CPU $ vs. SSD $ - Hard Choice Please Help!

[jaquith]

I am "trying" to select a system and I am painfully struggling with the following choices. I have a hard-budget and option 1 is my max+.

1. i7-930 (2.80GHz) + [Corsair] 256GB SSD (+$200 US)
2. i7-975 Extreme (3.33GHz) + [WD] RAID 1 SATA III/(2X)1TB HHD/64MB Cache /7200 RPM

Obviously, I realize the SSD drive is faster than the HHD but so is the CPU in the above. Yes, I prefer RAID 1 "peace of mind" - this system is used in my day to day life (I will never RAID 0 a HDD). My thoughts are once the initial application + data is loaded it is all about CPU, but Filemaker Pro is about Disk + CPU.

However, for example I run Filemaker Pro with *HUGE* (6 GB+ - textual ; 18-60 related record files) records Millions of records and the some relational searches take 5+ minutes and a weekly data output that can take several hours to process. The non-indexable relational searches are what bothers me the most.


THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!


Basic build info:
MOBO GigaByte GA-X58A-UD3R w/ SATA III+RAID
RAM 6GB (2GBx3) DDR3/1600MHz Triple Channel Corsair Dominator

 

[Maziar]

Performance wise,I would go for the first one,because i7 930 is a great OC'er so you can OC it to match i7 975 or even faster

 

[ksampanna]

Seconded. You could easily OC the 920 to about 4 Ghz (with proper cooling, though). Also the SSD will perform much faster than any HDD.

 

[daship]

Id go for option 1, but without the SSD, you will wear out a SSd relatively quick with filemaker pro.

 

[basket687]

You shouldn't really consider the i7 975 anymore since the i7 980X is released, but I still think that the SSD route is better.

 

[jaquith]

You shouldn't really consider the i7 975 anymore since the i7 980X is released, but I still think that the SSD route is better.

The ONLY reason is that I found a great deal with the i7 975 for $600 (normally it's $900-$1000) verses the i7 930 at $290 which is close to 50% off though a vendor. Sale = Buy according to my wife! Hence, my budget got blown for my greeeeedy eye on the i7 975. Budgets suck ... otherwise everyone would have $10K+ systems. I began with a $1000 then went to $1300 now I'm looking at $1700+ and need to get real and stop at $1500 - BTW because I'm married so I'm going to be in the dog house as it is.

Thanks!

 

[jaquith]

I purchased the i7 930 with a 128GB SSD + 1 TB [WD] SATA III/1TB HHD/64MB Cache /7200 RPM for the Documents. I came within my target budget of <$1,500 after discounts and MIRs.

This is a Business rig for my Wife at home and she does not play games. I got an okay HD 5770 GPU that I can crossfire in the future. The system is also water cooled for noise and just in case I mildly overclock. It's all about Performance-to-Money.


Thanks!

 

[Maziar]

That's a great config,enjoy it

 

[basket687]

The ONLY reason is that I found a great deal with the i7 975 for $600 (normally it's $900-$1000) verses the i7 930 at $290 which is close to 50% off though a vendor. Sale = Buy according to my wife! Hence, my budget got blown for my greeeeedy eye on the i7 975. Budgets suck ... otherwise everyone would have $10K+ systems. I began with a $1000 then went to $1300 now I'm looking at $1700+ and need to get real and stop at $1500 - BTW because I'm married so I'm going to be in the dog house as it is.

Thanks!

In fact I would get the newly released i7 875k if I wanted a fully unlocked quad core, it is cheaper than the i7 975 and not really inferior to it.

 

[basket687]

Sorry I did not notice that you have already purchased the parts!

 

[jaquith]

Sorry I did not notice that you have already purchased the parts!

That's okay. Threads and especially opinions are what it is all about. In the next few months I will need to replace my current machine and like everything new stuff is always coming.

5 years from now people will be belly laughing about i7s and that $1500 machine will be $100 after a rebate...

Thanks!!!


---

FYI - I priced a similar system from Dell XPS 9000 with a RAID 1 (x2) 1TB and a i7 920 that came out to $1,798.99 ; stock CPU cooler, 8 Gb DDR3 [Dual Chanel] (4 x 2 1066Mhz), "spaghetti wired", and I am certain with very junky components... Unless you go to Alienware no SSD and no liquid cooling, but you'll pay even more $$.

 

[jaquith]

Best answer selected by jaquith.

 

[enzo matrix]

Id go for option 1, but without the SSD, you will wear out a SSd relatively quick with filemaker pro.

Read does not wear an SSD at all. Write does. How much of this usage with filemaker pro is write? Specs-wise, modern SSDs can take GBs per day and still last 10 years or so. (WD specsheet for their blue SSDs)