A computer components & hardware forum. HardwareBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » HardwareBanter forum » General Hardware & Peripherals » General
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Looking for suggestions on building a 'dream' computer



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old August 23rd 04, 01:54 PM
Brad
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Looking for suggestions on building a 'dream' computer

For the computer knowledgable and savvy people.

Looking to get a new system and the company will be paying for it ( or most
of it) so im looking to put together an awesome system that could make me
the king of my block for awhile.....

.....so overkill is encouraged.

My current computer cost about $1000 a few years back, so if the 'dream'
system runs up to say $6000, i would like to know about. ( i know one can
assemble a system for $20 K so im trying to keep within reason )

Im asking if some of you hardware informed people may give me your 2 cents
on what I could shop for. Even if the component needs to be specially
ordered from the manufacturer because stores rarely carry it ( perhaps cause
its expensive or not in much demand), I still would like to hear about it. I
have a very good understanding of most components but not as in touch with
the highest-end performance parts

Im thinking something such as:

- Dual ( or even 4 ??) CPU MB
- fast cpu's to fill those multiple slots.
- 1 to 2 gigs ram
- the best gaming video card ( note that I want to support multiple
monitors..2 hopefully 3 and being able to video input cable tv at times)
- hard drive: running 4, 200gb drives in raid or something like that.. or
whatever gets the fastest speed

All ideas are welcome. thank you
Post thoughts here so others amy share in or email bwps (@) shaw.ca




  #2  
Old August 23rd 04, 02:01 PM
JK
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default



Brad wrote:

For the computer knowledgable and savvy people.

Looking to get a new system and the company will be paying for it ( or most
of it) so im looking to put together an awesome system that could make me
the king of my block for awhile.....

....so overkill is encouraged.

My current computer cost about $1000 a few years back, so if the 'dream'
system runs up to say $6000, i would like to know about. ( i know one can
assemble a system for $20 K so im trying to keep within reason )

Im asking if some of you hardware informed people may give me your 2 cents
on what I could shop for. Even if the component needs to be specially
ordered from the manufacturer because stores rarely carry it ( perhaps cause
its expensive or not in much demand), I still would like to hear about it. I
have a very good understanding of most components but not as in touch with
the highest-end performance parts

Im thinking something such as:

- Dual ( or even 4 ??) CPU MB


Dual Opteron 250 processors would be nice.


- fast cpu's to fill those multiple slots.
- 1 to 2 gigs ram


2 gigs would be nice.


- the best gaming video card


A 6800 Ultra card would be nice.

( note that I want to support multiple
monitors..2 hopefully 3 and being able to video input cable tv at times)
- hard drive: running 4, 200gb drives in raid or something like that.. or
whatever gets the fastest speed


Some smaller 10,000 rpm drives for speed, and some 250 gig 7200
rpm drives might be an interesting idea.



All ideas are welcome. thank you
Post thoughts here so others amy share in or email bwps (@) shaw.ca


  #3  
Old August 23rd 04, 02:52 PM
Carter Lee
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Brad wrote:

For the computer knowledgable and savvy people.

Looking to get a new system and the company will be paying for it ( or most
of it) so im looking to put together an awesome system that could make me
the king of my block for awhile.....

....so overkill is encouraged.

My current computer cost about $1000 a few years back, so if the 'dream'
system runs up to say $6000, i would like to know about. ( i know one can
assemble a system for $20 K so im trying to keep within reason )

Im asking if some of you hardware informed people may give me your 2 cents
on what I could shop for. Even if the component needs to be specially
ordered from the manufacturer because stores rarely carry it ( perhaps cause
its expensive or not in much demand), I still would like to hear about it. I
have a very good understanding of most components but not as in touch with
the highest-end performance parts

Im thinking something such as:

- Dual ( or even 4 ??) CPU MB
- fast cpu's to fill those multiple slots.
- 1 to 2 gigs ram
- the best gaming video card ( note that I want to support multiple
monitors..2 hopefully 3 and being able to video input cable tv at times)
- hard drive: running 4, 200gb drives in raid or something like that.. or
whatever gets the fastest speed

All ideas are welcome. thank you
Post thoughts here so others amy share in or email bwps (@) shaw.ca


My suggestion is don't get a PC, get a server.

Carter

  #4  
Old August 23rd 04, 02:54 PM
CK
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

For the computer knowledgable and savvy people.

Looking to get a new system and the company will be paying for it ( or

most
of it) so im looking to put together an awesome system that could make me
the king of my block for awhile.....

....so overkill is encouraged.

My current computer cost about $1000 a few years back, so if the 'dream'
system runs up to say $6000, i would like to know about. ( i know one can
assemble a system for $20 K so im trying to keep within reason )

Im asking if some of you hardware informed people may give me your 2 cents
on what I could shop for. Even if the component needs to be specially
ordered from the manufacturer because stores rarely carry it ( perhaps

cause
its expensive or not in much demand), I still would like to hear about it.

I
have a very good understanding of most components but not as in touch with
the highest-end performance parts

Im thinking something such as:

- Dual ( or even 4 ??) CPU MB
- fast cpu's to fill those multiple slots.
- 1 to 2 gigs ram
- the best gaming video card ( note that I want to support multiple
monitors..2 hopefully 3 and being able to video input cable tv at times)
- hard drive: running 4, 200gb drives in raid or something like that.. or
whatever gets the fastest speed

http://arstechnica.com/guide/system/index.html


  #5  
Old August 23rd 04, 03:08 PM
Miss Perspicacia Tick
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

JK wrote:
Brad wrote:

For the computer knowledgable and savvy people.

Looking to get a new system and the company will be paying for it (
or most of it) so im looking to put together an awesome system that
could make me the king of my block for awhile.....

....so overkill is encouraged.

My current computer cost about $1000 a few years back, so if the
'dream' system runs up to say $6000, i would like to know about. ( i
know one can assemble a system for $20 K so im trying to keep within
reason )

Im asking if some of you hardware informed people may give me your 2
cents on what I could shop for. Even if the component needs to be
specially ordered from the manufacturer because stores rarely carry
it ( perhaps cause its expensive or not in much demand), I still
would like to hear about it. I have a very good understanding of
most components but not as in touch with the highest-end performance
parts

Im thinking something such as:

- Dual ( or even 4 ??) CPU MB


Dual Opteron 250 processors would be nice.


- fast cpu's to fill those multiple slots.
- 1 to 2 gigs ram


2 gigs would be nice.


- the best gaming video card


A 6800 Ultra card would be nice.



You mad?! The X800XT blows it out of the water!


( note that I want to support multiple
monitors..2 hopefully 3 and being able to video input cable tv at
times) - hard drive: running 4, 200gb drives in raid or something
like that.. or whatever gets the fastest speed


Some smaller 10,000 rpm drives for speed, and some 250 gig 7200
rpm drives might be an interesting idea.



All ideas are welcome. thank you
Post thoughts here so others amy share in or email bwps (@) shaw.ca


Here's the system I've just built

ASUS SK8V Deluxe board
FX-55
2GB PC3200 OCZ
X800 Pro (couldn't get the XT)
SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
2x75GB 10K Raptors
1x250GB Caviar (all SATA obviously)
Plextor DVD burner (though this will be replaced at the beginning of next
year with one of the new 8.5GB units)
Samsung combi (for convenience and when I need to burn a CD in a hurry -
it's twice as fast as the Plextor)
Coolermaster WaveMaster case
Tagan SilentPower 500W PSU (and it *IS* silent!)
Logitech iTouch combi (Bluetooth)
If you're a gamer (which you obviously are) - the you owe it to yourself to
get a MX700 or MX900 (Bluetooth) - they are the most accurate and most
responsive gaming mice currently available. Coupled with a RatpadzGS (Gaming
Surface) - they will (sorry for the advertising cliche) take your gaming
experience to a whole new level.

Whilst I'm not really a gamer (not in the sense of FPS, flight sims, RTS,
etc) I do play (OK, I guess adventures, RPGs and management don't really
count - I can't wait for /Rollercoaster Tycoon 3/ or /The Sims 2/ for
example).

Just my 2p (inc. VAT)'s worth.

--
My great-grandfather was born and raised in Elgin - did he eventually
lose his marbles?



  #6  
Old August 23rd 04, 03:46 PM
J. Clarke
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Brad wrote:

For the computer knowledgable and savvy people.

Looking to get a new system and the company will be paying for it ( or
most
of it) so im looking to put together an awesome system that could make me
the king of my block for awhile.....

....so overkill is encouraged.

My current computer cost about $1000 a few years back, so if the 'dream'
system runs up to say $6000, i would like to know about. ( i know one can
assemble a system for $20 K so im trying to keep within reason )

Im asking if some of you hardware informed people may give me your 2 cents
on what I could shop for. Even if the component needs to be specially
ordered from the manufacturer because stores rarely carry it ( perhaps
cause its expensive or not in much demand), I still would like to hear
about it. I have a very good understanding of most components but not as
in touch with the highest-end performance parts

Im thinking something such as:

- Dual ( or even 4 ??) CPU MB


Forget the 4 CPU unless you're running Linux--the only Windows versions that
support more than 2 are Advanced Server and above and you're not going to
get those within your $6K budget.

For duals the Opterons are a better deal than Xeons, but you're still
looking at 1500 or so bucks worth of CPUs if you go with the highest clock
speed. Running Windows you won't see a whole lot of difference between
Opteron and Xeon unless you want to try the 64-bit beta (free download from
Microsoft, 1-year time-bomb).

- fast cpu's to fill those multiple slots.
- 1 to 2 gigs ram
- the best gaming video card ( note that I want to support multiple
monitors..2 hopefully 3 and being able to video input cable tv at times)


Not going to get 3 with good performance on all of them until somebody ships
a motherboard with 2 PCI Express 16X slots--the only AGP boards that
support 3 or more monitors are from Matrox and their gaming performance is
marginal at best. Duals with AGP just pick whatever's hot right now. Note
that you can get dual DVI with nvidia boards for a good deal less than with
ATI boards.

- hard drive: running 4, 200gb drives in raid or something like that.. or
whatever gets the fastest speed


Within your budget 15K SCSI drives are probably out--a couple of WD Raptors,
one for boot and one for swap, plus 3 250s RAID-5ed for data would be a
good combo. Hook them all to an Intel or LSI Logic or 3Ware RAID
controller, not a Promise cheapie.

All ideas are welcome. thank you
Post thoughts here so others amy share in or email bwps (@) shaw.ca


--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
  #7  
Old August 23rd 04, 03:56 PM
liam
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Here's the system I've just built

ASUS SK8V Deluxe board
FX-55
2GB PC3200 OCZ
X800 Pro (couldn't get the XT)
SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
2x75GB 10K Raptors
1x250GB Caviar (all SATA obviously)
Plextor DVD burner (though this will be replaced at the beginning of next
year with one of the new 8.5GB units)
Samsung combi (for convenience and when I need to burn a CD in a hurry -
it's twice as fast as the Plextor)
Coolermaster WaveMaster case
Tagan SilentPower 500W PSU (and it *IS* silent!)
Logitech iTouch combi (Bluetooth)
If you're a gamer (which you obviously are) - the you owe it to yourself
to get a MX700 or MX900 (Bluetooth) - they are the most accurate and most
responsive gaming mice currently available. Coupled with a RatpadzGS
(Gaming Surface) - they will (sorry for the advertising cliche) take your
gaming experience to a whole new level.

Whilst I'm not really a gamer (not in the sense of FPS, flight sims, RTS,
etc) I do play (OK, I guess adventures, RPGs and management don't really
count - I can't wait for /Rollercoaster Tycoon 3/ or /The Sims 2/ for
example).

Just my 2p (inc. VAT)'s worth.

--
My great-grandfather was born and raised in Elgin - did he eventually
lose his marbles?

WTF Would you want a system like that for if you don't use it for FPS or
Flight Sims/Racing Sims.

What Frame Rate do you get with Solitare ?
Do you suffer from Lag with Internet Hearts.?

Why don't you get an 8 Meg Bonded SDSL connection for your e-mail. ?

Have you got some £2.50 headphones for your soundblaster ?

How's the 14" Monitor running at 640 * 480 ?

What a fookin Tosser you are ?






  #8  
Old August 23rd 04, 05:03 PM
sheer
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"liam" wrote in message
...
Here's the system I've just built

ASUS SK8V Deluxe board
FX-55
2GB PC3200 OCZ
X800 Pro (couldn't get the XT)
SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
2x75GB 10K Raptors
1x250GB Caviar (all SATA obviously)
Plextor DVD burner (though this will be replaced at the beginning of

next
year with one of the new 8.5GB units)
Samsung combi (for convenience and when I need to burn a CD in a hurry -
it's twice as fast as the Plextor)
Coolermaster WaveMaster case
Tagan SilentPower 500W PSU (and it *IS* silent!)
Logitech iTouch combi (Bluetooth)
If you're a gamer (which you obviously are) - the you owe it to yourself
to get a MX700 or MX900 (Bluetooth) - they are the most accurate and

most
responsive gaming mice currently available. Coupled with a RatpadzGS
(Gaming Surface) - they will (sorry for the advertising cliche) take

your
gaming experience to a whole new level.

Whilst I'm not really a gamer (not in the sense of FPS, flight sims,

RTS,
etc) I do play (OK, I guess adventures, RPGs and management don't really
count - I can't wait for /Rollercoaster Tycoon 3/ or /The Sims 2/ for
example).

Just my 2p (inc. VAT)'s worth.

--
My great-grandfather was born and raised in Elgin - did he eventually
lose his marbles?

WTF Would you want a system like that for if you don't use it for FPS or
Flight Sims/Racing Sims.

What Frame Rate do you get with Solitare ?
Do you suffer from Lag with Internet Hearts.?

Why don't you get an 8 Meg Bonded SDSL connection for your e-mail. ?

Have you got some £2.50 headphones for your soundblaster ?

How's the 14" Monitor running at 640 * 480 ?

What a fookin Tosser you are ?


Now now keep the claws in girls. :-)









  #9  
Old August 23rd 04, 05:23 PM
Scotter
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Depends on what you want this system to do.
I'll assume some of the most demanding tasks things like:
(a) 3d gaming
(b) 3d rendering
(c) audio/video editing, encoding, burning
(d) compiling
(e) database searching

Someone here mentioned a board with dual opteron 250's. Yes! I would start
there. I have some experience building high-end PC's (but not with a $6,000
budget! Wow.) so I'll give my two cents.

Dual Opteron 250's - makes for much better multitasking. Try having a single
FX-51 like I do and multitasking sucks.
Not sure what motherboard but I bet some other learned person on here will
recommend a great one.
Four 200 gig SATA drives mirrored and striped so you have performance AND
data safety. OR if you price this thing out and have lots of extra money,
get fastest SCSI instead of SATA.
If you go SATA route, depending on your motherboard, you may need to get a
RAID card.
FOUR gig of fastest dual channel RAM your motherboard supports.
BFG's 6800 Ultra OC - someone here said the XT800 is faster or something.
They are mostly wrong. The XT800 is not much more than a souped up ATi 9800;
The 6800 line is new technology and much more advanced. I won't go into
details but you can research this and find your truth. Most modern cards
will support two monitors simultaneously.
Lian Li case. Get whichever one you want. I just recommend this brand for
cases. Research and see why. They rock.
Antec True power supply. Get a biggy like over 500.
Get a name-brand DVD/CD burner like Sony or something. You usually can't go
wrong with Sony.

Scott
System built January 2004:
FX-51 on MSI K8T800 Master-2 FAR board
Nvidia 5950 Ultra 256meg
1 gig fast DDR ram (two 512MB sticks)
two 160gig SATA drives mirrored
Lian-LI PC70 case
Antec True 480
blah blah blah


  #10  
Old August 23rd 04, 05:34 PM
Grant
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Brad" wrote in message
news:iOlWc.195048$J06.122966@pd7tw2no...
For the computer knowledgable and savvy people.

Looking to get a new system and the company will be paying for it ( or most
of it) so im looking to put together an awesome system that could make me
the king of my block for awhile.....

....so overkill is encouraged.

If you wanna see extreme overkill, check these out:

http://www.go-l.com/desktops/index.htm

drool


 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Building my own computer [email protected] General 2 November 14th 03 05:37 AM
Building your Own PC? GC \(BuildYourOwn\) General 0 August 2nd 03 05:14 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:22 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 HardwareBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.