Need Serious Help Building New PC.

[d_stilgar]

Alright, I've got a max budget of $1100 to build/upgrade a PC. Here's my current set up:

EVGA nForce 780i LGA775 motherboard
Intel Core2 Quad Q9550 @2.83Ghz
8Gb ram @400MHz
Dual 9800gt graphics cards
Too many hard drives

I also have the HD 4870x2 that Dr Walrus sent me, but I haven't had the time to get it into my system yet, so it's just sitting here.

I also just ordered a Dell 24" IPS display at 1920x1200. It'll be here soon.

Here's what I need/want:
I need a computer for my architecture studio. We do a lot of CAD work and use a lot of Autodesk software. I also use the Adobe Master Suite quite a bit. I also do a fair amount of gaming on my current 1920x1200 monitor, but my rig isn't keeping pace with current games at that res. In the best case scenario, I would be able to get two more of these Dell IPS displays ($350 each) and then do some sweet Eyefinity fun, but I doubt that I will be able to get two more even within one year, so this option is out unless you guys can get really creative.

So far my current rig is pretty awesome for the work type tasks, but it's at home and I really need a rig in my studio space on campus. I could possibly just bring this rig into campus and build a new gaming rig for at home. This has been my current thinking so far.

Or . . . I could build a relatively cheap desktop for my studio and upgrade my current rig, but there's really not a ton I can do at this point since I'm on fairly dated hardware. Would getting a $2-300 video card make any difference with my current CPU? If I got this route, what sort of computer would you guys recommend I build/buy? The cheap route could include me getting some inexpensive computer parts, using one or both of my 9800gt cards in it, placing the 4870x2 in my current rig, then possibly saving up the extra for two more of the IPS displays. The only requirements on the studio machine are that it be able to handle 3d design software and that at the end of my next three years in school that it be easily adapted into a HTPC. Just a note on this as well, many of my classmates just use their relatively cheap and crappy laptops in studio, but I hate laptops and can't stand to use them.

I know I've been wordy already, but really it boils down to this, if I'm going to spend all my money ($1100) on a machine then I want it to last until I'm out of school at least, but I would much rather prefer I spend very little on a machine and save my cash. I need some help and I want you guys to give it to me.

[OvRiDe]

Something like this would rock your studio area..

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=XW8600-XEON34X2-R&cat=SYS

But I don't think it would really be that much better on your budget. There are a couple of other less pricey options here.. http://www.geeks.com/products.asp?cat=SYS

It's a tough call, there are so many ways to skin a cat in this case, I don't know if there is one good answer here.

[d_stilgar]

Well, I've come to one conclusion. My studio pc is either going to be less capable than my current rig and cost $3-400, and I will upgrade my current rig for as cheap as possible (probably just put this 4870x2 in it), or I am going to get a nice new gaming machine for home and take my current rig (listed above) to studio to use. Any help should be offered in one of those options unless you have a very creative solution in some other vein.

For help, here's the computer hardware outline the architecture department lists as minimum or recommended specs for a laptop. Again, I'll be using a desktop so I can get similar performance for half the price or less. http://www.caa.uidaho.edu/computerpolicy/htm/hardware.htm

[diluzio91]

I think with the SLI 9800s you should be fine for CAD work, im assuming 1gb cards, not 512s? And from there just build a gaming rig, for 1100 you can get a pretty nice rig, an even nicer rig if you don't need hdd's. an am3+ and thuban base gives you good performance, with the later option to easily go to bulldozer if you need it. For graphics i would splurge and get a 6950 or a 570 (if your willing to go with b stock you can get a 570 for $250)

[Twigsoffury]

I'd hold out a month for the new bulldozer platform.

ought to drop the cost of current gen hardware a bit.

[d_stilgar]

So, I ended up getting a Dell with a i7 2600, 8gb ram, Radeon HD 6670, 1TB HDD, and another UltraSharp U2412M 24" monitor, so now I have two of those sweet monitors. One more and I can do triple screen eyefinity! The video card is cheap, but it gives me some room to grow and I can just use the 4870x2 until then.

The final price was $1000 after a $500 coupon, so it wasn't a bad deal. I'll get it later this week.

[TheGreatSatan]

Check your new computer's PSU. They usually put some underpowered turd in there that won't hold up for long, especially if you upgrade the card

[d_stilgar]

Check your new computer's PSU. They usually put some underpowered turd in there that won't hold up for long, especially if you upgrade the card

Yeah, that's my one worry at this point.

[Twigsoffury]

So, I ended up getting a Dell with a i7 2600, 8gb ram, Radeon HD 6670, 1TB HDD, and another UltraSharp U2412M 24" monitor, so now I have two of those sweet monitors. One more and I can do triple screen eyefinity! The video card is cheap, but it gives me some room to grow and I can just use the 4870x2 until then.

The final price was $1000 after a $500 coupon, so it wasn't a bad deal. I'll get it later this week.

You know you can eyefinity with any monitor you have laying around.

so far i've done.

Three 28" Hanns G LCD monitors

Two Dell M992 CRT + 28" Hanns G LCD

My television + Dell M992 + Hanns-g 28"

you can even group two together and have the third as a stand alone.


It's really neat software, and not nearly as c@#k b@#cked as Nvidia's set up and software.


1000$ aint bad for that hardware, I'm sure you got screwed in the motherboard and power supply department but i mean that's replaceable down the line if you ever wanted to (overclocking...yo) once Dell's warrenty expires


6670 is on the weak side for ATi's cards with 480 cores.. (your 4870x2 has 1600 cores x2 for a total of 3,200 cores...a steller video card) but the power requirements are pretty slim for that 4870, so it ought to just pop and drop in that dell and work w/o issue if you chose to do so.

[d_stilgar]

I know I can Eyefinity with whatever monitors I want, but having the same model will unify the image and size of the image so that things all look right. Still, I'll have to get a card that can do it. The 4870x2 can't. It was the 5xxx series that started it.

You have three 28" Hanns-G monitors? Woah! That's gotta be huge!

I've got one (listed in my system specs). It has a square bezel unlike some of their newer models. I'm thinking I'm going to sell it and get another 24" IPS from Dell.

[d_stilgar]

My computer came today. I've been busy getting rid of all the bloatware that ships with it. I may do a fresh install but I'm not certain yet.

The only big issue I have now is how I'm going to handle my hard drives. I have six connected to my current machine and this new case is so tiny and the PSU is only 450W, so I don't want to tax it anymore than the 4870x2 I just stuck in it. I'm thinking of doing some sort of NAS but I'll have to see what I can do and for how cheap.

Also, now that I have two of these monitors I really want a third. Man am I spoiled or what? Too many hard drives, too many monitors but wanting one more. It's funny the problems that come up with this sort of thing, but I'm really thinking I'll have to jump ahead and make a nice cheap PC to act as a media server and HTPC. I have a bonus video card that came out of my new PC when I put the 4870x2 in it.

[Fuganater]

I'll be selling my NAS soon. Will be $50 + shipping. Its a DLink NAS. I can get you a link later.

[d_stilgar]

I'm interested depending on the number of bays. I'd like to move at least 4 into a new machine. If your NAS is 4 bay then I'll buy it. Otherwise I'm looking at $150 in parts to build a HTPC, which would also be a really good route to go for me.

[Fuganater]

Sorry its only a 2 bay.

[TheGreatSatan]

I just had a guy come in who wanted the Alienware Aurora for $2000! :eek: The specs were a 2600, 8GB, 1TB and a 6770.

I got him to build his own with a 2600K, Z68-UD4, 16GB, 60GB SSD, 2TB secondary, 560 Ti, 800 Watt 80 Gold, Razer keyboard and mouse, 24" LED, and a 2yr warranty and it was still $300 cheaper than the Alienware.

[AmEv]

Pre-built PCs: A slowly dying breed.
The nice part is, the computer is insured as a whole if something happens, especially if it factory OCed.
The tough part is, you have to ship the whole thing in (and, if it is part of a, say, printer combo, the accessories too, sometimes).

[d_stilgar]

I just had a guy come in who wanted the Alienware Aurora for $2000! :eek: The specs were a 2600, 8GB, 1TB and a 6770.

I got him to build his own with a 2600K, Z68-UD4, 16GB, 60GB SSD, 2TB secondary, 560 Ti, 800 Watt 80 Gold, Razer keyboard and mouse, 24" LED, and a 2yr warranty and it was still $300 cheaper than the Alienware.

A few weeks ago there was a guy selling an Alienware Aurora on Craigslist for $500 including an expensive large monitor and all the included peripherals. He lived 2.5 hours away, but I called him and he said the earliest he could do was Sunday, so I went up after church but I was told by his dad that he had sold it the night before to someone else. It was 5 hours wasted in my car for nothing. I was pissed. He said he couldn't do the night before. I would have totally been there. He called me when I was driving home and offered to send me a check for my gas. He sent me $50, but it was still a total loss in my book. I wanted that deal.

[d_stilgar]

So, my birthday is next month. My wife and I were talking and we decided that I get to build a HTPC! I'm really pumped. I have big plans for this, but a tiny budget of $150. That's enough for the necessary hardware though. The rest will be another update to the credenza I've been working on. I'm excited!

[Twigsoffury]

I just had a guy come in who wanted the Alienware Aurora for $2000! :eek: The specs were a 2600, 8GB, 1TB and a 6770.

I got him to build his own with a 2600K, Z68-UD4, 16GB, 60GB SSD, 2TB secondary, 560 Ti, 800 Watt 80 Gold, Razer keyboard and mouse, 24" LED, and a 2yr warranty and it was still $300 cheaper than the Alienware.


Not including the hundreds of dollars worth of shipping to ship that 100+ pounds of equipment 1/2 way across the globe from ching chang factory in china.


Should of gotten him a Vento 3600 chassis. It's like a alienware chassis... only not a piece of crap that falls apart.

ahahha i dunno how many aurora cases i've seen with the front door missing.

[d_stilgar]

So, it looks like I need to get a new PSU. The one currently in it can't stand up to the 4870x2. Grr. I don't have the money for this.

[d_stilgar]

Got a new PSU today. Paid too much for it at a local computer shop, but I got it today.

So, I got this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371050), put it in my old rig, then took the 750W out of that rig and put it in the Dell 8300 case. Everything seems to be running fine now. Worst part is that I paid $180 for that PSU. I hate that so much.

But, tonight a guy is coming to buy my 28" LCD monitor for cash as well as a 64Gb ssd in trade. Then I'll spend my time reinstalling the OS on the ssd and getting everything configured. This has been a much longer process than I had hoped.