Component selection. First build - assistance please

[enveetee]

Good day.
After 15 years with Dell a friend suggested I build my own business system so here I am at Scan.

I am bewildered by the choices (the last machine I built had a 486 proc in it!) so I was wondering if someone could point me to the components I need for the following system (Used mainly for programming/software design using MS Visual Studio)

System requirements

SSD primary drive (need help choosing)
1TB secondary (need help choosing)
Simple CD/DVD for loading software (need help choosing)
16 Gb memory (need help choosing)
Network card (need help choosing)
Dual (or Quad) DVI output to drive my Dell LCD panels (need help choosing)
USB 3 (need help choosing)
Case (smallest the best) (need help choosing)
Windows 7 64
Processor? i7 has been suggested - possibly a Xeon 1275
Quiet machine

Cheers for any replies

[doyll49]

Sorry, but can't help much in this area. Choice of M/B, CPU, HSF, GPU, PSU are limitless. Most M/B have network built in.

I might be able to help in the case department.
If you want a full size ATX M/B to fit, Lian Li A05N (M/B in right side) or A05FN (FN is normal M/B placement)are small and quiet. 210mm x 409mm x 381mm x 490mm (W,D,H)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/LianLi/PC-A05N/
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5199/l...99-price-point

Another is Fractal Design Define R3. 207 x 521 x 440 (W x D x H)
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cas...ne-r3-review/1

I have an older Define R2 and like it. I would like a A05 with it's brushed finish and slightly smaller size.

Edit: Forgot to say both are quiet.. Define being quieter.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I would say a Xeon E3-1230 for around £170 to £180 would be a good start. From what I read Visual Studio 2010 is getting an update which should make Bulldozer run better,although the Xeon E3 is a more known quantity ATM.

Edit!!

Here is one of the few reviews I have seen comparing the FX8150, and Core i7 2600K using Visual Studio 2010 SP1:

http://www.hardware.fr/articles/842-...arque-am3.html

The Phenom II X6 does look a good alternative if you are on a tighter budget.

The problem is most reviews are using the older Visual Studio 2008 and 2010 non-SP1.

[ChaosSystem]

I like the OCZ SSD drives, get something with > 250mb/s read/write speeds.
Any 1Tb drive, just a choice of 7200rpm or 5900rpm. Depends if you want speed or low power consumption.
Any DVD writer, you can't really go wrong with these.
Memory should be paired so get 2x8Gb or 4x4Gb, but that depends on cost, free space on motherboard and if you want to upgrade later.
Most of the Graphics cards have multiple outputs, normally D-Sub, DVI and HDMI, some of the are Dual DVI. The more advanced ones use Display port. It depends what your LCD panels can take. Your choice of manufacturers is either ATi or Nvidia.
Network card will be built into the motherboard so don''t worry about that.

[doyll49]

IMHO
Go cheap on HDD at moment. Prices will be much cheaper in 2-6 months... like half the price per terabyte they are now.
Go cheap on DVD writer as you will probably rarely use it.
Being able to upgrade memory in future is important. Software in constantly demanding more memory.
Put your money into good M/B and CPU. These are the expensive parts of system and most expensive to upgrade. A good CPU heatsink/fan and a good cooling case mean you can overclock CPU 20-30%... Good free / cheap performance.