Computer Specs 101 - 2007-04

[Praetor]

$1100

• Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 [Conroe, 2.40, 4MB, 1066, BX80557E6600] ($308.00)
• Super Talent 2GB PC2-5400 [2x1GB, [email protected]] ($99.99)
• Super Talent 2GB PC2-5400 [2x1GB, [email protected]] ($99.99)
• Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250620AS (250GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular) ($69.99)
• Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250620AS (250GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular) ($69.99)
• Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250620AS (250GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular) ($69.99)
• MSI NX6200LE-TD128EH GeForce 6200LE 128MB ($33.99)
• NEC 7170A-0B ($30.99)
• Scythe Mine SCMN-1100 (43cfm, 22db) ($32.99)
• ASUS P5B-E [i965P, ICH8R] ($145.99)
• Spire SwordFin SP-9007B Case ($54.99)
• Xclio StablePower [500W, 12V@18+16, 20+4] ($69.99)
  $1086.89

Here the extra funds go to a motherboard upgrade and to switch to a dedicated power-supply configuration

 

[Praetor]

$1200

• Super Talent 2GB PC2-5400 [2x1GB, [email protected]] ($99.99)
• Super Talent 2GB PC2-5400 [2x1GB, [email protected]] ($99.99)
• Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250620AS (250GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular) ($69.99)
• Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250620AS (250GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular) ($69.99)
• Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250620AS (250GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular) ($69.99)
• MSI NX6200LE-TD128EH GeForce 6200LE 128MB ($33.99)
• NEC 7170A-0B ($30.99)
• Antec Sonata II + 450W [12V@15+17] ($69.99 after $30.00 MIR)
• Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 [Conroe, 2.66, 4MB, 1066, BX80557E6700] ($509.00)
• ASUS P5B-E [i965P, ICH8R] ($145.99)
  $1199.91

Making some concessions we can upgrade the CPU

 

[Praetor]

$1300

• Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 [Conroe, 2.66, 4MB, 1066, BX80557E6700] ($509.00)
• ASUS P5B-E [i965P, ICH8R] ($145.99)
• NEC 7170A-0B ($30.99)
• Scythe Mine SCMN-1100 (43cfm, 22db) ($32.99)
• Spire SwordFin SP-9007B Case ($54.99)
• Super Talent 2GB PC2-5400 [2x1GB, [email protected]] ($99.99)
• Super Talent 2GB PC2-5400 [2x1GB, [email protected]] ($99.99)
• MSI NX6200LE-TD128EH GeForce 6200LE 128MB ($33.99)
• Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250620AS (250GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular) ($69.99)
• Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250620AS (250GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular) ($69.99)
• Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250620AS (250GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular) ($69.99)
• Xclio StablePower [500W, 12V@16+18] ($69.99)
  $1287.89

The extra allocation allow the E6700 to better fit the res of the spec.

 

[Praetor]

$1400

• Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 [Conroe, 2.66, 4MB, 1066, BX80557E6700] ($509.00)
• ASUS P5B-E [i965P, ICH8R] ($145.99)
• NEC 7170A-0B ($30.99)
• Scythe Mine SCMN-1100 (43cfm, 22db) ($32.99)
• Spire SwordFin SP-9007B Case ($54.99)
• Antec NeoPower NeoHE 550 [550W, 12V@18+18+18, 20+4] ($109.99)
• Super Talent 2GB PC2-5400 [2x1GB, [email protected]] ($99.99)
• Super Talent 2GB PC2-5400 [2x1GB, [email protected]] ($99.99)
• MSI NX6200LE-TD128EH GeForce 6200LE 128MB ($33.99)
• Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (320GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular) ($84.99)
• Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (320GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular) ($84.99)
• Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (320GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular) ($84.99)
  $1372.89

Not much difference over the former, as the extra allocation isnt enough to make a meaningful upgrade: did upgrade the harddrives in the RAID array

 

[Praetor]

$1500

• Scythe Mine SCMN-1100 (43cfm, 22db) ($32.99)
• Spire SwordFin SP-9007B Case ($54.99)
• Super Talent 2GB PC2-5400 [2x1GB, [email protected]] ($99.99)
• Super Talent 2GB PC2-5400 [2x1GB, [email protected]] ($99.99)
• MSI NX6200LE-TD128EH GeForce 6200LE 128MB ($33.99)
• Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250620AS (250GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular) ($69.99)
• Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250620AS (250GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular) ($69.99)
• Xclio StablePower [500W, 12V@16+18] ($69.99)
• Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 [Kentsfield, 2.40, 4MB, 1066, BX80562Q6600] ($835.00)
• Foxconn P9657AA-8EKRS2H [i965P, ICH8R] ($102.99)
• LiteOn LH-18A1P-185 ($27.99)
  $1497.90

Dropping the RAID5 we can fit a quad-core upgrade.

 

[Praetor]

$1600

• ASUS P5B-E [i965P, ICH8R] ($145.99)
• Scythe Mine SCMN-1100 (43cfm, 22db) ($32.99)
• Super Talent 2GB PC2-5400 [2x1GB, [email protected]] ($99.99)
• Super Talent 2GB PC2-5400 [2x1GB, [email protected]] ($99.99)
• MSI NX6200LE-TD128EH GeForce 6200LE 128MB ($33.99)
• Xclio StablePower [500W, 12V@16+18] ($69.99)
• Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 [Kentsfield, 2.40, 4MB, 1066, BX80562Q6600] ($835.00)
• LiteOn LH-18A1P-185 ($27.99)
• Hitachi DeskStar T7K500 HDT725032VLA360 (320GB, 7200, 16MB, NCQ) ($79.99)
• Hitachi DeskStar T7K500 HDT725032VLA360 (320GB, 7200, 16MB, NCQ) ($79.99)
• Hitachi DeskStar T7K500 HDT725032VLA360 (320GB, 7200, 16MB, NCQ) ($79.99)
  $1585.90

With a bit of shuffling, the Quadcore fits nicely with a RAID5 setup

 

[Praetor]

$1600+

• Intel Core 2 Quad Extreme QX6700 [Kentsfield, 2.66, 4MB, 1066, BX80562QX6700] ($965.00)
• ASUS P5B Deluxe./Wifi-AP ($192.99)
• OCz Platinum Rev 2 2GB PC2-6400 [2x1GB, [email protected]] ($150.99)
• OCz Platinum Rev 2 2GB PC2-6400 [2x1GB, [email protected]] ($150.99)
• Seagate Barracuda ES ST3500630NS [500GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular, Enterprise] ($179.99)
• Seagate Barracuda ES ST3500630NS [500GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular, Enterprise] ($179.99)
• Seagate Barracuda ES ST3500630NS [500GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA3.0, NCQ, Perpendicular, Enterprise] ($179.99)
• 3Ware 9650SE-12ML SATA-II RAID Controller ($749.99)
• PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad [12V@60A, 24p] ($219.99)
• MSI NX6200LE-TD128EH GeForce 6200LE 128MB ($33.99)
• Scythe Mine SCMN-1100 (43cfm, 22db) ($32.99)
• Silverstone TEMJIN SST-TJ06B-W ($141.49)
• NEC 7170A-0B ($30.99)
• NEC 7170A-0B ($30.99)
  $3240.37

Of course you can continue to spend and spend and spend (although the above is not too over the top -- although for a dedicated RAID controller, it would be better matched with a proper server configuration).

If you genuinely think you have a need for a significantly higher end system, please feel free to make a post outlining your specific requirements and hopefully I'll get around to making a custom recommendation.