First Build: non-gaming but heavy CPU/GPU use

[realdasein]

Hi Folks,

After several months of research starting with some excellent advice from forum members here, I’d like to run the components of my first build by you guys. I’m keeping it simple—not overclocking, not even gaming. I think it’s a pretty typical build—the only unusual thing is that I’m going for a FirePro GPU instead of a Radeon because I do GIS/CAD work. I am hoping to get your opinions on whether this is a solid build, or if it’s somehow wrong or inefficient. I’m also wondering if you think I need more than a 550W PSU.

Thanks!
Heather


CPU:
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T Black Edition Thuban 3.3GHz, 3.7GHz Turbo Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor HDE00ZFBGRBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103913

MOBO:
GIGABYTE GA-990XA-UD3 AM3+ AMD 990X SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128510

GPU:
ATI 100-505606 FirePro V4800 1GB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Workstation Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814195096

RAM:
Corsair Vengeance 8GB DDR3 (already purchased)

PSU:
Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

HDD:
Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136795

CASE:
Not sure yet, a mid-tower made of more steel than plastic. Something along the lines of an In Win BUC or a Cooler Master HAF. Depends on Black Friday sales.

Approximate Purchase Date: this weekend
Budget Range: 700-800
System Usage from Most to Least Important: No gaming, but heavy processor and graphics card use for 3D CAD and GIS software (panning and zooming large geographic datasets in 3D)
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com
Country: USA
Overclocking: No
SLI or Crossfire: No
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

 

[cutebeans]

You might want to get i7-2600. It is better by a lot than AMD.

 

[realdasein]

You might want to get i7-2600. It is better by a lot than AMD.

Thanks Cutebeans! In the event that I can afford to go up to the i7 in price, what motherboard would you recommend, that would also run okay with Firepro v4800?

 

[cutebeans]

A z68 motherboard. A gigabyte board would be good.

 

[Outlander_04]

Have a look in the charts section of this website . Tab up above and look at the cpu charts .
In some applications the extra cores of the Phenom pay off , and sometimes the Intels do better .If you know its Open GL rendering then you could expect similar apps to show advantages in similar tasks .
If you do stick with the X6 then you can save by getting a mb with a 970 series chipset . Performance will be the same , and all you lose is the option to add a second graphics card . The ASUS M5A97 is a good board and much cheaper

I would use an office case rather than a gamer case . The noise of a gamer cases air flow can become a distraction in a quiet work place .

 

[realdasein]

Oh, you know, if the fans are too loud I can just stick pencils in them to keep them from turning. ;-)

Thanks for the excellent advice, and for doing my research for me on Black Friday!

 

[Draven35]

I'd get an NVIDIA card over an AMD/ATI, i trust AMD/ATI openGL drivers about as far as i can throw them.

 

[Outlander_04]

I'd get an NVIDIA card over an AMD/ATI, i trust AMD/ATI openGL drivers about as far as i can throw them.

And I wont buy nVidia cards because everyone I bought died on the job , and every ATI card I had I sold with it still running when I upgraded

 

[realdasein]

How far can you throw software drivers? Pretty far, I bet.