Gaming and Developer Rig

[Lyric8]

I would like to start by saying I think this forum is amazing and a great service to the computer building community. I look forward to some quality advice :-)

I am a web developer and I work from home. I game on the same rig that I work on. I don't get to game as much as I used to, but when I do the games aren't very demanding. However I recently tried out a few of the latest and greatest and I don't even meet the minimum specs. What finally pushed me over the edge was i bought a new Logitech G19 keyboard and Logitech 930 headset and neither work with my outdated machine the way they should.

I read your thread on what data I should include in a first post. Here goes:

1. Around $1500 but I am very flexible. Could spend up to around $2200 even
2. I don't need keyboard, mouse, or monitor. Just the box
3. I don't care what the case looks like. Plain Jane is fine
4. I would like to have USB 3.0 ports and I am not sure if these are standard yet
5. I *must* be able to run a dual monitor setup but it wouldn't necessarily need to be two separate cards. I will turn off one monitor while gaming to focus the power on one monitor.
6. HDMI output
7. Blu-ray player/burner
8. Several USB ports, prefer at least two on the front
9. Possibly a large HD (1 TB+) and a smaller SSD for the OS and whatever games I play. Is 7200 the quickest HD speed? SATA II or SATA III?
10. I have never overclocked before but since the speed of the 6 core machines is slower I might look into this if the rig is able
11. Probably buying the Windows 7 Pro for sys builders on newegg for $99 if that means anything to you guys

I don't know if that was too much data or helpful to you guys. I really look forward to your advice. Thanks so much!

[Lyric8]

One more quick thing. Memory...

Some explanation of tradeoffs would be great (1366 vs 1666 vs 2000). When developing I use a ton of memory to have a local instance up and running along with an IDE. I am leaning toward starting with 8 GB of really fast memory and hopefully an additional slot I could add to if needed.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Yes, 8 GB is quickly becoming the bare minimum.

I'd wait till the revised Sandy Bridge boards come out, prolly in April, unless you must build right now (as in "my current system just died and I need another one").

If you rely on Adobe products you need to buy an nVidia video card. And I'd stay away from SSDs for now: expensive and their reliability just isn't convincing enough.

Windows 7 Pro is the best choice for your purposes. And yes, you don't need to overclock; point in fact, in your scenario, overclocking would be reckless and foolhardy.

[Lyric8]

I am not at a "my current system just died" state, but I am in a place where I really want to do it now. How much of an improvement are we talking if I wait because that is an option.

I read about the recall on the product and I realize they won't make that same mistake, but I am weary to own the first generation of anything. Not to mention with all the companies that pulled out it might be a dead brand in a year. Clearly speculation on my part but it is something to think about no?

[Nuclear Krusader]

Well, SB has USB 3.0.

[Lyric8]

Which was on my wish list, you are correct. However I have seen a few other models that have USB 3.0 as well. Would it be possible to pay a little more and get it on an already proven product line?

I read the pre-release reviews of SB and it says how amazing it is but I am trying to balance out if I realllllly want to wait another month...

[Lyric8]

Do you have a build recommendation if I do decide to wait like you mentioned?

[glc]

The revised board I would wait for is the Asus Sabertooth P67. This is going to be in the $200 range. An i7-2600 is $300. So, that's $500 for CPU and motherboard.

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Newegg.com - CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-650HX 650W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMX8GX3M2A1333C9

Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - LG WH10LS30 10X Blu-ray Burner - LightScribe Support - Bulk - Blu-Ray Burners

Newegg.com - EVGA 012-P3-1470-AR GeForce GTX 470 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

[Lyric8]

Why two HDs? Was that a miss-copy and meant to be a different component since both are the roughly the same just one is half the size? I would take the larger for sure... and maybe two at that price and run a RAID setup.

After some research it sounds like that board is supposed to release in Q1 of this year. So sometime soon and some places are offering pre-orders. I could wait, I wish it had more than 4 USB ports though.

Thoughts on upgrading the memory to DDR3 2000? Only about $140 more and I get 12 GB instead of 8 GB. I am hoping that is still compatible.
Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS 12GB (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Desktop Memory Model CMX12GX3M3A2000C9

If I wait for the p67, get the quad core i7, upgrade the memory and take one of the 1 TB HDs the total comes to roughly $1240. I have plenty of room to go up from there if anyone would like to spice up this build...

Considering going six core with this upgrade for an additional $300.
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-970 Gulftown 3.2GHz 6 x 256KB L2 Cache 12MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Six-Core Desktop Processor BX80613I7970

[Lyric8]

Did you mean to put in 2 HDs? Wondering if it was a mis-copy and meant to be a different component since they are the same, just one is half the size.

I like the new board if I can wait a month. I reallllly wish it had more than 4 USB ports however.

The total as it stands if I wait for the board is around $950. This is much less than I was expecting to spend so I am considering a memory upgrade, let me know your thoughts.

Memory upgrade to DDR3 2000 and 12 GB instead of 8 GB.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145326

Open to any other things to spice up the build as well. Bring it on :-)

[glc]

The P67 is only a dual channel chipset - install ram in pairs, not threes.

2 hard drives on purpose - one for OS and apps, and the other for data.

The board has a heck of a lot more than 4 USB ports when you include the internal headers.

DDR3-2000 is not worth it. Unless you overclock, the ram is not going to run any faster than 1333 anyway. 1600 would give you plenty of leeway.

The i7-970 is a socket 1366, it will not work on P67, which is socket 1155. Benchmarks show that the i7-2600K is just as fast as the i7-970 when overclocked.

Your previous post was not lost due to a timeout - for some reason the spam filter moderated it. I just approved it.

[Lyric8]

I read a few benchmarks and the i7-2600 is amazing. I am going to opt to get the "K" version which is OC friendly. This can help me future proof myself since I only buy a new computer every 3+ years.

Given the trend of OCing and your comment above about the memory, I think I will pay the extra for the DDR3-2000. I would really like to toy with OCing later on and would like to have some of the pieces in play already (not buying a cooling unit until then though).

As for the memory, I don't see any 2x6GB available. Thus it seems like I would be stuck at 8 GB of memory on that mobo forever. I would definitely want to move up to at least the option of 12 GB. Does that change my mobo recommendation and maybe I wouldn't have to wait as well?

You mentioned the USB is flexible due to the internal headers. Would I need to buy extra hardware to extend these ports like in the following article or is that included in some of the other purchases?
Directron.org-How to Install Front USB Ports Setup Front USB Install USB 2.0 Guide Connect Front USB to Motherboard Help Troubleshoot-Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com

*rubs head trying to shake off Mardi Gras hangover*

[glc]

If you are going to buy ram faster than 1600, do NOT buy it unless it's on the motherboard's tested memory list.

No such thing as a 6gb module. Buy 8gb (2x4gb) now and add more later if needed. I don't see where you would NEED more than 8, but you can go right up to 16. The board has 4 slots. To keep the cost down, just get 1600! You won't notice the difference.

Can't answer the USB question at this time till the board is re-released and we verify the case you are getting.

[Lyric8]

I love the case you picked out. I guess you finally sold me. I will get the 1600 memory and wait on the board.

I read some reviews about the video card. Should I be concerned about all the users saying it sucks a lot of power and gives off more heat than comparable cards?

I also read a different user saying they used a power tool on some site to make sure they have a big enough power supply. Any ideas on where this is and if I am above where I need to be (and a little room for future upgrades)?

[Lyric8]

PS - I have family in Joplin! Just noticed that is where you live.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Don't buy any components until the board is out.

[Lyric8]

I just bought the mobo off this site:
Computer Hardware :: Motherboards :: Asus :: ASUS SABERTOOTH P67 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Tech NPS

I couldn't wait any longer and willing to pay extra to have it a few weeks early. I am calling them tomorrow to ensure they have it in stock and didn't put me on some preorder or backorder.

This brings me to my last remaining component. Anyone else have a GTX 470 and like it? Are the concerns about heat/power well founded and will I be able to compensate in this rig?

Thanks! Almost there!

[Anomo]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader If you rely on Adobe products you need to buy an nVidia video card.

I want to correct you there. I use the HP Compaq 8510p for school and run the Adobe CS5 package. It uses the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600. Everything is working fine

[Nuclear Krusader]

It's not that it doesn't work. It's that Adobe uses CUDA technology to speed up several processes. CUDA is inherent to nVidia.

[risnangl]

Originally Posted by Lyric8 I just bought the mobo off this site: Computer Hardware :: Motherboards :: Asus :: ASUS SABERTOOTH P67 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Tech NPS I couldn't wait any longer and willing to pay extra to have it a few weeks early. I am calling them tomorrow to ensure they have it in stock and didn't put me on some preorder or backorder.

Are you sure this is the updated board?

[Lyric8]

I guess that is kind of what I was thinking though. I haven't been into buying video cards, but the names I always hear are ATI and nVidia. Don't usually hear EVGA and that concerns me...

[Lyric8]

Originally Posted by risnangl Are you sure this is the updated board?

Actually now that I am awake and no wine in my body, it doesn't have the Rev 3.0 on the box in the image and nor the description.

Ughs, I will have to cancel the order I guess? Was this board flawed as well?

[glc]

You need to ask them if it's a "B3" board. Can't you wait another couple of weeks for Newegg to get them in? When you get it, there will be a "B3" sticker on the box and on the bios chip, among other places.

The GTX470 is specifically recommended by Adobe. If it weren't, I wouldn't get one. Yes, it's thirsty and hot. Maybe a GTX560 Ti would be a suitable alternative.

The Corsair 650 is plenty good for any system with any single video card.

[Lyric8]

Note: Web Developer and Web Designer are very different. I open Photoshop about once a month and for about 20 minutes each time.

[birddog_61]

Originally Posted by Lyric8 I guess that is kind of what I was thinking though. I haven't been into buying video cards, but the names I always hear are ATI and nVidia. Don't usually hear EVGA and that concerns me...

ATI and NVIDIA design the cards and let companies build them. EVGA builds some of the best cards out there. You won't find a gtx 470 built by NVIDIA.

[Lyric8]

Originally Posted by birddog_61 ATI and NVIDIA design the cards and let companies build them. EVGA builds some of the best cards out there. You won't find a gtx 470 built by NVIDIA.

Gotcha. I guess the branding just always pulls you in and the interface you deal with is nVidia or ATI and their names stick.

[glc]

Originally Posted by Lyric8 Note: Web Developer and Web Designer are very different. I open Photoshop about once a month and for about 20 minutes each time.

I'd still get a Nvidia card made by Asus or EVGA. Depending on what kind of gaming performance you want, either a GTX460 1GB or a GTX560 Ti would be considerably more efficient than a 470.

[Lyric8]

I hope I am actually able to get the board when it comes back out. Seems really popular and is probably going to sell out in 86 seconds. I can't seem to find a pre-order on Newegg anymore either. bah.

[glc]

Newegg doesn't do preorders. When they come in, they post them. When they run out, then they set it to "auto-notify".

Here's a preorder from a vendor that I'd trust at a decent price:

ASUS SABERTOOTH P67 REV 3.0 Intel P67 LGA 1155 ATX Intel Motherboard. ASUS SABERTOOTH P67

[David M]

Newegg understandably does not want people who are not going to paying for it right away to pre-order. I just pre-ordered A HIS 6990 and think I will have a pretty good chance of getting one if I keep an eye on my emails. Yup, gonna be a guinea pig this time.