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Basically, if you're not overclocking, the best thing to do would be to buy either DDR3-1066 or -1333 with the tightest timings (those 4 #s after the speed rating; lower=better) that you can find.

 

If you are overclocking or are at least considering it, that's where the higher memory speeds come into play. Since the best deals seem to be on DDR3-1600 ATM, I'd recommend getting that. It will either run fine at 1066 or at full speed on a divider while giving you the option of a reasonable overclock later.

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Total: $3131.99

 

*clutches left arm and collapses into a heap*

 

As to the Quadro Quandary I'm fairly sure that all the photoshop acceleration works on the regular geforce cards too. Maybe not every bell and whistle accel that Quadro gets, but fairly close. Maybe that's the inner cheapskate in me reaching though.

 

edit: you can compare here, but to me it looks like the only plus quadro has over geforce is speedier h.264 rendering. And that appears to be with the Quadro CX class only.

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I know. I'm doing my best to avert such blatant bank account butchery. :p

 

EDIT: I hate those damn Quadro cards, and I'm pretty sure that there's a way around having to buy one, such as flashing the BIOS on an equivalent GeForce card and then using the Quadro drivers, but that's up to Avery.

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Quadro lacks the raw power of a gaming board, but it has higher AA, render speed, compiling speed, etc with things like Maya for animation and modeling and the like.

 

And, from what I've read, the Quadro are stress tested better for long term use. This PC will have to stay on for days at a time, and a GeForce would most likely burn out if put under that much stress for that long.

 

Quadro is also designed to use Drivers that interact with render quality, AA, shadowing, smooth frames, etc.

 

So, from the research I've been doing the Quadro better suits my selective purposes. I also, while the temptation is heavily there, don't want this computer to be a gaming rig. If I have the capability of putting high quality games on it, It will distract me and probably tempt me to buy expensive games.

 

Choosing the Quadro makes this a strict work computer, renders and interacts with CAD programs better, and is built more for long continuous work while a GeForce is not.

 

That's what I've gathered. If you can find other info, however, I'll be glad to read it. If the Quad falls through I'll probably grab a duel core GeForce 295 or 280.

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Can you tell us exactly what software you'll be using so we'll be able to tell whether you'll really need a Quadro or not?

 

Oh, and as far as the Quadro being "built to last" longer than the GeForce, that sounds like standard computer industry marketing BS that I've heard being used many times to justify a higher price tag. ;)

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Can you tell us exactly what software you'll be using so we'll be able to tell whether you'll really need a Quadro or not?

Poser 7

Maya

3ds Max

Cinema 4d

Animation Master

Particle Illusion

ZBrush

 

Still looking at video compiling software though. Adobe Premier is expensive.

 

Oh, and as far as the Quadro being "built to last" longer than the GeForce, that sounds like standard computer industry marketing BS that I've heard being used many times to justify a higher price tag. ;)

Actually been reading forum comparisons and I've read the "built to last" thing a few times. It would make sense, considering one is made to be rendering and running hot for days at a time and the other is built for short spurts of activity in a game.

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Heads up. Here's a combo deal from Newegg for a Core i7 920 and Vista Ultimate 64-bit. If purchased through Live.com's cashback program, it'll come to $392.42. That's about $65.00 off.

 

I'm just going to assume for now that you'll need the Quadro FX 3800, and start looking for the best prices on that while I find out if you'll actually need one.

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Case: Coolmaster Cosmos 1000

1)http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?category_id=18&product_id=2700

2) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119138

 

 

One 120mm Case Fan

1) http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?category_id=1655&product_id=2916

2) http://csxstore.coolermaster-usa.com/product_info.php?products_id=264&osCsid=97cb3084cab56aed25fbd182c6610348

 

 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master V8 CPU Cooler

1) http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?product_id=2869

2) http://csxstore.coolermaster-usa.com/product_info.php?cPath=18_32_34&products_id=184&osCsid=97cb3084cab56aed25fbd182c6610348

3) http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-V8-RR-UV8-XBU1-GP-Black/dp/B001KUV2KQ/ref=sr_na_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1228417423&sr=1-1

4) http://www.buy.com/prod/cooler-master-v8-180w-cpu-cooler-supports-intel-i7/q/loc/101/210243835.html -Free Shipping

 

 

Power Supply: Silent Pro M 700W

1) http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?category_id=1651&product_id=2874

2) http://www.buy.com/prod/700w-silent-pro-m/q/loc/101/210674279.html - Free Shipping

 

Motherboard: ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 Motherboard

1) http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-P6T-Deluxe-Motherboard-Hyperthreading/dp/B001S2PXEM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1241578875&sr=8-2

 

Processor: Intel Core i7 920

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4445883&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=TBBTkwCjCVyBpAgf%20mwzygtCjCVRqCjCVRq

 

Ram: 12gb DDR3 1600

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227421

 

SSD: 128 GB Ritek RiDATA 2.5 inch

http://www.amazon.com/Ridata-NSSD-S25-128-C04MPN-2-5-Inch-128GB-Ultra-S/dp/B001D7A2WU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1241580776&sr=1-1

 

Data Hard-Drive: 1TB Hard Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

 

Video Card: Quadro FX 3800 1GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133271

 

Temp watch: Aerocool Easy Watch

http://www.xoxide.com/aerocool-easywatch-black.html?utm_content=aerocool-easywatch-black&utm_campaign=FROOG&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping

 

OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 64 Bit

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Vista-Ultimate-SP1-Upgrade/dp/B0013O98SW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1241581681&sr=8-2

 

Optical Drive: LG GGC-H20L 6x Blu-ray Super-Multi Drive With Light Scribe

http://www.buy.com/prod/lg-ggc-h20l-6x-blu-ray-super-multi-drive-with-lightscribe-double-layer/q/loc/101/206494069.html

Monitor: Samsung 305T 30”

http://www.ecost.com/detail.aspx?edp=40889836&source=EWBBASE&cm_mmc=CSE-_-google-_-ewbbase-_-Monitors&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=40889836

 

Ok, that what I have so far.

 

Comments? Concerns? Did I mess anything up? Get anything right?

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Sorry this took so long, Avery. Dialup's a real bitch. :swear:

 

Jmac's suggestion for a case was very sensible and anything more than that is just bling. Shipping on cases is ridiculous ($19.00!). Best to wait until you find one with free shipping. The case will be the last thing that you'll need to buy, after all. $48.75 After Live.com cashback.

 

Case fans: Whatever floats your boat, as long as they aren't extravagant. That one seems good. The case above takes an 80mm in the front as well. Both fans together shouldn't come to more than $20.00.

 

CPU cooler: Like Cooler Master, huh? That one's overpriced for its performance; I'd get this with this instead. It will perform just as well. $40.80 after rebate and Live.com cashback. Free shipping on both.

 

Power Supply: Well, that other Corsair was an excellent deal, and it's too bad that you couldn't jump on it, but here is it's close cousin. It's a little more powerful than the 620HX, but it has the drawback of not having modular cables. A little bit of inconvenience during installation will save you a lot of money compared to that Cooler Master, though, for a PSU that's every bit as good.. It's a little more than half the price of that Cooler Master. Ask anyone that knows anything about computers about Corsair power supplies and they'll tell you that they're awesome. $67.49 after rebate and Live.com cashback. Free shipping

 

Motherboard: That Asus is truly kickass. It supports both SLI and Crossfire (Thank you Intel for finally showing Nvidia who's boss!). However, this Foxconn motherboard has the same features and it's warranty is just as long. There are quite a few happy Foxconn motherboard owners over at the Anandtech forums, and I know that they make good boards. $183.99 after rebate and Live.com cashback.

 

CPU: I mentioned this combo deal combining a Core i7 920 with Vista Ultimate 64-bit above. $392.42 after Live.com cashback. Free shipping.

 

RAM: That's a good price on that RAM that you found, and it's got good timings, too. I can't find a better deal than that one. Well, I can, but it would be a real hassle and you stand to lose more ($40.00) if the rebates don't come through, whereas here you only stand to lose $20.00. I say this because OCZ is notorious for denying rebates, so make sure that you do exactly what the rebate form tells you to do. $174.02 after Live.com cashback. Free shipping.

 

SSD: New tech. I don't trust it. Early-adopters always get screwed. You're aware that this is purely a luxury item and that you really don't need it, right? OK, with that out of way, if must have an SSD, then get this one. The only ones that are better are made by Intel, and those are even more outrageously overpriced. The rest are pretty much junk by comparison. $375.37 after Live.com cashback. Free shipping.

 

HDD: You picked the WD Caviar Black. Excellent choice. I've seen it cheaper, but not ATM. This would be a very good alternative. It's speed is very comparable. Newegg newsletter gives 10 extra bucks off through tomorrow. $77.74 after coupon code and Live.com cashback. Free shipping.

 

Video Card: Time to get raped. Believe it or not, the cheapest I found it for was at Tiger Direct of all places. $761.88 including shipping after Live.com cashback.

 

Temp Watch? That's what freeware utilities are for, and you don't even have to look away from your monitor. :p

 

OS: Covered above.

 

Optical Drive: I like that LG. It's cheaper at Newegg, though. $107.24 Free Shipping.

 

Total so far: $2249.70

 

Monitor. You are aware that that's a refurb with a 90-warranty (:eyepop), right? Dell Outlet sometimes sells perfect refurbs with a full 3-year warranty for ~$750.00 or even less with a coupon. I'll keep my eye out. Otherwise you're looking at ~$1100.00.

 

If I start scouring Fleabay and places like that I could probably do better on everything and bring that total down further.

 

 

OK, I'm beat. I'm going to bed.

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That's because it's damn good, Avery. I think it may almost be worth the purchase price.

Looking at getting the Education edition of the Adobe Production collection.

 

Jmac's suggestion for a case was very sensible and anything more than that is just bling. Shipping on cases is ridiculous ($19.00!). Best to wait until you find one with free shipping. The case will be the last thing that you'll need to buy, after all. $48.75 After Live.com cashback.

I agree. Sensible, cheap, and reasonable ventilation.

 

But, regardless, I sorta want a full town bling case for eye candy and future upgrading. The case itself also has great reviews, its very quiet, and so on.

 

So yeah, the case isn't really something I'm looking to be reasonable on.

 

SSD: New tech. I don't trust it. Early-adopters always get screwed. You're aware that this is purely a luxury item and that you really don't need it, right?

Meh, I dunno. Seems like a good idea to decrease load on ram and keep programs running fast.

 

Monitor. You are aware that that's a refurb with a 90-warranty, right?

As someone who has never had, or seen an LCD monitor fail I don't really see the problem.

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Could you do me a favor? This is Foxconn's compatibility page. Unfortunately, my slow-as-hell internet will not let me use it. My main concern is memory compatibility, as that can be problematic at times, so could you check and see if the memory that you're getting is on the "supported" list? Please note that if it isn't, that does not necessarily mean that it won't work. Everything else should work just fine.

 

EDIT: It just occured to me that I live in VA, where there is no tax on Newegg purchases. You live in CA, don't you? You'll have to pay tax. Lots and lots of tax.

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And I can't even see it. :lol:

 

We're ****ed. :p

 

 

Well, either the memory will work or it won't, and you'll have to exchange it for some that will. My bigger concern is that you live in CA and will have to pay tax on Newegg purchases. I didn't think about it because I live in VA and I don't have to pay tax on anything from Newegg, Fry's, Amazon and a bunch of other places that don't have a store or warehouse here. That tax will add up to a lot of money.

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... you live in CA and will have to pay tax...

 

huh...you have interstate variances on stuff like that?? What type of freaky tax laws you got goin on there?? All taxation stuff is federal here in Oz, making us all uniformally bollocksed :*(

 

Sounds like VA is the US equivalent of the Cayman Islands..... sans the beaches and ebony beauties ;)

 

mtfbwya

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Yeah, like the Cayman Islands, only with jack-booted, goose-stepping police that set up road blocks just to shine a flashlight in your eyes, check for licenses, smell your breath and then let the dope dog sniff and take a leak on your car. :indif: We do have beaches, though.

 

Most states have their own sales tax and income tax. Some is reasonable, but IIRC, CA's is pretty brutal, and I think that Newegg's got at least one warehouse there and Fry's has stores there. It's weird the way it works. If the business that you're buying from has an establishment in your state, then you have to pay sales tax, but if it doesn't, you don't. Here in VA it's a give-and-take. I don't have to pay sales tax on anything from places like Fry's, but I also miss out on all of their in-store only deals, which are often more outrageous than the ones online, like when CPU lines go EOL and they put them on clearance.

 

It's going to add hundred's of dollars to Avery's bottom line. I'm going to have to figure out a way around that.

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Yeah, I was aware of the tax problem when I started and since we're the base for a ton of companies there isn't a whole lot of ways to get around it. Comes with living in a state as expensive as California.

 

But, that aside, I've been told on other sites that using all 6 slots to get 12GB RAM actually slows your ram down considerably. Can anyone confirm this?

 

If so, anyone got any better RAM ideas on how to get 12gb?

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@Avery. I just thought I might throw this into the mix. Even if just for a FYI curiousity : A couple of AutoCAD folk I know are very excited about this corei7 mainboard and its support for 24GB RAM and numerous pcie slots for all that SSD blitzkrieg.

 

http://en.expreview.com/2009/05/05/asus-p6t7-ws-motherboard-boosts-with-7-pci-e-slots.html

 

Depending on if a particular mainboard supports them, 4GB 8GB DDR3 sticks are not too far away. Wont be cheap though. But playing in the high end never is....

 

mtfbwya

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[sorry for Double]

 

I was considering some alternatives and am thinking of buying the hardware, but sending it out of state to my Uncle who would then mail it to me. Now, how would I figure out who has a station where in order to avoid as much extra tax as possible?

 

He lives in Nevada.

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Well, you can add some stuff to your cart, enter the zip code of where you're shipping it to, proceed to checkout, enter both the billing and the shipping address (billing=CA; shipping=NV) and see if you get charged any tax.

 

And I'm asking around about your question about having RAM in all six slots slowing down the computer. Core i7 and X58's pretty new, so I don't know as much about it as I do about the previous generation, but in my experience with older machines filling up your board doesn't make any difference at stock speeds. It will effect an overclock, however, because 4 sticks require more power from the memory controller, so in order to maintain stability you have to bump the northbridge and RAM voltage with 4 sticks.

 

I can't think that it's much different with 6 sticks, except that Core i7 has a built-in memory controller (like AMD CPUs have had since the Athlon64). My guess is that with 6 sticks either people are encountering instability or Vista64's SuperFetch feature is going crazy trying to fill up all of that available RAM. Either one would slow the computer down.

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I was considering the Samsung 305t and the 2560 x 1600 Resolution, and was wondering if it really is worth it.

 

Down at Frys I can get a Samsung 32 inch LCD 1080p monitor for only a few hundred dollars compared to the $1000+ 2560 x 1600 Resolution. I'm sure I already know the answer to this, but I'm assuming a 32 inch 1080p is more than enough right now.

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