Stable fast workstation

[ntlaxboy]

I'm looking to build a new multipurpose computer, with a price max of ~$1500. I want the computer to be great at multitasking, analyzing large datasets with the R statistical package, and multitasking.

1. Is something like the i7-950 a good choice, or should I be looking at server/workstation processors?

2. I've heard that memory speed doesn't matter as much as quantity, and I will be looking at between 12 and 24GB. Is something like DDR1333 an appropriate speed?

3. I was thinking SATA (III) 6gb/s with 2 small SSDs (in RAID0) then a large SATA drive for movies/music/general drive. Is this worth the cost, or will two SATA II 3gb/s (or even the 6gb/s) 7200rpm drives in RAID0 be approximately the same performance?

Any suggestions would be great, thanks in advance for helping!

 

[jbakerlent]

You may wish to fill out the build advice form in my signature, but here's a start

CPU: ■Intel Core i7 950 -$295-
MOBO: ■Asus Sabertooth X58 -$190-
RAM: ■G.Skill Pi Series 6GB -$155-
Do you know whether these programs can utilize GPUs?
I'd just stick with one SSD+one HDD. If you are asking whether RAID HDDs will compete with SSDs, no they will not.
SSD: ■OCZ Vertex 2 60GB -$145-
HDD: ■Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB -$70-
PSU: ■SeaSonic S12II 520W -$75-
+Case

See what you think.

 

[ntlaxboy]

Some R packages can utilize GPUs, but the majority of things I will be doing (99.9%) would not.

Basically, any programs that I want to boot quickly will be loaded on the SSD, and then everything else would be on the HDD?

Thanks!

 

[ntlaxboy]

Okay, I put all of that information together, and came up with this build. Can people let me know what they think?


http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.523542 CPU+mobo($460)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127504 (gpu $170 AR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231335 (mem $155)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227550 (ssd $125 AR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433 (hdd $70)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.514512 (PSU + case $130)

~$1150, maybe $50 in mail-in rebate


Thanks!

 

[ntlaxboy]

I also forgot an optical drive...also, should I be considering a $30 heatsink or anything?

 

[ntlaxboy]

Best answer selected by ntlaxboy.

 

[jbakerlent]

Sorry for the delay. If you plan on doing much overclocking a nice HSF wouldn't hurt - maybe a Hyper 212+. Also if it's not too late, sub that 465 out for a GTX 460 1GB.

 

[patrickc]

You can also checkout the Fastest Workstation on the market http://www.compucold.com Dual Xeon Workstation 12 cores 24 threads at 4.5Ghz (they are using Intel 5680 Dual Xeon).