New Build - Heavy/Multiple Use

T

Tomson

Weaksauce
Joined
Nov 19, 2007
Messages
127
Currently, i'm on a 939 4200 dual core, 2 gb ram and some slow as hard drives, it's unresponsive and as you'll see is just impossible for my future needs. I'll list my needs and hopefully can get some input from folks who have experience in the same areas:


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1. Cisco Labs - Currently have a few routers and switches but I don't have the space for loads and loads of equipment I will need so want to use gns3/dynagen/dynamips. I have heard that you need a good amount of RAM but most importantly a powerful multicore CPU.



2. VMware. Kinda links to #1. For labs and testing environments I would ideally like to be able to run lots of VM's. I'm not that knowledgeable with VMware other than basically click and go to make it work. Am i right RAM is the key? last time I used it was just to test a couple OS's with 256ram in each... so for a few servers and some workstations I would need quite a bit.



3. Games. Have a list on Amazon with about 20 games to buy :)



4. Encoding. Batch encoding, I have 'lots' of DVD's that I want to convert in handbrake to x/h264-MKV.

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CPU - Intel i5 quad seems decent? or should I just hold out a little longer for the 6 core AMD's bearing in mind the multitasking labs, VMware sessions and Encoding?

RAM - I would think 2GB for Win7x64 (covering having all the regular desktop apps open) and then how much more? 6GB total with DDR3? Not sure that will be enough but 12gb sounds excessive!

Storage - 1 x 128gb Crucial real 6gb/s SSD, these look decent and 'futureproof', space wise that should be enough for my apps, , some games, some images (guessing vmware runs better running these images off an SSD). I recently saw Intel have released trim for raid which might change my decision as RAID0 usually has nice benifits. I have regular WD Green for storage and surplus.

Mother - Not really fussed but USB3 & Sata 6gb/s support is needed.

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I don't upgrade often just when i really have to, and now, i really have to so I think $3k on a beefy PC is ok and just looking for advice on the main bits.

Thanks in advance.
 
Really sounds like you need Socket 1366. You will need to get a videocard for the games (which games?) and match it to your monitor (size and resolution?)

750 TX $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R $210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423

6gb Gskill $165
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225

and I would get a 920, or if you know some local who has one (920) I would get the 980X and be done for a few years. You would need to update the bios to use the 980x.
 
For $3k you can easily go with the i7 930 + 12gb ram + Gigabyte/Asus X58 mobo + 5850/5870 (depending on your resolution). Then either go with that crucial or dual 80gb intel x25m g2's in raid0 if they did release trim for raid0.

Gwarrens suggestions are good, I would go with 12gb ram if you use VMware and have 3k to spend. The X58A-UD3R is a quality motherboard at a great price with usb3.0 and sata 6gb.
 
If you need the system now, get it now. Are you near a Microcenter by any chance? I agree, go for 12GB, your VM's will thank you. For storage, pickup a couple Samsung F3 1TB or Caviar Black 1TB.
 
@gwarren007 - that kind of motherboard looks great.

@enginurd - i'm in the UK so we don't have microcenters. Done a little reading and virtualising certain server os and tasks will require a decent amount of RAM...


I think 12gb is the way to go for ram, so that area is sorted.

@Shadowssong - I saw a link on engadget 2 days ago for $300 hex core phenoms coming and then yesterday same price for 12 core (yes 12) opterons on hte horizon for Q2 also. I don't need a new system right this minute but definately in the next couple months so i'm kinda thinking i'll wait until I at least see the new athlon benchmarks and their prices.
 
Then wait then for the AMD hexcore CPUs. I can't wait for those CPUs as well :)
 
Anyone know the deal with DDR3 and AMD?

I was thinking for a Thuban get 12gb (3x2gb * 2) but it seems nearly every am3 board has 4 dimms, which is really 8gb (the 4gb dimms are uber expensive).
 
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