Cloud9 builds a computer (Done!)

CloudNineGT · Post by **CloudNineGT** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 1:34 am

General hardware list so far, please give me any input. The pricetag is running right around $2000 currently.

Processor ( IntelÂ® Core i7 930 Processor (4x 2.8GHz/8MB L3 Cache) )
Liquid CPU Cooling System w/ 120mm Radiator
Best price for the power as far as I find. Liquid cooling because I plan to overclock about 20%.

Memory ( 12 GB [2 GB X6] DDR3-1600 )
God I love it. Overkill?

Video Card ( ATI Radeon HD 5770 - 1GB )
Kind of wondering if I shouldn't go bigger.

Motherboard ( Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R -- Intel X58 Chipset CrossFire and SLI Supported w/8-ch HD Audio, Tripple Channel DDR3, Gb LAN, 4 PCI-E 2.0 x16 MB )
Seemed sufficient.

Power Supply ( 650 Watt - SLI Ready )
Bigger? If I want to do crossfire later.

Primary Hard Drive ( 80 GB Intel X25-M MLC SSD )
Fancy new super fast thing. Solid state drives seem to be the shit although I've never used one.

Secondary Hard Drive ( 1 TB HARD DRIVE -- 16M Cache, 7200 RPM, 3.0Gb/s )
For porn and movies.

Monitor ( 24" Widescreen LCD 1920x1080 Sceptre X246W-1080P, DVI & HDMI Input )
Too big? Is my eyes gonna explode? I wanted something I could plug my Xbox into too.

POOPERSCOOPER · Post by **POOPERSCOOPER** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:25 am

2000 dollars is way over doing it. Liquid cooling, 12 gigs od ram, cross fire are all stupid. I'm thinking of getting a new computer soon too but there really isn't anything out to justify a computer like that cloudnine unless your doing intense video editing shit or something.

ekkaman · Post by **ekkaman** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:30 am

Up that power supply my good man get rid of the liquid cooling and spend more on the video card if you got the cash.

CloudNineGT · Post by **CloudNineGT** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:36 am

I've got the liquid cooling kit for free through crazy internet deals, it was never part of the plan but.. what the hell huh? I'm not using crossfire just merely making sure that its a possibility in the future. As to 12g of ram, as I worked it out it was only about $200 more than my planned for 6g. Perhaps I ought to drop the ram and load up on a nicer video card.

Power supply noted, I'll go up to like a 900w or so?

To explain: Two grand is a lot of money. However, somehow (I can't figure out why) since I stopped shooting heroin I've got more money than I know what to do with.
My work / continuing education includes running programs like AutoCAD, Carlson, and various 3D modeling programs. Most of the data I import is in MASSIVE chunks as they are large construction plans and very, very, very, populated topographic maps. To do things like run contours at a two foot interval over more than a mile of land or render a project takes a little firepower. My current computer sometimes just locks up when I try to make changes to a large group of points or entities.

Also I like video games

ekkaman · Post by **ekkaman** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:27 am

im using 1200w in my desktop but running duel card so i needs it, id not go under 900w with todays computers.

Myself id not drop the ram more the better as far as i see, and good job on not backing charile horse anymore never wins dude.

POOPERSCOOPER · Post by **POOPERSCOOPER** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 5:14 am

Even with dual cards you don't need 1200 watt jesus christ. Read a few guides or something gloud nine.

ekkaman · Post by **ekkaman** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 7:03 am

Im about to up it too 2 Sapphire HD5970 2G GDDR5 i think 1200w will do nicely, like to have the power it makes me feel good.

Mismatch · Post by **Mismatch** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 8:53 am

Memory ( 12 GB [2 GB X6] DDR3-1600 )
God I love it. Overkill?

You should be ok with 8 I dare say.

Video Card ( ATI Radeon HD 5770 - 1GB )
Kind of wondering if I shouldn't go bigger.

WHen I bought my comp I got a XFX Radeon HD 5870 1GB GDDR5, which is quite ok.

Power Supply ( 650 Watt - SLI Ready )
Bigger? If I want to do crossfire later.

Go with 750 I'd say.

Primary Hard Drive ( 80 GB Intel X25-M MLC SSD )
Fancy new super fast thing. Solid state drives seem to be the shit although I've never used one.

Yeah I got one for my new 'puter I got a month ago, 'tis well worth the investment. Tho' you'll need to install games and chit on yer seconday drive due to the lack of space on them SSD, shich brings me to my next point

Secondary Hard Drive ( 1 TB HARD DRIVE -- 16M Cache, 7200 RPM, 3.0Gb/s )
For porn and movies.

How 'bout 10k rpm? To speed up them games?

MR Snake · Post by **MR Snake** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:21 am

You can overclock that cpu alot more with a fan. My i7 920 is overclocked from 2.67 Ghz to 3.8 and works fine with the fan I have on it.

Frater Perdurabo · Post by **Frater Perdurabo** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:07 am

Word on the HD, it really needs to be faster. I just reinstalled Windows on my old HD which I had forgotten was a piece of shit. Slows everything down big time.

PSU: for safety's sake, get more than 650.

RAM: my brother has 12GB, I have 6. I really wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Post by **King of Creation** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:21 am

Why the hate for liquid cooling systems? I thought they were the way of the future and all that.

Stainless · Post by **Stainless** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 12:50 pm

Till they leak

Kashluk · Post by **Kashluk** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:22 pm

I have no personal experience on liquid cooling, but if it works, then why not. Less noise and no dust issues, I guess?

But in general I agree with most of the posts here, you are a bit overdoing it. 2000 cold ones for a rig is pretty much, but then again you are getting a monitor as well. I think you'd maximize your gain by budgetting 1500 with the monitor and around 1000 without.

And when it comes to the monitor, well... It depends on your usage. For gaming, movies etc. nothing's ever too big. But when it comes to text editing and other mundane tasks, a good ol' 19-incher still does the trick. The question is how close you are going to be to the monitor. My 22'er is right up in my face, so when doing some detailed work I usually stare at 1/4th of the screen -> overkill. But it's great for watching movies sitting on my nice, comfy computer chair or playing games with pretty graphics.

Mismatch · Post by **Mismatch** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 4:31 pm

And when it comes to the monitor, well... It depends on your usage. For gaming, movies etc. nothing's ever too big. But when it comes to text editing and other mundane tasks, a good ol' 19-incher still does the trick.

You could have both, I roll with two screens, one widescreen and one regular. It's quite handy, especially if you should need to tail logs while doing something.

Post by **Manoil** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 5:01 pm

Building a computer, you say? Could have sworn you were too occupied with creating japanimation

Only kidding, best of luck

CloudNineGT · Post by **CloudNineGT** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:38 pm

Mismatch wrote:How 'bout 10k rpm? To speed up them games?

I was thinking I would launch most games from the SSD, 80 gigs is plenty of room to keep the desired few running fast, don't you think?

MadBill · Post by **MadBill** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 3:17 am

SSD mang, but don't get the wrong one. That Intel jobber is probably the right one, but I think OCZ makes a faster one. I am trying to hold out until the technology matures some more.
RAM is good.

CloudNineGT · Post by **CloudNineGT** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 4:22 am

Yeah I read somewhere that the intel MKV was the shit or something.

inomel · Post by **inomel** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 5:38 pm

I'd like to know what you finally decide on. 12g RAM SLI, fs, etc should be an editing/gaming beast for the ages.

CloudNineGT · Post by **CloudNineGT** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:59 pm

All done! Assembly was a bitch and a half because I chose to use a mid size case, but happily the thing is a little more portable for LAN action.

And the final specs:

Processor - IntelÂ® Core i7 930 Processor (4x 2.8GHz/8MB L3 Cache)
Memory - 12 GB [2 GB X6] DDR3-1600
Video Card - ATI Radeon HD 5850 - 1GB
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R
Power Supply - 850 Watt
Primary Hard Drive - 80 GB Intel X25-M MLC SSD
Data Hard Drive - 1 TB HARD DRIVE -- 16M Cache, 7200 RPM