Rate My Purchase: ~$1000 Upgradeable Workstation/Gaming PC

nshifley

Distinguished
Oct 2, 2010
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18,510
Just spent literally my last dime purchasing these components from Newegg. Really needing some positive validation. :) Tell me I made a good (compatible?) purchase. Well, actually just tell me the truth. Looking back now, it's pretty much a close derivative of Hardware Revolution's $1250 Workstation Build.

I'm going to be using the following machine for, in order of personal importance:
1) Music Production
2) Writing
3) Gaming (FO: New Vegas, Civilization V, CoD: Black Ops)

The build does not include the display monitor (gonna be a Dell U2311H for the curious [eventually x3 using nVidia 3D Surround]), speakers (probably KRK Rokit 8's for my music production), or O/S (Windows 7). K, here's the receipt:


DISCOUNT FOR COMBO #525316
-$50.00 (for the Video Card + PSU)

DISCOUNT FOR AUTOADD #16704
-$5.99 (for the SC2 gift below, I guess)

GIFT StarCraft2 - FREE Trial Version Game coupon
$5.99

LIAN LI PC-9F Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$139.99
Just because HR recommended it ($1250 Workstation Build) and I wanted something "classy".

Open Box: ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
[strike]$199.99[/strike] $150.99
Open box motherboard, I know... But for 25% off, I am willing to take the risk. Selected from HR's $1250 Workstation Build.

MSI N460GTX CYCLONE 1GD5/OC GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
[strike]$232.99[/strike] $222.99
Plan to add another in SLI soon.

PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk II PPCMK2S750 750W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified ...
[strike]$159.99[/strike] $129.99
750W for the future SLI. Bought based on HR's recommendation as the $1250 Workstation Build upgrade and because of the great Video Card/PSU -$50 combo.

Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950
[strike]$299.99[/strike] $294.99
Bought based on HR's recommendation in the $1250 Workstation Build.

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
$84.99
Going to surely need more RAM in the future for the workstation aspects, but the overhead is there with this build (up to 12gb of this RAM).

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD322GJ/U 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$42.99
Gonna eventually have four of these in RAID-10, as per Hardware Revolution's recommendation. Will upgrade as storage is needed.

LITE-ON SK-1688U/B Black USB Wired Standard Keyboard
[strike]$6.99[/strike] $5.99
Just went for the cheapest well-reviewed option because I was out of a budget by the time I got to input devices! :p

Microsoft Wheel Mouse Optical - OEM
$14.99
Again, went for the cheapest well-reviewed option.

Open Box: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
[strike]$19.99[/strike] $16.99
Will eventually replace this with LG's $99 Blu-Ray Burner.

ZALMAN CNPS10X Performa 120mm Long life CPU Cooler
[strike]$49.99[/strike] $44.99
Again, because HR recommended it.

Subtotal $1,099.89
Tax $0.00
UPS 3 Days $38.74
Order Total $1,138.63


So there it is. Also get $15 back from a mail-in rebate on the video card, I think. Gotta jet. Think I covered everything... let me know what you think! Thanks!
 
don't get open box, it lacks everything but the board, by the time you buy stabdoffs, scres, and cables, you'll be right back at full price.
This Gigabyte is $161 with promo code, only $11 more.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128456


You need to get triple channel RAM with an x58 board:


This Mushkin ddr3-1333 kit is only $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1682022606

This G.Skill kit of ddr3-1600 is $129
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225

Try the Coolermastr 212 cooler, its much cheaper ($25)
 

nshifley

Distinguished
Oct 2, 2010
2
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18,510
Thanks, I cancelled my order because of the RAM issue and will reorder in a few days when the money returns to my bank account. The customer service rep wanted me to just receive the order and RMA the RAM, but I figured that would have taken like two extra weeks. Would have to receive the order, ship back the RAM, wait for them to process the RMA, order the new RAM, and then wait to receive the new RAM. Nonsense. Had to really barrel through her persistent attempts to stop my order cancellation.

For the RAM, thinking of going with:

CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory

Also realized I'm only paying $4 more with the CPU/Mobo Combo over the Open-Box Mobo, so think I'm gonna play it safe with the re-order and go for that Combo.

Thanks for the heads up, Screwy, especially on the RAM issue.