:1) Built in Speakers
$199.99
Sub-total (shipped): $208.98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[strike]GRAND TOTAL (shipped): $1866.58[/strike]
GRAND TOTAL (shipped): $1778.58
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: The next week, hopefully.
BUDGET RANGE W/O MONITOR: $1500 +/- 10% including shipping, before rebates (rebates can be unreliable, therefore I don’t count them until I’m depositing the refund.)
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: I’m an engineering student first and foremost, therefore related software (MATLAB, Simulink, Maple, SoildWorks, Ansys-finite element analysis), word processing; I’d like to be able to relax and play some of the modern games, surf the internet, and a platform to pursue my quest for world domination.
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg, tigerdirect – I’d like to be able to use the 12 months same as cash, so I guess mainly Newegg (unless there is some part Tigerdirect hugely undercuts in price.)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel CPU, the reset as long as they are reputable, reliable and offer decent customer service*
OVERCLOCKING: Yes, likely processor only.
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe, in the future (I’ve selected a PSU for the ‘just in case.’
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 (monitor is listed below parts)
*ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Being my first build, I will likely need help from manufactures, forums and any soul willing to help if something doesn’t work. Therefore, I've stuck with name brands, mostly retails versions as I wll need manuals for assembly.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parts and prices as of 01-17-2010
Here is the build that I have prepared thus far. Virtually every part choose was based on ratings at Newegg, suggestions found here at Tom's or by way of links to other reputable review sites. Feedback on any components or alternative builds is welcome.
Combo: ASUS P6X58D Premium LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard & Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 $589.98
Combo: Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case & Antec CP-850 850W Continuous Power CPX SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC $239.30
I'm not familiar with pulse width modulation PSUs and mainly selected this because I saw it suggest here on Tom's and it is a heck of a deal on Newegg assuming the PSU is quality
[strike]==>I'm also considering dropping the case & PSU combo shown above for:
Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case $159.99
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply $139.99
Combined these two are $60 more than the Antec/Antec combo above, so if the Antec PSU is quality I'd prefer it for the sake of value.[/strike]
[strike]Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme Universal CPU Cooler 120mm Magnetic Fluid Dynamic LED Fan and Fan Controller/Heatsink Rev.1 $62.99I based this on the reviews given at frostytech. My hesitation is that the product is new and aside from Frostytech, there are very, very few customer experience reviews.[/strike]
XIGMATEK Intel Core i7 compatible Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler $44.96
So after the suggestins made below and a fair bit more research I decided to scale back from a "premium cooler" as I don't plan on doing extreme overclocking, just some. Also helps keep cost closer to $1500.
[strike]CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8D $219.99
I had a hard time finding RAM on the QVL for the MOBO that wasn't deactivated (perhaps I just randomly picked badly). The cost is certainly higher then I want so I'd like some input on an alternative which is compatible and of course available.[/strike]
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ $149.99
Thanks a4mula
SAPPHIRE 100281SR Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity $399.99
Thoughts on the 5870 versus the 5850 which is $100 less would be great. Or if there is another card that is better but not more expensive than the 5870, I'd like to know that too.
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $89.99
Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM $25.99
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound $6.99
[strike]Sub-total (shipped): $1657.60[/strike]
Sub-total (shipped): $1569.60
---
MONITOR:
ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 20000:1) Built in Speakers
$199.99
Sub-total (shipped): $208.98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[strike]GRAND TOTAL (shipped): $1866.58[/strike]
GRAND TOTAL (shipped): $1778.58
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------