i7 Business Computer for Dad - Overclock.net

BikePilot · 10-15-09

I'm helping my Dad pick out components to build a new computer for his small business. He runs one business-specific database application that I think has an Access backend. That application seriously bogs down his current machine (~$5yr old, was very high end when he bought it, I think its about the most advanced of the single-core builds) and leaves it with the CPU pegged at 100% in task manager for extended periods of time. It will eventually crunch it all and get the job done, but it takes time. Dad also does a lot of multitasking, he'll have 4 different applications running and a data DVD burning at the same time.

Second concern is heat and noise. He's in south FL and it is very hot there all the time. Ambient temp in the office is usually high 70's. It doesn't have to be silent, but don't want it to sound like a jet like his current build (even with my sig rig fans all at 100% my box doesn't make one quarter the noise of his!).

Don't want to waste money, but no major budget constraints. He wants this to last another 5yrs without any upgrading.

No gaming or anything that I can think of that would be GPU intensive. I might convince him to give FSX a shot, but that would be the most he'd do (and its not really a big GPU game).

So, here's what I put together (I'm not really expert on i7 stuff though).

i7 920. $190 from Microcenter (I have one near-by, hopefully they'll let me dig around and find a D0 - that is the good one right?).

Asus P6T SE mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131386 . I really don't know X58 board well at all, so suggestions here welcome. He probably won't OC, but we want to keep that option open. Stable and reliable definitely priorities.

12gb ram (I think 6gb would be plenty, but he says his database app is very ram intensive and he wants more).
(2x of these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227477 )

Seasonic X-650 PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151088 (I know way more power than this build needs, but I couldn't find anything else as efficient, and efficient = cool).

9600GSO GPU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121320. I don't know much about these, but his video needs are minimal. Something cool and quite and able to handle basic video playback and scrolling of large pictures and pdfs and perhaps a tiny bit of FSX is all that's needed.

CoolerMaster 690 case - I have one, Dad seems to like it. We'd probably add a 140mm fan in the bottom and one in the top to supplemnt the stockers. Also thinking about an Antec P183.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119137

We might go with an aftermarket HSF - not critical since he wont' be OC'ing, but might help reduce noise by allowing a larger, lower rpm fan and improved efficiency. Any recommendations? I remember a thread a few days ago about a low-cost cooler that worked really well on i7's but can't find it now.

Samsung DVD burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151175

For hard drives, I figured two drives, one primary drive and one for backup. How are the 1.5TB's these days? Any that are particularly stable and reliable or am I best off sticking with 1tb drives?

He'll be running Win 7. Probably the Pro version.

+ Rep for help of course!

Thanks!

Heavymetal.fan · 10-15-09

Everything looks great. Also don't worry about the d0 stepping. The c0 is basically extinct from stores like that.

BikePilot · 10-15-09

Thanks! Great re the d0 - just to be sure is there a way to tell the stepping from the labeling on the box?

Greensystemsgo · 10-15-09

doubt he needs an i7, however it is sure to get the job done. how much ram does he have now? doubt he has more then 2, so a jump to 12 would be INTENSE. put in six for now, if he needs more, get more.

hdd's are simple. not to sure he needs a 1tb as the main, maybe a nice fast 7200rpm 500gb. i recommend seagate.

the hsf is totally optional. i recommend trying the one that comes with the i7, and seeing how it does before going off and spending more money.

the gpu is a fine choice, however the 8400gs series uses a super low amount of power, and is available at bestbuy for like sixty bucks.

psu - always recommend corsair. their the best in my opinion.

Heavymetal.fan · 10-15-09

Yeah if it says SLEBJ its a d0 stepping. Also sea-sonic is a very reliable brand.

quaaark · 10-15-09

you should get a fan controller too

trueg50 · 10-15-09

Dell Precision T3500 ~$1,200 with 3GB of RAM and a W3520

Toss in a couple bucks too, a larger monitor, or dual monitors can certainly help with productivity, almost more so then getting dual I7's or something. Toss in 2 drives for RAID 1 would be an excellent idea, plus make sure he has a NAS as well for nightly backups.

Building PC's for any business is a terrible idea. If you happen to have anything against Dell; HP and IBM make excellent workstations as well.

BikePilot · 10-15-09

Heavymetal.fan Thanks, will check it out!

Greensystemsgo, very helpful too. I agree re the ram. I think he does have just 2gb, I know he has a 32 bit version of XP pro so he can't be seeing much more than that anyway. He has a ton of data and will be able to use a 1tb+ for the main drive (probably 100gb partition for OS and applications, then the rest for storage). I'll check out the 8400gs. Is there any way to easily compare power consumption across different GPU's?

quaaark, very good point. I was thinking about hooking the fans into the mobo headers and controlling though software like speedfan, but it may be easier to just use a hardware fan controller. Plenty of room in the case for it.

True50, the other PC won't be going down, so not a huge rush and its just hard to find a good pre-built computer - you can get a good CPU and ram, but they seem to all have crappy PSU, mobo etc. I think we are pretty well decided on building.

SpammisT · 10-15-09

I kind of agree with Greensystemsgo with the post "doubt he needs an i7"

Unless your dad actually said "I want an i7".
And big, nice TBs out there are fairly cheap! I got this TB for a nice orange/brownish bill. ($100, Yes I'm Canadian)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130227

Try this board, it's cheaper than the P6T SE since he won't be OCing neither gaming.

Edit: (too slow with my replies, cursed multitasking..)
If you can, give your dad your HD4830 so you can get yourself a nice 4890.

Rajb1031 · 10-15-09

If you are looking into aftermarket cooling for a decent price, I recommend the xigmatech dark knight. Also Im not sure if the scythe mugen has an i7 compatible bracket,(I'lll be back in a sec for that) but either one would work great.

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i7 Business Computer for Dad

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