$2000 Work/Gamer

[AngryBlacksmith]

I'll mainly be using it for work, video editing/converting and some 3d modeling but I'd also like to play games on it and make em look pretty.

Budget is $2000 and I'm in California so I have sales tax.

I'm completely open to suggestion/changes

Mobo Newegg.com - ASUS P8P67 DELUXE (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

Cpu Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I72600K

Video Newegg.com - HIS IceQ X Turbo H695QNT2G2M Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

Ram Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B

Optical Newegg.com - LITE-ON 24X DVD Writer 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model iHAS424-98 LightScribe Support

Hd Newegg.com - HITACHI Deskstar H3IK20003272SP (0S02861) 2TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

Os Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems

Ps Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.2 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

This is about $1400 with tax but WITHOUT shipping

I have no idea what size case to get, and I need a monitor preferably with speakers and an hdmi connection

Thanks in advance

[David M]

If you buy before the end of the year, there is no sales tax on Amazon. Otherwise you pay the almost 10% sales tax here in California. Amazon has free shipping available on most items.

It looks like a good build except for perhaps the Hitachi hard drive. Others can comment on that.

Any mid tower or full tower ATX case will work. It's mostly a matter of what you think looks good. I tend to like all black conservative looking cases without lights. Corsair and Antec has a few. Lian-Li has some really nice rather expensive and inexpensive ones.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112304

[jdeb]

First off, you will want a Z68 board so you can take advantage of SSD caching (SRT). Here is a link to the board and a link to the technology. If it were purely a workstation, I would steer you with the ASUS SABERTOOTH P67, a 120GB SSD for OS/Applications, Large 64mb cache mechanical drive for data, 16GB DDR3 1600, and a Workstation class video card.

Newegg.com - ASUS P8Z68-V LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

AnandTech - Intel Z68 Chipset & Smart Response Technology (SSD Caching) Review

Here is a link to a dependable SSD drive to use for the caching
Newegg.com - Intel 320 Series SSDSA2CT040G3B5 2.5" 40GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

What 3D modeling software do you use and what video editing software as well? I would like to see if any of these programs take advantage of cuda so I can verify your video card selection or make a recommendation that will benefit you.

I would get a Sata III, 6gbs, 64mb cache mechanical drive for your data. I prefer the WD Black but either one should work

Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD2002FAEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
or
Newegg.com - HITACHI Deskstar 7K3000 HDS723020BLA642 (0f12115) 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

[AngryBlacksmith]

Modo for the 3D Luxology.com :: modo 501

Cyberlink Power Director and Adobe Premiere Elements for video

[glc]

If you are going to be using Adobe, a Nvidia card with CUDA would be a better bet. A great card to get while they are still around would be a GTX 560 Ti 448 core.

I like the Coolermaster HAF series cases, and you should be looking for a monitor with an IPS panel for best color accuracy.

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Monitors, LCD Monitors, ips

EDIT: I'd recommend the low profile Vengeance ram - if you put an aftermarket CPU cooler on, the heatsinks on the standard ram can get in the way. The 2600K does run a bit hot with turbo enabled, and if you overclock it, the stock cooler is inadequate.

[AngryBlacksmith]

Are you saying that the video card I chose won't run Adobe, or that one with CUDA will run it better?

Everything I'm reading about professional video cards says they're terrible for gaming. I understand they're better for 3D but if I have to choose between game or work for this machine I'd choose games as I have a capable computer at work. What I want more than anything regarding the 3D is more the option to review work and note potential changes needed at home. As I said I'd do some modeling I don't want the computer to be built around it.

EDIT: I looked at Modo(the only program I use for modeling) and CUDA and it seems like there is no significant difference.

The reason I'm asking is I don't like Nvidia

[glc]

I'm saying that CUDA will run it better, that's all.

[jdeb]

glc is correct. Adobe utilizes the cuda technology.
Adobe CS5: 64-bit, CUDA-Accelerated, And Threaded Performance : How Should You Accelerate Adobe?

This is a great gaming card as well. But it is huge. Make sure your case you decide on has the room. The one glc referred to would be fine.

Newegg.com - EVGA 012-P3-2068-KR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 448 Cores Classified 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Link for Cooler Master HAF
Newegg.com - Coolermaster HAF

[AngryBlacksmith]

This is what I'm looking at now

Case Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Mobo Newegg.com - ASUS P8Z68-V LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Cpu Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I72600K

Ram Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9

HD Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD2002FAEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

SSD Newegg.com - Intel 320 Series SSDSA2CT040G3B5 2.5" 40GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Optical Newegg.com - LITE-ON 24X DVD Writer 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model iHAS424-98 LightScribe Support

Video Newegg.com - HIS IceQ X Turbo H695QNT2G2M Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
or Newegg.com - EVGA 012-P3-2068-KR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 448 Cores Classified 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

If the CUDA will make that big of a difference I'll go with the GTX 560, but I'd like to know if the Radeon 6950 is compatible with everything as well, mainly just for future reference.

Psu Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.2 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

Os Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems

I have a friend who's getting a new monitor in a few weeks and he's going to give me this one
Newegg.com - HP ZR24w 24'' 7ms S-IPS Tilt&Swivel Adjustable Widescreen LCD Monitor w/5 USB hub & Display port 400 cd/m2 3000:1 DCR

For right now how does this one look?

Newegg.com - ASUS VE247H Black 23.6" 2ms Full HD HDMI LED BackLight LCD Monitor w/Speakers 300 cd/m2 10,000,000:1 (ASCR)

This leaves me with about $170.00 after tax left in the budget for shipping, is that enough? If it goes over it can't be much right?

[glc]

The 6950 is a great card, CUDA or not.

Shipping for each item at Newegg is listed, add it up! If you live anywhere near their warehouse in City of Industry, you can do a will-call.

California residents are charged sales tax as follows:
Los Angeles County residents: 8.75%
City of Pico Rivera residents: 9.75%
California residents outside of Los Angeles County: 7.25%

I have a report from a member that his GTX 570 video card is touching the hard drive cage in his HAF 912. You might want to look at a slightly bigger case. I'm not sure how long a 6950 is compared to a GTX 570. The hard drive cage is removable.

[AngryBlacksmith]

Would a bigger case be a full tower?

Is this one good?
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Advanced Blue Edition RC-932-KKN3-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0, Black Interior and Four Blue LED Fans-1x 230mm front fan, 1x 230mm top fan, 1x 230mm side fan, and 1x 140mm rear fan

[glc]

I don't think you need a full tower - here's depth measurements:

HAF 912 - 19.5"
HAF 922 - 22.2"
HAF 932 - 22.7"

The HAF 922 should be fine, it's a big mid-tower. The HAF 932 is HUGE.

[AngryBlacksmith]

I just want to be sure about everything

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF 922 BLUE RC-922M-KWN2-GP Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with Side window

Is it worth it to get the 932 for the half inch and more fans?

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Advanced Blue Edition RC-932-KKN3-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0, Black Interior and Four Blue LED Fans-1x 230mm front fan, 1x 230mm top fan, 1x 230mm side fan, and 1x 140mm rear fan

Edit: The 932 has free shipping so it's a $40 difference

[glc]

I don't think it's worth it unless you need a TON of drive bays.

[David M]

Originally Posted by glc The 6950 is a great card, CUDA or not. Shipping for each item at Newegg is listed, add it up! If you live anywhere near their warehouse in City of Industry, you can do a will-call. California residents are charged sales tax as follows: Los Angeles County residents: 8.75% City of Pico Rivera residents: 9.75% California residents outside of Los Angeles County: 7.25% I have a report from a member that his GTX 570 video card is touching the hard drive cage in his HAF 912. You might want to look at a slightly bigger case. I'm not sure how long a 6950 is compared to a GTX 570. The hard drive cage is removable.

The rate varies by city. In the city where I live in the SF Bay Area the sales tax is 8.75%. In one city near me the rate is 9.25%.

Source:
http://www.boe.ca.gov/pdf/pub71.pdf

[glc]

What I posted is straight off Newegg's site. They don't necessarily collect all local taxes.

[AngryBlacksmith]

Three things

How do I set the ssd up for caching only?

Does "Bare Drive" mean it comes without cables?

I'd like a modular power supply is this one ok?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139010

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by AngryBlacksmith Three things How do I set the ssd up for caching only? Does "Bare Drive" mean it comes without cables? I'd like a modular power supply is this one ok? Newegg.com - CORSAIR Professional Series HX750 (CMPSU-750HX) 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

Download your motherboard manual and read up on it. You want to set it up prior to the OS. It is straight forward but each BIOS may present some unique terminology in terms of setting up the raid.

That power supply is fine but a little more than you need

Newegg.com - SeaSonic X Series X650 Gold ((SS-650KM Active PFC F3)) 650W ATX12V V2.3/EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

Bare drive means no cable but the motherboard will provide you with a couple of cables. Buy an extra one in the case you are buying a spin drive, dvd drive, and an SSD.

[glc]

That particular motherboard comes with 4 SATA data cables.

Generally, you set the SATA controller to RAID mode, install Windows, install the SRT software, shut down, install the SSD, restart, then set up the caching in the SRT software.

That Seasonic PSU is excellent - and so are the Corsair TX-M, HX, and AX units.