System for bioinformatics

F

furor

New Member
Hi all,

I'm new here and hoping for your input.

I have a budget of €1800 (about 2210 USD) for a laptop (€800) and a desktop (€1000/ $1227).
The laptop would be for general office stuff and some statistics, presentations, ...
The desktop is required for bioinformatics, heavy calculations, ... and will be a double boot with Windows and Linux. I need sufficient storage space.

Now, since my university has a contract with Dell, I ended up with this configuration:

Dell™ Precision™ T1600 workstation

OS Windows® 7 Professional (64-bits)
RAM 16GB (4x4GB) 1333MHz DDR3 Non-ECC
HDD1 250 GB 3,5"
HDD2 1 TB 3,5"
CPU Intel® Xeon® E3-1225 (Quad Core, 3.1GHz, 6MB, 2GT)


Now, I don't feel I'd need a Xeon processor, it won't be running day and night, just occasionally some intensive calculations for at most a couple of hours (of course, needs might change). And I feel you don't get a lot for that money, probably paying for the name and unnecessary services too.

So I was looking for putting my system together myself and came up with the following configuration:

motherboard ASUS P8Z77-V Pro
cpu i7 3770
cpu cooler scythe mugen 2 rev
case Antec Sonata 500W (or alternatives)
a plain DVD writer
RAM Corsair 16GB DDR3 (1600MHz - 11-11-11-30 - 2x8GB)
HDD Seagate barracuda 1 TB (twice)

I wouldn't need a separate video card since graphics should be integrated in the motherboard, right?
Other options?
Did I forget something?
I was wondering if replacnig one HDD with a SDD would be worth it? (especially doubting about the longevity of it)

Which system would you prefer?

Thanks in advance.
 
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If I may suggest anything: go for the Ivy Bridge motherboard and get the Intel i7 3770K, it's much more efficient then 2600K. For the same money, you'll get more performance.
 
mr.doom said:
If I may suggest anything: go for the Ivy Bridge motherboard and get the Intel i7 3770K, it's much more efficient then 2600K. For the same money, you'll get more performance.
Click to expand...

Oops, 2600k was meant to be i7 3770, selected the wrong column :o

So, the conifguration is good and better than the Dell option?

The ASUS P8Z77-V Pro does work with the i7 3770, right?

edit: as it's been 3 years since I assembled my first pc, and I since then have lost track of the changes, this system is fit for 64 bit linux based programs, right? (currently still working with XP :) )
 
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furor said:
Oops, 2600k was meant to be i7 3770, selected the wrong column :o

So, the conifguration is good and better than the Dell option?

The ASUS P8Z77-V Pro does work with the i7 3770, right?

edit: as it's been 3 years since I assembled my first pc, and I since then have lost track of the changes, this system is fit for 64 bit linux based programs, right? (currently still working with XP :) )
Click to expand...

Yes, Asus P8Z77-V will work with 3770 (as it is Z77 chipset) and yes it will run 64 bit linux of any version too :) I think this configuration is sound and it gives you a bit of headroom (if you will need more power, then you can easily overclock the processor).
 
Looks like a good setup. A couple of suggestions.

Since you're getting an aftermarket CPU cooler, do you plan on overclocking? If so, get the 3770k.

Kind of slow timing on the RAM. Get a 4x4GB set and save some money:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313283

I'd get a different case. Antec is good, but doesn't supply real specs for the power supply. Here's a case and power supply that'll work:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256061
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146078

Why not get a 2TB drive instead of two separate drives?

An SSD is nice for a boot drive and other applications. And they're not that expensive. Here's a 120GB model for not that much:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227812

I say its worth it. And it'll probably last just as long as a regular drive, if not longer.

You will also need a copy of Windows 7 unless you already have an unused key or a retail version.
 
Thanks for the input, guys!

Actually I was wondering if 4*4 GB would be better than 2*8 GB RAM.

I have a Scythe Mugen myself, and since the stock coolers are crap, why not use the "best"? :)

Yeah, a 2 TB + SSD C-drive would be more interesting, indeed. I just wasn't confident about the durability, since I haven't been following hardware progressions the last 3 years.


Any alternatives for the motherboard?

So it's definetely better than the Dell set-up?
Thanks and regards!
 
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My suggestion for a good board would be the Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H, would be better than that ASUS one you were looking at I reckon,

4x4GB is what I have, it's cheaper than 2x8GB but if you want to go to 32GB then you'll hve to replace all of your DIMMs - be aware too that with full height DIMMs in every RAM bay installing an aftermarket cooler can be a pest, luckily the RAM Claptonman suggested should fit easily underneath your cooler.

As for the SSD, I'd get a Samsung 830. :)
 
furor said:
Would it be interesting to add a graphical card for extra memory for calculations?
Click to expand...

Probably not, most of the calculating would be done by the CPU I imagine, unless the software you use to work out the calculations takes advantage of a GPU/graphics card too.
 
Would it be advisable to save something on the motherboard? Do I need the suggested version or could I save some money by going with e.g. ASUS P8Z77-V or ASUS P8Z77-V LE, ... ?

What would be a major reason NOT to do so?

ABout case and PSU: what do you think of

Sharkoon T9 value

OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W

(as the suggestions are not available here)


Lastly, is 120 GB of SSD lage enough for a Windows 7/Ubuntu double boot?
Other SSD suggestions? (A-Data, OCZ?)
 
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Ok, except for the SSD, the configuration is complete:

Intel i7 3770
ASUS P8Z77 V Pro
WD 20EARX 2 TB HDD
Sharkoon T9 Black Edition
OCZ*ModXStream Pro 500W
Corsair XMS3 1600 16 GB (4*4 GB)
LG GH24NS90 DVD RW
Scythe Mugen2 rev B


SSD


Still doubting about the motherboard, though.
 
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