Post by: Sideways on 29 Mar 2006, 10:38
In advising JJMitchell on what to get for an upgraded PC, I was thinking about what I would get if I had absolutely no monetary restrictions...
SO I decided to make this thread where we can post what our dream rig would be, and then argue about who's is better! :P
My dream rig:
Case:
(http://www.memoryexpress.com/productfiles/images/7245.jpg)
Screwless lightweight aluminum chassis with three temperature display meters, low-noise 1100RPM fans, carrying strap and USB2.0/firewire/audio front-mounted ports. Three fans total (side, top, rear).
Motherboard:
(http://www.memoryexpress.com/productfiles/images/7471.jpg)
Asus A8R32-MVP Deluxe w/ DualDDR400, Audio, Dual Gigabit Lan, 1394, Crossfire Dual PCI-E x16.
Supports dual PCI Express x16 slots to run two video cards together via ATI Crossfire Xpress 3200. Supports AMD Athelon 64FX... which brings me to...
Processor:
(http://www.memoryexpress.com/productfiles/images/7275.jpg)
AMD Athlon 64 FX-60 Dual-Core w/ 2x1MB Cache.
Frequency: 2.6GHz
HyperTransport™ Technology Speed: 2000MHz
Integrated Memory Controller: 2.6GHz
L1 Cache Size: 2x 128KB (128KB per core)
L2 Cache Size: 2 x 1MB (1MB per core)
L2 Cache Speed: 2.6GHz
Core Voltage: 1.35-1.40 V
Memory:
(http://www.memoryexpress.com/productfiles/images/6723.jpg)
Corsair 2048MB TwinX PC3200 CAS 2 Dual Channel Kit (2 x 1024MB).
Video Cards:
(http://www.memoryexpress.com/productfiles/images/5852.jpg)
Two of these badboys.
Chipset: Nvidia GeForce™ 7800 GTX
Interface: PCI Express™x16
Memory: 256MB GDDR3
Memory Inteface: 256-Bit GDDR3
Core Clock: 460MHz (vs. 430MHz standard)
Memory Clock: 1300MHz (vs. 1200MHz standard)
Geometry: 920 million vertices/sec.
Memory Bandwidth: 41.6GB/second
RAMDAC: Dual 400MHz
Hard Drive:
(http://www.memoryexpress.com/productfiles/images/7298.jpg)
Maxtor 500GB DiamondMax 11 7200RPM SATA II w/ 16MB Cache.
DVD/CD/R/RW/ROM:
(http://www.memoryexpress.com/productfiles/images/5712.jpg)
Plextor PX-716SA 16x16 Dual Layer CD/DVD+/-RW, Serial ATA.
Power Supply:
(http://www.memoryexpress.com/productfiles/images/6817.jpg)
Enermax Liberty Modular Power Supply, 620W.
This system would rock your (and your mom's) socks off.
Post by: JJMitchell on 29 Mar 2006, 10:46
I'd buy that for a dollar.
Post by: jhocking on 29 Mar 2006, 10:57
ADDITION: Nevermind, I just figure it out. Although, other people might want to know.
Post by: mberan42 on 29 Mar 2006, 11:58
What about a monitor? Should I start the CRT / LCD debate? Would you go single monitor or double or even triple? Or widescreen? What sizes?
My current monitor. I want to have its babies.
(http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/24-116-371-12.JPG) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824116371)
ViewSonic VP2030b Black 20.1" 8ms gray-to-gray (avg); 16ms black-white-black (typ) LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 0.255mm Pixel Pitch - Retail
clicky for specs.
Post by: Sideways on 29 Mar 2006, 12:49
That total setup I noted above would cost....
Case: $169.95
Motherboard: $249.95
Processor: $1,229.95
Memory: $309.95
Video Card 1: $559.95
Video Card 2: $559.95
Hard Drive: $359.95
DVDRW/CDRW: $164.95
Power Supply: $184.95
Then add three of these (though with the above setup you could have FOUR!!!):
(http://www.memoryexpress.com/productfiles/images/6027.jpg)
BenQ FP71V+ 17" Digital LCD (DVI Connect) 5ms response:
$299.95
and the total cost (not including a mouse and keyboard, or speakers) is:
CPU: $3,789.55
Monitors: $899.85
Total:$4,689.40.
Don't forget the fun peripherals too (these are the things I either have or want):
Belkin Nostromo SpeedPad - 'have':
(http://www.memoryexpress.com/productfiles/images/4041.jpg)
Logitech Cordless diNova Media Desktop - 'want':
(http://www.memoryexpress.com/productfiles/images/4164.jpg)
Logitech Z-4 2.1 Speaker System - 'have':
(http://www.memoryexpress.com/productfiles/images/6592.jpg)
(Good GOD the sound that comes out of those two speakers is awesome... better than any 5.1 comp-speaker system I've ever heard!!!)
Incidentally, all of this stuff (prices and availability) is courtesy of Memory Express Computer Products & Electronics Inc. - which is only in Calgary, AB, Canada... sadly.
Post by: Switchblade on 29 Mar 2006, 13:30
Post by: mberan42 on 29 Mar 2006, 13:51
/glass half empty
Post by: est on 29 Mar 2006, 18:19
Post by: Mr Putter on 29 Mar 2006, 19:27
Click for specs
Post by: nescience on 29 Mar 2006, 19:38
YEEE-ah.
Post by: Rizzo on 29 Mar 2006, 23:59
Post by: Switchblade on 30 Mar 2006, 00:47
Quote from: mberan42
Meh, it'll be obsolete in 18 months.
/glass half empty
There's a difference between "obsolete", "behind the cutting edge" and "worthless"
Post by: mberan42 on 30 Mar 2006, 07:35
Hell, your rig'll be good for at least 4 years. Although you may need to upgrade the DVD burner to either an HDDVD or a blu-ray DVD, whichever eventually wins the war.
(Btw, what the hell freaking company thought that DiVX was a good idea?! ...morons)
Post by: est on 30 Mar 2006, 22:05
Not sure about the case, but that doesn't really matter, does it? For the monitor/s I'd go for a couple of 20" NEC Multisync 20WGXs. Widescreen, big enough to be impressive, 6ms grey-to-grey response. Pretty decent monitors for gaming, and as a bonus each of them have 4 USB sockets for convenient plugging.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/est_xplosif/IMG0015756.jpg)
Noice.
Post by: Jenno on 31 Mar 2006, 02:11
This would be nice:
![]("http://filebox.vt.edu/users/plastk/research/quake3/quake_front.jpg")
Post by: nihilist on 31 Mar 2006, 08:44
Post by: Something Witty on 31 Mar 2006, 11:51
Post by: Rubby on 31 Mar 2006, 12:53
Post by: Sideways on 31 Mar 2006, 13:08
Quote from: Jenno
Hell... as long as price is no problem.
This would be nice:
I can't help but wonder if this pic was photoshopp'd... how is that kind of setup even possible?!
Post by: Rubby on 31 Mar 2006, 13:41
Post by: Jenno on 31 Mar 2006, 21:14
Linky.
Post by: Luke on 01 Apr 2006, 08:42
Anyway, our MHSS instructor told us the other day he built a PC with one of those AMD64 processors - he said that Windows XP installed in seven minutes.
I think my computer can load Adobe Illustrator CS in seven minutes (maybe a little faster).
Post by: est on 01 Apr 2006, 17:43
Post by: Jenno on 02 Apr 2006, 03:00
Post by: Rizzo on 02 Apr 2006, 03:02
Then my computer would be basically a dream rig. New soundcard maybe but everything else is good as.
Post by: Jenno on 02 Apr 2006, 23:22
Also... I need one of these.
![]("http://images.creative.com/iss/images/products/headers/prod14064_hdr_1_6_1.jpg")
Post by: Phrozen on 03 Apr 2006, 02:51
Oh and I ahve an X-Fi Pro, they are VERY worth the money. I upgraded from an Audigy Platinum and the difference is very noticeable. I've got it pushing through a set of Logitch 5.1 speakers, its a truly awesome system.
Post by: Mnementh on 05 Apr 2006, 20:49
*that sound you hear is Aspyr's Mac division all getting laid off at once*
Post by: est on 05 Apr 2006, 22:11
If I were seriously interested in buying an Intel Mac I'd be waiting until the end of this year when Conroe comes out to see if there is any improvement.
Post by: mberan42 on 06 Apr 2006, 08:14
/derail
Post by: Bastardous Bassist on 06 Apr 2006, 10:33
Quote from: Sideways
Logitech Z-4 2.1 Speaker System - 'have':
[picture of speaker system]
(Good GOD the sound that comes out of those two speakers is awesome... better than any 5.1 comp-speaker system I've ever heard!!!)
Why bother with computer speakers, if money is no object?
Just get a bunch of these:
(http://img345.imageshack.us/img345/2544/summitnatcherryblackalu3tt.jpg)
(Martin Logan Summit)
One of these:
(http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/2567/cinemaiblack5kc.jpg)
(Martin Logan Cinema i)
One of these:
(http://www.us.martinlogan.com/images/trim/speaker/descent_natural_cherry.jpg)
(Martin Logan Descent)
To decode the signal:
(http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7172/40prlo3mi.jpg)
(Mark Levinson Nº 40 Media Console)
Preamp:
(http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8315/32adstklo9gl.th.jpg) (http://img404.imageshack.us/my.php?image=32adstklo9gl.jpg)
(Mark Levinson Nº 32 Reference Pre-Amplifier)
And finally, the amplifiers:
(http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/1243/33hprlo7yh.jpg)
(Nº 33H Monaural Power Amplifier, one for each speaker)
Now, the problem is the sound card (because I would cry if someone put a SoundBlaster output into that setup), but I don't know anything about high-end sound cards.
Post by: Rubby on 06 Apr 2006, 12:22
Post by: mberan42 on 06 Apr 2006, 12:54
Post by: Bastardous Bassist on 06 Apr 2006, 13:20
Full range speakers: 6x$10,000=$60,000
Center channel: 1x$1,295=$1,295
Subwoofer: 1x$2,795=$2,795
Total cost of speakers: $64,090
Now, I just chose a brand that I like and is actually affordable by normal (i.e. not the richest person ever) human beings (i.e. after saving and making a good living, one can afford a pair of them). I didn't go for the uber high-end that stereophile always reviews, just because I'm not as familiar with them. With the signal processing, I kind of did.
Media Console: $30,000=$30,000
Amplifiers: 4x$33,000/pair=$132,000
(pre-amp is included in media console)
Total cost of signal processing: $162,000
Total: $226,090
Would you like to buy a house, or a killer sound system?
Post by: mberan42 on 06 Apr 2006, 13:37
(And have you ever seen an ear orgasm? It's like a normal genital orgasm, only through your ears. And with the ears being so close to your brain, not to mention TWO of them, it's like the ultimate orgasm ever.)
Post by: Bastardous Bassist on 06 Apr 2006, 13:38
Post by: mberan42 on 06 Apr 2006, 13:41
Post by: nihilist on 06 Apr 2006, 14:37
Post by: Bastardous Bassist on 06 Apr 2006, 14:44
Post by: nihilist on 06 Apr 2006, 14:51
Post by: Bastardous Bassist on 06 Apr 2006, 14:56
Post by: nihilist on 06 Apr 2006, 15:18
Post by: Bastardous Bassist on 06 Apr 2006, 15:23
Post by: Rubby on 06 Apr 2006, 16:19
Quote from: Bastardous Bassist
Now, the problem is the sound card (because I would cry if someone put a SoundBlaster output into that setup), but I don't know anything about high-end sound cards.
I'm gonna have to suggest the sound card I'm running these days. The M-Audio Delta 66 (http://media.zzounds.com/media/brand,zzounds/omnistudio-469c13e7a2b0341b4da60f9f2723b564.jpg). I guess it's more for recording and whatnot, but it just sounds so friggen good.
Post by: Bastardous Bassist on 06 Apr 2006, 16:21
Post by: Rubby on 06 Apr 2006, 16:47