Parts Check Request Please

[sdkfz]

Hi all, it is time for a new PC.

I need reliability first - I work remotely 1200 miles away- specs for that are basically broadband and a Win XP machine so my Dell Dimension 8400 covers that. Work does NOT support Vista or 7 for the Citrix Metaframe Presentation Server which I use to connect to my virtual PC. I first went with Win 7 Pro for the compatibility mode then decided to go for Ultimate for the few bucks more. I have a retail XP home license from when they first released it and a XP Pro OEM from Newegg for an old build I could use as dual boot if I must.

So why a new PC? The Dell 8400 barely covered the specs for Red Alert 3, I got a bonus, my 49th bday is later this month, and I want a new PC (and I think I can get budget approval) ... I started with a Dell Alienware Area 51 and tried to build a cheaper and hopefully better version. I would have used an Intel board but I have read somewhere here that they are now using an inferior manufacturer now so I went with Asus. I want to be certain to cover Half Life2 next installation and be good for some years to come with the machine overall. I will reuse keyboards/monitor/mice and as an aside could use a confirm that I can use a parrallel to USB converter cable to keep the printer... the old HP laser jet 4 just keeps on going - born on date June 1993!

I found the ram on the Asus approved list and used the PSU list here to pick the one I did choosing a watage to cover two GPU's later (maybe). I will likley never OC anything so am not getting a new heatsink - the case just needs to be able to get into and be realtively sturdy - no LAN parties. I do not want lights, fins that breath (like the Alien) etc. I rarely burn CD's so nothing fancy is needed there. I am not really looking to cut costs from the 1400 spent but am open to it of course. So will this set of parts work?

Thanks

Rowland


Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131403
ASUS P6TD Deluxe LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115202
Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Retail

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227365
OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK – Retail

GPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102858
SAPPHIRE 100283L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136284
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Optical Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136177
LG Black SATA DVD Burner - Bulk – OEM

Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=corsair%20850
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V

CASE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Operating System
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116762
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

[glc]

I'd look at the i7-860 or i5-750 and Asus P7P55D-E board. The P55 platform is not as fussy as the X58. This would take dual channel ram. If you must go X58, that's the board I'd use.

[sdkfz]

Thanks GLC,

I researched the fussy part and am taking your suggestion - I swapped Motherboard and CPU - listed below (they OK?), but when I go to Asus and pull the RAM list it seems wrong. The module lsitings are almost all in groups of 3 and should they not be in 2's or 4 for this? Could I impose and ask for a 2x2GB set and a 2x4GB just in case the savings allow?

BTW budget committee approved my getting a new PC.

thanks

Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-621-_-Product
ASUS P7P55D-E Pro LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115214
Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail

[glc]

These kits, although not strictly on the QVL, will work well. Get 1 or 2 kits dependent on budget.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231277

You don't need the Pro version of the P7P55D-E unless you really do want to run crossfire.

Why don't you just put a used Jet Direct board into your LJ4 and connect it to your router? They are dirt cheap.

[sdkfz]

New PC is up and running with only My Documents and MS Office Outlook data move remaining. I ended up making the purchase at Microcenter here in MN as it saved me money with price matches, cheaper items and no shipping. Love the Antec 300 case though in retrospect perhaps a modular PSU would have made cable managemennt a little easier.

Upgrading the Citrix connection from v3 to v11.2 (Win 7) to connect with work was the hardest part "We do not support anything other than XP" blockages in the helpless desk and IT. Got it figured out though. Just needed to install it as admin and remove it from startup to kill all the error pop ups and still get to work.

Oh and I got a parallel card instead of the jet direct for the printer. Seemed worth the 6 bucks to try it and keep the printer out of the basement. Only thing I will lose in the end is my parallel port Iomega Zip 250 which considering my oldest USB key is a little larger in capacity perhaps it is time to let it go

Again thanks

[David M]

Originally Posted by sdkfz So why a new PC? The Dell 8400 barely covered the specs for Red Alert 3, I got a bonus, my 49th bday is later this month, and I want a new PC (and I think I can get budget approval) ... I started with a Dell Alienware Area 51 and tried to build a cheaper and hopefully better version.

Most guys want a Corvette for their mid-life crisis.

No worries, I turn 50 soon and already bought the convertible.