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View Full Version : Putting together a workstation.


gemini
07-19-2007, 07:52 PM
Hello everyone! I need a workstation for web, graphic, basic video- design and coding. Very often have multiple macromedia applications, firefox with dozen of add-ons (which is killing my current P4), wamp server (apache, mysql and php for Win) for local testing and debugging. I know it all can and does run on P4, but I'm tired of it since it just doesn't handle everything nice and smooth. Plus I was thinking to make my current P4 a stand alone testing + file server. Money is limited - can go up to 2K, but will be happy to stay lower at the same time I want the best bang for it :D I'm behind on the newest hardware trends and after reading this forum for 2 weeks - here is what I have on my list:
$400 - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
$250 - ASUS P5K3 DELUXE/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
$400
CORSAIR 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit
$75 - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$150 - XFX PVT84JUDD3 GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
$116 - Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BWA Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$60 - Thermaltake Purepower W0100RU ATX 12V 2.0 500W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, CUL, TUV, FCC, and CB certification
~$300-$350 - 24" Widescreen not sure which one yet... I have 19" BanQ which I think is the best. The colors and contrast can not compare to Samsung, Sony, HP or ViewSonic that you can find at any BestBuy or Costco store (btw I bought my BanQ at Costco when they still were carying it. I got the last one which has 2 or 3 dead pixels... which I bit..ed about, but still hasn't reterned. Even Samsung sucked comparing to my BanQ. Anyway, I'm looking into getting 24" BanQ, or Dell, or Samsung... as everything else every different model of equipment has to be looked at. But my 19" FP91G+ 8ms BanQ kicks ass. I would like to have dual monitors and 24" like my 19 - that would be a great addition. (I have IBM stations at work... the PCs are fine, but LCDs suck so much that I can't even believe that IBM sells them).


So far that's all I have on my list and would greatly appreciate any comments
or suggestions. I have no clue what else I need in order to put it all together.
Do I need a thermo paste for the CPU? Any special tools (beside domestic ones)?

Do I need to get a really fancy $50 heatsink for it as well since I live in Phoenix, AZ an it's over 110F every f... day? What else do I need? Oh yea, I wanted to ask if I need to get a 64bit WinXP as well... (talked to a Microsoft engineer a few days ago and he suggested to stick with XP rather than Vista). I'm looking into buying a new Adobe/Macromedia package with Dreamweaver and all other stuff... so, will 64bit OS help me or there are trouble with it to watch out for? I guess that's it so far.

Looking forward to any suggestions.
Thanks!
Emerica
07-19-2007, 08:10 PM
That CPU is going to drop in price on/after July 22nd to ~270-285. With the money you are saving there you should splurge for an 8800GTS. I would recommend sticking with XP for the time being. You shouldn't need a fancy heatsink unless you plan on overclocking, if you aren't overclocking the stock will do you.
gemini
07-19-2007, 08:33 PM
yes, I read about the price drop - that's why it's still on my list.. kinda :)
As for the heatsink - my current P4 overheats quite a bit since I moved to AZ. I haven't cleaned it for 5 years and it was running ok, but with the beginning of this summer (this is my first summer in AZ) it started going up to 60+ degrees and shutting off. I cleaned it and now it's averaging anywhere from 43 to 49 degrees at any time.

What about XP32bit vs 64?
Emerica
07-19-2007, 08:48 PM
Since you aren't using 4GB+ of RAM then don't worry about 64 bit, just use XP 32.
gemini
07-19-2007, 08:59 PM
Actually, I was considering buying 4Gb DDR2-1066, but after talking with some friends, I settled on 2GB DDR3-1333 which should be much faster. Also I've been told that 4GB of RAM sometimes creates problems... I don't know the details and I haven't made enough research on it. But DDR3 is much more expensive that's for sure.. so, I can do or 4 GB-1066 or 2GB - 1333
tiro_uspsss
07-20-2007, 04:13 AM
with the apps u said ur gonna b running i *highly* recommend a few things:

4GB RAM (forget about what speed it is, more is better in ur scenario!)
a diff PSU, try Corsiar 620HX or Thermaltake Toughpower 750
2 monitors (*trust me*, for the work ur doing, it'll make life a hell lot easier)

re: thermal paste, go for Arctic Cooling MX-1 or MX-2 (if u can get a hold of it yet) or Arctic Silver 5

re: OS, imho go for XP Pro, personally i'd give 64bit a try *at least*. if u dont like it u back to XP32.. btw, XP64, MS has it available for free trial... oh, just remembered, some of the apps u mentioned, iirc, benefit a bit from 64bit...
tiro_uspsss
07-20-2007, 06:27 AM
Actually, I was considering buying 4Gb DDR2-1066, but after talking with some friends, I settled on 2GB DDR3-1333 which should be much faster. Also I've been told that 4GB of RAM sometimes creates problems... I don't know the details and I haven't made enough research on it. But DDR3 is much more expensive that's for sure.. so, I can do or 4 GB-1066 or 2GB - 1333

just to clarify: ur ram is only as fast as ur fsb when running 1:1, yes theres always dividers, but i wont go into that due to lack of knowledge :D
gemini
07-20-2007, 09:18 AM
just to clarify: ur ram is only as fast as ur fsb when running 1:1, yes theres always dividers, but i wont go into that due to lack of knowledge :D

Well, that's the thing - ASUS P5K3 Deluxe supports 1333 and 1066, so taking advantage of 1333 is not a bad thing in this case. Or, am I missing something?

I will have dual monitors as well, - I already own 19" BanQ, so I'm planning to pair it with a new 22" one.

Thanks for your suggestions - I will have to check on the rest of them a bit later.
tiro_uspsss
07-20-2007, 05:58 PM
Well, that's the thing - ASUS P5K3 Deluxe supports 1333 and 1066, so taking advantage of 1333 is not a bad thing in this case. Or, am I missing something?

I will have dual monitors as well, - I already own 19" BanQ, so I'm planning to pair it with a new 22" one.

Thanks for your suggestions - I will have to check on the rest of them a bit later.

i *think* this has more to do with CPU w/FSB support. &/or strap/divider (?) options (please note that this is really a grey area of my knowledge). Besides, i'm 85% confident that most ppl here will agree that u should go for more RAM instead of faster RAM for the apps u wanna run. More RAM will help u way way more than slightly faster RAM.

re: dual monitors, :eek: u gonna go with 2 diff sizes?? :eek:
gemini
07-22-2007, 11:47 AM
re: dual monitors, :eek: u gonna go with 2 diff sizes?? :eek:

I never had duals before.. I thought 2 different sizes should work as well... but does that mean that they will have to be in the same resolutions? What are the cons of different size dual monitors?
tiro_uspsss
07-23-2007, 04:00 AM
I never had duals before.. I thought 2 different sizes should work as well... but does that mean that they will have to be in the same resolutions? What are the cons of different size dual monitors?

it will look a lil wack.. but u might not b affected by it as much seeing as u've never had dual before... if they r lcds u can run both @ whatever their max res is, so they can both b diff... personally i wouldnt recommend it - but thats cause i know the diff between matched screens & un-matched...