new workstation advice
PirateNinja
Icrontian
in Hardware
I got approved for buying a new workstation for work (that sounds weird). I need a lot of memory for development, 8gb isn't cutting it anymore.
Other than that, not sure what to get. I want a very quiet system that can support 3 monitors. I'm never going to overclock or mod it. Here is what I have in mind:
Corsair Obsidian 550D
Intel I7 3930
Some sort of AMD card since they seem to have better multi monitor support. @Thrax . Thoughts? I want to buy your shit.
Idiotproof water cooling for the cpu that fits in the case, does that exist yet? If not can someone recommend an easy to install, quiet, hsf
32gb ddr3 running in quad channel format
Whatever platinum plus power supply. What's good these days? Last time I built I got a nzxt.
...
Possibly 3x monitors
I need to keep this around 2-2.5k
What do you guys think?
Other than that, not sure what to get. I want a very quiet system that can support 3 monitors. I'm never going to overclock or mod it. Here is what I have in mind:
Corsair Obsidian 550D
Intel I7 3930
Some sort of AMD card since they seem to have better multi monitor support. @Thrax . Thoughts? I want to buy your shit.
Idiotproof water cooling for the cpu that fits in the case, does that exist yet? If not can someone recommend an easy to install, quiet, hsf
32gb ddr3 running in quad channel format
Whatever platinum plus power supply. What's good these days? Last time I built I got a nzxt.
...
Possibly 3x monitors
I need to keep this around 2-2.5k
What do you guys think?
0
Comments
Tell us more about what this new box needs to do, how many sessions, what OS virtualized, etc.
Regarding other questions about what I'm doing:
Usually 2-3 instances of Visual Studio, a lot of compiling, tons of debugging.
Usually 3+ vmware player instances running Ubuntu / Winxp-7
Other stuff is standard, you know 20ish browser tabs at any given moment.
I don't need a server, but I want a ton of ram because this should last me 3 more years. When I built my last computer I laughed at the prospect of needing more than 4gb of ram. Then I needed 8. Now I push 8 once week during heavy debug sessions. Basically I'm in the process of developing a game, a video editor (which you guys did help test in it's infancy), and webcam/security software. Three years from now I don't know what I'm going to be doing, but I don't want to have to upgrade ram again in a year and a half. I am also going to be getting in to Mono programming and iOS stuff, so I'm sure more virtualization and IDEs are en route.
Lot's of file transfer between 4 existing SSDs, mid range in quality. 50/50 split between huge (40GB+) and tiny files.
I'm sure gigabit lan is built in to most decent motherboards these days, and I do need that for backups/disk images.
I'm going to be playing some games, but pretty much a few hours of Civ5/TF2 each week and not much more than that. My existing computer is already great for that (2500k + nvidia 460). I also have Adobe CS4 and I probably use Photoshop once a day for cropping, resizing, etc...Once a week for tf2 sprays. Some Illustrator.
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I can take the Nvidia 460 out of my current setup, but what I really want is to go from 2xmonitors landscape to 3x portrait which would make life and productivity so much easier. Getting out of DVI would be nice just because anything with pins on it makes me feel like it's 1996 and I'm hooking up a serial modem to play LORD.
Also, I still am fascinated by Eyefinity gaming although I just doubt I can justify the cost given how little fun I get to have these days.
This CPU. Faster base and faster turbo than what you show even if not OC'd. This one I linked to is NOT a true server CPU, it is upper-end workstation suitable.
This motherboard-- C606 Chipset has SAS drive support and quad channel RAM support.This board will support up to 64 GB RAM at least if you need later to upgrade just RAM.
I will mention that Quad channel RAM is expensive right now, quite expensive. If you are willing to compromise some on channeling of RAM and go for speed of RAM instead of quad channeling it, motherboard recommendation will differ.
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Tushon/saved/1q70 is close, but I'll alter it based on what you say there. You can't get away from DVI if you want 3 monitors.
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Corsair-H100i-CPU-Cooler-Review/1719/6
I also was looking at this article last night:
http://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/henry-butt/corsair-h100-h100i-performance-comparison-with-sp120-fans/5/
So I was thinking of getting the quiet mode sp120s + h100i, and ditch the stock h100i fans. That should keep me under 40db.
It also looks like the Core i7-3930K does not ship with an Intel HSF to begin with, unless I'm missing something.
@Tushon I'm sure I won't be OCing. I just don't OC any more, because I'm a boring old man. Is a 850W PS necessary for that configuration you posted? Think I could get away with 650 or less? I'm never going to have dual video cards. Why can't I ditch DVI and use display port instead?
@Straight_Man I can't justify spending that much alone on a cpu/mobo, but that combo looks awesome
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Thanks everyone, this is super useful and lot's of help.
This HSF will exceed your needs, just two simple fans and a really good HS. Quiet on all levels and performance to match.
No OC in a workstation.
You're purchasing consumer memory? I guess ECC would put you over budget.
And you can absolutely get away from DVI if you want 3 monitors. It's better for everyone if you do.
Unless you just want it....then go for it.
The downside to the D14 is it's size, but I'm not getting memory with gigantic pointy heatsinks so I should be ok.
amazon comes through again.
Buy a Radeon with 3+ DisplayPort, and get monitors that offer native DP connections. These come at a price premium, but PowerColor, Visiontek and ASUS make them.
THE GOOD WAY (BUT ADAPTERS CAN VERY OCCASIONALLY BE FUSSY):
Buy a Radeon with 1xDVI+2xDP, and use an active DVI-to-DP adapter for one of the displays. Whatever you do, buy this and only this adapter if you choose to go this route.
Man these 6x display port Radeons are hard to find and they aren't cheap.
I'm more inclined to go with the "good way" , but if you don't mind one last question would it work to just use 2x mini DP + 1x hdmi? I don't need Eyefinity gaming, I just need 3 monitors to do work with.
Everything you need to know about Eyefinity can be found at my FAQ: www.amd.com/eyefinityfaq
The D14 is too big, so The NHC12P won that fight. If anyone is ever in this same situation I found out you can get a free adapter:
http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=nm_i2011_upgrade_order&setlng=en
I'm going with the NHC12P, 650W Rosewill, Dell U2312HM monitors. I am going to do pics in a week or two when this all comes together
It will support that 3930K you mentioned. Note that the K suffix is more heat stable even if not OCed, as is the X of the 3970 variety. that is why it is labelled as the OCable one. It is binned according to heat stability.
The motherboard I linked to also is not the most expensive, Supermicro boards cost more, though they also make more C606 chipset boards.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0064Z6YD2/
The memory controller for four channel ram is built in to the 3930k
good until 4/22
@Thrax
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5698/rosewill-capstone-450w-and-650w-80plus-gold/6
The review was pretty good, and from what I researched SuperFlower makes good 80+ 650w psus. I thought I got a good deal.
What do you think could go wrong?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B88Z314/
Looks like a great, cheap, SeaSonic clone.