Hi,
Most of my computers are MAC and I emulate Windows. However, at my research lab (I'm a PhD Student) my main machine is Windows 7, a very powerful dell (I think.) I'm been wanting to get my a Windows Desktop. First I started looking a systems already built, but since I used to make my own PC (before moving to mac) , I think I will be better off building one myself. However, it has been probably more than 6 or 7 years since I have done it, and there are so many options out there, that I need some help.
In the past, I have used primarily Intel CPU and all my computers that I have (including macs and the windows 7) are intel. So, I guess I can continue with the same. For most part, I have always used Intel, but I'm not closed to AMD. For motherboards, the ones that I had success in the past were Asus, Gigabyte, SuperMicro (for servers) and than motherboards. Of course, Asus seem to be always one of the most expensive.
One of the problems that I have building my system is that I'm not sure which motherboard to pick. I would like something that is not expensive, but yet has nice features and has the ability to upgrade additional ram (possibly more than 8gb) and some room.
I don't want the machines to play games, but part of my research does requires to do heavy graphics either using OpenGL or OGRE3D. I'm not going to run any virtual machines, but having the extra power if I need to run one in vmware workstation will work. I will use Windows 7 but it will be nice that I will be able to use it when Windows 8 comes out (but I'm only concern with windows 8)
Because video cards can be expensive, I don't need a very powerful one now, specially that I could change it later. but it has to be able to support the latest if possible of opengl and possibly the newest directx that is in used for windows 7.
I just one video card , preferably nvidia chipset to have something different from the one at school (ATI) . But if the motherboard has the option to have 2 video cards, or say 4, it is even better.
In general, the system does not need to be so powerful now, but I will like to in time add/replace
video cards
memory
with this in mind, I give you the description for the system .
Approximate Purchase Date: No later than January 2012, but i can start buying some of the parts before
Budget Range: 500 to 800 dollars (before rebates... if I get rebates, fine, but I hate rebates.) but if needed, I can go up to 1000
System Usage from Most to Least Important: OpenGL and 3DOgre3D , Visual Studio 2010 and DirectX3D for most important, secondary maybe to run Vmware workstation , third maybe to run some emulation software for older computer (Atari 8-bit for example, Atari ST) and of course Internet.
Parts Not Required: No software required (School gives me access to all the software that I need) , no monitor, no speakers, no mouse, no keyboard
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I'm open to buy from anywhere, but my prefer site is amazon.com and 2nd choice is newegg.com
Country: I'm in Miami, FL USA
Parts Preferences: by brand or type: I prefer Intel and possible Asus if I can afforded. I would like the motherboard to have the option to have more than one video card (if I can afford it) while not getting the extra video cards. The tower could be mid-size, but if it could be more slim, it will always be a plus. some acer computer have an slim tower. Space it is always a problem, but mid-tower can be the biggest I can deal with.
Overclocking: Maybe NOT. I have never done this, and I don't know if I really need it. I rather not.
SLI or Crossfire: Does this refers to the ATI Crossfire ? I'm not sure here
Monitor Resolution: While I'm not getting a monitor, the highest resolution that the video card can give me , the better.
Storage: I don't need huge storage. 500GB would be nice and 1TB is the max that I need. I have used the WD 2TB (quiet/"green") version for my mac tower and they are great.
Memory: 4Gb is ok but I prefer 8GB. I do want space to grow, say 16 or 32gb.
Additional Comments: It would be nice to have a quiet PC.
If I need to increment my budget, then I would have to push the date of purchased.
thank you so much,
Francisco
Most of my computers are MAC and I emulate Windows. However, at my research lab (I'm a PhD Student) my main machine is Windows 7, a very powerful dell (I think.) I'm been wanting to get my a Windows Desktop. First I started looking a systems already built, but since I used to make my own PC (before moving to mac) , I think I will be better off building one myself. However, it has been probably more than 6 or 7 years since I have done it, and there are so many options out there, that I need some help.
In the past, I have used primarily Intel CPU and all my computers that I have (including macs and the windows 7) are intel. So, I guess I can continue with the same. For most part, I have always used Intel, but I'm not closed to AMD. For motherboards, the ones that I had success in the past were Asus, Gigabyte, SuperMicro (for servers) and than motherboards. Of course, Asus seem to be always one of the most expensive.
One of the problems that I have building my system is that I'm not sure which motherboard to pick. I would like something that is not expensive, but yet has nice features and has the ability to upgrade additional ram (possibly more than 8gb) and some room.
I don't want the machines to play games, but part of my research does requires to do heavy graphics either using OpenGL or OGRE3D. I'm not going to run any virtual machines, but having the extra power if I need to run one in vmware workstation will work. I will use Windows 7 but it will be nice that I will be able to use it when Windows 8 comes out (but I'm only concern with windows 8)
Because video cards can be expensive, I don't need a very powerful one now, specially that I could change it later. but it has to be able to support the latest if possible of opengl and possibly the newest directx that is in used for windows 7.
I just one video card , preferably nvidia chipset to have something different from the one at school (ATI) . But if the motherboard has the option to have 2 video cards, or say 4, it is even better.
In general, the system does not need to be so powerful now, but I will like to in time add/replace
video cards
memory
with this in mind, I give you the description for the system .
Approximate Purchase Date: No later than January 2012, but i can start buying some of the parts before
Budget Range: 500 to 800 dollars (before rebates... if I get rebates, fine, but I hate rebates.) but if needed, I can go up to 1000
System Usage from Most to Least Important: OpenGL and 3DOgre3D , Visual Studio 2010 and DirectX3D for most important, secondary maybe to run Vmware workstation , third maybe to run some emulation software for older computer (Atari 8-bit for example, Atari ST) and of course Internet.
Parts Not Required: No software required (School gives me access to all the software that I need) , no monitor, no speakers, no mouse, no keyboard
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I'm open to buy from anywhere, but my prefer site is amazon.com and 2nd choice is newegg.com
Country: I'm in Miami, FL USA
Parts Preferences: by brand or type: I prefer Intel and possible Asus if I can afforded. I would like the motherboard to have the option to have more than one video card (if I can afford it) while not getting the extra video cards. The tower could be mid-size, but if it could be more slim, it will always be a plus. some acer computer have an slim tower. Space it is always a problem, but mid-tower can be the biggest I can deal with.
Overclocking: Maybe NOT. I have never done this, and I don't know if I really need it. I rather not.
SLI or Crossfire: Does this refers to the ATI Crossfire ? I'm not sure here
Monitor Resolution: While I'm not getting a monitor, the highest resolution that the video card can give me , the better.
Storage: I don't need huge storage. 500GB would be nice and 1TB is the max that I need. I have used the WD 2TB (quiet/"green") version for my mac tower and they are great.
Memory: 4Gb is ok but I prefer 8GB. I do want space to grow, say 16 or 32gb.
Additional Comments: It would be nice to have a quiet PC.
If I need to increment my budget, then I would have to push the date of purchased.
thank you so much,
Francisco
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