What's Your Computer Build?

[BottomBracket]

I know that there are people here who build their own computers, and I am curious as to what your rigs are. Please share your specs so that others who are planning to build can have some ideas on what to get.

Oh, and to Mac users, I understand that your computers are excellent and I agree. Let's just not turn this thread into another PC-Mac battleground. This is for PC users only, OK? Thanks!

I'll start it off:

Computer Name: Serenity
CPU: Intel Q6600
CPU Cooler: Xigmatec S-1283 Rifle
Motherboard: DFI Lanparty DK X-48T2RS
GPU: Visiontek HD Radeon HD 4870 (plan to get another card for Crossfire)
Memory: 8 GB Ram (4 x 2 GB OCZ)
Hard Drive: Maxtor 160 GB Sata II (for OS and programs)
Maxtor 320 GB Sata II (for scratch disc, storage)
WD 400 GB Sata II (Storage)
WD 640 GB Sata II (still have to install this)
Power Supply: Antec BP550 Plus 550 watts, modular
OS: Vista Home 64 bit
Case: CoolerMaster 690, with additional Yate Loon fans
Display: Samsung Syncmaster 216BW
Speakers: Logitech Z-2300
I/O Devices: Logitech G15 Keyboard, Logitech G5 mouse, Wacom Graphire Tablet
Photo Related Software: Photoshop CS, Rawshooter Essentials(free), Faststone Viewer (free)

This set up is overkill for photo editing and is geared towards gaming. Most of the parts were bought on sale over a 4 month period. I will probably be getting another hard drive or 2 this coming Black Friday, and if there are great deals I might build another PC. I have 5 external USB HD's that I use to archive photos, and my next one will be an eSata one.

[Sfordphoto]

Computer: Dark Phoenix
CPU: E4300 @ 2.7 GHz (stock is 1.8GHz )
CPU cooler: Scythe Ninja rev B
Motherboard: Abit P35-E
GPU: eVGA 8800GTS 640MB @ 690/2000 (stock is 500/1600)
Memory: 4x1GB Crucial Ballistix 4-4-4-12
Hard drive: All Seagate: 80GB, 250GB, 2x500GB
Power Suppy: Antec Truepower Trio 650W
OS: XP 32 bit
Case: Antec P180B v1.1, 4x nonstock 120mm fans on speed controller
Display: Dell 3007WFP-HC 30 incher
Sound: Logitech Z-2300 2.1 speakers, Sound Blaster Audigy 2ZS sound card
I/O devices: Logitech G15 keyboard (original), Logitech G5 mouse (original)
Photo related: Photoshop CS3



As you can see, just for kicks I wired up some LEDs inside . Pretty pointless since I don't have a window.

I built this in summer of 2007. It was the first computer I built (I have since built one for my parents, that is faster, sadly enough). I am going to wait on Nehalem (core i7) to come out and DDR3 to come down in price before I do another build...so likely next year.

[darksparkz]

Computer Name: sp4rkz
CPU: Intel Q6600
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme
Motherboard: Intel DG965WH
GPU: eVGA 8800GTS 512MB
Memory: 2x2GB OCZ Platinum
Hard Drive:
WD 160 GB Raptor X (for OS and programs)
Seagate 320 GB Sata II (for storage)
Power Supply: Corsair HX550
OS: Vista Home Premium 32-bit
Case: Antec P180 w/ all Yate Loon fans
Display: Samsung Syncmaster 226NW
Speakers: Klipsch Promedia 2.1
I/O Devices: Logitech Wave Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
Photo Related Software: Adobe Photoshop CS3, Adobe Illustrator CS3, Adobe Lightroom 1.4

Thats for desktop stuff, architectural autocad work as well as photo editing too. Next upgrade would probably be to 64-bit with more ram and a faster cpu with an Apple 23" Cinema Display

I've got a MBP for mobile uses too.

[Motley]

MB: EVGA 780i_SLI / CPU: Intel E8400 @ 4.05GHz 1.36v
Mem: 2x2GB GSkill PC2-8000 2.1v @ 1132MHz
Vid: EVGA 8800 GTS (621/1280/2000)
Cooling: ZALMAN | CNPS 9700NT
HD: WD 10k 150GB Raptor / WD 2x 320GB
Dell UltraSharp 2405FPW 24" LCD
Case:Antec 900 modded
PSU: Tt Toughpower 700W-SLi
Windows Vista x64 / Logitech G7/G15

Since this is a photo site, here is a pic of the machine...

[Bobster]

Computer Name: Godzilla

CPU: Intel Q8400 Core2 Quad 2.96GHz

CPU Cooler: Stock Cooler

Motherboard: Gigabyte 965-DS4 rev3.3

GPU: XFX Radeon HD 5770

Memory: 8GB RAM (2x 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800))

Hard Drives:

• 4x Maxtor 160GB SATA II (RAID 10 - Partitioned OS, Page, Swap, Apps, Photos, Work)
• 3x Hitachi 1TB SATA II
• 2xSeagate 500GB SATA II (Client Storage) in Hot swap caddy
• Seagate 250GB SATA II (Client Storage)
• 2x WD 250GB PATA (in Icy Box Firewire External Drives)
• 2x Maxtor 250GB PATA (in Icy Box Firewire External Drives)

Optical Drives: 2x Sony 18x DVD ±W/RW

Power Supply: 560W Silverstone ST56F Strider

Case: SilverStone TJ05S (Black)

Displays: HP LP2475 | Formac Raven 2010 (Black)

Speakers: Creative SoundWorks 5.1 Surround

I/O Devices:

• Microsoft 4000 Keyboard
• Logitech MX Revolution
• A4 Wacom Intuos II
• Epson 4490 Scanner
• Epson Photo1400 Printer
• SanDisk Firewire CF Card Reader
• IcyBox 3.5" Bay Multi Card USB2 Card Reader

Other: UPS

OS: Vista 64

Photo Related Software:

• Photoshop CS4
• CaptureOne Pro V5.1.1
• DIM
• Pixort

[BottomBracket]

Awesome, I am glad we have some PC builders here. Great photo Motley, I should take a photo of my rig and post it here. Nice cable management by the way.

Looks like my ATI rig is outnumbered by Nvidia 3:1!

[Moppie]

My system is positivly basic and almost out dated, but it was built to be simple and reliable and built on a budget.


Computer Name: PSEC
CPU: Intel Q6600
CPU Cooler: OEM Intel, hey it works.
Motherboard: Intel Dragon Tail (keep it simple, also very stable).
GPU: XFX 8800GT 512MB, factory over clocked.
Memory: 4 x 1GB Apacer PC6400
Hard Drive: 1x Seagate 80GB (OS, utility software)
2 x WD 500GB (photos)
1 x Seagate 320GB (games, and general crap, swap disk)
1 x External Seagate 500GB in an eSATA enclosure
1 x Extenral Seagate 250GB in an eSATA enclosure
Power Supply: Gigabyte 800W
OS: Vista Business 32bit (with XP Pro on dual boot).
Case: CoolerMaster 690
Display: 1 x Dell Trinitron 19inch and 1 x no brand 19inch (both CRTs)
Speakers: Late 80s stereo
I/O Devices: Microsoft Office Keyboard, Logitech G9 mouse
Photo Related Software: Photoshop CS3, Lightroom 1


It was built towards the end of '07, and ended up going way over budget, but the result has been factastic.
Very fast, very stable and very reliable.
The G9 is an awsome mouse to, especialy for precision photoshop work and the ablity to customise buttons and give them software specific funtions and use macros.

I plan to upgrade once the LGA775 socket gets discontinued, buy the fastest quadcore I can at the time, load up with 16GB of RAM and a 64bit OS and it should keep be going for another couple of years until I can do another complete rebuild.

[Colorblinded]

Computer name: Monolith (when you see the case design it makes sense)
CPU: Intel Q9450
Cooler: Noctua U12F
Mobo: Asus P5K Pro
GPU: nVidia 7950GT (I don't game much and it's done what little gaming I needed so far!) with a Zalman cooler, I forget which
RAM: 4x2gb Corsair DDR2 800 RAM
Hard drives:1x WD 7200RPM 160GB single platter OS drive
Seagate 400GB data drive
2x400GB WD in RAID 1 for photos
removable 400GB which i keep away from my home for more photo backups
2x320GB external enclosure for additional backups and other stuff
Optical: 2x NEC Optiarc 18x DVD RW drives
PSU:Corsair 520HX 520 watt PSU
OS: Vista Ultimate SP1 64 bit
Case: Lian-Li PC-V1100 B Plus II
Display: Dell 2007W and 2005W 20" widescreen LCDs
Speakers: Audioengine A2
IO: Microsoft natural keyboard, Wacom Intuos3 6x11
Photo related: Capture One 4, PS CS3, Sandisk Extreme IV Firewire 800 card reader, ColorVision Spyder 2

Other: my aging but still perfectly functional APC UPS

The system was upgraded from a dual core E6600 with 4GB RAM to this current configuration in June when the price on dual cores were at a point I was happy with. I figure I'll get bored in 2-3 years and upgrade if need or want hasn't driven me to do so sooner (hopefully it won't!)

New laptop is a Thinkpad T400 which I got a few weeks ago.

[Michael_Lambert]

Case
Cooler Master HAF 932 Full Tower ATX Case

Power Supply
Corsair HX Series CMPSU-620HX 620W ATX Triple Power Supply 120MM Fan 12V 50A Continuous 24PIN ATX Modular

Mother board - Asus P5N-D

CPU - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Processor BX80562Q6600 - 2.40GHz, 8MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB, Kentsfield, Quad-Core, Retail, Socket 775

Memory - Corsair XMS2 QUAD2X4096-6400C5DHX Matched Pairs 4GB Kit (4x1GB) PC6400 DDR2-800 CL 5-5-5-15 240-pin Dual Channel DHX Memory

Video card - 2 x BFG Navidia 8500GT 512 meg running in SLR

Hard Drives-

- Running RAID 0 - 2 x Western Digital VelociRaptor (WD1500HLFS) 150GB SATA 10000RPM 16MB Cache
- 1 x Western Digital Caviar Black (WD1001FALS) 1000GB SATAII 7200RPM 32MB Cache

External Hardrives

- 2 x Seagate FreeAgent Pro 750GB ( storage mirroing them for storage)
- 1 x Seagate FreeAgent Pro 750GB ( Used to store the ISO Images of both my OS hardrive and my Storage drive ) kept at my office backing up the ISO files weekly.

I/O Devices

- Lite On DH-401S Blu-Ray ROM SATA
- LG G-H20L-S10 /Black SATA LightScribe DVD-Writer 20xDVD+R/-R 8xDVD+RW/6x DVD-RW 12xDVD+/-R9 Dual Layer 48xCD-R 32xCD-RW

Monitor

-LG W2242TQ-BF, 22" Widescreen LCD, 2ms (G to G), 8000:1
- Datacolor Spyder3 Elite

Software
( Found this to be the hardest, as no one seemed to stock what i wanted )

- Windows Vista Ultimate 64Bit.
- Microsoft Home office 2007
- Adobe Photoshop CS3 ( Only because i bought the 1d Mark III )
- Adobe Lightroom 2.0

[TheReal7]

Here is mine:



At least that is what it feels like some days LOL.

[Motley]

Originally Posted by TheReal7

Here is mine:


At least that is what it feels like some days LOL.

Awesome! LOL'd

[Sfordphoto]

Originally Posted by BottomBracket

Awesome, I am glad we have some PC builders here. Great photo Motley, I should take a photo of my rig and post it here. Nice cable management by the way.

Looks like my ATI rig is outnumbered by Nvidia 3:1!

hehe. most of my recent cards have been nvidia (6600GT, 7800GT, 8800GTS) but if I were to buy right now, it'd prob be the ATi 4850. Not sure what the GPU scene looks like right now...it's changing every week practically

here are some comparisons of parts...

video cards, past and present


2005FPW 20" Ultrasharp left, 3007WFP-HC 30" Ultrasharp right

[equetefue]

System Informations - SPAWN

CPU: E6600 @ 3.6ghz
Motherboard: Asus Maximus Formula
Graphics Card: EVGA 8800 GTS 640mhz
Memory: Mushkin EM2's 8gb total
Hard Drive: 2x150gb Raptors- RAID 0 + Server
Optical Drive: 2x Samsung Lightdrives
Power Supply: OCZ Gamersxtreme 600W
Display: Samsung 226BW
Case: Modded Thermaltake Armor
Sound Card: X-Fi XtremeGamer
Speakers: Monsoon Flat Panels
Mouse: Logitech Mx-518
Mouse pad: Wacom Tablet
Keyboard: Logitech G15
Operating System: Windows Vista Ultimate x64 +Windows XP Pro x32
CoolingCPU: D-Tek Fuzion Waterblock, MCR-220 Radiator, EK250 Reservoir
Temps: 25c @ idle /44c @ load
Case Fans : 2x90mm, 1x120mm Delta Fan (82CFM), 250mm Side fan
Other: Dtek Pro-mount and 2x Delta 82cfm Radiator fans

SpeedsCPU
Stock: 2.4ghz
Overclocked: 3.60ghz
Memory
Stock: DDR800 @400mhz
Memory - Timings
Stock: 5-5-5-18 2T
Graphics Card - Core
Stock: 500
Overclocked: 513
Graphics Card - Memory
Stock: 640
Overclocked: 792
Benchmarks3DMark05: 18,447
3DMark06: 10,643
AquaMark3: 184,933
Super Pi: 13.844 Sec
Other:CyberPower 1285Watt UPS

[Sfordphoto]

Originally Posted by equetefue

System Informations - SPAWN

CPU: E6600 @ 3.6ghz
Motherboard: Asus Maximus Formula
Graphics Card: EVGA 8800 GTS 640mhz
Memory: Mushkin EM2's 8gb total
Hard Drive: 2x150gb Raptors- RAID 0 + Server
Optical Drive: 2x Samsung Lightdrives
Power Supply: OCZ Gamersxtreme 600W
Display: Samsung 226BW
Case: Modded Thermaltake Armor
Sound Card: X-Fi XtremeGamer
Speakers: Monsoon Flat Panels
Mouse: Logitech Mx-518
Mouse pad: Wacom Tablet
Keyboard: Logitech G15
Operating System: Windows Vista Ultimate x64 +Windows XP Pro x32
CoolingCPU: D-Tek Fuzion Waterblock, MCR-220 Radiator, EK250 Reservoir
Temps: 25c @ idle /44c @ load
Case Fans : 2x90mm, 1x120mm Delta Fan (82CFM), 250mm Side fan
Other: Dtek Pro-mount and 2x Delta 82cfm Radiator fans

SpeedsCPU
Stock: 2.4ghz
Overclocked: 3.60ghz
Memory
Stock: DDR800 @400mhz
Memory - Timings
Stock: 5-5-5-18 2T
Graphics Card - Core
Stock: 500
Overclocked: 513
Graphics Card - Memory
Stock: 640
Overclocked: 792
Benchmarks3DMark05: 18,447
3DMark06: 10,643
AquaMark3: 184,933
Super Pi: 13.844 Sec
Other:CyberPower 1285Watt UPS

youre a big fan of those stickers

[Motley]

Some nice sytems here. Looks like I have the highest OC at 4.05Ghz ha!

Nvidia just released the 280GTX, but ya ATI has comparible cards too right now, which is surprising, they are usually 6 months behind, but ever since AMD took over... they've been on the bandwagon again.