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Configuring New DS system for multiple uses

Post Date: 2016-10-21
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Thomas WJ View Drop Down
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Posts: 18 		  Quote Thomas WJ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: Configuring New DS system for multiple uses
    Posted: 21 Oct 2016 at 8:39am
Hi all,

It's been 4 years since I last posted to this forum.  Why?  Because the Digital Storm system I purchased then has been more than awesome.  It has been, by far, the best system I've ever owned.  So, many, many thanks again DS.

But now it's time to upgrade.  I hope to spend between $3K and $3.5K.

I use my system for general office work, photography, some video editing and creation and light gaming.  Currently the only game I'm playing is the MMO Guild Wars 2 but hope and expect to play something new in the future but have no current candidates.  Given that unknown, I'm looking for a contemporary system which is likely to meet new RPG and MMO general needs for 2-4 years.

My configuration follows and is based, in part, upon my previous configuration which has worked so well.  Comments, recommendations, questions are deeply appreciated.


Description:
QTY
Unit Price:
Total Price:
Item 1 --- Digital Storm Velox (Config # 1507396)
1
$3,388.00
$3,388.00
Chassis
Chassis Model: Digital Storm Velox

Core Components
Processor: Intel Core i7 6700K 4.0GHz (Codename Skylake) (Unlocked CPU) (Quad Core)
Motherboard: ASUS Z170-PRO GAMING (Intel Z170 Chipset) (Up to 5x PCI-E Devices)
System Memory: 32GB DDR4 2666MHz Corsair Dominator Platinum DHX (Extreme-Performance)

Power Supply: 1000W Corsair HX1000i (Digitally Controlled Power)


Storage / Connectivity
Optical Drive: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 8x / CD-Writer 8x) (Internal)
Storage Set 1: 2x SSD (500GB Samsung 850 EVO)

Storage Set 2: 1x Storage (3TB Seagate / Toshiba)

RAID Config: RAID 1: Mirroring: Drive Failure Data Fault Tolerance (Requires 2 Identical HDDs)

Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)

Graphics / Multimedia
Graphics Card(s): 1x GeForce GTX 1080 8GB (NVIDIA Founders Edition) (VR Ready)
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio

Digital Storm Engineering
Extreme Cooling: H20: Stage 2: Digital Storm Vortex 240mm Liquid CPU Cooler (Fully Sealed + No Maintenance)
HydroLux Tubing Style: - Not Applicable, I do not have a custom HydroLux liquid cooling system selected
HydroLux Fluid Color: - Not Applicable, I do not have a custom HydroLux liquid cooling system selected
Cable Management: Premium Cable Management (Strategically Routed & Organized for Airflow)
Chassis Fans: Standard Factory Chassis Fans

Digital Storm TwisterBoost Technology
Boost Processor: Stage 1: Overclock CPU - Up to 4.4GHz (Depends on Cooling and Motherboard)

Software
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-Bit Edition)
Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows CD)
Virus Protection: FREE: McAfee AntiVirus Plus (1 Year Service Activation Card) (Not Pre-installed) ($35 Value)

Accessories / Goodies

Customer Care
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 10-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty (3 Year Labor & 1 Year Part Replacement)

-TWJ
"For a Muse of Fire."
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DST4ME View Drop Down
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 21 Oct 2016 at 4:41pm


Click Image To Go To Configuration Page


Bit of info:

1. Do not install Mcafee , instead get a lighter better anti virus like ESET ( number 3 on the list ) Or any other good light Anti Virus will do.

2. The warranty here is 3 year labor and 1 year parts so if you want higher part warranty be sure to raise the warranty level to the desired level.


IF you are doing heavy video editing you might want to look at the x99 platform for a cpu with more cores.

Edited by DST4ME - 21 Oct 2016 at 4:42pm

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Thomas WJ View Drop Down
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Posts: 18 		  Quote Thomas WJ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 21 Oct 2016 at 5:46pm
Thanks.  I wasn't planning to use Mcafee for multiple reasons; I'll look at ESET.  I appreciate your observation about the warranty and will explore the x99 per your recommendation.  Again, thanks.
-TWJ
"For a Muse of Fire."
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 21 Oct 2016 at 7:23pm
My pleasure

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Posts: 18 		  Quote Thomas WJ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 22 Oct 2016 at 4:37pm
Hi all,

I've updated my configuration and have some additional questions:

1.  As I'm not planning to add additional hardware beyond the initial configuration, I've switched from the Velox to the Apollo.  Are there any reasons I should consider not doing so?

2.  Currently, I've chosen the a 32 gig Corsair processor memory option but a significantly less expensive 32 gig DS option exists.  Given my over all configuration, am I likely to see a difference?  Is there a significant difference in the reliability and performance between the two?

3.  I'm very pleased with my current DS system which has Windows 7 and RAID 1 running on SSDs.  I've spec'd RAID 1 with Windows 10 for this new system.  Does anyone have any comments or recommendations on this aspect of the configuration?

Thanks, as always, current configuration follows,

-Thomas

(PS DST4ME - I'm planning to take a different warranty option per your recommendation although I haven't added it to the configuration yet.)

Specifications:

Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Digital Storm Apollo (Black) <br><strong></strong> Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish

Processor: Intel Core i7 6700K 4.0GHz (Codename Skylake) (Unlocked CPU) (Quad Core)

Motherboard: ASUS Z170-PRO GAMING (Intel Z170 Chipset) (Up to 5x PCI-E Devices) System Memory: 32GB DDR4 2666MHz Corsair Dominator Platinum DHX (Extreme-Performance) Power Supply: 1000W Corsair HX1000i (Digitally Controlled Power) Expansion Bay: Option Not Available Optical Drive: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 8x / CD-Writer 8x) (Internal) Storage Set 1: 2x SSD (500GB Samsung 850 EVO) Storage Set 2: 1x Storage (3TB Seagate / Toshiba) Storage Set 3: - No Thanks RAID Config: RAID 1: Mirroring: Drive Failure Data Fault Tolerance (Requires 2 Identical HDDs) RAID Card: - No Thanks Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections) Graphics Card(s): 1x GeForce GTX 1080 8GB (NVIDIA Founders Edition) (VR Ready) Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio HPC Processor: - No Thanks Extreme Cooling: H20: Stage 2: Digital Storm Vortex 240mm Liquid CPU Cooler (Fully Sealed + No Maintenance) HydroLux Tubing Style: - Not Applicable, I do not have a custom HydroLux liquid cooling system selected HydroLux Fluid Color: - Not Applicable, I do not have a custom HydroLux liquid cooling system selected Cable Management: Premium Cable Management (Strategically Routed & Organized for Airflow) Chassis Fans: Standard Factory Chassis Fans Internal Lighting: - No Thanks Airflow Control: - No Thanks Chassis Mods: - No Thanks Noise Reduction: Noise Suppression Package Stage 2 (Optimized Airflow & Fan Speeds with Noise Dampening Material)

LaserMark: - No Thanks

Boost Processor: Stage 1: Overclock CPU - Up to 4.4GHz (Depends on Cooling and Motherboard) Boost Graphics Card(s): - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s) Boost OS: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (64-Bit Edition) Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows CD) Virus Protection: FREE: McAfee AntiVirus Plus (1 Year Service Activation Card) (Not Pre-installed) ($35 Value)

Office: Microsoft Office 2016 Office Home & Business (PC Attach Key PKC Only, No Pre-install)

Game: - No Thanks

Display: - No Thanks

Surge Shield: - No Thanks

Speakers: - No Thanks

Keyboard: - No Thanks

Mouse: - No Thanks

Branded Gear: - No Thanks

Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 10-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed

Warranty: Life-time Expert Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty (3 Year Labor & 1 Year Part Replacement)
-TWJ
"For a Muse of Fire."
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 22 Oct 2016 at 11:45pm
Can you post the build number its very hard to look at the system they way you posted it.

Apollo is fine.

I would go with corsair tho ram is the same, corsair has longer warranty on their ram than DS's one year, corsair has a lifetime warranty and with that much I would go with that.

3. raid 1 for backup is fine.

I thinks there is a few other things but I like to see the build so if you post a build number for it that would be great.


After looking at the new build I seea few problems:

A. change your cpu cooler to the h115i for better performance and quality.

B. if you notice in my build I put a 850w psu incase you wanted to go sli, if you are not gonna put nothing else in this system then what you want is a 750w psu, the rest is a waste of money. this is the 750w you want, this is its exact name: 750W EVGA SuperNOVA , if you pick that one its fully modular and has a 10 year warranty.

I will see things better when you post a link to the build

Edited by DST4ME - 23 Oct 2016 at 2:48am

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Posts: 18 		  Quote Thomas WJ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 23 Oct 2016 at 6:08am
Hi,

Here is the config #   1508078
And a pointer:   https://www.digitalstorm.com/configurator.asp?id=1508078


Thanks for the comments; I will look into the h115i cpu cooler and consider going down to the 750W EVGA SuperNova power supply.
-TWJ
"For a Muse of Fire."
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 23 Oct 2016 at 10:25am
Thanks for the config number.

Ok as we go forward I want you to pay attention to the things I changed in my last config from your original, as I mentioned in that post things were changed due to performance or reliability. What that means is that if you change from what I picked or go back to your original pick then you have lost performance or reliability.

the h115i is the cooler you want to go with unless you want to be changing out your cooler, vortex does not have a great rep on the net.

you had picked Seagate for hdd, while it cost less than the WD black edition I picked for you, it also has less of a reliability.

noise reduction is a waste of your time and money, if you want quiet then you gonna have to spend $$$ actually making the system quiet, otherwise you are wasting time and money.

Look for your extra software and etc on amazon or other places and see if you can find it for a better price, here for software and peripherals will probably be most expensive.



Apollo

Click Image To Go To Configuration Page

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Posts: 18 		  Quote Thomas WJ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 24 Oct 2016 at 8:09am
Again, thanks for your recommendations.

As you counseled, I am changing to the cooling option and second HDD you've recommended.

Two new revisions I'm considering:

1.  Upgrading the processor to the Intel Core i7 6800K 3.4GHz (6-Core) (Unlocked CPU)
2.   Reducing the graphics card to the GeForce GTX 1070 8GB (NVIDIA Founders Edition) (VR Ready) as I don't need 4K or VR support currently and upgrading to a new graphics board in the future should be straight forward.

Comments?
-TWJ
"For a Muse of Fire."
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 24 Oct 2016 at 8:29am
1. Going 6800k is ok but you will endup with much lower oc, also remember the 6700k/z170 is the new tech the 6800k/x99 is the old tech. If your video editing is heavy then go with x99 if not stick with z170.

2. get the gpu you need for the at least the next 2 years, we recommend gpu upgrade every 2 to 3 years. If you only play mmo the 1070 is fine.

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Posts: 18 		  Quote Thomas WJ Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 20 Jan 2017 at 11:28am

HI all,

I just want to say that I'm now a couple of months down the road with my new Digital Storm PC and wanted to offer a progress report.  I purchased the configuration that was fine-tuned on this thread and am more than pleased with the build quality, the shipping and the performance.

So, thank you everyone on this thread who helped me configure the optimal system for my needs.

And most of all, thank you Digital Storm for constructing a business and products of such extraordinary quality.
-TWJ
"For a Muse of Fire."
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Posts: 7962 		  Quote hoserator Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 20 Jan 2017 at 4:49pm
Thank you for the update. Its great that your system is working fine.Big%20Smile
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