Building an office comp on a Dell Precision 690 platform

Hey Gang,

I decided to stop lurking and join up finally. Happy to be here!

I did some looking around for insight into Dell Precisions...and I expected not much since, well it's a dell...but

I use a Dell Precision 350 at work, and since it's coming up on it's 4 year rotation I've been asked to build a new Precision 690 to replace it. I've been given almost carte blanche (within reason) as to what goes in it...so you could figure I have about 3k - 3500 to spend on a rig.

I'm fairly familiar with the parts and components of a home/entertainment system...not so much a business rig (several of the options on the online builder confused me slightly).

The computer is really nothing more than my user workstation. It won't function as an independent server, it won't be required to do above average graphic rendering (for work purposes) etc. Basically as a work computer, it need only be just above average to function across the board. The only thing I'd like it to excel in is simultaneous task processing power.

That said, I still have a hefty budget for it, so my real question is~ Where should I prioritize funds to optimize this for gaming power?

Processor
I have the option of 1 or 2 of the following processors.

Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5060 3.20GHz, 2 X 2MB L2,1066
Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5160 3.00GHz, 4MB L2,1333
Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5150 2.66GHz, 4MB L2,1333
Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5140 2.33GHz, 4MB L2,1333
Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5130 2.00GHz, 4MB L2,1333
Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5120 1.86GHz, 4MB L2,1066
Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5110 1.60GHz, 4MB L2,1066
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5320 1.86GHz, 2 X 4MB L2,1066
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5355 2.66GHz, 2 X 4MB L2,1333
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5345 2.33GHz, 2 X 4MB L2,1333

Memory
all DDR2 FBD, ECC. ranging from 2 to 64 gigs.
I think 4gig ram 667MHz spread over 4 dimms would be the most logical choice unless somebody thinks otherwise...

Graphics
Ok this is where I'm the most lost...I'm using an old ATi fire GL card in my current dual monitor setup.

SLI config w/ 2 X512MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX4500 cards in graphic riser [add $2,408.00]

Quad MON config w/ 2X 512MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX4500 in riser [add $2,408.00]

Quad MON config w/ 2X 256MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX 3500 cards in riser [add $1,513.00]

Quad MON config w/ 2X 256MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX 3450 cards in riser [add $1,065.00]

Quad MON config w/ 2X 128MB PCIe x16 nVidia NVS285 in riser, Quad DVI/VGA [add $260.00]

512MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX 4500, Dual DVI or Dual VGA or DVI + VGA [add $1,289.00]

256MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX 3500, Dual DVI or Dual VGA or DVI + VGA [add $729.00]

256MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX 3450, Dual DVI or Dual VGA or DVI + VGA [add $461.00]

256MB PCIe x16 ATI FireGL V7200, Dual DVI or Dual VGA or DVI + VGA [add $640.00]

128MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX550, Dual VGA or Dual DVI or DVI + VGA [add $58.00]

128MB PCIe x16 ATI FireGL V3400, Dual DVI or Dual VGA or DVI + VGA [add $58.00]

128MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro NVS 285, Dual DVI or Dual VGA Capable [Included in Price]

As long as I can come up with performance thats comparable to the new GeForce 8800, that would be enough for me. The top option just looks insane...

I can probably come up with a hard drive scheme on my own, but the processor and graphics I'm not so sure on. If anybody can give me some pointers it'd be much appreciated! The system can be built on Dell's website under government sales.

Thanks in advance for any insight

Nos

The first question that everyone is going to ask is "What do you do?"

If you do solidworks proE autocad, then you are going to need a good processor and graphics card.

If you to lots of excel work, you won't need much more than your standard computer.

If you can give us some more insight as to the tasks that this machine is expected to perform, we would be able to help you taylor a machine that will do the job.

Otherwise be prepared to receive reccomendations to get the fastest of everything, but with no basis for that decision.

*edit* doh! He beat me to it

Your not going to get the gaming performance of a 8800 GTX with profesional graphics cards, if you really don't need that for your job (say the employer lets you game all day after you finish up your work umm if your local and thats the case shoot me a PM J/K )

If you don't need the GFX's for your work tasks and you have to configure a workstation.. you could always use rivertuner and load up a compatable gaming driver to the perfessional card

This is when it helps for your employeer to know what there buying, sounds like government spending to me

Nosifer said:

Hey Gang,
Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5130 2.00GHz, 4MB L2,1333


Memory2GB
Graphics
Ok this is where I'm the most lost...I'm using an old ATi fire GL card in my current dual monitor setup.

SLI config w/ 2 X512MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX4500 cards in graphic riser [add $2,408.00]

Quad MON config w/ 2X 512MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX4500 in riser [add $2,408.00]

Quad MON config w/ 2X 256MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX 3500 cards in riser [add $1,513.00]

Quad MON config w/ 2X 256MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX 3450 cards in riser [add $1,065.00]

Quad MON config w/ 2X 128MB PCIe x16 nVidia NVS285 in riser, Quad DVI/VGA [add $260.00]

512MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX 4500, Dual DVI or Dual VGA or DVI + VGA [add $1,289.00]

256MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX 3500, Dual DVI or Dual VGA or DVI + VGA [add $729.00]

256MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX 3450, Dual DVI or Dual VGA or DVI + VGA [add $461.00]

256MB PCIe x16 ATI FireGL V7200, Dual DVI or Dual VGA or DVI + VGA [add $640.00]

128MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX550, Dual VGA or Dual DVI or DVI + VGA [add $58.00]

128MB PCIe x16 ATI FireGL V3400, Dual DVI or Dual VGA or DVI + VGA [add $58.00]

128MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro NVS 285, Dual DVI or Dual VGA Capable [Included in Price]

As long as I can come up with performance thats comparable to the new GeForce 8800, that would be enough for me. The top option just looks insane...

I can probably come up with a hard drive scheme on my own, but the processor and graphics I'm not so sure on. If anybody can give me some pointers it'd be much appreciated! The system can be built on Dell's website under government sales.

Thanks in advance for any insight

Nos

Click to expand...

then it dpends on what you use it fort what kind of wortk.

Thanks for the replies,

Aye, I should have specified a bit more what kind of job the computer will be doing. Aside from non-intensive office busywork (outlook, excel, access, a couple of remote desktops open + VNC, etc)
I also:
- manipulate several servers on a farm (remote desktops)
- reconstruct GPS video trails from raw data on a storage server
- create training videos with Camtasia
- cut, edit, polish, and enhance security camera and police vehicle video records for use in court
- use photoshop a fair amount (to put my boss's head on dilbert cartoons)
- run several homemade .NET programs that use the MySQL back end

but all that aside...what I really want it to do well is...uh..play counterstrike

So if this Dell Precision can run a clean game of Neverwinter Nights 2, while I have itunes, dvdfab, and my GPS tracker running...then I'll be good to go!

I'm wise to the obvious that higher numbers = higher price tag for both the processors and graphics cards. But I was confused on how these professional cards and processors worked as far as dual core; quad core etc... like how does a quad core xenon 1.86 compare to a dual core 3.2? I'm still trying to find write-ups~
Btw, the rig will almost for sure run dual DVI monitors

Thats some decent work to be done by the rig... You can justify a lot of power in there to your boss. I mean its only his signature, not his money right?
I dont quite see any need for more than 3 monitors though... But thats just me.

I would go for 4-8gb of memory across 4 sticks.
I would go for one or two of the Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5160 3.00GHz, 4MB L2,1333 But i dont know if you will be able to upgrade this at all over the next four years. I would shoot for a total of 4 cores though. A lot will change in four years... Build it to be as time proof as you can.


Can you run multiple displays with SLI yet?? -- Might want to keep that in mind.
I wish i knew something about the quadro cards to advise you on the video thing.