New build for 3d graphics and programming

verbatimline

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Feb 12, 2013
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Hi, this is the current iteration of my first build. Could you guys take a look and tell me if I'm going in the right/wrong direction? This is going to be a budget working computer for graphics programming and 3d graphics. I list 2 hard drives because I have to have a dual boot setup using Linux Fedora along with Windows 8 64 bit. In a year, I will convert them into a RAID and reinstall Widows in a HDD.

I plan to add a second graphics card in about a year and take advantage of SLI. Does the 2nd graphics card have to be identical?

This is the pcpartpicker link: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/D1yb

These are the specs so far:
CPU i7 or Xeon? Intel Core i7-3770 Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I73770
$290 or
Intel Xeon E3-1230 V2 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 69W Quad-Core Server Processor BX80637E31230V2
$240 (with a different mobo)

Motherboard for i7: MSI Z77A-GD55 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
$140

Memory: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9G
$60

Hard Drive(s) 2: Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$80

Graphics: ASUS GTX660-DC2-2GD5 GeForce GTX 660 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
$235

Case: LIAN LI PC-K65 Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$70

PSU: Rosewill HIVE-750 750W 80 Plus Bronze ATX12V Certified Power Supply
$90

Optical Drive: Sony Optiarc 24X DVD Burner, Bulk Package 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model AD-7280S-0B - OEM
$19

OS: Microsoft Windows 8 Professional 64-bit (Full Version) - OEM
$140
TOTAL $1124


Any advice will be greatly appreciated and I take negative comments well, so please speak your mind. I don't want to mess this up. :)
 

excella1221

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Aug 23, 2012
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Get the i7. Xeons are server CPUs.

I would swap the motherboard to an ASRock z77 Extreme4. This is the first time I've heard of the GDD5, so yeah.

A 7870 Tahiti LE would be a much better GPU in that price range if you were to game as well - but if it's purely for media creation, depending on the programs you use, a nVIDIA card would be better for CUDA.

Forget the hive, it's sturdily built but it's a bit cheap on +12v rail.
You don't really need a 750w PSU unless you'll be doing SLI/Crossfire in the future. For single GPU setups, 550w is more than enough.

For 750w, get this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151107&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

For 550w, this would be best.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RJ8EKI/?tag=pcpapi-20
 

verbatimline

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Feb 12, 2013
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thank u for your input, excella1221.


ok done



I plan on getting a second graphics card soon and the Extreme4 supports quad SLI. It has less internal IO connectors. Does it mean it has less functionality? But it seems a better mobo to my untrained eye.


It is the CUDA I am after. I want to learn to program for CUDA.


I will change the PSU to the 750w. I plan on getting a second gpu soon.

ok, here is the revised setup with the new PSU and mobo: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/D9rk

could you give it a look over and let me know what u think? The one thing I'm dreading is that when it comes time to put it together, all those arcane internal IO connectors will not be compatible with my PSU and/or case. Do you have any advice on how to deal with those?


 

excella1221

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Aug 23, 2012
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You picked non-K version of the i7, so that means OC is no longer an option in the future or anytime since multipliers are locked.

Not sure why you need x2 1TB HDDs, I suggest replacing the other one with an SSD for an overall faster system if the OS is installed there.

I don't think I've ever come across problems with internal I/O being incompatible with PSU and casings, might be just an issue with off-brand PSUs?

Your RAM has a tall heat sink, that's fine but it closes the opportunity for installing good aftermarket CPU coolers(like the Hyper 212 EVO) if ever you need to.

As for the motherboard, I'm not really a fan of microATX, so I don't suggest it unless the situation calls for. Your casing though can hold a full ATX board, so yeah.
 

verbatimline

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Feb 12, 2013
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This is the first time I've ventured into doing something like this. I don't get the whole OC thing. Doesn't it cut the life span of your components short? Unfortunately the K version would exceed my budget. However, I would like to have the option to be able to upgrade the cpu in the future.

I plan to do a dual boot set up with Linux Fedora for the first year. Then I will do as you suggested and convert the 2 1TB drives to a RAID 1.

ok, just checking. Every connection seems pretty standard across the board. Pun not intended. :D

WOW, that is big. I did not think of that. ok I'll have to change the RAM given the looks of the board.

oops. The last build should have read "ASRock Z77 Extreme4". I too want an ATX. Having said that, I just took a close look at the Extreme specs and its physical form is micro ATX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157294&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

Its too bad because I really liked all the specs. Do you have another suggestion for the mobo?
 

verbatimline

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Feb 12, 2013
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ok found the right mobo. And RAM that is in the mobo's list of supported memory. This is what the configuration looks like so far. I think it is done ->???

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DstR

CPU
Intel Core i7-3770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor
Motherboard
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard
Memory
Corsair Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage (2)
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Graphics Card
Asus GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card
Case
Lian-Li PC-K65 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case
PSU
SeaSonic M12II 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply
Optical Drive
Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer
OS
Microsoft Windows 8 Professional Full (64-bit)



 

excella1221

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Aug 23, 2012
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You don't *have* to OC right off the bat, unless you're an enthusiast. For more practical uses, it should be considered when the CPU starts showing off its age after a few years or when the CPU starts being a bottleneck to the GPU, which I doubt would happen with a 660, but imo GPUs get replaced much faster than CPUs, so yeah. It's a good option to have, but not so mandatory.

RAM is way overpriced. I suggest getting 2 DIMMs as well, so there's space for upgrades, and just space in general. :lol:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231544&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

^ Either of those would be just as good, if not better. It's G.Skill. :p
The Ares are shorter though.

I don't recall suggesting RAID 1. :lol:

The other parts are good to go! Not sure why you want a Pro version of Windows though.
 

verbatimline

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Feb 12, 2013
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I'll try it later if I learn how to.

ok those are cheaper, same specs

that is when I get an HDD. Then I'll convert the mechanical drives to a RAID.

I'm a programmer and Win 8 Pro's VHD feature will allow me to create any number of configurations of SDKs that would normally conflict with each other as they age. It is practically the main reason I am getting a new computer because with Win 8 my comp can act as any number of computers (if storage space allows).

Thanks for your help, excella1221. You helped make this process allot of fun. :bounce: