Budget PC specs

[mr_jmm]

Hi Guys,

Hope this is an ok request....

I'm looking to upgrade my current system using the spec as below and would appreciate any advice / comments you have on my choices:

Use: I'm a web developer, have an XBox for games. Normally have 9 programs running at any one time (3 browsers, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, FileZilla, Thunderbird, OpenOffice Writer and an explorer window).
Mainly runnning Windows OS but I like to be able to dual boot into Ubuntu.
Need to run two monitors, 1 at 1400x900, 1 at 1280x1024.

BUDGET: £650
CPU: Intel E8400
MB: ABit IX38 QuadGT
RAM: 2x2GB OCZ PC2-8500 at 1066MHz
GRAPHICS: either 2x ASUS EAH3450 (which will allow me to use crossfire should I so wish) or 1x Gainward 3850 - The reason for the two options is that the Gainward says it will handle two monitors but is this two DVI and will they run independantly as if having two GCards or is Gainward just pointing out what all cards will do (just like they also comment that it's made from transistors)?
HDD: Now this is where I'm not 100%. My original thought was 1x 160GB (Seagate Barracuda) for the OS and programs with 2x 500GB raided for all other docs etc but now I'm thinking about having 2x160 raided for OS with a single 500GB for data. Is it possible (with or without a seperate card) to have two sets of drives raided but differently eg 2x160 raid 0 for speed with the 500GB's mirror raided? Otherwise I'll just have an eSATA and do daily backups or something.
CASE: I like Antec sonatas but not sure if the PSU is man enough for this (500W)? If not I'd be greatful for advice.

Many many thanks in advance,

Yours,

James.

 

[Leezy]

For only 2 quid cheaper you can get the Q6600 maybe that will be a slightly better CPU option will all that multi-tasking most of the time...as for that gfx card I rekon it would cope with those 2 screens at those res' as there not that high.

 

[Huw_Dawson]

I think that you are going to give your second choice GFX card a little bit of a headache with running two monitors. I don't do it personally, but I always assumed that the best approach is to put in an SLI or CF configuration with either very high resolutions or two monitors.

I also agree with the Quad Core statement. The next versions of applications that are important to web designers (Photoshop, Dreamweaver, etc) will certainly be using multi-thread technology. That means that the Quad Core becomes significantly faster than a similarly priced Dual Core.

I'm not a HD boffin, especially with RAID configurations, but if you're that paranoid about losing your data, a removable drive that you can backup onto every day may be just the ticket. If your computer fails, you can immediately hop to another computer and access the data.

- Huw

 

[mr_jmm]

Budget PC Spec opinions

Ok, many thanks for your input.

I'll change the CPU to the Q6600 Retail and I'll stick with the 2x Asus Graphics cards.

Just for the sake of mentioning it and as a comparison, I currently run all those programs on a P4 2.8GHz Prescott with 1GB RAM. It runs ok, just a slight lag when opening programs. I'm impatient however and as time is money I want to get rid of that lag when opening programs or swapping to them.

Any advice on the HDD's / RAID options? I read the threads in the HDD section but it gets a bit confusing

Thanks again.

James

 

[semi-pro waster]

HDD: Now this is where I'm not 100%. My original thought was 1x 160GB (Seagate Barracuda) for the OS and programs with 2x 500GB raided for all other docs etc but now I'm thinking about having 2x160 raided for OS with a single 500GB for data. Is it possible (with or without a seperate card) to have two sets of drives raided but differently eg 2x160 raid 0 for speed with the 500GB's mirror raided? Otherwise I'll just have an eSATA and do daily backups or something.

Welcome to the forums, as has been said that looks like a decent system although quad core might benefit you more than quick dual core given your uses.

As for hard drives Raid0 is quicker when working with large contiguous files e.g. video, graphics, audio but of more negligible benefit on smaller files. If one drive fails then you lose all data from both drives.

Raid1 is an availability solution, contrary to popular belief it is not a backup option i.e. you are only protected from hardware failure so if a drive dies you fall back onto the working one, it will not protect you from user error or file corruption which is much more likely in an ordinary working environment.

Neither would be a substitute for a good backup routine - preferably offsite for security but failing that make sure you at least disconnect the drive/remove the DVD and store it away from the PC.

 

[sibeer]

I don't really see that two graphics cards are necessary for that. I used to run two 24" Dells from my 7800GT no probs. If anything I would have thought that crossfire could potentially bring incompatibilities of it's own.

 

[sibeer]

Oh and your Sonata with 500W PSU will be fine either way, you would only really need more if you decided to put a second 3850 in, even then it would only be for safety margin.

 

[ouzodan]

3850 would be absolutely fine its a very good card and dirt cheap

 

[mr_jmm]

Budget PC spec opinions

I don't really see that two graphics cards are necessary for that. I used to run two 24" Dells from my 7800GT no probs. If anything I would have thought that crossfire could potentially bring incompatibilities of it's own.

Sorry, I wasn't saying I would run them crossed AND have monitor connected to each, just that if I ever wanted to I could pull one of the monitors and run with just one with the two GCards crossed. Doubtful but it's nice to have options.

If one drive fails then you lose all data from both drives.

True but then if I only have one HDD and it fails.... The drive(s) that run the OS aren't that critical should it (they) fail. It's just hardware and it all comes on DVD's or can be downloaded. Having two drives on raid0 is for speed only.

3850 would be absolutely fine its a very good card and dirt cheap

My question with this card is the claim Gainward make about running two monitors. Have they designed a card that runs two Monitors (both on DVI) independently as if on two seperate cards? I guess I'm complicating things un-necessarily after my first paragraph. I'll probably stick with the two Asus cards.

Many thanks everyone.

 

[ouzodan]

My question with this card is the claim Gainward make about running two monitors. Have they designed a card that runs two Monitors (both on DVI) independently as if on two seperate cards? I guess I'm complicating things un-necessarily after my first paragraph. I'll probably stick with the two Asus cards.

Many thanks everyone.

I run the Sapphire AGP Version of the 3850 and just for an experiment I plugged in my old 17'' CRT alongside my Samsung 22'' other than configuring my old monitor to display correctly and a bit of tinkering in CCC/Hydravision you have the option to use them as two independant monitors or pair them up.
What was really interesting was just how much of an improvement my new monitor is over the old one, but thats for a different thread