PcHardware

DAQ PC Configurations

Standard components

Fans

• 4pin PWM 120mm fan:
  • http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=24331&vpn=ACF12PWM&manufacture=Arctic%20Cooling
  • http://www.ncix.com/detail/noctua-nf-s12a-pwm-120mm-ultra-7e-79672.htm
• 3pin/molex+tachometer ball bearing 120mm fan (low noise):
  • http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=35020&vpn=D1225C12B5AP-15&manufacture=Scythe&promoid=1268

Power supplies

Power supply requirements:

• 120mm cooling fan (longer life, better air flow vs small fans)
• ActivePFC (no 110/220V switch, high power factor required for use with UPSes)
• 4 or more SATA power connectors

• high power: Antec Neo Eco 450C 450W http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=60491&vpn=NEO-ECO450C&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1210
• high power: Antec EA-430 Green http://ncix.ca/products/?sku=69575&vpn=EA-430%20Green&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1305
• low power: Seasonic SS-350ET 350W http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=75778&vpn=SS-350ET-1YR&manufacture=Seasonic%20Electronics and http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=30144&vpn=SS-350ET&manufacture=Seasonic%20Electronics

SSD

• Kingston V200, V200+, V300 - 60GB, 120GB

Obsolete items

• 3pin/molex ball bearing 120mm fan (no PWM): http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=18432&vpn=PRO%20120MM%20DBB&manufacture=Antec

Version 2014-May-07 Reduced cost PC (Preliminary)

• this replaces the specs for the E-350/E-450 reduced cost PC
• total price around $235 + RAM ($190) + SSD ($75) = $500
• Mobo: ASUS AM1M-A - http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AM1MA http://www.ncix.com/detail/asus-am1m-a-matx-am1-ddr3-47-96120.htm
• CPU: AMD Athlon 5350 2GHz - http://www.ncix.com/detail/amd-athlon-5350-am1-2-0ghz-ef-95079-1308.htm
• RAM: cheapest DDR3-1600 2x8GB or 4x8GB kit - http://www.ncix.com/detail/g-skill-ripjawsz-f3-12800cl10q-32gbzl-32gb-4x8gb-dc-65663.htm
• Case: MicroATX with provision for side-mounted 120mm fan - http://www.ncix.com/detail/fractal-design-core-1000-matx-54-81159.htm http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352032
• Power supply: Cheapest with 120mm fan and active PFC - http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=30144&vpn=SS-350ET&manufacture=Seasonic%20Electronics
• Cooling fan: extra-long-life 120mm PWM fan - http://www.ncix.com/detail/noctua-nf-s12a-pwm-120mm-ultra-7e-79672.htm
• Storage: Kingston 120GB SSD - http://www.ncix.com/detail/kingston-ssdnow-v300-120gb-2-5in-8c-78078-1078.htm

Version 2014-JAN-14 Intel Socket 1150 (Preliminary)

• Mobo: ASUS Z87 WS http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z87WS/#specifications http://www.ncix.com/detail/asus-motherboard-z87-ws-core-i7-i5-i3-ca-2222138415.htm
• CPU: Intel i7-4770 http://ark.intel.com/products/75122/Intel-Core-i7-4770-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-3_90-GHz http://products.ncix.com/detail/intel-core-i7-4770-quad-core-3-4ghz-processor-lga1150-haswell-8mb-cache-retail-86-81326.htm
• Case1: Antec Sonata III 500: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=24294&vpn=SONATA%20III%20500&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1285
• Case2: Antec Sonata Proto (no power supply) http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=52550&vpn=SONATA%20PROTO&manufacture=Antec, add high power power supply from list above.
• SSD storage: see list above, okey to use mSATA SSD in the mSATA slot (remember to move the jumper switch per mobo manual).
• Storage: 2x 4TB in fully mirrored (RAID1) configuration: (use cheapest available 4TB disks)
• RAM: 1 (32GB) kit of 4x8GB DDR3-1600 RAM : http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=65663&vpn=F3-12800CL10Q-32GBZL&manufacture=G%2ESkill
• Video card: none, using Intel on-CPU video
• replacement for stock cooling fans, 2 per computer (1 rear case fan, 1 front disk drive fan, mount for air flow back to front of computer - rear fan pushes air into computer, front fan pushes air into hard disk enclosure, out of computer; remove stock Sonata3 fan, remove front air filter, duck-tape closed all rear and side case openings - except for rear fan intake and front fan exhaust through front panel louvers) : for fans, use PWM or non-PWM fans from list above.
• gotcha: the 4-pin fan headers do not provide PWM fan control (see mobo manual - pwm pin is hardwired to +5V) - use non-PWM fans (3-pin connector). The 4-pin fan header CPU_OPT has PWM control - connect a PWM fan (4-pin connector) - but it will run at same speed as the main CPU fan.

Version 2014-MAY-8 Intel Socket 2011

• High end machine with 64 GB RAM max, total price: $1100 + RAM ($370/32GB) + storage ($400 for 2x4TB disks) = $1900
• Mobo: ASUS P9X79 WS (dual-Intel GigE): http://www.asus.com/ca-en/Motherboards/P9X79_WS/#specifications http://ca.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_2011/P9X79_WS/#specifications http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=66066&vpn=P9X79%20WS&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1259
• CPU: Intel i7-4820k: http://products.ncix.com/detail/intel-core-i7-4820k-quad-core-3-7ghz-3-9ghz-turbo-10mb-hyperthreading-lga2011-processor-no-hsf-e2-89509-1019.htm
• CPU cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo (very high profile, fits the Sonata case) http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=64385
• CPU cooler for rackmounted use: (NOTE: this cooler is very low profile and obstructs some memory slots) http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=67626&vpn=SCBSK-2100&manufacture=Scythe
• Case: Antec Sonata III 500: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=24294&vpn=SONATA%20III%20500&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1285
• SSD storage (system disk only, no data storage): use cheapest available Kingston V100 or V200 SSD size 32GB or bigger : http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=65084&vpn=SV100S2%2F32G&manufacture=Kingston http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=67531&vpn=SVP200S3%2F60G&manufacture=Kingston&promoid=1230
• Storage: 2x 3TB in fully mirrored (RAID1) configuration: (use cheapest available 3TB disks) http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=62178&vpn=WD30EZRX&manufacture=Western%20Digital%20WD
• Storage: 2x 4TB in fully mirrored (RAID1) configuration: (use cheapest available 4TB disks): http://www.ncix.com/detail/western-digital-green-4tb-sata3-b3-90788-1078.htm
• RAM: 1 (32GB) or 2 (64GB) kits of 4x8GB DDR3-1600 RAM : http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=65663&vpn=F3-12800CL10Q-32GBZL&manufacture=G%2ESkill
• Video card: PCIe VGA+DVI+HDMI fan-less: http://products.ncix.com/detail/asus-geforce-gt-610-fanless-810mhz-2gb-1200mhz-gddr3-dvi-hdmi-vga-pci-e-video-card-73-75560.htm
• replacement for stock cooling fans, 2 per computer (1 rear case fan, 1 front disk drive fan, mount for air flow back to front of computer - rear fan pushes air into computer, front fan pushes air into hard disk enclosure, out of computer; remove stock Sonata3 fan, remove front air filter, duck-tape clkosed all rear and side case openings - except for rear fan intake and front fan exhaust through front panel louvers) : for fans, use PWM or non-PWM fans from list above.

Version 2012-OCT-4 AMD-E450 reduced cost PC (PRELIMINARY)

• mobo+cpu combo: ASUS E45M1-M PRO 1.6GHz dual core: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=76096&vpn=E45M1-M%20PRO&manufacture=ASUS, http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131875
• case: MicroATX mini tower, no ATX P.S.: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352009, http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=58341&vpn=FD-CA-CORE-1000-BL&manufacture=Fractal%20Design
• power supply: low power power supply from list above
• ram: use single 4GB DDR3-1333 memory module (buy cheapest available)
• cooling fan: use 120mm 4pin PWM fan from list above
• boot disk: (USB Flash) Patriot RageXT 16GB USB: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=54556&vpn=PEF16GRUSB&manufacture=Patriot&promoid=1370, http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=111127636&vpn=PEF16GRUSB&manufacture=Patriot
• boot disk: (SSD) use SSD from list above

Version 2011-SEP-05 AMD-E350 reduced cost PC

• mobo+cpu combo: ASUS E35M1-M PRO 1.6GHz dual core: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=59256&vpn=E35M1-M%20PRO&manufacture=ASUS
• case: MicroATX mini tower, no ATX P.S.: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352009, http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=58341&vpn=FD-CA-CORE-1000-BL&manufacture=Fractal%20Design
• power supply: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=30144&vpn=SS-350ET&manufacture=Seasonic%20Electronics
• ram: use single 4GB DDR3-1333 memory module (buy cheapest available)
• cooling fan (use 120mm 4pin PWM fan): http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=24331&vpn=ACF12PWM&manufacture=Arctic%20Cooling
• boot disk: Patriot RageXT 16GB USB: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=54556&vpn=PEF16GRUSB&manufacture=Patriot&promoid=1370

Version 2011-OCT-31 Intel Socket 1366

• Mobo: ASUS P6X58-E WS (NOTE: only PCIe slots - no PCI slots at all!!!): http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=2222110300&vpn=P6X58-E%20WS&manufacture=ASUS%20TeK also http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131715
• CPU: Intel i7-960: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=51240&vpn=BX80601960&manufacture=Intel
• Case: Antec Sonata III: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=24294&vpn=SONATA%20III%20500&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1285
• Hard drive: 2x 2TB in fully mirrored (RAID1) configuration: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=49591&vpn=WD20EARS&manufacture=Western%20Digital%20WD&promoid=1285
• RAM: 1 or 2 kits of 3x4GB=12GB: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=55545&vpn=998770&manufacture=Mushkin%20Enhanced
• Video card: PCIe VGA+DVI+HDMI MSI GeForce 210 (silent, no fan): http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=57604&vpn=N210-MD512D3H%2FLP&manufacture=MSI%2FMicroStar
• enhanced cooling fans, 2 per computer: (ball bearing 120mm high CFM air flow fan): 1 rear case fan, 1 front disk drive fan, mount for air flow back to front of computer (rear fan pushes air into computer, front fan pushes air into hard disk enclosure, out of computer; remove stock Sonata3 fan): http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=18432&vpn=PRO%20120MM%20DBB&manufacture=Antec

Version 2011-FEB-08 Intel Socket 1366

• Mobo: ASUS P6X58D Premium: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=46706&vpn=P6X58D%20Premium&manufacture=ASUS
• CPU: Intel i7-950: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=39590&vpn=BX80601950&manufacture=Intel
• RAM: 1 or 2 kits of 3x4GB=12GB: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=55545&vpn=998770&manufacture=Mushkin%20Enhanced
• Case: Antec Sonata III: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=24294&vpn=SONATA%20III%20500&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1285
• Video card: PCIe VGA+DVI+HDMI MSI GeForce 210 (silent, no fan): http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=49482&vpn=N210-MD512H&manufacture=MSI%2FMicroStar
• Hard drive: 2x 2TB in fully mirrored (RAID1) configuration: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=49591&vpn=WD20EARS&manufacture=Western%20Digital%20WD&promoid=1285

Version 2010-May-13 Intel Socket 1156

• Antec Sonata III computer case: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=24294&vpn=SONATA%20III%20500&manufacture=Antec
• ASUS P7P55D EVO motherboard (no longer available): http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=43119&vpn=P7P55D%20EVO&manufacture=ASUS
• Intel i7-860 CPU: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42498&vpn=BX80605I7860&manufacture=Intel
• DDR3 memory 2x4GB=8GB kit: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=52468&vpn=OCZ3G1333LV8GK&manufacture=OCZ%20Technology
• MSI video card: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=49482&vpn=N210-MD512H&manufacture=MSI%2FMicroStar
• 2TB hard disk: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=49591&vpn=WD20EARS&manufacture=Western%20Digital%20WD

Version X Intel Socket 775

• mobo: ASUS P5B-VM
• CPU: Intel dual core 2.4 GHz
• RAM: DDR2-800
• SATA disks

Version X AMD AM2/AM3

• mobo: ASUS Crosshair and Crosshair II
• CPU: assorted multicore socket AM2/AM3 CPU
• RAM: DDR2-800

Version X AMD Socket 939

• mobo: ASUS A8N-E
• CPU: AMD assorted socket 939 1-2 core CPUs
• RAM: DDR400 UDIMMs up to 4x1GB=4GB total
• up to 4x SATA disks

Version X AMD Dual Socket 940

• mobo: assorted supermicro, asus, msi
• CPU: AMD Opteron Socket 940 assorted speed grades
• RAM: registered and registered+ECC DDR400

Version X AMD Dual Socket A

• mobo: ASUS A7M266-D
• CPU: dual Athlon-MP 1.8-2.2 GHz
• RAM: DDR266

Version X Intel Dual Pentium3

• mobo: ASUS CUV4X-D
• CPU: dual Pentium3 1GHz
• RAM: SDR133

Version X Intel Dual Pentium2 ISA

• mobo: ASUS P2B-D
• CPU: dual slot Pentium2 400-800 MHz
• RAM: SDR100, SDR133