Seeking Advice On Parts Selected For New Software Developer Workstation

[BernicusMaximus]

PC Mech Gurus:

I've recently decided to put together my first PC have done a little homework to try to figure out what I need. I'm a software developer, so I'm not completely unfamiliar with the inner workings of the PC, but I've just never put one together before. What I'm looking for is advice on whether or not I have designed an adequate system (desribed below) based upon my needs (also described below) and if so, are the parts (listed below) that I've chosen sufficient.

As I mentioned, I'm a software developer and this will be my primary computer for development and every day use. I plan on running Windows XP Professional as my OS, and will will run the following software regularly - often at the same time:

Visual Studio 2005
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office Apps(i.e. Word, Excel, Access, etc.)
Microsfot SQL Server 2005 (Running Small Development Databases)
Virtual PC (Possibly)
Adobe Photo Shop (Minor Photo Editing, Graphics Development, Web Design)
Macromedia Flash MX

I do not intend on playing games often, but I would like the option should I have the urge. Additionally, I may develop 3D apps using DirectX 9.0 (You never know).

I plan to have dual monitors- the card that I have chosen is a dual DVI, and my current KVM is a Dual Head 4 port VGA, so I'll probably have to get some DVI to VGA adapters.

My big concern is performance for price, I don't want to have to wait when I have 10 windows open and I'm jumping all over the place, but at the same time I just don't want to spend an additional 1200 bucks over what I've already configured for a dual core 64 bit processor and mobo. The components I've chosen at NewEgg are about 1300 bucks, but I'd be willing to go up to 1500 at this time for any better components if it would dramatically increase performance.

My planned configuration:
Video - Dual Monitor - with max 1280x1024 resolution and reasonably good video performance from video card (Some 3d and gaming)
Storage - 2 SATA Drives in a RAID 0 Configuration for performance
1 IDE Drive as an Adobe scratch disk and personal workspace (i.e. project files, documents, etc.)
Media - 1 DVD-RW & CD-RW Combo
Audio - Onboard Audio (for now - later will be a card for audio recording)
Memory - 4 gigs
Processor - 3.4 GHz

I already have speakers, keyboard, mouse, monitors, etc.

The below parts are listed in a shared Wish List at NewEgg.Com titled "Real Desktop", if anyone wants to inspect them closer.

RAIDMAX O2 ATX-302BP Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 420Watt PRESCOTT/ SATA Ready Power Supply - Retail
Model #: ATX-302BP

ABIT IS7 Socket 478 Intel 865PE ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: IS7

ABIT RX800XL-256EDVIO Radeon X800XL 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Model #: RX800XL-256EDVIO

Intel Pentium 4 3.4E Prescott 800MHz FSB Socket 478 Processor Model BX80546PG3400E - Retail
Model #: BX80546PG3400E

Update OCZ 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model OCZ4001024PF - Retail
Model #: OCZ4001024PF

Update Maxtor DiamondMax 10 6L080P0 80GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA133 Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: 6L080P0

Update Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST380817AS 80GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: ST380817AS

Update PLEXTOR Black IDE DVD Burner Model PX-740A/SW-BL - Retail
Model #: PX-740A/SW-BL

Update Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Model #: ARCTIC SILVER 5

So I'd like to get any advice and input that anyone has about the parts I have selected. Also, I'd like to know if I am missing anything, or if I should replace things like stock heatsinks, and fans. If anyone needs more details, please let me know. I appreciate any help you folks can offer.

Thanks,

Bernie

[blue60007]

First off, let's switch to the latest technologies. Like LGA775 (T), PCI-E, and DDR2. Especially go for LGA775, cause that Socket 478 is going to run VERY hot, and the newer LGA775 CPUs run a bit cooler. An Intel 650 would be the equivalent.

That video card won't work with the current motherboard as it's PCI-E and the motherboard is AGP...but once you switch to LGA775 and DDR2, you should have PCI-E.

Please, please, don't use that power supply in the case. Get a quality ATX 2.0 unit (24 pin main power connector) from Antec, Enermax, FSP (forton Source) or Seasonic.

I'm thinking an ASUS board (LGA775, PCI-E, DDR2), possibly 2 gigs of DDR2 533 - Corsiar Value Select; Intel 650.

Also, make sure you get all SATA hard drives; I'd probably just get one single larger drive - should save you some money.

No need for Artic Silver 5 - the stock heatsink comes with a thermal pad, and not using it will void the warranty on the CPU.

Don't forget an OS like Win XP OEM.

Of course, I'm not going to list all the parts for you, but this should give you some ideas on revising the list.

EDIT: RAID 0 and software development = bad idea. If one drive bites the dust, you just lost all your code and what not

Oh, I see you said you want 4 gigs of RAM. I would just get 2 for now. Make sure you get a dual channel kit (2 x 1GB).

[BernicusMaximus]

Blue,

Thanks much for the advice, and great catch on the video card. I didn't even see that. Okay, I've decided to take most of your advice and have created a new list (see below). As far as the Raid configuration, I know that a RAID 0 doesn't have any fault tolerance, but I've got a pretty good system for backup. I keep all of my source code in a version control tool on a different box that is backed up regularly, and will soon be replicated nightly to a friends house over a VPN. Any reason for the you think I should go for 2 gigs RAM over 4 gigs? I will be running Virtal PC and Virtual Server running various operating systems while I'm developing against them. Any additional feedback is appreciated.

Thanks,

Bernie

The New List:

1 - COOLER MASTER Centurion 532 RC-532-SKN1 Black Aluminum bezel, SECC chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #: RC-532-SKN1

1 - ASUS P5N32-SLI Deluxe Socket T (LGA 775) NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: P5N32-SLI Deluxe

1 - ABIT RX800XL-256EDVIO Radeon X800XL 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Model #: RX800XL-256EDVIO

1 - FSP Group (Fortron Source) FSP550-60PLN EPS12V 550W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: FSP550-60PLN RET

1 - Intel Pentium 4 650 Prescott 800MHz FSB LGA 775 EM64T Processor Model BX80547PG3400F - Retail
Model #: BX80547PG3400F

2 - CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Unbuffered System Memory Model VS2GBKIT667D2 - Retail
Model #: VS2GBKIT667D2

2 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 SATA NCQ 3Gb/s ST3160812AS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: ST3160812AS

1 - PLEXTOR Black IDE DVD Burner Model PX-740A/SW-BL - Retail
Model #: PX-740A/SW-BL

[blue60007]

No need to get a SLI board if you aren't an extreme gamer (besides, you can't use ATi cards in a dual card setup).

What you could do is get 2 gigs for now, and then if you need more, you can always add in another 2 gigs.

[BernicusMaximus]

Blue,

Thanks again. I downgraded slightly to an intel board (see below). which doesn't have the SLI and still has the features I want. So I think I'm ready now. My only other question is about the memory. You mentioned to make sure I get a Dual Channel Kit. I've seen that listed in the product description for some of the memory, but not in any of the feature lists. However, it's not listed anywhere in the description of the memory I've chosen. Is a Dual Channel Kit just matched pairs from the same production run? Is my memory a dual channel kit?

Thanks,

Bernie

COOLER MASTER Centurion 532 RC-532-SKN1 Black Aluminum bezel, SECC chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #: RC-532-SKN1


Intel BLKD955XBKLKR Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 955X ATX Intel Motherboard - OEM
Model #: BLKD955XBKLKR


ABIT RX800XL-256EDVIO Radeon X800XL 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Model #: RX800XL-256EDVIO


FSP Group (Fortron Source) FSP550-60PLN EPS12V 550W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: FSP550-60PLN RET


Intel Pentium 4 650 Prescott 800MHz FSB LGA 775 EM64T Processor Model BX80547PG3400F - Retail
Model #: BX80547PG3400F


CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Unbuffered System Memory Model VS2GBKIT667D2 - Retail
Model #: VS2GBKIT667D2


Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 SATA NCQ 3Gb/s ST3160812AS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: ST3160812AS


PLEXTOR Black IDE DVD Burner Model PX-740A/SW-BL - Retail
Model #: PX-740A/SW-BL

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by BernicusMaximus My only other question is about the memory. You mentioned to make sure I get a Dual Channel Kit. I've seen that listed in the product description for some of the memory, but not in any of the feature lists. However, it's not listed anywhere in the description of the memory I've chosen. Is a Dual Channel Kit just matched pairs from the same production run? Is my memory a dual channel kit? CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Unbuffered System Memory Model VS2GBKIT667D2 - Retail Model #: VS2GBKIT667D2

Yes, the RAM you listed is the Dual Channel Kit.

Cricket

[BernicusMaximus]

Thanks Cricket. Well, it looks like I'm set. I appreicate all of your help Blue. I'll hopefully be buying this system in the next thirty days. If anyone sees anything else that I'm missing, or has any sugguestions, let me know.

Thanks,

Bernie

[blue60007]

Looks good! I wouldn't mind having that myself.