PcHardware

DAQ PC Configurations

Standard components

Fans

• long life time (150'000 hrs) 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
• long life time (150'000 hrs) 3pin (non-PWM) 120mm fan:
  • http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=35020&vpn=D1225C12B5AP-15&manufacture=Scythe&promoid=1268
  • http://www.ncix.com/detail/noctua-nf-s12a-flx-120mm-ultra-b4-79670.htm

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

• SATA: Kingston V200, V200+, V300 - 60GB, 120GB
• M.2: (proposed) Kingston SSDNow M.2 2280 120GB http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104482

HDD

• disk_benchmarks

Obsolete items

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

Version 2015-NOV-17 Intel Socket 1151 (proposed)

• this is the new standard DAQ PC replacing the socket 1150 DAQ PC. Improvement: max of 64GB RAM (vs 32GB on Z87/Z97), max 2 monitors (vs 3 on Z87/Z97)
• price: mobo($400) + CPU($300) + RAM ($600 for 64GB) + SSD ($75 for 120GB) + storage ($xxx for dual mirrored 6TB) = $1500 + storage.
• Mobo: ASUS Z170-DELUXE CAD$400 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132568 https://www.asus.com/ca-en/Motherboards/Z170-DELUXE/
• CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3M Dual-Core 3.7 GHz (supports ECC RAM) http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=2MN-0004-00002 http://ark.intel.com/products/90729/Intel-Core-i3-6100-Processor-3M-Cache-3_70-GHz
• CPU: Intel Core i5-6600 6M Quad-Core 3.3 GHz (no ECC) http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117562 http://ark.intel.com/products/88188/Intel-Core-i5-6600-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_90-GHz
• CPU: Intel Core i7 4GHz requires 95W of cooling, not recommended yet in the Sonata case. Also needs 3rd party cooler.
• 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: use SSD from list above. (Possible to use "M.2 Socket 3 with M Key" SSD, see mobo manual)
• Storage: 2x 6TB in fully mirrored (RAID1) configuration: (use cheapest available NAS 6TB disks, i.e. WD "red" or "purple")
• RAM: 32GB: use cheapest kit of 2x16GB DDR4 - CAD$300 - http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231965
• RAM: 64GB: use cheapest kit of 4x16GB DDR4 - CAD$600 - http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231968
• Cooling fans: replace stock short-life-time fans with new long-life-time fans, see list above.
• Instructions for mounting cooling fans: remove stock short-life-time fans, mount replacement fans for air flow from back to front of the case: 1 rear case fan, 1 front mounted fan blowing on the hard drives. Remove front air filter, duct-tape shut all rear, side and bottom air holes - air flow should be: rear fan pushes air into computer, front fan pushes air into hard disk enclosure, out of computer through the front of the case where the air filter used to be.

Version 2014-DEC-8 Intel Socket 1150

• this is the new standard DAQ PC replacing the socket 2011 DAQ PC. Improvement: no need for external video card - this permits mounting in 2U and 3U chassis, on board support for 3 large LCD monitors, use latest Intel CPUs. Drawback: 32GB RAM max instead of 64GB RAM, dual-channel ram instead of quad-channel RAM.
• price: $840 + RAM ($370 for 32GB) + SSD ($75 for 120GB) + storage ($400 for dual mirrored 4TB) = $1700.
• Mobo: ASUS Z97 WS http://www.asus.com/ca-en/Motherboards/Z97WS http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132126
• CPU: Intel i7-4790K http://ark.intel.com/products/80807 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117369
• 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: use SSD from list above. (Possible to use "M.2 Socket 3 with M Key" SSD, see mobo manual)
• Storage: 2x 4TB in fully mirrored (RAID1) configuration: (use cheapest available 4TB disks)
• RAM: use cheapest (32GB) kit of 4x8GB DDR3-1600 RAM: http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=65663&vpn=F3-12800CL10Q-32GBZL&manufacture=G%2ESkill http://www.ncix.com/detail/g-skill-ripjawsz-f3-12800cl10q-32gbzl-32gb-4x8gb-dc-65663.htm
• Video card: none, using Intel on-CPU video
• Cooling fans: (replace stock short-life-time fans) - 2 per PC - http://www.ncix.com/detail/noctua-nf-s12a-flx-120mm-ultra-b4-79670.htm
• Instructions for mounting cooling fans: remove stock short-life-time fans, mount replacement fans for air flow from back to front of the case: 1 rear case fan, 1 front mounted fan blowing on the hard drives. Remove front air filter, duct-tape shut all rear, side and bottom air holes - air flow should be: rear fan pushes air into computer, front fan pushes air into hard disk enclosure, out of computer through the front of the case where the air filter used to be.
• (to be updated) Cooling fans note: ASUS Z87 WS motherboard requires use of non-PWM fans. The 4-pin fan headers do not provide PWM fan control - see mobo manual - pwm pin is hardwired to +5V. Only 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-07 Reduced cost PC

• 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 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA7RD2WU4767
• CPU: AMD Athlon 5350 2GHz - http://www.ncix.com/detail/amd-athlon-5350-am1-2-0ghz-ef-95079-1308.htm http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113364
• 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-MAY-8 Intel Socket 1150

• this is the new standard DAQ PC replacing the socket 2011 DAQ PC. Improvement: no need for external video card - this permits mounting in 2U and 3U chassis, on board support for 3 large LCD monitors, use latest Intel CPUs. Drawback: 32GB RAM max instead of 64GB RAM, dual-channel ram instead of quad-channel RAM.
• price: $840 + RAM ($370 for 32GB) + SSD ($75 for 120GB) + storage ($400 for dual mirrored 4TB) = $1700.
• 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: use SSD from list above. Or 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 http://www.ncix.com/detail/g-skill-ripjawsz-f3-12800cl10q-32gbzl-32gb-4x8gb-dc-65663.htm
• Video card: none, using Intel on-CPU video
• Cooling fans: (replace stock short-life-time fans) - 2 per PC - http://www.ncix.com/detail/noctua-nf-s12a-flx-120mm-ultra-b4-79670.htm
• Instructions for mounting cooling fans: remove stock short-life-time fans, mount replacement fans for air flow from back to front of the case: 1 rear case fan, 1 front mounted fan blowing on the hard drives. Remove front air filter, duct-tape shut all rear, side and bottom air holes - air flow should be: rear fan pushes air into computer, front fan pushes air into hard disk enclosure, out of computer through the front of the case where the air filter used to be.
• Cooling fans note: ASUS Z87 WS motherboard requires use of non-PWM fans. The 4-pin fan headers do not provide PWM fan control - see mobo manual - pwm pin is hardwired to +5V. Only 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