[Solved]Building a home gaming and modeling PC - could use some advice

[crazyjts]

All,

I'm planning to build a new system at home (my first build) and I could use some advice/help from those who use theirs in a similar manner. I'll be using it for a combination of gaming (currently Star Wars Galaxies but will change to Star Wars: The Old Republic when it comes out) and for 3D modeling using SolidWorks 2009. The following is my basic info:

BUDGET: $1200 MAX

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 30-60 days

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming and Solid modeling

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: mouse, keyboard, monitors

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg or Amazon

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel CPU, I'm open on all other parts

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680 x 1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: quiet is good, low heat signature (it's going to be in a cubby in my desk), tower or mid-tower form factor

I've selected most of the items that I thought we be a good fit for my use but could use advice.

CPU: Intel Q9550

MOBO: Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P

RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Blackline Ascent 4gb x2

HD: WD Caviar Black 1TB

PSU: Thermaltake W0117RU

Case: NZXT LEXA Blackline

CPU Fan: suggestions (if needed)

DVD: suggestions with LiteScribe technology

GPU: suggestions, currently using a Geforce 8800GTS most of the time but I also have a Quadro FX570, the 8800 is great for the gaming but lousy for modeling, the FX570 is ok for modeling and lousy for gaming.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

It's a very bad idea to build a new system around dead technology (LGA 775 and DDR2). Here's some suggestions:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.354310 $344.98 (Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz + ASUS P7P55D-E combo)

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM - Retail $114.99 each

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $89.99 (if it comes in stock by the time you purchase)

or

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $89.99

Antec TruePower New TP-550 550W 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply] $89.99

You're in a tough spot on the GPU. Like you said, gaming GPU's are great for gaming, but lousy at modeling. Workstation GPU's are great at modeling, but lousy at gaming. I'm not sure what to tell you on that. It's very hard to build a system that excels at both.

 

[crazyjts]

Thank you for the suggestions...is LGA 775/DDR2 being phased out in favor of the i series and DDR3?

 

[Proximon]

TP-750 is a far better PSU for less:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371022&cm_re=TP-750-_-17-371-022-_-Product

I don't think you really want to use LGA 775. It's simply outdated and that processor is about the best you'll ever get for it. For the same cost or nearly you can get a better system that will support future CPU upgrades should you get the urge.

You would also benefit from the tri-channel memory and 6GB I think.

Intel i7 930 and gigabyte UD3R X58 board combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.355680

G.skill DDR3 1333 CL7 6GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231230&cm_re=6GB_DDR3_1333-_-20-231-230-_-Product

Desk cubbies are not the place for modern computer parts. If you have to, mod the desk for ventilation.

Or get a nice looking, quiet but ventilated case like this Antec:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.345258
(in combo with the PSU)

 

[obsidian86]

yes 775 is already becoming rare and expensive same with ddr2

or even cheaper and better psu CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Thank you for the suggestions...is LGA 775/DDR2 being phased out in favor of the i series and DDR3?

They aren't being phased out. They have been phased out.

Just look at the ridiculous price of the Q9550. It's priced that high because it's like a relic now. You can get much better performance for your money with current hardware. The same goes for DDR2 RAM.

 

[whitefang]

It's a very bad idea to build a new system around dead technology (LGA 775 and DDR2). Here's some suggestions:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.354310 $344.98 (Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz + ASUS P7P55D-E combo)

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM - Retail $114.99 each

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $89.99 (if it comes in stock by the time you purchase)

or

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $89.99

Antec TruePower New TP-550 550W 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply] $89.99

You're in a tough spot on the GPU. Like you said, gaming GPU's are great for gaming, but lousy at modeling. Workstation GPU's are great at modeling, but lousy at gaming. I'm not sure what to tell you on that. It's very hard to build a system that excels at both.

I would go with this, except get the Earthwatt 750 or the TP750. Or you could get the earthwatt 650 + antec 300 combo $-20

a 5850 is a great video card, it would easily fit in your budget. I don't know anything about modeling but you selected gaming before modeling so the 5850 would be right for you.

Also, grab the hyper 212 for $35.

 

[Shadow703793]

TP-750 is a far better PSU for less:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371022&cm_re=TP-750-_-17-371-022-_-Product

I don't think you really want to use LGA 775. It's simply outdated and that processor is about the best you'll ever get for it. For the same cost or nearly you can get a better system that will support future CPU upgrades should you get the urge.

You would also benefit from the tri-channel memory and 6GB I think.

Intel i7 930 and gigabyte UD3R X58 board combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.355680

G.skill DDR3 1333 CL7 6GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231230&cm_re=6GB_DDR3_1333-_-20-231-230-_-Product

Desk cubbies are not the place for modern computer parts. If you have to, mod the desk for ventilation.

Or get a nice looking, quiet but ventilated case like this Antec:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.345258
(in combo with the PSU)

It's a very bad idea to build a new system around dead technology (LGA 775 and DDR2). Here's some suggestions:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.354310 $344.98 (Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz + ASUS P7P55D-E combo)

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM - Retail $114.99 each

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $89.99 (if it comes in stock by the time you purchase)

or

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $89.99

Antec TruePower New TP-550 550W 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply] $89.99

You're in a tough spot on the GPU. Like you said, gaming GPU's are great for gaming, but lousy at modeling. Workstation GPU's are great at modeling, but lousy at gaming. I'm not sure what to tell you on that. It's very hard to build a system that excels at both.

+1. Well said.

@OP: As far as SolidWork goes, it will work fine with the 5850. I have SolidWorks/Inventor running on a 4870 and the only problem that I see is that during some large assembles renderings done in PhotoWorks don't quite look right (some artifacts here and there). This happened on my old 8800GTX until I softmodded it to a Quaddro . Just doing some 3D work should be fine on the 5850.

 

[swifty_morgan]

Bad call suggesting using the i5 750.... no hyper threading. Something very useful for your needs. If you go i5 try the next processor up... 860 I believe.? I like the suggestion of the 930 i7 rig. By all means go for 8gig of ram.
I have a 9550 with 8gig and it's snappy as hell. I also crunch textures and build/compile maps for pc games. I see no problems with it. Having said that..... I too would not buy the 775 stuff now. Idiotic how high those prices are.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I almost suggested the i7 860. In fact, the last CAD machine I built for a customer used an i7 860 with 8GB of RAM and a Quadro GPU. I've been hitting up the Autodesk forums, though, and have been reading of many cases where the hyperthreading actually hurts performance in 2009 Autodesk CAD software. I haven't found firm confirmation that it's been fixed in the 2010 versions. The problem seems to be that the software will only utilize one core when HT is turned on, but use all four cores when it's turned off. It's worth checking out.

 

[crazyjts]

All...

Thank you for the help. I changed almost everything I had planned on buying for that noted above. You saved me from building an outdated machine from the get go and saved me a little bit of money in the process.

 

[Shadow703793]

I almost suggested the i7 860. In fact, the last CAD machine I built for a customer used an i7 860 with 8GB of RAM and a Quadro GPU. I've been hitting up the Autodesk forums, though, and have been reading of many cases where the hyperthreading actually hurts performance in 2009 Autodesk CAD software. I haven't found firm confirmation that it's been fixed in the 2010 versions. The problem seems to be that the software will only utilize one core when HT is turned on, but use all four cores when it's turned off. It's worth checking out.

Hmm.... that is interesting. I run an OCed i7 920 with Inventor Pro 2010 and I haven't noticed any slow down compared to a Q6600 @3.6. Linky?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The problems I was reading about all seemed tied to the 2009 versions. It seems they've solved the problem in the 2010 versions.