Budget math/stats workstation

[spmiller80]

This is my first ever build.

I'm looking for a new desktop PC that I will use for a mathematical/financial modelling project. The project will involve building a small database (MySQL?), statistical modelling & analysis (R) and developing a GUI/trading interface to apply models, display charts, get prices and manage orders via web API (NetBeans?).

I'll also use the PC for my day job occasionally. For that, I'll be using remote apps so only need to run a Citrix client.

Nominal budget is £600 excluding monitor & peripherals, but I can spend more than that if performance justifies it. It would be nice to tell the wife our machine is cheaper (and better) than an iMac. If this project becomes serious/profitable then future upgrades are possible.

I've put together some basic picks. Are there any obvious mistakes? Suppose I have another £100-200 to spend; where should I make improvements? I know there are "issues" with the Phenom M case, but for this build I think it should be ok. Also, will I be ok with the stock CPU cooler and case fans?

Thanks,

Steve

Here is the questionnaire, my (base) picks are below:

Approximate Purchase Date: This week

Budget Range: £600+ exc. monitor, mouse & keyboard

System Usage from Most to Least Important:
Mathematical/financial modelling inc:
- Statistical modelling
- Light s/w development
- Small database development & maintenance
Paid work from home (remote apps)
Temporary home media server (the next build is a NAS)
Internets

Are you buying a monitor: Yes, but not included in budget.

Parts to Upgrade: Complete build

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Anything UK. Aria PC is Manchester based so I can collect - bonus.

Location: Manchester, UK

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: Should handle dual screen 2560x1440 + 1920*1200

Additional Comments: Should be small and quiet. I don't need an optical drive and I think towers with blank drive bays are ugly. Should have upgrade potential (GPU, more RAM) hence mATX.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: My 2007 "desktop replacement" laptop is not going to cut it anymore.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor (£140.99 @ Aria PC)
Motherboard: Asus VANGUARD B85 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£65.53 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£110.34 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£55.14 @ CCL Computers)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£53.94 @ Aria PC)
Case: BitFenix Phenom M Arctic White MicroATX Mini Tower Case (£71.95 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (£65.94 @ Scan.co.uk)
Total: £563.83
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-04 12:59 BST+0100

 

[sadams04]

That would be OK for what you are after. The Intel route would offer four very fast cores... With an SSD, there is no need for a WD Black in the mix. A WD Blue or Seagate offering would be just fine. With that said, your intentions here are really CPU bound processing... And AMD FX build isn't out of the question since your apps will be able to take advantage of all available processing threads. In the build below, add a slight overclock to 4.3~GHz and don't look back...

CPU - AMD 8 core
MB - Two open memory slots
MEM - DDR3-1866 CL9 1.5v
GPU - Will easily handle your two monitors and their resolutions.
PSU - No need for a Gold rated unit unless you will be processing data 24 / 7. Stick with XFX or Seasonic...
CASE - One external 5.25" bay and will handle large sized GPUs if you want to upgrade later.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor (£97.99 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£22.90 @ Ebuyer)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard (£53.95 @ CCL Computers)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Tactical 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (£129.52 @ More Computers)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£52.15 @ Ebuyer)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£35.94 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card (£104.98 @ Amazon UK)
Case: Gigabyte GZ-G2SGB ATX Mid Tower Case (£66.80 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£46.93 @ CCL Computers)
Total: £611.16

 

[spmiller80]

That would be OK for what you are after. The Intel route would offer four very fast cores... With an SSD, there is no need for a WD Black in the mix. A WD Blue or Seagate offering would be just fine. With that said, your intentions here are really CPU bound processing... And AMD FX build isn't out of the question since your apps will be able to take advantage of all available processing threads. In the build below, add a slight overclock to 4.3~GHz and don't look back...

CPU - AMD 8 core
MB - Two open memory slots
MEM - DDR3-1866 CL9 1.5v
GPU - Will easily handle your two monitors and their resolutions.
PSU - No need for a Gold rated unit unless you will be processing data 24 / 7. Stick with XFX or Seasonic...
CASE - One external 5.25" bay and will handle large sized GPUs if you want to upgrade later.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor (£97.99 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£22.90 @ Ebuyer)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard (£53.95 @ CCL Computers)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Tactical 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (£129.52 @ More Computers)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£52.15 @ Ebuyer)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£35.94 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card (£104.98 @ Amazon UK)
Case: Gigabyte GZ-G2SGB ATX Mid Tower Case (£66.80 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£46.93 @ CCL Computers)
Total: £611.16

Thanks, that's food for thought. In summary: scale back on the PSU and HDD and go big on the processor for multi-threading.

I know it's boring, but since I'm happy with on board graphics why not stick with Intel and go for the i7-4470/90? The additional cost vs. the AMD option is offset somewhat by not needing a video card (although not all video cards cost £100).

That brings us onto the overclocking question, of course. For a few pounds more I could get a 4770K and Z97 motherboard, which makes me almost OC-ready...

 

[spmiller80]

Here is Mk II (No-OC):

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor (£218.50 @ Aria PC)
Motherboard: Asus VANGUARD B85 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£65.53 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£110.34 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£55.14 @ CCL Computers)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£37.14 @ Aria PC)
Case: BitFenix Phenom M Arctic White MicroATX Mini Tower Case (£71.95 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply (£43.99 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £602.59
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-04 20:48 BST+0100

 

[sora]

Here is Mk II (No-OC):

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor (£218.50 @ Aria PC)
Motherboard: Asus VANGUARD B85 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£65.53 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£110.34 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£55.14 @ CCL Computers)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£37.14 @ Aria PC)
Case: BitFenix Phenom M Arctic White MicroATX Mini Tower Case (£71.95 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply (£43.99 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £602.59
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-04 20:48 BST+0100

This is exactly what you need. It doesn't have a GPU but it definitely does have upgrade potential.