Would a couple people look over my build and give me your thoughts....

[raykinstl]

So let me explain what this system is for first. It may be used for some light gaming, but the main "heavy duty" stuff it will be doing is video recording, editing, and rendering. I use a Hauppage HD PVR and Sony Vegas 11. My current system has a 1 TB media drive in it that I will move over, so that is why this build only has the small SSD drive. I wanted to stay right around 1200$. I am open to changes if I am forgetting something, if something isn't good, or if someone has a better suggestion for something in particular. One thing I will note, that maybe others disagree with, is I am planning on using the stock heatsink/fan that comes with the i7. Everything I've read seems to indicate that it is more than sufficient. Also, I currently have no plans for any overclocking. I will run my Windows 7 Pro on the machine. Any feedback is GREATLY APPRECIATED!

Here are the specs...

Intel Core i7-2600 Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600
Model #:BX80623I72600
Item #:N82E16819115071
$299.99

Intel BOXDZ68DB LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Model #:BOXDZ68DB
Item #:N82E16813121527
$134.99

Intel 320 Series SSDSA2CW160G3K5 2.5" 160GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Model #:SSDSA2CW160G3K5
Item #:N82E16820167053
$319.49

CORSAIR Enthusiast Series CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible ...
Model #:CMPSU-550VX
Item #:N82E16817139004
$89.99

CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8D
Model #:TR3X6G1600C8D
Item #:N82E16820145224
$99.99

PowerColor AX6850 1GBD5-DH Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card ...
Model #:AX6850 1GBD5-DH
Item #:N82E16814131374
$179.99

Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm ...
Model #:CHALLENGER
Item #:N82E16811147153
$49.99

HP 24X Multiformat DVD Writer Black SATA Model 1260i
Model #:HP 1260i
Item #:N82E16827140042
$49.99$

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Model #:AS5-3.5G
Item #:N82E16835100007
$11.98

Total Cost $1211.40

 

[Outlander_04]

All socket 1155 boards for the 2600 use dual channel RAM . You need 2 x2 gig or 2 x4 gig rather than the kit you have chosen

Id also upgrade the PSU to a 650 watt . Even though the 550 will run that the 650 will do it without breaking a sweat and that can be a good thing from the perspective of noise .

Depending on whether or not the programs you use are supported by nVidia CUDA you may be better off with an equivalent nVidia graphics card . ATI has similar technology too so check with the software vendor what is and isnt supported

Your Win 7 Pro needs to be a 64 bit version

 

[raykinstl]

Thanks for the reply. I will up the PSU for sure...I like Corsair PSUs. I'm assuming it will work if I just buy 4 2GB sticks. I want at lest 6 GB of RAM, and I am thinking that 4 2GB sticks will be cheaper than 2 4GB sticks and should run at basically the same speed. The only thing I might run that would be graphic intensive would be games. Do you have a better suggestion for the GFX card? I want to stay below $175 on the GFX card. I am open for better suggestions.

Thanks for the catch on the RAM! And I will definitely be using 64 bit Win 7. anything over 3 GB would be worthless without it

 

[raykinstl]

Also, Outlander, I went with this PSU...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010

750W may be overkill, but I like the modular design.

 

[palladin9479]

Can this project wait a few months? When bulldozer hits store shelves the prices on all current CPU / mobo will go down, you should be able to snatch up a better CPU or get it at a discount.

What is the max RAM supported on that board? If your primary function is video editing then your going to want 8~16GB of memory, the more the merrier. Also is this for a money making business function or are you doing this as a hobby? The GPU you chose should be the one your software supports the best. NVidia has a leg up with CUDA but OpenCL is really gaining steam.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

bulldozer will drive down intel prices. maybe there is an 8 core bulldozer cpu in your price range. that would be the best for your needs.

where did you even find a dvd drive for 50$ they are 20$ at newegg shipped ?

here is a much better motherboard- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502&cm_re=gigabyte_z68-_-13-128-502-_-Product

here is some compatible ram- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104169&Tpk=Kingston%20HyperX%2016GB

ssd- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442 faster cheaper but a little bit smaller

you dont need thermal grease since the cpu cooler has it built in

gpu- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127593 i would invest in a nvidia card for cuda (a 460 will be great too and around the price of a 6850)

 

[raykinstl]

Thanks for the input. I'm gonna look all that stuff over. The DVD drive was $24.99...I copied something wrong. My bad. Good catch

 

[raykinstl]

On the SSD, other things I had read said the Intel 320 series was the way to go. Do you have experience with that drive?

 

[Outlander_04]

We all hope Bulldozer will be a powerful [ hopefully more powerful] and competitive cpu , and that it starts a price war and forces intel to reduce prices .

September should be the release date . Wait for benchmarks

 

[mjmjpfaff]

On the SSD, other things I had read said the Intel 320 series was the way to go. Do you have experience with that drive?

maybe a year ago it was the way to go. the crucial m4 intel 510 and the corsair force 3 (ocz vertex 3) are the way to go now. the force 3 is the fastest ssd for the crucial m4's low price- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233181&cm_re=corsair_force_3-_-20-233-181-_-Product dont mind the bad reviews corsair has fixed the problem

 

[palladin9479]

We all hope Bulldozer will be a powerful [ hopefully more powerful] and competitive cpu , and that it starts a price war and forces intel to reduce prices .

September should be the release date . Wait for benchmarks

Regardless of the performance of bulldozer prices will be forced down. Their going to a smaller process, that along basically guarantee's it'll be faster then current Phenom II's, it'll be butting right into Sandy Bridge territory. This is assuming it's a flop and not a success. If its a success then people might be regretting going SB now, but I don't like betting on maybes.

For cores, I've learned not to go "core crazy". Very few applications take advantage of multiple cores, even modern "games" don't use all the available cores sticking most to two. Four real cores seem to be the sweet spot right now. As a side bonus, four cores have a higher head room for OCing then six or eight cores, especially if their sharing the same die layout. My goal would be to buy the fastest four core unlocked processor and OC the hell out of it.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

too bad he's not doing much gaming palladin9479. he will be doing video editing

 

[palladin9479]

too bad he's not doing much gaming palladin9479. he will be doing video editing

Reread what I was posting in response to. It was specifically about performance of the upcoming BD release effecting prices on CPU's.

Now you can remove your foot from your mouth.

 

[Outlander_04]

Reread what I was posting in response to. It was specifically about performance of the upcoming BD release effecting prices on CPU's.

Now you can remove your foot from your mouth.

What I cant understand is why you seem to have taken offense at my posting . Its a simple statement and is about as unbiased as I could possibly make it .
Have you considered its your foot that needs to be removed from your mouth?

 

[palladin9479]

Umm I didn't take offense to you post? Unless your double posting as mjmjpfaff.

I was actually agreeing with you, as newer stuff means lower prices. Also made the comment that four core processors seem to offer the most bang-for-the-buck currently, although this may not be the same in the future.

 

[raykinstl]

Thanks for all the awesome feedback guys. I appreciate the time you took

 

[mjmjpfaff]

Reread what I was posting in response to. It was specifically about performance of the upcoming BD release effecting prices on CPU's.

Now you can remove your foot from your mouth.

i know exactly what you were talking about: bulldozer and its gaming potential

why dont you remove your foot from your mouth, help the o.p., and not make your point on something irrelevant.

 

[palladin9479]

Regardless of the performance of bulldozer prices will be forced down. Their going to a smaller process, that along basically guarantee's it'll be faster then current Phenom II's, it'll be butting right into Sandy Bridge territory. This is assuming it's a flop and not a success. If its a success then people might be regretting going SB now, but I don't like betting on maybes.

For cores, I've learned not to go "core crazy". Very few applications take advantage of multiple cores, even modern "games" don't use all the available cores sticking most to two. Four real cores seem to be the sweet spot right now. As a side bonus, four cores have a higher head room for OCing then six or eight cores, especially if their sharing the same die layout. My goal would be to buy the fastest four core unlocked processor and OC the hell out of it.

I have ~one~ line mentioning "gaming" and only using it as an example.

Very few applications take advantage of multiple cores, even modern "games" don't use all the available cores sticking most to two.

Then I mentioned that price for useful performance, 4 cores seems to offer the most, especially if your able to overclock them.

Four real cores seem to be the sweet spot right now. As a side bonus, four cores have a higher head room for OCing then six or eight cores, especially if their sharing the same die layout. My goal would be to buy the fastest four core unlocked processor and OC the hell out of it.

All of that is very pertinent to the OP as he's operating on a budget. He can save some money buy going with a 4-core and ocing it and use that money for a higher end GPU that he will use for CUDA / OpenCL. Also the point of the posts was to outline that no matter what happens, the release of BD will force prices down and the OP should be able to pickup an i5 at a steal.

Now to the real meat of your beef, so to speak. I don't care what CPU you prefer, I'm a Sun guy, unfortunately windows doesn't work on UltraSparc so I'm stuck with a x86 platform for my gaming machine vs my production machine which is a Sun workstation.