Building My New Computer

Hello all,

I am currently about to purchase and build a new computer and am trying to make sure everything will work together.

I will mainly be using the computer for programming web/opengl/C++/networking applications, gaming and will probably set up dual booting between ubuntu/windows.

my planned hardware is:

Monitor - Samsung 2493HM 24" LCD Monitor

  • 1920x1200, 5ms, 1000:1, DVI, HDMI, D-Sub, Black

Motherboard - Rampage II Extreme

  • Intel X58, LGA 1366, ATX, Audio, PCI Express 2.0, CrossFire Ready, SLI Ready, Dual Gigabit LAN, S/PDIF, Firewire, USB 2.0, Serial ATA, RAID

Processor - intel core i7 920 Nehalem

  • 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor

Hard Drive - Western Digital VelociRaptor 300GB

  • WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"

RAM - Corsair Core i7 Dominator 6GB PC12800 DDR3 RAM

  • Tri Channel, 1600MHz, 6144MB (3 x 2048MB), DHX (package of three from tiger direct)

Video Card - Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 X2 Video Card

  • 2GB GDDR5, PCI Express 2.0, CrossFire, (2) Dual Link DVI, HDTV

Power Supply - Ultra X3 ULT40064 1000-Watt Power Supply

  • ATX, SATA-Ready, PCI-E Ready, Energy Efficient, Modular

i still dont have a case in mind, because i understand some of this hardware will be quite large and want to make sure I get one with the right dimensions. if anyone has any estimations on the size i should be looking for i would really appreciate it.

I’m also concerned about the motherboard and cpu because from what i understand the core i7 has a new pin scheme, will the rampage II support it?

any comments/information is appreciated
thanks

Yes the motherboard will work fine with the chosen processor.

Your mobo supports 1366, and 1366 is what i7 is.

As for the case, any mid tower will do. Heres one of my favorites, comes with 3 fans and has ALOT of room to spare.

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases

Thanks, I appreciate both of you looking over the specs.

And thanks conner, that looks case looks good and is just around the price i was hoping for.

You should note that if you’re going to use Linux in any serious manner, ATI’s drivers still suck pretty hard in Linux/Solaris/BSD.

wow thanks for pointing that out, I actually wasn’t aware of this but now that i google it im finding all sorts of problems that i dont think i would like to deal with.

so would you recommend anything nVidia? Or do you maybe even know of a specific video card with similar (or better;)) performance and price(up to about $500?) you can recommend?

nVidia card, top of the line GTX 295, they are overpriced and a GTX 260/285 will do just as good.

295- Newegg.com - ASUS ENGTX295/2DI/1792MD3/A GeForce GTX 295 1792MB 896 (448 x 2)-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
285- Newegg.com - ZOTAC ZT-285E3LA-FCP GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
280- Newegg.com - BFG Tech BFGEGTX2801024OC2E GeForce GTX 280 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
275- Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1170-AR GeForce GTX 275 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
260- Newegg.com - ZOTAC ZT-X26E3KC-FCP GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

I would go with the 280 or 275.

Don’t get a 290, overpriced.

I use NVidia myself, there are some pretty amazing cards out there today. It really depends on what you want to spend, but for about $500 you could get a GTX 295, which has two cores, a gig of DDR3, and 480 stream processors. For a lot less you could add one or two of the slightly lower-end 2xx GTX cards, which might be the better option.

I agree, like said a GTX 275 is still VERY good. You will be happy with anything over a 9800 GTX.

Alright, I think i’m gonna go with the 285.

I feel really good about this build now, and I really appreciate everyones help.
Thanks

Man this rig rocks!!! This can handle every game! I think this would be even able to play the newer games too!!!

duh…fail

good configuration.. how much its going to cost u.. just curious

It will run about $1100-$1250.

well, in case your still curious so far what i have found:

Monitor - 270.00
eCOST.com-Samsung 2493HM 24" Widescreen LCD Display - LS24KIEEFV - Samsung LS24KIEEFV (Monitors) - eCOST.com - electronics, computers, laptops, mp3 players

Motherboard - 370
Newegg.com - ASUS Rampage II Extreme LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

processor - 280
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

hard drive - 240
Western Digital VelociRaptor 300GB Hard Drive - 10K, 16MB, SATA-300 WD3000GLFSRTL at TigerDirect.com

RAM - 220
Corsair Core i7 Dominator 6GB PC15000 DDR3 RAM - Tri Channel, 1866MHz (3 x 2048MB), DHX TR3X6G1866C9DF at TigerDirect.com

video card - 350
EVGA GeForce GTX 285 Superclocked Video Card - 1GB GDDR3, PCI Express 2.0, SLI Ready, (Dual Link) Dual DVI, HDTV 01G-P3-1181-AR at TigerDirect.com

power supply - 200
Ultra X3 1000W Energy Efficient Modular ATX Power Supply ULT40064, SLI Ready, Low Noise 135mm Fan, SATA, w/ FlexForce Cables - Discount Online Store Dallas Texas

case - 70
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases

I’m still looking around so i dont think this is where i will buy everything from but its gonna be about a $2000 dollar computer which im happy with, especially when i see the junk major brands can sell for the same.
hopefully i should be able to get everything but the monitor next monday, then after that on my next paycheck i’m gonna pick up two of those monitors and then just some little accessories