macgregor
07-03-2012, 02:39 PM
Hey guys, just made this account to ask all of your opinions on a computer I am thinking about building.
First my intentions. I am a computer science major about to graduate in December, so most of my use for this beast will be software development (Visual Studio, Java/Android). I need to be able to run multiple VMs at once and maybe run some simple web services, nothing with hundreds of continous users or anything, mostly for personal use. Im really going for reliability and endurance here, I want this thing to last a while. Im also a gamer, generally console since my desktop died shortly after I got to school freshman year. But I'd like to be able to play demanding games and have them look great.
Now, before I list the hardware Ive picked I want to request that this thread not digress into a fan boy war ("AMD suckz i5 all the way", "nah dude your crazy check out this bar graph I found"). This never helps anyone. If you have a comment or suggestion back it up with hard data, research and maybe a little personal experience or I wont care.
The total cost for this setup on new egg is around $1700, so I will likely buy it in multiple phases. Barebones (if you can call it bare) -> upgrade -> bells and whistles.
Phase 1 - The Basics:
Case: Thermaltake Chaser MK-I (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133191)
* good looking case, flashy lights, lots of space, good reviews
Processor: AMD FX-8150 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103960)
* good reviews, lots of OC potential, cheaper than intel CPUs. Not sure on it though, did some research and couldnt wade through the AMD/Intel kids yelling at each other. Going to do some thorough research when I get off work
Motherboard: ASUS Sabertooth 990FX (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131736)
* matches up with the AMD processor
RAM: 8 GB (2x4GB) G.SKILL Sniper Series (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231460)
* looks cool, highly rated
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 550 Ti (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130625)
* I like EVGA, SLI capable and cheap enough that I wont have to sell a liver to do it...wait do we have multiple livers? Wont have to sell a kidney then.
HDD: Samsung 830 Series 64 GB SSD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147133)
* main drive for windows and maybe my development or game of choice for the moment. Never had an SSD a little worried about it lasting for the long haul
PSU: 800W Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold Series (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171057)
* enough power to allow for upgrading in the future
So this is enough to have a working computer...and then some. Costs a little under a grand. Only things Im questioning is the CPU and the SSD. Might switch the SSD for a slower but more reliable and larger 10K RPM HDD. I have plenty of basic HDD's lying around I can use for extra internal storage along side the SSD if I dont so space isnt a high priority. I have heard alot of arguments for getting an intel i5 instead of the AMD, but im not sure yet.
Phase 2 - The Upgrades:
More RAM: 8 GB (2x4GB) G.SKILL Sniper Series (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231460)
* bringing the total to 16 GB total, with the ASUS MOBO I would need to buy 6 or 8 gig sticks to upgrade past this point, but honestly I cant see myself needing to
Another Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 550 Ti (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130625)
* SLI the 2 nVidia cards should bump this mid-range graphics card to a new level right? Ive never had dual video cards before so that will be a new experience
Liquid Cooling: Thermaltake Water 2.0 Extreme (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106190)
* another new experience, this would allow me to overclock my processor and hopefully keep my room from boiling me alive
These upgrades would cost about $330, bringing the total up to $1300. Im pretty sure I will get the liquid cooling, but the ram and extra card might be over kill.
Pase 3 - The Bells and Whistles:
Monitor: Asus 24" Backlit LCD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236153)
* I have some old tiny (17" and 19") monitors lying around but to do this system justice I would need a shiny new one at some point.
Better Internal Storage: 1TB 7200 RPM WD Caviar Black (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533)
* not sure of the speed or health of my old internal drives so I would want to upgrade at some point. Plus that giant case has plenty of room.
Optical Drive: Pioneer Black Blu-Ray Burner (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129067)
With another $400, this brings the grand total up to ~$1700. The first phase would happen this month, phase 2 next month and the last idk when. Maybe when my conscious isnt guilty from spending all this money on phases 1 and 2.
Please let me know what you think. If you've used any of this hardware tell me how it has worked out for you. And again, please no fan boy wars. AMD, Intel, Mac, Windows, Linux...its all 0's and 1's to me.
First my intentions. I am a computer science major about to graduate in December, so most of my use for this beast will be software development (Visual Studio, Java/Android). I need to be able to run multiple VMs at once and maybe run some simple web services, nothing with hundreds of continous users or anything, mostly for personal use. Im really going for reliability and endurance here, I want this thing to last a while. Im also a gamer, generally console since my desktop died shortly after I got to school freshman year. But I'd like to be able to play demanding games and have them look great.
Now, before I list the hardware Ive picked I want to request that this thread not digress into a fan boy war ("AMD suckz i5 all the way", "nah dude your crazy check out this bar graph I found"). This never helps anyone. If you have a comment or suggestion back it up with hard data, research and maybe a little personal experience or I wont care.
The total cost for this setup on new egg is around $1700, so I will likely buy it in multiple phases. Barebones (if you can call it bare) -> upgrade -> bells and whistles.
Phase 1 - The Basics:
Case: Thermaltake Chaser MK-I (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133191)
* good looking case, flashy lights, lots of space, good reviews
Processor: AMD FX-8150 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103960)
* good reviews, lots of OC potential, cheaper than intel CPUs. Not sure on it though, did some research and couldnt wade through the AMD/Intel kids yelling at each other. Going to do some thorough research when I get off work
Motherboard: ASUS Sabertooth 990FX (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131736)
* matches up with the AMD processor
RAM: 8 GB (2x4GB) G.SKILL Sniper Series (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231460)
* looks cool, highly rated
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 550 Ti (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130625)
* I like EVGA, SLI capable and cheap enough that I wont have to sell a liver to do it...wait do we have multiple livers? Wont have to sell a kidney then.
HDD: Samsung 830 Series 64 GB SSD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147133)
* main drive for windows and maybe my development or game of choice for the moment. Never had an SSD a little worried about it lasting for the long haul
PSU: 800W Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold Series (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171057)
* enough power to allow for upgrading in the future
So this is enough to have a working computer...and then some. Costs a little under a grand. Only things Im questioning is the CPU and the SSD. Might switch the SSD for a slower but more reliable and larger 10K RPM HDD. I have plenty of basic HDD's lying around I can use for extra internal storage along side the SSD if I dont so space isnt a high priority. I have heard alot of arguments for getting an intel i5 instead of the AMD, but im not sure yet.
Phase 2 - The Upgrades:
More RAM: 8 GB (2x4GB) G.SKILL Sniper Series (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231460)
* bringing the total to 16 GB total, with the ASUS MOBO I would need to buy 6 or 8 gig sticks to upgrade past this point, but honestly I cant see myself needing to
Another Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 550 Ti (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130625)
* SLI the 2 nVidia cards should bump this mid-range graphics card to a new level right? Ive never had dual video cards before so that will be a new experience
Liquid Cooling: Thermaltake Water 2.0 Extreme (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106190)
* another new experience, this would allow me to overclock my processor and hopefully keep my room from boiling me alive
These upgrades would cost about $330, bringing the total up to $1300. Im pretty sure I will get the liquid cooling, but the ram and extra card might be over kill.
Pase 3 - The Bells and Whistles:
Monitor: Asus 24" Backlit LCD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236153)
* I have some old tiny (17" and 19") monitors lying around but to do this system justice I would need a shiny new one at some point.
Better Internal Storage: 1TB 7200 RPM WD Caviar Black (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533)
* not sure of the speed or health of my old internal drives so I would want to upgrade at some point. Plus that giant case has plenty of room.
Optical Drive: Pioneer Black Blu-Ray Burner (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129067)
With another $400, this brings the grand total up to ~$1700. The first phase would happen this month, phase 2 next month and the last idk when. Maybe when my conscious isnt guilty from spending all this money on phases 1 and 2.
Please let me know what you think. If you've used any of this hardware tell me how it has worked out for you. And again, please no fan boy wars. AMD, Intel, Mac, Windows, Linux...its all 0's and 1's to me.