Pretty big computer

[d0min8r]

I am planning on building the following system. couple of things I am not sure about. I know I might need to add a raid controller card, but am i able to have 3 different raids on 1 computer? Is there a limit? I am also a little unsure about the power requirements. Can some please verify that I would not need to add an additional power supply? Also, please feel free to recommend any changes to any of these components if you feel that there might be something better. I appreciate any help you have to offer.

Thanks in adavance,
D0M

Motherboard
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...645&CatId=2320
Processor
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...198&CatId=2622
Ram (4 gigs)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...06874&CatId=10
Sound Card
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...7622&CatId=107
2 OS Hard drives in raid 0
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...tern%20Digital
2 storage drives in raid 0
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...tern%20Digital
2 more storage drives again in raid 0
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...tern%20Digital
2 video cards in SLI
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...708&CatId=2513
Power Supply
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...93&CatId=2535#
2 Burners
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...facture=Liteon
computer case
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...e=COOLERMASTER
battery backup
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...4158&CatId=234
3 monitors
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...acture=Samsung
tripple head to go (digital)
http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/ca...gital/home.php
speakers
http://www.razerzone.com/index.php?m...products_id=50

[Alaron]

Welcome to PCMech. I have a couple of suggestions.

First, have you considered an Intel Core 2 Duo system? They offer a lot more performance for the price then AMD right now.

Ultra Power Supplies are poor quality. I would go with something different from Nvidia's list here: http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html The Etasis, Silverstone, Thermaltake or PC Power and Cooling are much better options.

The TripleHead2Go is only capable of pushing 3840x1024, thats 3 1280x1024 monitors, much lower then your three screens combined.

[minsonngo]

One question... why are you going with a RAID 0 setup? If one drive dies... you lose everything... the small performance gain (which you probably will not even notice in real life) you get it is simply not worth the risk.

Also... if your going with 4GB of memory... make sure you get a 64-bit version of Windows. 32-bit verisions only can utilize around 3 to 3.2 GB of memory.

[d0min8r]

Alaron/minsonngo, Thanks very much for your responses.

Originally Posted by Alaron First, have you considered an Intel Core 2 Duo system? They offer a lot more performance for the price then AMD right now.

I heard that was true when comparing the Intel Core 2 Duo, to a dual core AMD, but have read that the Quad Coer AMD has out performed everything. Do you have differnet information?

Originally Posted by Alaron Ultra Power Supplies are poor quality. I would go with something different from Nvidia's list here: http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html The Etasis, Silverstone, Thermaltake or PC Power and Cooling are much better options.

Thanks for the tip, I will definately look into this. is 1000W enough for this system, or should I bump up to the 1200?

Originally Posted by Alaron The TripleHead2Go is only capable of pushing 3840x1024, thats 3 1280x1024 monitors, much lower then your three screens combined.

Is there another option to run the 3 monitors comparable to the Triple head to go?

Originally Posted by minsonngo One question... why are you going with a RAID 0 setup? If one drive dies... you lose everything... the small performance gain (which you probably will not even notice in real life) you get it is simply not worth the risk.

Good call. Totally bumped my head on that. Should all be Raid 1's Thanks for catching that!

Originally Posted by minsonngo Also... if your going with 4GB of memory... make sure you get a 64-bit version of Windows. 32-bit verisions only can utilize around 3 to 3.2 GB of memory.

Yes ... OS will be 64 bit.

D0M

[doubledragon5]

Thanks for the tip, I will definately look into this. is 1000W enough for this system, or should I bump up to the 1200?

1000Watt is over kill someting around 600 650 should be more than enough..

Good call. Totally bumped my head on that. Should all be Raid 1's Thanks for catching that!

If your using more than one drive than hook to raid 0 and 1 I tried a raid set up and it was not worth it.. Didn't notice any gain in performance, and when the drive crashed I lost everything...

[Alaron]

The wattage is fine, it was the quality that needed work. Ultra units are not the most reliable.

From the benchmarks I looked at, the FX-74 is certainly powerful, but you get a much better bang for the buck with much less expensive Intel CPUs. The FX74 is around $600CAD, and the Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 is under $300, yet it wins some of the benchmarks between the two. Check here: http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.ht...=609&chart=190 Worth considering I'd say, but the choice is up to you.

As far as I know, the TripleHead2Go is the only product of its kind. You will still be able to setup the three screens with your system, just not as one giant widescreen. When you use SLI for gaming, you can only do that one screen anyway.

[minsonngo]

d0min8r... what exactly will this computer be built for?

[d0min8r]

Originally Posted by Alaron When you use SLI for gaming, you can only do that one screen anyway.

Are you sure about that? It says here including SLI™ (second paragraph)
http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/gxm/products/th2go/

Thanks for the link to the Processor reviews. I will look at these in detail.

Originally Posted by minsonngo what exactly will this computer be built for?

priorities: (in order)
1) no data loss
2) no down time
3) speed
4) usability
5) bling factor

Originally Posted by doubledragon5 Didn't notice any gain in performance, and when the drive crashed I lost everything...

Moreso using it for the data protection (mirrored drives) Anything I should look into instead?


Thanks guys,
D0M

[Alaron]

I should have been more clear. The TripleHead2Go works with SLI, but you will still not be able to take advantage of the resolution on those monitors. It will max out at 1280x1024 on each screen.

If you don't have the TripleHead2Go, SLI cannot be enabled along with multiple screens. Nvidia just doesn't allow it. You would have to disable SLI when using 3 screens. SLI only works on one screen at a time.

[doubledragon5]

Just set them up as two seperate drives.. Like I said if you mirror the drives and the main one crashes you will loose all data... I would get the Segate 7200.10 there just as fast as the raptors and cost less money.... Here I found these and their bigger and cheaper than the raptors..

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...acture=Seagate

[Duffasaurus]

Why has no one pointed out this is a waste of money?...

[minsonngo]

Originally Posted by Duffasaurus Why has no one pointed out this is a waste of money?...

That is exactly what I was trying to get to with my question here:

Originally Posted by minsonngo d0min8r... what exactly will this computer be built for?

d0min8r... I believe you are better off investing in one good video card... instead of going the SLI route. Its simply a waste of money for something that only looks good to a certain extent on paper.

Also... the Raid setup is also generally a big waste of general computing purposes. You are better off making routine backups of your important data to an external HDD or something similar.

As Alaron also mentioned before... going with the less costly Intel Core 2 Duo line up is a smarter choice in this case and you will not even notice a performance drop.

Without the SLI setup... you can go with a less costly PSU... saving you even more money.

Basically... just because you have the cash... doesn't mean you have to spend it. That is my two cents... but essentially it is your build... so it is utimately you decision to make.

[Mr.Ferrari]

I also back up the suggestion that you would get even more performance out of a Core 2 Quad or Duo based setup.

And check out www.canadacomputers.com or www.ncix.com for your purchasing needs. Tigerdirect, or atleast in the US, has a horrible reputation.

The Ultra X3 is really the only exception to ultra's products. There are a few 1Kw powersupplies out there, and this thing has been built to a higher grade then the bulk of them. Its also made by a totally different company.

That aside, you dont need 1000w. A 750w would be just enough, and a nice 800-850w would be better. I would rather get a HIGH quality 800w rather then a DECENT 1000w.
My suggestion would be this:
Silverstone ST85ZF

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by minsonngo d0min8r... what exactly will this computer be built for?

Originally Posted by d0min8r priorities: (in order) 1) no data loss 2) no down time 3) speed 4) usability 5) bling factor Moreso using it for the data protection (mirrored drives) Anything I should look into instead?

I think they want to know if this is going to be a gaming rig or a multimedia computer or for business use or for home use/all around use.

Cricket

[flanzig1]

One thing with the TripleHead2Go is that it is VGA connectors only. I feel you lose some sharpness of the image with VGA as compared to DVI connections.

[d0min8r]

Originally Posted by flanzig1 One thing with the TripleHead2Go is that it is VGA connectors only. I feel you lose some sharpness of the image with VGA as compared to DVI connections.

Matrox has a digital version with DVI connectors now (Alaron is correct in that I may be limited in my allowable resolution to 3840x1024 for all 3 monitors, but until something better comes out, I will go with this.)
http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/gx...gital/home.php

Originally Posted by Cricket I think they want to know if this is going to be a gaming rig or a multimedia computer or for business use or for home use/all around use.

Primarily Business/Multimedia with gaming undertones

Thanks for the info on the processors guys. You are correct, and i will go for the Intel Core 2 Duo.

I think I will still go with the SLI because it also lends itself in the no down time. If one of my video cards fails, I can simply drop down to one card.

I am going to look into the backup routines you suggest. Is there a software I should be looking into for this?

Thanks Guys.

[minsonngo]

Get this external enclosure... pop in a large HDD... then you can make backups of your system pretty easily with the software included with it.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817362002

[d0min8r]

Based on your recommendations, and review sites -

Gonna go with this processor
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=19146

And this motherboard.
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...770&CatId=2541

Any thoughts?

Thanks
D0M

[Mr.Ferrari]

X6800 is not worth it, go for the E6700 and receive practically the same performance.

I would personally go with P5N32-E SLI and save some cash.