Hi, any help/comments would be appreciated.
I am looking to build a new system. My usage is split between the following applications (in order of use):
1. MS office 2007, mostly Outlook (with LARGE data files >9gb's), some WORD, some Excel (NOT Excel power use, just basic).
2. I am moving toward doing more daytrading, which will take the place of #1 usage above within 6 months. Big memory/cpu hog as many charts are updated min of once per second.
3. Game - MS Flight Sim X (infrequent use, but when I use it I can't have the system dragging at low fps, no fun!).
I always have several applications running (like most everyone else...).
I have 2, 32" LCD's currently that I would like to keep.
MUST have's (in no particular order):
1. Raid 1, redundancy, likely 2 SATA - 750 gb drives (with at least 2 SATA ports unused to allow for future expansion).
2. eSata port accessible either front or back of case
3. NO JUNK, but no need for top shelf, reliability and stability are paramount. No desire to OC at all.
4. Currently have 2 - 32" LCD's, however as I move into more daytrading I will need to add another 3 - 32" monitors, totaling 5 monitors. Current monitors are driven using DVI connector. Would prefer not having "hobbled" PCIx16 slots - in other words want full bandwidth on all x16 slots when more than 1 card is installed.
5. Performance - lost time waiting for system to keep up won't work. However, have no need to go wild overboard.
6. I replace my system every 3-3.5 years, so this new one must hold up from the quality side as well as technology figuring replacement in about 3 years. I don't need absolute state of the art (read I don't want to pay premium for little gain).
7. Would expect to be running Vista Ultimate 64 bit.
8. Gigabit lan.
Frankly I am lost on the graphic card side of things (what chipset is best working with what card). The reviews that I have seen SEEM to show that the Intel ICH8 chipset performs well. In other words Crossfire, CrossfireX, PCIe 2.0, SLI, etc. is all Greek to me since I am not clear on what works with what and which will take into account the particular usage I have.
Energy savings is a plus. Many times as I have several apps running I am hesitant to allow into hibernation since it is a crap shoot as to whether the system will wake up intact, at least in my experience.
I am not sold that DDR3 is worth the expense at this point. X48 with DDR2 would seem to be OK but nothing is set in stone.
Budget is as needed to accomplish the above, however no need for overkill. Not going to spend $$ for the sake of spending $$. Nothing "flashy" needed.
Specifics would be helpful, i.e. which fan for cpu, etc etc.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Mark
I am looking to build a new system. My usage is split between the following applications (in order of use):
1. MS office 2007, mostly Outlook (with LARGE data files >9gb's), some WORD, some Excel (NOT Excel power use, just basic).
2. I am moving toward doing more daytrading, which will take the place of #1 usage above within 6 months. Big memory/cpu hog as many charts are updated min of once per second.
3. Game - MS Flight Sim X (infrequent use, but when I use it I can't have the system dragging at low fps, no fun!).
I always have several applications running (like most everyone else...).
I have 2, 32" LCD's currently that I would like to keep.
MUST have's (in no particular order):
1. Raid 1, redundancy, likely 2 SATA - 750 gb drives (with at least 2 SATA ports unused to allow for future expansion).
2. eSata port accessible either front or back of case
3. NO JUNK, but no need for top shelf, reliability and stability are paramount. No desire to OC at all.
4. Currently have 2 - 32" LCD's, however as I move into more daytrading I will need to add another 3 - 32" monitors, totaling 5 monitors. Current monitors are driven using DVI connector. Would prefer not having "hobbled" PCIx16 slots - in other words want full bandwidth on all x16 slots when more than 1 card is installed.
5. Performance - lost time waiting for system to keep up won't work. However, have no need to go wild overboard.
6. I replace my system every 3-3.5 years, so this new one must hold up from the quality side as well as technology figuring replacement in about 3 years. I don't need absolute state of the art (read I don't want to pay premium for little gain).
7. Would expect to be running Vista Ultimate 64 bit.
8. Gigabit lan.
Frankly I am lost on the graphic card side of things (what chipset is best working with what card). The reviews that I have seen SEEM to show that the Intel ICH8 chipset performs well. In other words Crossfire, CrossfireX, PCIe 2.0, SLI, etc. is all Greek to me since I am not clear on what works with what and which will take into account the particular usage I have.
Energy savings is a plus. Many times as I have several apps running I am hesitant to allow into hibernation since it is a crap shoot as to whether the system will wake up intact, at least in my experience.
I am not sold that DDR3 is worth the expense at this point. X48 with DDR2 would seem to be OK but nothing is set in stone.
Budget is as needed to accomplish the above, however no need for overkill. Not going to spend $$ for the sake of spending $$. Nothing "flashy" needed.
Specifics would be helpful, i.e. which fan for cpu, etc etc.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Mark
