Need Advice on xps studio 9000 clone! First time builder.

[sumit76]

Hi Gurus,

I want to build a PC which is expected to perform efficiently to run a lot of demanding scientific computation, photoshop, occasionally games like Call of Duty:MW2 . I watch movies regularly (netflix online/DVD).
I never built a computer before. I would highly appreciate your comments and open to any constructive suggestions. Also, I would be very happy if I could save some money without sacrificing performance too much. Thanks in advance for your critical comments.

I am trying to build a better version of Dell XPS Studio 9000 with following configuration:
Studio XPS 9000: Studio XPS 9000 435TH
Intel® Core™ i7-920 processor(8MB L3 Cache, 2.66GHz)
OS :Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit,
Memory: 12GB Tri-Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz - 6 DIMMs 12G106D
Hard Drives: 1TB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
Video Card: ATI Radeon™ HD 5770 1GB GDDR5 AT5770
Monitor: Dell ST2310 Full HD Monitor with VGA cable
Optical Drives: 16X DVD+/-RW Drive
Sound Card: Soundblaster® X-Fi™ Xtreme Audio
Network: Dell 1525 Wireless-N PCIe Card
Keyboard: Dell Studio Consumer Multimedia Keyboard
Mouse: Dell Studio Optical Mouse
Price: 1734 (including s/h/tax)

Here is the details of the system I am thinking:

Case: Antec Twelve Hundred ATX Gaming Case 160
http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0288150

Processor: Intel Corporation Core i7 920 Processor Boxed 200
http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0302727

Motherboard: EVGA 141-BL-E757-TR LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX X58 SLI LE Intel Motherboard - Retail Core i7, 3xSLI+Phy, E-LEET OC Utility, DDR3 up to 1600MHz 220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188049&cm_re=x58_sli-_-13-188-049-_-Product

Memory: Corsair XMS3 6GB DDR3-1600 (PC-12800) CL8 Memory Kit (Three 2GB Memory Modules) 420
http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0311100

Graphics card: SAPPHIRE 100283L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail 180.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102858


Hard drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive 90.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Power supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply – Retail 139
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009"

CPU cooler: COOLER MASTER Intel Core i7 compatible V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail 60.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009"

CD/DVD burner: PLEXTOR Black 24X DVD+R 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD/CD Writer LightScribe Support - OEM 45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827249054"

Monitor: Dell ST2410 24-inch Full HD Widescreen Monitor with Logitech Wireless Desktop MK 300 Keyboard and Mouse 231
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-1070

Sound card: Creative 70SB073A00000 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer - Retail 65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006

Speakers : None

OS: Windows 7- Professional 64-Bit Edition (Microsoft) (free from school).
Price: 1850 (including s/h/tax)

Regards,
Sumit

 

[obsidian86]

looks ok but just a few changes

G.SKILL PI Series 12GB

faster ram for the same price after the rebate,corsair is good but largely over priced

Antec CP-850 850W Continuous Power

specially made for the big antec cases and one of antec's best units

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

the evga is a great board but they haven got usb 3.0 and sata 3 nailed down yet

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus

just as good as the V8

and maybe bump up to the i7 930 for a few bucks more

 

[coldsleep]

Onboard sound is really good these days, it's highly unlikely you will notice the difference between the mobo sound and a discrete audio card. Losing the audio card saves $65.

You might also look at getting the i7-930 for $6 more than the i7-920.

With that, and Obsidian86's changes above, i think you're good to go.

 

[sumit76]

Dear Obsidian86, Thank you so much for your helpful suggestions. I would make the recommended changes. Please let me know if you have any additional thoughts.

 

[sumit76]

Dear Coldsleep,
Thank you so much. I was also thinking whether I really need the sound card. Thanks for saving me 65 bucks. Please let me know if you recommend anything else.

 

[obsidian86]

looks like good solid build you might wanna add thermal paste

 

[sumit76]

Thanks Obsidian, I would add the thermal paste. Please let me know of any last minute changes. I would start odering it during the weekend.

So this is the final configuration :

Case: Antec Twelve Hundred ATX Gaming Case 160
http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0288150

Processor: Processor: Intel Core i7-930 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 Quad-Core Desktop Processor - Retail 294
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225&cm_re=i7_930_processor-_-19-115-225-_-Product

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail SATA 3.0, USB 3.0, 3x USB power 210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

Memory: G.SKILL PI Series 12GB (6 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7T2-12GBPI – Retail 365
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231331&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

Graphics card: SAPPHIRE 100283L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail 180.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102858

Hard drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive 90.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Power supply: Antec CP-850 850W Continuous Power CPX SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC "compatible with Core i7" Power Supply – 109
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

CPU cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU Cooler - Retail 39
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&cm_re=hyper_212-_-35-103-065-_-Product&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

CD/DVD burner: PLEXTOR Black 24X DVD+R 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD/CD Writer LightScribe Support - OEM 45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827249054"
Monitor: Dell ST2410 24-inch Full HD Widescreen Monitor with Logitech Wireless Desktop MK 300 Keyboard and Mouse 231
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-1070

Thermal Paste: OCZ OCZTFRZTC Freeze Extreme Thermal Conductivity Compound - Retail 5.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835202006&Tpk=ocz%20freeze&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

Sound card: None
Speakers : None
OS: Windows 7- Professional 64-Bit Edition (Microsoft) (free from school).

 

[medievalblade]

hey sumit76,

So i have a Dell Studio XPS 9000 and I am interested on getting a Lightscribe capable optical drive. I read on your posting that you picked one for your system, I want to ask you if this drive worked well for you, of if there were some issues since the eject button is a little different than the way the XPS 9000 chassis works like.

 

[sumit76]

hey sumit76,

So i have a Dell Studio XPS 9000 and I am interested on getting a Lightscribe capable optical drive. I read on your posting that you picked one for your system, I want to ask you if this drive worked well for you, of if there were some issues since the eject button is a little different than the way the XPS 9000 chassis works like.

Hi medievalblade,
I have used HAF922 case. So did not have any problem. I do not have xps 9000 chasis. so cannot tell.
Sorry, I could not be more helpful.
Regards,
Sumit

 

[medievalblade]

ok sumit,

Thank you anyways for taking the time to reply. So far I have not found a drive that works with my case, but I will keep looking for it.

Regards,

Medievalblade