On the verge of ordering: New system

[chemjeff]

Hi all,
I'm about to place the order for my first system. The purpose of this system is high-performance computing (RAM and CPU-intensive), so graphics are not a top priority. Here's what I plan on ordering. Comments welcome!

CPU: Core i7 920 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202
Motherboard: ASRock X58 Deluxe http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157155
Cooler: Dark Knight 120mm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029
Memory: Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1600 6x2GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145236
HDD: WD Caviar Black 7200RPM 640GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319
Case: Cooler Master Centurion Mid-Tower ATX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119152
Graphics Card: Radeon Sapphire http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102849
Monitor: View Sonic X Series 21.5" http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824116400
PSU: Corsair 850W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

I decided to go with the smaller capacity HDD because upon reading the reviews for the 1 TB drives, it seemed that they had a higher failure rate. But if you think my concerns are unfounded I'll go for the larger capacity.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

 

[chemjeff]

fans

Oh, I just realized I hadn't taken into account fans. I could use some advice on number and type of fans that I should order as well.

 

[pbmaster]

Scythe Ultra Kaze fans. You may want a case with a bit more room too. Just saying.

 

[chemjeff]

Scythe Ultra Kaze fans. You may want a case with a bit more room too. Just saying.

Can you recommend a case to accommodate the motherboard and cooler and fans?

 

[pbmaster]

You had a good brand picked out. What about the HAF 922 or 932? Or something along those lines

 

[JrRacinFan]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146041

Might I ask, what will be the primary use of this PC?

 

[chemjeff]

purpose

It is for high-performance computing. Quantum chemistry calculations and the like.

 

[JrRacinFan]

It is for high-performance computing. Quantum chemistry calculations and the like.

Any overclocking?

 

[chemjeff]

overclocking

Any overclocking?

I have never done overclocking before but I'm willing to try it out. From what I read about the i7 920, overclocking them seems to be the common practice nowadays.

 

[JrRacinFan]

I have never done overclocking before but I'm willing to try it out. From what I read about the i7 920, overclocking them seems to be the common practice nowadays.

Ok since graphics are not a concern. Get a better brand motherboard even though it doesn't support SLI.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128375

 

[[Ion]]

You'll be fine with the Centurion 590, I had the 690 which is basically the same size on the inside and it accomidated an Enermax Galaxy 1kw and 2 9600GSOs very well. Also, the power supply that you have selected is way more than you need, I think you will be happier with a modular model such as the HX620

 

[qubit]

For someone that's not interested in gaming, you've got quite a nice graphics card there. (Sapphire 4870 1GB Vapor X)

What do you mean by "high performance computing"? If you're thinking of Folding@Home, then an nvidia graphics card would be rather faster.

Enjoy your first build.

 

[chemjeff]

Ok since graphics are not a concern. Get a better brand motherboard even though it doesn't support SLI.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128375

JrRacinFan,
Thanks for the suggestion, but I was hoping for a motherboard that would have a larger memory capacity - the idea being that I would replace the 6x2GB with 6x4GB once the price of the 4GB sticks fell some more. How about this one instead?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157163

 

[JrRacinFan]

JrRacinFan,
Thanks for the suggestion, but I was hoping for a motherboard that would have a larger memory capacity - the idea being that I would replace the 6x2GB with 6x4GB once the price of the 4GB sticks fell some more. How about this one instead?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157163

Thanks for pointing that out. I see what your going for now. My whole statement revolves around if your ever going to use SLI. I just used the Gigabyte as an example and did not notice it had only 4 dimms versus 6.


Here's a pretty good deal:
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=103150

It's this board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136063

I know it's more expensive but it's a very very nice board.

 

[chemjeff]

For someone that's not interested in gaming, you've got quite a nice graphics card there. (Sapphire 4870 1GB Vapor X)

What do you mean by "high performance computing"? If you're thinking of Folding@Home, then an nvidia graphics card would be rather faster.

Enjoy your first build.

Yeah, well I asked for some advice last month on components for this computer, and this was the graphics card recommended to me. To be honest I know very little about graphics cards. How about this as a suitable replacement?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125274

The high-performance computing that I plan on doing with it involves quantum chemistry calculations.

 

[qubit]

Yeah, well I asked for some advice last month on components for this computer, and this was the graphics card recommended to me. To be honest I know very little about graphics cards. How about this as a suitable replacement?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125274

The high-performance computing that I plan on doing with it involves quantum chemistry calculations.

Wow! I recommend looking at the specs of the application to see if it's accelerated by a graphics card and what brand ie ATI/AMD or nvidia. If you tell us what it is, then we can also have a look and advise you.

If it's not accelerated, then that 9600 you're looking at seems a reasonable buy. The silent cooling is a big plus here. Just remember to ensure good airflow over it, to prevent overheating. There's no absolute rights or wrongs here, so that card looks good to me.

 

[chemjeff]

Thanks for pointing that out. I see what your going for now. My whole statement revolves around if your ever going to use SLI. I just used the Gigabyte as an example and did not notice it had only 4 dimms versus 6.


Here's a pretty good deal:
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=103150

It's this board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136063

I know it's more expensive but it's a very very nice board.

Hi JrRacinFan,
That does look like a very nice board but I'm a little concerned that the maximum memory speed is only 1600. Is this a valid concern? Should I look for a board that can accommodate speeds up to 2000?

 

[[Ion]]

Hi JrRacinFan,
That does look like a very nice board but I'm a little concerned that the maximum memory speed is only 1600. Is this a valid concern? Should I look for a board that can accommodate speeds up to 2000?

That's not a problem at all, there is very little difference between 1600 and 2000 (maybe 1%, only important if you are trying to get the highest benchmark scores)

 

[chemjeff]

Wow! I recommend looking at the specs of the application to see if it's accelerated by a graphics card and what brand ie ATI/AMD or nvidia. If you tell us what it is, then we can also have a look and advise you.

If it's not accelerated, then that 9600 you're looking at seems a reasonable buy. The silent cooling is a big plus here. Just remember to ensure good airflow over it, to prevent overheating. There's no absolute rights or wrongs here, so that card looks good to me.

qubit,
Actually the quantum chemistry calculations don't involve any graphics at all. A simple VGA card would work just fine for that. The only reason I would need any graphics at all is for molecule visualization and the occasional YouTube video. The program I use most commonly for molecule visualization is MacMolPlt (the Linux version): http://www.scl.ameslab.gov/MacMolPlt/

 

[JrRacinFan]

Could always pickup nflesher87's GTS250 for $85. I know for a fact he has barely any use on the card and it's near mint.

 

[Solaris17]

agree with JR on the card

but as for the memory guys id seriously consider recommending him a board that goes with his 2000mhz memory if you indeed recommended him 2ghz memory..because remember its maybe (1%) for benchmarks but what he is doing is highly mathematical. so his increase in speed will be bigger than we might think it would be. depending on calculation a 200mhz speed diff can be hours for him.