High performance computer under $10K

[roror]

Here is something based on "Kay's Number Cruncher" in "BestConfigs - High-End Workstation" thread. Let me know if you think it is optimal.

I'll use it for scientific computation, large data analysis and numerical simulation. I'll install Ubuntu on it.

Processor: 2 x Intel Xeon X5690 @ $1700 each
Motherboard: SUPERMICRO MBD-X8DAH+-O Dual LGA 1366 @ $450
RAM: 3 x WINTEC 48GB @ $1000 each
Graphics Card: EVGA 01G-P3-1373-AR GeForce GTX 460 @$190
Boot Hard Drive: OCZ RevoDrive 220GB @ $520
Program Hard Drive : HITACHI Ultrastar 15K600 600GB @ $460
Data Hard Drive: SAMSUNG EcoGreen F4 2TB @$80
Case: LIAN LI PC-V2120B Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case @$400
Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W @ $115
Cooling: Intel BXSTS100A Active heat sink with fixed fan @$35
DVD Burner: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM @ $20
Monitors : 2x AOC e2343F @ $190 each

Total $9020

 

[bgp0231]

Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Cooler Master 942 HAF X
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition 3960X 3.3GHz (Six-Core) (Extreme Performance)
Motherboard: ASUS Rampage IV Extreme X79 (Intel X79 Chipset) (Features USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s)
System Memory: 64GB DDR3 1600MHz Corsair Dominator DHX (High-Performance)
Power Supply: 1200W Corsair Pro Platinum Series with Corsair Link (CP-9020008-NA) (Quad SLI Compatible)
Expansion Bay: Internal Digital Media Card Reader (Black)
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (180GB Solid State (By: Intel) (Model: 520 Series)
Set 1 Raid Options: Configure HDD Set 1 to a Raid 1 Config - Mirror (Requires Two HDDs)
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: 1x (180GB Solid State (By: Intel) (Model: 520 Series)
Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: ASUS Blu-Ray Player/DVD Writer (Play Blu-Ray and Burn DVDs) (Model: BC-12B1ST)
Optical Drive 2: ASUS Blu-Ray Player/DVD Writer (Play Blu-Ray and Burn DVDs) (Model: BC-12B1ST)
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card(s): 2x SLI Quad SLI (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 4GB (Includes PhysX)
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Creative Labs Recon3D Fatal1ty Champion 5.1 (Includes Front I/O) (PCI-Express Slot Based)
Extreme Cooling: H20: Stage 6: Sub-Zero LCS Dual Loop: CPU & Quad SLI/CrossFire Video Cards & Chipset
H20 Tube Color: Red Tubing with High-Performance Fluid (UV Lighting Reactive)
Chassis Airflow: Upgrade Chassis With Zalman Performance Fans (Up to 6 Fans)
Internal Lighting: Internal Chassis Lighting System (White)
Enhancements: Strike-X AeroCool Temperature Display & Fan Controller (Requires Chassis Airflow Upgrade)
Chassis Mods: HailStorm & 950Si: Processor & Video Card Area: Drill and Mount Two Side Window 120mm Fan Blow-Holes
Noise Reduction: Noise Suppression Package Stage 2 (Optimized Airflow & Fan Speeds with Noise Dampening Material)
LaserMark: - No Thanks
CPU Boost: Stage 2: Overclock CPU 4.5GHz to 4.8GHz (Requires Pro/Deluxe/Sabertooth Motherboard)
Graphics Boost: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Memory Boost: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
OS Boost: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate (64-Bit Edition)
Recovery Tools: Advanced Recovery Kit (40GB Hard Drive Partition of Image With OS & Drivers)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: Microsoft Office 2010 Pro (PC Attach Key PKC )
Game: - No Thanks
Display: NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround Setup (3x Triple Asus 3D Panels 23 inch VG236H (Includes 3D Glasses)
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Exclusive T-Shirt: - No Thanks
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 10-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty

$9,924.00

 

[arzbhatia]

10K?! WOW. You're rich! ^ I'd go with what he suggested.

 

[willyroc]

10K?! WOW. You're rich! ^ I'd go with what he suggested.

No. A Dual Xeon platform with specifically those Xeons will each perform about 15% better than the 3960X. OP's uses are not for gaming, so I don't see why he should need Quad-SLI 690s -.-" . He can be better off with a single mid-end card which supports dual monitors. Other than that, OP, your build is fine. However, I would add a RAID card and another one of those F4s in a RAID 1 array to ensure data-security so that it will not be lost when one of the drive dies.

 

[arzbhatia]

^ What I thought too after commenting :|

For use as a workstation, get a Quadro card instead?