Another config thread

Hi folks!
I'm "new" here.  Actually have been lurking, reading, learning, and DROOLING over the machines and configs I see.  Of course, I'm astounded by it all and totally impressed.  I need to buy a machine which will see some gaming now and then - son and granddaughter - but mostly I need a monster for video editing, Maya, Flash, Poser Pro, Vue, Carrara, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop and a host of other such.  I have a lot of high resolution graphics to create, render, and then tweak, edit, and otherwise manipulate and I need to have it get done, not just creep along. 

I will buy likely 2 machines, one so my son can assist as well, but first I will just get one to start.  Looking at the builds of some specials I made a few changes to one of them - actually a couple, but just one here to start.

This is not the top end of my budget yet, but just getting my feet wet, so to speak.

Your feed back yea or nay - especially the nay - will be greatly appreciated and just want to acknowledge my appreciation of the experience, knowledge and ENERGY I've seen here while lurking the last few weeks.  Glad to "meetcha!"

Specifications:
Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - SilverStone Raven 2
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i7 930 2.8GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: EVGA X58 Micro Edition SLI (Intel X58 Chipset) (Supports SLI or CrossFire)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series  (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 750W Digital Storm Certified (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition Recommended)
Expansion Bay: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: Blu-Ray Player/DVD Writer (Play Blu-Ray and Burn DVDs)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470 1.2GB (Includes PhysX Technology)
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: Standard Factory Heat-sink and Fan
H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: - No Thanks
Enhancements: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Noise Reduction: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: FREE: Stage 1: Overclock the processor between 3.3GHz to 3.9GHz (Cooling Upgrade Recommended)
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Boost OS: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (64-Bit Edition)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanksking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
Display: - No Thanks



Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks No Thanks
Exclusive T-Shirt: - No Thanks
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 1 Year Hassle-free Hardware Service


Edited by big bossman - 08 Jul 2010 at 9:57am

the first question that needs to be answered is do you have a top end for your budget? with a final number in mind it will be easier to create a build to get the best bang for your buck

Edited by teaiewold - 08 Jul 2010 at 10:07am

Originally posted by rholyrag Welcome to the forums big bossman!  The good people here will have a rock solid build for you i no time.  What is the resolution of your monitor?

Hi rholyrag!  Two choices in monitor but changeable:
A Samsung 22" LCD flat screen (1920x1080) and
Viewsonic 22" widescreen (1680x1050).

Still looking around at this and other things because I love to shop (and buy)!  Open to suggestions.  Thanks for replying.

For your consideration:

Hi Cretae!
That looks pretty good!  That 12GB memory jumps out too!  You know, I have been looking at SSDs!  I was looking at SSDs but have read a lot of stuff about price, value, worth ratios, i.e., value will increase and price will decrease in a few months, and for the necessary other drive a 1 TB but had been leaning - more or less arbitrarily - toward Western Digital instead of the Seagate you list.  Any further input on that, your choice versus mine?  Have had about the same experience with both over the years.

Also, my house can get hot - Sacramento - and heat has been an issue.  Sufficient with the Noctua dual 120mm and should I consider perhaps also something more for the HDDs?  Perhaps upgrade the "Standard Chassis Airflow Fans?"

Also, worth it to throw in a surge shield as well, do you think?

THANK you for your input, Cretae!  It is greatly appreciated.

With all that heavy graphics work, you may want to consider an IPS panel like the HP ZR24w or the Dell U2410.  IPS panels are recommended for graphics professionals.  I'm no pro, but I like the 1920x1200 res vs. 1920x1080, so I'm leaning towards the HP myself.

Lot of folks want to have every game in their library on an SSD, which is just an overreach IMO. The 40 is $138 and will knock your socks off performance -wise. Talking boot times 10-12 seconds. You won't shave much off that with a next gen, and the cost won't moderate all that much either at that price. I was thinking that your video softwares would get a real boost from an SSD.

My pleasure, friend bossman. 

Welcome!  Makes me want to dig out some DVDs!