FINISHED -- Input Wanted: Building My Next PC

[trogdor]

CYBERPOWER- they can build it cheaper than you

the pinnacle of gaming systems

Please tell me you're kidding.

“Hell, I can build it cheaper than that!”

 

[PetersCreek]

Well, today's the day. I pulled the trigger on my NewEgg order...

• ASUS P5Q-E LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
• Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor
• ZALMAN 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink
• G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory (x2, 8GB total)
• MSI Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
• Western Digital Caviar SE16 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (x2, RAID-1)
• Western Digital Caviar SE16 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (x2, RAID-1)
• LG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner w/ SecurDisc Tech Black SATA
• COOLER MASTER Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
• CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply

Now all there is to do, is wait. Shipping to Alaska wasn't quite as bad as I'd feared but it still stung a bit. Heckuva lot better than local prices, though...by far. One place wanted $600 for the CPU!

 

[Swissy]

yeah, that outta get the job done. Now I just gotta get you into gaming...

:laugh:

Getting close to Thursday afternoon weather...

 

[PetersCreek]

Well, I do have my eye on some flight controls...

 

[PetersCreek]

Well, it took long enough but I'm finally up, running, and posting on the new PC. The only essential thing left to do is to temporarily patch in the drives from the old PC to transfer the rest of the data files to their new home. Here are the final specs:

ASUS P5Q-E LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor
ZALMAN 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Memory (8GB total)
MSI Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
Western Digital Caviar SE16 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (x2, RAID-1: OS and programs)
Western Digital Caviar SE16 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (x2, RAID-1: Data)
LG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner w/ SecurDisc Tech Black SATA
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply
COOLER MASTER RC-690 Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Silverstone FP35B USB 2.0 Card Reader

OS: Windows Vista Ultimate, 64-bit

It took a lot longer than I wanted due to problems with defective merchandise. I had ordered the OEM version of Vista but the packaging is poorly thought out. The data side of the DVD contacts the spine of user manual enclosed in the jewel case, resulting in severe scratches on the first and replacement copies I received. After a month of a porked-up RMA process, I said screw it and got a credit on the second return toward the purchase of the full retail version. The extra cost was worth saving further time and frustration.

I've already installed MS Flight Simulator X and it hums along quite happily with all quality settings maxed. I'm replacing my copy of MS Office XP with the 2007 version due to a minor but extremely annoying compatibility issue. Photoshop CS2 is back up and running after minor fiddling but as luck would have it, CS4 (which is 64-bit compliant) has just been released.

Many thanks to everyone who shared their opinions, experience, and expertise.

 

[Mizicke5273]

Couldnt of spec'ed that better myself. You've got your self a nice rig there.

 

[Strayvector]

Great setup. Just remember, you can't have too much storage.

With storage so cheap why not go with a 1TB drive? You could partition it and mirror the drive for backups.

Nah...set up a PC with a strong OS base (built for speed) and get an external Tera-Station!

Love mine. Perfect place to store all the porn so I can get to them from any PC/workstation/Xbox in the house.

 

[Mizicke5273]

Nah, the DROBO is where its at for storage!

 

[LouieD]

If you want to implement a RAID configuration, read this review of RAID cards vs on-board RAID. Very interesting.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/raid_controllers_compared

Regards...Lou

 

[PetersCreek]

Interesting read and that Adaptec card sounds quite spiffy...but that's a $495 expense I don't need...


...yet. :whistling:

 

[lovetheleaf]

Reading all this was awesome, also like reading a different language.
Congrats it sounds like you have one hell of a machine.

 

[moki]

Nah, the DROBO is where its at for storage!

I disagree... Drobo is cute looking, but relatively expensive and proprietary. There are better RAID solutions out there.

 

[Mizicke5273]

Nah, the DROBO is where its at for storage!

I disagree... Drobo is cute looking, but relatively expensive and proprietary. There are better RAID solutions out there.

I agree, but for the simplicity and convenience, the Drobo is hard to beat. Im a bit confused about it being proprietary, what do you mean by that?

 

[Strayvector]

Nah, the DROBO is where its at for storage!

...is not a NAS device. If you don't need a NAS then you're overpaying.

 

[PetersCreek]

Well, the "new" PC turns 2 years old this month, so I thought I'd post an update.

My flight simulator "cockpit" continues to take shape. I've been flying with a yoke, throttle quadrant, and rudder pedals for quite a while now and I received two new panels in the mail a couple of weeks ago: a switch panel (with gear lever) and a multifunction panel with autopilot, flaps, and pitch trim wheel controls. Next I think, will be a radio stack and a second throttle quadrant.

Don't mind the nearly empty container of grapes. They were the in-flight meal.

Any other sim pilots in the house?

 

[BlindedByScience]

....doesn't it just suck that what was s#!t hot such a short time ago is "old news' now...??....

Rocking an i7-980 and 12Gb plus several libraries worth of hard drive at work now. Oh and an SSD or two....soon to upgrade at home........

Don't get me wrong - I still rock a QuadCore at home but its....just...so...dated...??...!!.....

Have fun, brother - B.B.S.