Centralized Computer Build Advice

[cantjustquit]

Hey guys,

I recently got a new apartment and I plan to have a centralized rig help control the place. The main computer will be using independent virtual desktops to have screens in several rooms of the house, each separately controllable. (I already have software so that each screen can be independently controlled by separate peripherals) The rig will also have a video security system set up to be used when no one is home among other smaller tasks. The main point of this is to have a screen in the 3 main used rooms in the house. The goal is to be able to watch movies in the living room, look up something online in the kitchen and do word processing in the office, all at the same time.

Now, on to the build!

Purchase Date: This/next week

Budget Range: $1200-$1300

Parts Not Required: Monitors, Peripherals

Parts Sites: Currently I'm using Newegg, Frys, and one or two sites for one part but I'll go anywhere.

Country: United States

Parts Preferences: Mid tower case if it's possible

Overclocking: Most likely

SLI/Crossfire: Not at the moment

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 x 3 and 1200x700 x1

Parts:
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T
http://www.frys.com/product/6484202?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

ASUS M4A79XTD EVO
http://www.circuitsnthings.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=110&page=shop.product_details&flypage=yagendoo_VaMazing_2.tpl&product_id=75335&category_id=471

Sony DVD Burning Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039

Enermax Mid Tower Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811124138

Samsung S3 Spinpoint 1TB 7200 RPM Hard Drive x2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Asus EAH6950 DCII
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121431

Rosewill 1000w Modular Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182188

G.Skill Ripjaws RAM 8GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

Scythe Slipstream Case Fan x4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185060

Kingston 16GB SSD (Install OS and more intense apps here)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139428

Cooler Master V8 CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103055

Thermal Star Fan Controller
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8384/bus-175/Thermal-Star_LCD_Media_Panel_7-in-1_Card_Reader_Fan_Controller_Temp_Display_TS-T001.html?tl=g34c139

What do you guys think? I'm not sure that 8GB will be enough RAM.

Thanks!

 

[WR2]

Hello cantjustquit;

How often will each of your nodes be in use at the same time for high performance computing tasks? Watching movies, email, web-surfing and home office tasks won't be a problem. But if someone wants to game on one node with someone on a 2nd node and do video/audio editing on a 3rd node we might need to talk further about your RAM requirements.

 

[cantjustquit]

Not to often. All of the nodes except the one in the main living room will be used for browsing/office tasks/listening to music mostly. The main node will probably run skyrim and a few other games.

 

[WR2]

I think 8GB is going to be fine for you.
And if you ever find you're hosting virtual Crysis2 LAN meets on your system you can always upgrade the RAM later.

I do suggest a larger SSD boot drive - nothing less than 60GB/64GB although I think its double what you really need.

I'm scratching my head and trying to understand why you'd buy a $30 case and then put $100 worth of fans/fan controller in it. Most of us would probably just get a really nice $130 case. What are your thoughts there?

 

[cantjustquit]

I figured that I would need a better CPU cooler and fans anyway. So I didn't put to much thought into the case. Would I be better off with just a nicer case?

 

[WR2]

I think you look at the better cases and you'll bypass the need for a fan controller and aftermarket fans. Do you have a certain style you like?

I'm also thinking about an AM3+ motherboard.
ASRock 970 EXTREME4 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS $105 this is a net cost increase but I think its a better overall value in the long run.

 

[WR2]

COOLER MASTER Storm Scout $70 a/r and free shipping
CM Storm Scout review

 

[WR2]

Just by chance;
the red LED thing the CM Scout has going on is complimented by the red LED thing the CM V8 cooler is swinging too.

 

[cantjustquit]

If that case can pull the same amount of cooling, than all the better. Good find on the motherboard. For $10 more and it being a newer, better board, I'm all for it.

 

[cantjustquit]

Most of the cases I'm looking at can't fit the GPU. I need at least 12" clearance to get it in there

 

[WR2]

HD 6950 fits fine in the CM Storm Scout.

Confirmed by NewEgg customer reviews:

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