Hardware question - PC building [slightly off topic]

[jeromg]

Hi DCers,

I know this is not a software question, but since DC is the community I trust the most, I'm asking anyway...

I'm thinking about building my main PC at home, I want it to be a high-end type of machine that could also be used as a storage space for the household.

I'm looking for good sources of inspiration about a potential machine. I'm a great fan of ArsTechnica building guides for this purpose but their guides get updated once or twice a year now. And I'd also like advice from reliable sources (not individual preferences).
To give an idea, I'm considering an IvyBridge based system, 16Gb RAM (so I can run a couple of VMs on it), a dual-SSD (Raid0) for the system and probably a Raid6 area of 4 x 2Tb disks for storage.

Any pointer to reliable sources of inspiration will be warmly welcome!

Cheers  /jerome

[Curt]

My Super PC is still being updated regularly

http://www.mysuperpc.com/
http://forums.mysuperpc.com/

I visit from time to time because I am a curious person, but I don't build computers myself, so my recommendation is from other people's hints, not from personal experience.

[jeromg]

Thanks Curt, I'll keep you posted

[tslim]

To give an idea, I'm considering an IvyBridge based system, 16Gb RAM (so I can run a couple of VMs on it), a dual-SSD (Raid0) for the system and probably a Raid6 area of 4 x 2Tb disks for storage.

Any pointer to reliable sources of inspiration will be warmly welcome!

Cheers  /jerome

I think creating a RAID 0 with two SSD won't do any good... particularly if you are aiming at better storage speed.
Get SSD that supports SATA6 and a mobo that is SATA6 capable.

For CPU, if you are getting anything lower than i7, then at least pick one which provides good single-thread application performance. I remember ArsTechnica has a good performance chart of comparison for this.
Till today, I only found few programs that are highly boosted (in performance) by making good use of multi-cores. (The best player in my PC is Total Uninstall - this program makes ultimate use of multi-cores)

I recall, in my last shopping for my dreamed PC, I have had difficulty in finding a good keyboard... one with a big fat [ENTER] key, so that I can hit it hard quickly...

[4wd]

My Super PC is still being updated regularly....

I'm not sure it is, eg. I get "The URL has moved here" on the Newegg links and some of those links that say:

Clicking the link takes you directly...

don't at all - they take you via third-party sites or use affiliate links.

eg. Crucial = http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-862686-10273954?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crucial.com%2Fstore%2Faffiliateredirect.asp%3Fimodule%3DBLT2KIT4G3D1608DT1TX0%26aid%3D10273954%26cid%3D777292%26subid%3D890%26PRS%3Duscj&cjsku=BLT2KIT4G3D1608DT1TX0

Can you really trust someone who doesn't know the difference between direct and non-direct and doesn't mention that he may get money from you clicking on them?

BTW, the only two direct links on the page seem to be the one to the forums and the one for 2BrightSparks, (SyncBack).

[Stoic Joker]

I think creating a RAID 0 with two SSD won't do any good... particularly if you are aiming at better storage speed.
Get SSD that supports SATA6 and a mobo that is SATA6 capable.

+1 for this, SSD RAID 0 is/would be a bad idea (and I'm a huge fan of RAID)