Advice on this new build

[Kodbel]

Hello,

I am building this new system. It will be 3 monitor build primarily used as a workstation (handling huge excel sheets, trading). Haven't build a multi monitor system yet, so I did a bit of reading and found out that I need 2 gfx cards for 3dvi ports for the monitors to hook into(the monitors need to have separate displays - not duplicate) Am I right, or is there any clever way of plugging them?
The monitors have already been acquired and they are 20" with 1600*900 resolution.

The spec i have come up with is:

AMD Phenom II X4 925 2.8GHz Socket AM3 8MB
ASUS M4A77TD PRO 770 Socket AM3
2 * XFX 4650 1GB
Crucial 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz
Antec Basiq Power 550W PSU - 6x SATA 2x PCI-E 20+4pin ATX12V 4/8pin
Intel X25-M Mainstream 80GB SATA
1TB Western Digital WD10EARS

What do you guys think about the configuration?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The Phenom II runs memory in dual channel so you will have to either get 4GB or 8B of RAM.

Also you could a 785G based motherboard and a single graphics cards and run three monitors:

http://www.amd.com/us/products/deskt...G-chipset.aspx

I believe the technology is called SurroundView:

http://www.amd.com/us/products/techn...-graphics.aspx

Also even an HD5670 should support triple monitors:

http://www.amd.com/us/products/deskt...fications.aspx

I would also go for a more efficient PSU such as the Corsair HX450W.

I would look along the lines of one of the following specs:

Build One

AMD Phenom II X4 925 ~ £109

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/177044

ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO ~ £70

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/170277

8GB 1600MHZ DDR3 ~ £187

http://www.scan.co.uk/TodayOnly/Index.aspx

Corsair HX450W ~ £52

http://www.scan.co.uk/TodayOnly/Index.aspx

HD4350 256MB ~ £21

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/176818

Build Two

AMD Phenom II X4 925 ~ £109

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/177044

ASUS M4A77TD PRO ~ £66

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/171664

8GB 1600MHZ DDR3 ~ £187

http://www.scan.co.uk/TodayOnly/Index.aspx

Corsair HX450W ~ £52

http://www.scan.co.uk/TodayOnly/Index.aspx

HD5670 512MB ~ £73

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/512MB...-DL-DVI-I-HDMI

[jim]

Yep, I would say that Eyefinity on one of the 5xxx ATI cards is the way to go with this one

[Kodbel]

Thanks a lot for the info.
Eyefinity is exactly what I need, and how fortunate that ATI came up with this solution just in time!!

I am tempted to go with Asus HD5750 ~£105

Just wondering, how is AMD/ATI with drivers these days? I have always been an Intel/Nvidia fan, and this will be my first build with AMD.

Regarding SSD's, there has been lots of development, but to keep long story short, I should go for 40GB Kingston V series, or Intel X25-M (Black coloured ones) - right?

[raceway99]

Regarding SSD's, there has been lots of development, but to keep long story short, I should go for 40GB Kingston V series, or Intel X25-M (Black coloured ones) - right?

if you get a x25-m make sure its a g2 as these support TRIM in windows 7

I am tempted to go with Asus HD5750 ~£105

i would have thought a 5670 should be enough for excel work

Just wondering, how is AMD/ATI with drivers these days? I have always been an Intel/Nvidia fan, and this will be my first build with AMD.

ive had Intel, nVidia, AMD and ATI and haven't noticed any difference in the quality of drivers

hope this helps
raceway99

[Kodbel]

Got some of the components delivered today. Very excited with the SSD Connected it to my system and tried to update the firmware, but it failed to detect the ssd.. maybe because my motherboard's bios hasn't been detected recently(bios dated late '08) My windows however handles it fine, and ran Hdtach... got around 250MB/s consistent speed

Will update the firmware with the new motherboard ones it gets delivered. Just wondering, does window 7 optimise it settings automatically, or do I have to manually tweak some settings to make the most of this ssd?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Got some of the components delivered today. Very excited with the SSD Connected it to my system and tried to update the firmware, but it failed to detect the ssd.. maybe because my motherboard's bios hasn't been detected recently(bios dated late '08) My windows however handles it fine, and ran Hdtach... got around 250MB/s consistent speed

Will update the firmware with the new motherboard ones it gets delivered. Just wondering, does window 7 optimise it settings automatically, or do I have to manually tweak some settings to make the most of this ssd?

What did you get in the end??

[Kodbel]

So far I have,

80GB Intel X-25M G2
4*2GB Corsair XMS3 1600MHZ
450 watt Corsair
1 TB Samsung F3

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

So far I have,

80GB Intel X-25M G2
4*2GB Corsair XMS3 1600MHZ
450 watt Corsair
1 TB Samsung F3

What are the other bits you are going for out of interest??

[Kodbel]

I have 3 monitors, so going for ATI's Eyefinity solution which is on their 5 series cards. Will take one of the £110 range 5750 cards depending on availability.
Processor will be phenom II X4 925, motherboard ASUS M4A77TD PRO.

One more query, is the stock cooler with X4 good enough, or did I need to get a 3rd party cooler. FYI, the proc won't be overclocked.

The system won't be used for gaming, but user wants a super fast system, and doesn't want to upgrade for the next 3 years!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I have 3 monitors, so going for ATI's Eyefinity solution which is on their 5 series cards. Will take one of the £110 range 5750 cards depending on availability.
Processor will be phenom II X4 925, motherboard ASUS M4A77TD PRO.

One more query, is the stock cooler with X4 good enough, or did I need to get a 3rd party cooler. FYI, the proc won't be overclocked.

The system won't be used for gaming, but user wants a super fast system, and doesn't want to upgrade for the next 3 years!

I think for normal use the cooler although the 95W Phenom II X4 processors seem not to come with the nice heatpipe cooler the 125W versions had as the 95W versions run cooler.

The stock cooler should be similar to the one in this article:

http://ixbtlabs.com/articles3/cpu/phenom-2-cnq-p1.html

The X3 720 also has a TDP of 95W.

[Kodbel]

Does window 7 optimise it settings automatically, or do I have to manually tweak some settings to make the most of this ssd?

Any idea on this?

[bandsaw]

Have I misread/misinterpreted something but doesn't Eyefinity require one of the monitors to be connected by DisplayPort?

If the three monitors already purchased don't have a DisplayPort connector, then doesn't that equal being screwed without one of these expensive active adaptor things?

[Kodbel]

I was planning to use a Displayport to DVI adaptor. Sample link It's not chipped and just changes the interface. Will this not work for eyefinity?

[bandsaw]

Got absolutely no experience of it, sorry - I'd just read something about Eyefinity and DisplayPort.

[jim]

Any idea on this?

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. The only thing to ensure you disable is defragging, apart from that I wouldn't worry.

Even if Windows was meant to do that automatically (it might be) I wouldn't take the risk. It gives no benefit and can only shorten life span of blocks.

Beyond that it's all "tweaks" that probably make no real-world difference.