need a little help speccing a custom build

[drpepper]

I am hoping to start buying parts for a custom build around the first of the next month. The machine will be running a virtual machine with as many as four guest operating systems simultaneously. I don't know if I will need it or not, but I want the capability of running up to four monitors. I am a little unsure of the power supply requirements. The following build sheet includes a 850W power supply. I don't know if I need to go with a 1000W power supply.

Corsair Carbide A540 case
Intel core I7-4770K 
Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD4H ATX LGA 1150
two Crucial 16GB 8x2 D3 1600 DIMM C9
Samsung E 120GB 840EVO SATA3 2.5"
WDOEM 1TB 3.5" SATA6.0GB/S 64MB
two GTX6600C 2GB DDHDP PCIE
Gigabyte 850W HX 80+ Gold Mod PSU
IPSG LG 24X DVDRW SATA
LGELECOEM LG 14X SATA BD burner

your thoughts?

 

[Layback Bear]

I would upgrade the video card. From what I find they are old and don't use the new DX.

 

[essenbe]

I agree with Layback Bear, to use 4 monitors you will probably need fairly new cards. You don't mention what VMs you will be running as guests, but you may need to look at ram for the VMs running. Also, depending on the Graphics cards you choose, a quality 850W PSU will be more than sufficient. Just check the power requirements for your chosen cards. Other than graphics cards, I see nothing in your listed specs that requires a large power supply.

As I'm sure you are aware, each VM has to be allocated CPU cores as well as ram. Those allocations are taken away from your Host machine. I'm a novice at Vm's, but the 4770K is a 4 core CPU with 8 threads, but still 4 cores. Each VM will have to be allocated a minimum of 1 core. With 4 running at the same time, that leaves little for the host machine. Quite honestly, I don't know how cores and threads are allocated with VM, even though I run a few myself, just not at the same time.

 

[drpepper]

Thanks for the replies.

I am currently running three guests on VirtualBox on my laptop (I3-2330M, hyperthreaded and virtualized) without problems. I have 8GB RAM and allocate 2GB each to Win7 Pro 64-bit, and Win8 Pro 64-bit. Windows Server 2008R2 Enterprise has 512MB RAM allocated to it. The host (Win7 HP 64-bit) gets what is left over. Each OS (both host and guests) have one core allocated. It runs well, but I want to move this type of use to a desktop to have the advantage of multiple monitors and a computer more well suited to the processor requirements. (Monitoring Task Manager shows up to 7.6GB RAM and 93% processor usage when pushing the host and VM guests with active programs at the same time. Processor temps get as high as 145F. --my own informal stress test) If my research is correct, the I7-4770K with hyperthreading and virtualization enabled will allow a total of 8 cores for my use. The case should provide more efficient cooling. (It comes stock with two large fans.)

As for the PSU and graphics recommendations, hardware is my weak point. I will need to research newer graphics cards and what exactly constitutes a quality PSU. Any helpful hints about what to look (specs, brands, etc.) for when shopping for those parts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

 

[essenbe]

drpepper, as with most things, what constitutes quality is fairly subjective. That being said, for PSUs, I always recommend Seasonic, Corsair, Antec or XFX. Those are by most standards quality PSUs. In the FWIW department, probably a majority of those just mentioned are made by Seasonic. A PSU is never the place to save money. It is the heart of your system and can take out much of the hardware in the system if it goes out, That's why we always recommend quality built PSUs. The better quality ones are more expensive, but also will put out the power they claim and have built in safeguards to help keep taking out hardware in the event of failure from happening.

As far as graphics cards, what is it that you do with graphics cards other than just want to run 4 monitors? Do you game or run any other graphics intensive programs. Those things will dictate what graphics card you need. The better, top of the line cards will probably be the most expensive part of your build. So, what you intend to do with one is important.

 

[Layback Bear]

drpepper, as with most things, what constitutes quality is fairly subjective. That being said, for PSUs, I always recommend Seasonic, Corsair, Antec or XFX. Those are by most standards quality PSUs. In the FWIW department, probably a majority of those just mentioned are made by Seasonic. A PSU is never the place to save money. It is the heart of your system and can take out much of the hardware in the system if it goes out, That's why we always recommend quality built PSUs. The better quality ones are more expensive, but also will put out the power they claim and have built in safeguards to help keep taking out hardware in the event of failure from happening.

As far as graphics cards, what is it that you do with graphics cards other than just want to run 4 monitors? Do you game or run any other graphics intensive programs. Those things will dictate what graphics card you need. The better, top of the line cards will probably be the most expensive part of your build. So, what you intend to do with one is important.

 

[drpepper]

Thanks for the replies. I intend to use some spare time in the weekends to do some more shopping/ research.

spare time - an undefined quantity

 

[essenbe]

Thanks, and if you need any more advice, recommendations or just opinions, we'll all be right here. And, if you would, please let us know what you decide on.