My build for under $2,000. Advice and Suggestions welcome!

[theseeg]

Here is my list of components for my new project!!!

Motherboard:
ASUS Sabertooth X79 LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

CPU:
Intel Core i7-3820 Sandy Bridge-E 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 2011 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80619i73820

CPU Fan/Heatsink:
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel ...

Memory:
2 x CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M4X1600C9G

GPU:
DIAMOND 7970PE53G Radeon HD 7970 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

PSU:
OCZ ZX Series 850W Fully-Modular 80PLUS Gold High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 ...

Storage:
2 x Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Case:
Antec Eleven Hundred Black Super Mid Tower Computer Case

Drives:
2 x LG DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH24NS90 - OEM

Cooling/Accessories:
4 x Antec 761345-75026-4 120mm Red LED Case Fan
3 x Antec Accent Lighting - Red

Total Cost: $1,962.37

What do yall think? I was aiming for a significantly powerful build under 2k

Any suggestions to keep power and maybe reduce cost even more!!!

[puma99dk|]

what u gonna use ur pc for? if gaming is the answer i would take a LGA1155 setup with a Ivy Bridge i7-3770K, Z77 board and a GTX 680 gpu.

[Dent1]

Originally Posted by theseeg

Storage:
2 x Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Your HDD is overpriced. You can find a similar spec'd one much cheaper.


It's refurbished but you get warranty.

Refurbished: Western Digital AV-GP WD10EURS 1TB 64...

You are not into refurbished stuff, you can get a 100% brand new one for $80, but you'll be dropping down to 32MB cache. But I doubt it will make a difference to performance.

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cac...

Also the Antec 761345-75026 120MM can isn't the best. I wouldn't buy anything that is over 20dBA peak, unless you dont mind noise!

[theseeg]

Originally Posted by puma99dk|

what u gonna use ur pc for? if gaming is the answer i would take a LGA1155 setup with a Ivy Bridge i7-3770K, Z77 board and a GTX 680 gpu.

This build is for CAD work and gaming so I am kinda set on the Sandy Bridge set up

[theseeg]

Originally Posted by Dent1

Your HDD is overpriced. You can find a similar spec'd one much cheaper.


It's refurbished but you get warranty.

Refurbished: Western Digital AV-GP WD10EURS 1TB 64...

You are not into refurbished stuff, you can get a 100% brand new one for $80, but you'll be dropping down to 32MB cache. But I doubt it will make a difference to performance.

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cac...

Also the Antec 761345-75026 120MM can isn't the best. I wouldn't buy anything that is over 20dBA peak, unless you dont mind noise!

I would go with refurbished but they only have 1 in stock lol I am trying to RAID 2 1TB

[LAN_deRf_HA]

Originally Posted by theseeg

This build is for CAD work and gaming so I am kinda set on the Sandy Bridge set up

I've yet to see a benchmark that didn't put the 3770k ahead of the 3820. If you're not going to fork out for a 6 core it's probably more efficient to just get higher density ram on Z77.

[theseeg]

Originally Posted by LAN_deRf_HA

I've yet to see a benchmark that didn't put the 3770k ahead of the 3820. If you're not going to fork out for a 6 core it's probably more efficient to just get higher density ram on Z77.

What do you mean? Wont higher density RAM need me to overclock?

[t_ski]

Higher density = more GB's, not higher speeds

[theseeg]

Originally Posted by t_ski

Higher density = more GB's, not higher speeds

Oh gotchya

32gig aint enought for CAD?!

[t_ski]

Depends on what you're cadding

[theseeg]

Building Infrastructure Modeling

[Dent1]

Originally Posted by theseeg

I would go with refurbished but they only have 1 in stock lol I am trying to RAID 2 1TB

Don't bother raiding a mechanical drive, get an SSD as you are guaranteed reliable and consistent speeds without the read/write dropping. Also the access speeds will be instantaneous which is what you want for installing your OS and CAD software on.

Crucial M4 CT256M4SSD2 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Int...


I would just get a single 2TB just for storing your general files and backup.


PS found these 2TB drive Seagate Barracuda is the same price and spec as the 1TB Western Digital Caviar Black you had in your basket.


Seagate Barracuda Green ST2000DL003 2TB 5900 RPM 64MB Cache
Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM001 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache

Originally Posted by theseeg

This build is for CAD work and gaming so I am kinda set on the Sandy Bridge set up

Why? Ivy Bridge is faster and newer

Note: View edits above.

[theseeg]

Originally Posted by Dent1

Don't bother raiding a mechanical drive, get an SSD as you are guaranteed reliable and consistent speeds without the read/write dropping. Also the access speeds will be instantaneous which is what you want for installing your OS and CAD software on.

I would just get a single 2TB just for storing your general files and backup.


Ps found a 2TB drive Seagate Barracuda is the same price and spec as the 1TB Western Digital Caviar Black you had in your basket.


Seagate Barracuda Green ST2000DL003 2TB 5900 RPM 6...



Why? Ivy Bridge is faster and newer

Thanks man! I think I will go with a 2TB storage

Now I need to find an SSD with enough space to hold the OS, Several CAD Softwares, and Diablo3

[Aquinus]

I have a similar build and I highly recommend faster memory vs more memory, SB-E handles 2133 to 2400 pretty well. Personally 4x4Gb of G.Skill Ripjawz at 2133 (9-11-10-28) runs really well and will run up to 2333 10-11-10-28-1T really well, also at least that way if you need more memory, you're already half way done with a faster set.

Originally Posted by Dent1

Why? Ivy Bridge is faster and newer

Yes, it will also be outdated the second Haswell comes out. IVB-E is still on the way and my 3820 is somewhere between the 2700k and 3770k and if you're really pushing this CPU full power, the memory bandwidth is very helpful. X79 also has more upgrade paths where IVB stops hard and cold at the 3770k.

Obviously he likes the X79 platform, which really is a solid platform. Also Dent, just because the 3820 is "slower" than the 3770k doesn't mean it isn't a more feature filled platform. K edition IVB chips also don't support VT-d if virtualization is a big deal (which it is for me.)

[theseeg]

Originally Posted by Aquinus

I have a similar build and I highly recommend faster memory vs more memory, SB-E handles 2133 to 2400 pretty well. Personally 4x4Gb of G.Skill Ripjawz at 2133 (9-11-10-28) runs really well and will run up to 2333 10-11-10-28-1T really well, also at least that way if you need more memory, you're already half way done with a faster set.




Yes, it will also be outdated the second Haswell comes out. IVB-E is still on the way and my 3820 is somewhere between the 2700k and 3770k and if you're really pushing this CPU full power, the memory bandwidth is very helpful. X79 also has more upgrade paths where IVB stops hard and cold at the 3770k.

I thought with the faster RAM needs the CPU to be overclocked? I was under the impression that if you dont over clock the CPU then the RAM will only run at the highest possible it can which is 1600 for my MB

[Aquinus]

Originally Posted by theseeg

I thought with the faster RAM needs the CPU to be overclocked? I was under the impression that if you dont over clock the CPU then the RAM will only run at the highest possible it can which is 1600 for my MB

My 3820 ran 2133 without any extra modification to CPU settings. Even stock VTT voltages were perfectly adequate for 2133mhz, just 1.65v on the DRAM, but that is what the sticks are also rated for. XMP kicked in no problem on my P9X79 Deluxe which I also recommend if you're not planning on doing LN2 clocking.

[theseeg]

Originally Posted by Dent1

Don't bother raiding a mechanical drive, get an SSD as you are guaranteed reliable and consistent speeds without the read/write dropping. Also the access speeds will be instantaneous which is what you want for installing your OS and CAD software on.

Crucial M4 CT256M4SSD2 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Int...


I would just get a single 2TB just for storing your general files and backup.


PS found these 2TB drive Seagate Barracuda is the same price and spec as the 1TB Western Digital Caviar Black you had in your basket.


Seagate Barracuda Green ST2000DL003 2TB 5900 RPM 64MB Cache
Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM001 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache



Why? Ivy Bridge is faster and newer

Note: View edits above.

Found this sick combo!!

[theseeg]

Originally Posted by Aquinus

My 3820 ran 2133 without any extra modification to CPU settings. Even stock VTT voltages were perfectly adequate for 2133mhz, just 1.65v on the DRAM, but that is what the sticks are also rated for. XMP kicked in no problem on my P9X79 Deluxe which I also recommend if you're not planning on doing LN2 clocking.

Right now I am working with the sabertooth x79

[Aquinus]

Originally Posted by theseeg

Right now I am working with the sabertooth x79

Any particular reason? The Deluxe costs more (with more features,) but plenty of people like the Pro which is about the same price.

ASUS P9X79 PRO LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3...

I guess it is practically the same, do you really need the PCI slot on the Sabertooth because part of the reason why I like the Pro and Deluxe is because every slot is a PCI-E slot.

[theseeg]

Originally Posted by Aquinus

Any particular reason?

Reliability, warranty, and reputation

since i wont be overclocking (for now) it seemed to be the best safe deal

[Aquinus]

Originally Posted by theseeg

Reliability, warranty, and reputation

since i wont be overclocking (for now) it seemed to be the best safe deal

I think you need to check out Cadaveca's review on the P9X79 Deluxe, because he sold me on getting it and I absolutely love it. I was considering the Sabertooth and he convinced me out of it.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/P9X79_Deluxe/

Technically the Deluxe has 16 + 2 + 2 +2 power where the Sabertooth has 8 + 2 + 2 + 2 power but so does the pro. I'm just trying to sell you on what I have because I love it.

[theseeg]

Originally Posted by Aquinus

I think you need to check out Cadaveca's review on the P9X79 Deluxe, because he sold me on getting it and I absolutely love it. I was considering the Sabertooth and he convinced me out of it.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/P9X79_Deluxe/

Technically the Deluxe has 16 + 2 + 2 +2 power where the Sabertooth has 8 + 2 + 2 + 2 power but so does the pro. I'm just trying to sell you on what I have because I love it.

Ive read it... You and him have sold me on it

[Aquinus]

Originally Posted by theseeg

Ive read it... You and him have sold me on it

You won't be disappointed.

[theseeg]

now i need to find a video card... right now i have reduced my cost to $1,500 without video card.... what to do what to do

[Aquinus]

Originally Posted by theseeg

now i need to find a video card... right now i have reduced my cost to $1,500 without video card.... what to do what to do

Like nVidia? MSI N670GTX-PM2D2GD5/OC GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bi...
Or AMD? MSI R7950 Twin Frozr 3GD5/OC Radeon HD 7950 3GB 38...

The 670 might be the better option if you can find it in stock, but I would go with a single powerful GPU over crossfire if you can avoid it since you're building this rig from scratch.