9 replies to this topic

[Brito]

Hello my friends,

I want to build a new desktop PC and need help.

My current PC is an oldie 512Mb RAM with 2.3Ghz CPU, I want a new PC to play. Not meant for normal computer games but rather to play during my free time with technologies such as Hadoop and databases containing several million records.

So, I need plenty of:
- RAM (24GB would be great)
- Processing power (core i7 and above)
- USB 3 ports (so that I can increase storage with cheaper SSD external drives)

With some features:
- Silent
- Economic (it will be left running 24x7)
- Under budget of 500 USD



You can exclude peripherals like:
- Display/Mouse/Keyboard (will be reused)
- Storage (I will be adding it on USB 3 ports as time passes)


What I need is a server-like machine that can be used at home and still available under a budget price. Doesn't need to be high-end, just needs to have a good processing.

I've written USB3 but please do suggest any better/affordable hardware options that you know of.


What do you suggest that fits this configuration?


Thanks!!
Nuno Brito

[Mikorist]

Hello ,


i have this desktop PC

AMD Phenom II A6 X4 Quad Core Processor 3650 (2.6 GHz) FM1 (with AMD Radeon 6530 HD Graphics integrated)
GIGABYTE GA-A75M-S2V Socket FM1
CHIEFTEC APS-550S 550W
8GB DDR3 Kingston 1600Mhz

and I am very satisfied like server-machine, gaming or office PC

[TheHive]

Hello my friends,

I want to build a new desktop PC and need help.

My current PC is an oldie 512Mb RAM with 2.3Ghz CPU, I want a new PC to play. Not meant for normal computer games but rather to play during my free time with technologies such as Hadoop and databases containing several million records.

So, I need plenty of:
- RAM (24GB would be great)
- Processing power (core i7 and above)
- USB 3 ports (so that I can increase storage with cheaper SSD external drives)

With some features:
- Under budget of 500 USD

Youre going to need more USD TO GET 24gB and i7 pc.

video a bit old but
http://youtu.be/5AOylHaCyUA
http://youtu.be/_CIsUdwEOwQ

Desktop PC Core™ i7 2-way CrossFire™ 24GB Performance Custom Computer System
Mess with the selections to build pc.With 6gb = $971.57 for the one below.
http://www.avadirect....asp?PRID=12300


Build a Solid, Quiet Core i7 PC

http://www.amazon.co.../R2RRV1WI5JUWMY

[Brito]

Thanks, that was useful.

Under a budget of 500 USD and keeping it silent is surely not going to be easy.

I guess that I will lower these specs until I can find a machine that can do data crunching and be energy saving friendly.

Any other suggestions?

[sbaeder]

If you can also reuse the case, power supply, etc., then all you need is a MB, CPU and Ram. I would definately look at using an SSD for the boot drive. There are some good deals now on some of the older OZC (vertex/Agility 3) drives now that the new models have arrived. And fot the boost they give to the OS, they are well worth it.

Not sure USB is the best choice for expansion, but any good motherboard will have sufficient SATA ports as well. I would go with a motherboard that can take 4 (or more) sticks of 8GB ram, but start with 2 to begin with, and a CPU that isn't the latest Ivy Bridge, but uses the same socket (i.e. LGA1155), so you can go bigger down the road. You could start all the way at a $50 CPU up to a $350 one!

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813128544 is a MB for ~$150
Lots of 16GB (2x8) memory kits for under $100
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819116504 is top end Corei5 (unlocked) for ~$230, leaving you $20 for other parts...Again, assumes you can reuse most of what you have and that you can use Linux (or already have valid OS license)...

Of course, there are less expensive CPU's, but this is how I would spend the $$$ if I could just re-use the other bits...There are some less expensive MB options, but I would stick with an LGA1155 if at all possible, since it gives you the best possibility on upgrades...


Scott

[pscEx]

Not very helpful, just a thoughtless flash: When you found your solution, please explain here in detail.

I want to buy a brandnew Porsche for less than 25.000 €. Maybe your solution can help me.

Peter

[DarkPhoeniX]

My friend got a Intel MB,1 x 4 GB DDR3 RAM and a I7 for R4000(ZAR)
4000 South African rands = 495.17200 U.S. dollars

That is a good starting point.
Since you dont need a graphics card ,and you can use what you have already(hdd screen ect...)
And you can add up to 16gb Ram

I have a Core to quad with 8GB ram and his PC out Preforms mine in game loading times (Loading COH,RA3)

Edit:I will ask him his exact spec when i see him tomorrow nite

ps:RAID 1 the HDD's to make it read faster (write may be a bit slower)

[RoyM]

Hey Nuno, it's always fun building a fine piece of machinery, "Good Luck with Your Build".

I subscribe to the magazine Maximum PC which has some fine articles
for building machines, I find the information invaluable.
see some of the titles below that you can find on their web page
of downloadable PDF past publications.

¦Browse the PDF Archives Here
http://www.maximumpc...es/pdf_archives

¦Dream Machine 2011 and $340 Ultra-Budget Box
http://www.maximumpc...am_machine_2011
http://dl.maximumpc....2011_09-web.pdf

¦Build It: The Battlefield 3 PC
http://dl.maximumpc....2011_13-web.pdf

¦Build a Hybrid HTPC/Gaming Rig
¦Build It: 30-inch Gaming Rig
¦Build It: AMD Llano Box
¦How to Build a $667 PC
¦How to Build a Sub-$1000 Sandy Bridge Rig
¦How to Build a Quiet Gaming PC
¦Build It: A Sandy Bridge-E Powerhouse
¦Build a Home Theater PC
¦How to Build and Overclock a Fast, Cheap AMD System

[Brito]

Not very helpful, just a thoughtless flash: When you found your solution, please explain here in detail.

I want to buy a brandnew Porsche for less than 25.000 €. Maybe your solution can help me.

I don't have any problems in building something with second hand parts or hardware that is not top-edge today. If you are willing to get something in second hand, it is easier to find a good porsche in Germany bellow 25 000 Euros than finding a computer that fits my description. Just look on ebay: http://www.ebay.de/s...000&_udhi=25000

@all

I am quiet worried about the power consumption since this machine is intended to be working 24/7. While thinking about this matter I concluded that a laptop would be the most energy efficient solution and I am now looking for a robust option in second hand.

It does not need to be a high-end laptop, I will be doing some experiments with Haddop to distribute the computing tasks across the computers at my house and likely use network based storage (ethernet at 1Gb/s) to keep storage cheap and fast while using HDFS.

So, thanks for all the input. It was good to learn more about the options and given this short budget I will resort onto a more humble machine.

We have a saying in Portugal:

Quem não tem cão, caça com gato

That translates to "Those who don't have a dog, hunt with a cat" and this is what I will be doing.

Take care!

[DarkPhoeniX]

I got some prices at work:
Intel dh67bl ----R1150 ZAR
Intel I5-3450 ----R2100 ZAR
4gb ddr1333 ----R299 ZAR
Total : R3549 ZAR
IOW:
3549 South African rands = 438.173736 U.S. dollars