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Developer Needs Help Please

soldernut
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Hi all,

 

I'm new here and I could use some advice.

 

I'm a software developer nearing retirement. For better or worse, I'm stuck with the Windows world until I retire (Win software is what my employer does.)

 

Recent travails with Microsoft's development tools have pretty much convinced me that I should be using virtual machines instead of risking my OS installation every time I have to install a new tool (I'm not exaggerating about that. see below).

 

So I'm looking for performance, but for very different reasons than, say a gamer or content creator would have.  I want my "machines within the machine" to run like scalded dogs.  

 

Oh. And, to the extent that Windows allows, I want the machine stable as a rock.

 

I run two monitors of decent size, say 23 inches, but I don't need much in the way of graphics.  Don't laugh: I'm doing just fine with a single NVIDIA GT 640 and I don't plan to upgrade that.

 

I recently did an upgrade to this Win 7 Ultimate machine to "silence" it. So the machine has a nice, Fractal Designs case, Noctua fans, a "silent" Corsair 750W PSU and a 1T Samsung SSD. And I got what I wanted: It is quiet!

 

What I hope to do now is upgrade for more performance.

 

* The CPU: I'm currently running an Intel  Q9550 (Quad Core, 2.83 GHz).  It doesn't support hyper-threading, turbo-boost, and some virtualization niceties.

 

I was considering the Intel 4790K but I don't know if that's the best I can do within my CPU budget, say $300-$350.  The 4790 has an attractive core count and 4.0 GHz sounds good, but I'm open to suggestions.

 

* Motherboard: I see motherboards for 79, 87, 97 & 99 chipsets and I'm not sure where the current sweet spot is.I'm kind of partial toward ASUS but would consider others. Overclocking isn't high on my list but I wouldn't turn down the option.  What I really want is great SATA support, USB 3.0 and room for plenty of RAM.  The board, of course, will depend on the CPU.

 

* RAM: I'm currently running 8 Gigs of DDR3, 1633 I think.  I'm willing to get DDR4 if that's what the new CPU calls for. I haven't yet been starved for RAM, so I'll probably start with 8 Gigs again.

 

Consider that this may be the last build I ever do.  No idea how long I'll need it but it'd be good if it stays reasonably "current" for a few years.

 

------------------------------

 

Microsoft Tool Horrors: I don't expect software to be perfect; decades of experience have taught me that that is simply not an option.  There are some defects, though, that are inexcusable. Near the top of my list are uninstallers that don't work as advertised.

 

When I go into Add/Remove Programs, select a program and uninstall it, I expect that to work - and work completely. I don't expect uninstalls to not work, nor do I expect them to leave miles of crap-tracks behind, tracks like hundreds of registry entries and who knows how many tweaks to the OS.

 

Just today, Microsoft's new Visual Studio 2013 Community stopped working (no idea why) so I went to uninstall it. It's a no-go.  The uninstaller ran, failed, and left the entry still in the list of installed programs.  And God only knows what else it left behind.

 

So I tried to re-install it.  Sometimes that works.  In this case, it didn't.  Living without it isn't an option right now so I have some work ahead of me. Heck, I may even have to format & reinstall the OS.

 

That is simply not acceptable.  A well-fleshed-out development machine hosts scores (maybe hundreds) of programs; programs specifically needed by the developer. As you know, those all have to be re-installed and configured after a wipe-and-re-install.

 

I could go on and on about this but the post below, by another developer, says it far better than I can:

 

https://visualstudio.uservoice.com/forums/121579-visual-studio/suggestions/3487794-create-a-remove-all-remnants-of-visual-studio-fro

 

Thanks in advance for any/all suggestions.

 

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If silence is good for you then OC is not in your best interest.

 

A 4690K (Or 4690) has 4 cores and 4 threads.

While a 4790K (Or 4790) has 4 cores 8 threads. 

So it depends if you need those extra threads.

 

For 4th gen CPUs you do not need DDR4 memory. DDR3 1600 is fine.

 

And for the motherboard, I will find one. Z97 sounds like the one you need because it allows for overclocking later. 

 

Core i5 build

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 
Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($134.97 @ OutletPC) 
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($64.33 @ Newegg) 
Total: $419.29
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-14 16:30 EST-0500
 
Core i7 Build
 
 
Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($134.97 @ OutletPC) 
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($64.33 @ Newegg) 
Total: $499.29
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-14 16:32 EST-0500
 
Motherboard supports USB 3.0 SATA 6.0GB/s and all the fancy stuff.
And RAM is standard office high performance stuff. (2x4GB)
CPU is the only difference. 

5800X3D - RTX 4070 - 2K @ 165Hz

 

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Hi Sony Enthusiast,

 

Thank you so much for your answer & information.  I can see you put some time into this; I appreciate that very much.

 

You're right that OC may defeat my attempts to keep the machine silent.  That has me leaning toward the 4790k with it's 4.0 Gig turbo mode speed.

 

Looks like I'll follow your i7 build suggestion.

 

Just 3 questions:

 

1: I'm unfamiliar with A-Data memory. Is it a reliable brand?  (I don't mind paying a bit more for quality.)

 

2: I notice that the motherboard supports some faster levels of memory. Would it be advantageous to go for faster RAM?  

 

3: And, if so, is there a point at which I'd see diminishing returns?

 

Again, many thanks.

 

 

If silence is good for you then OC is not in your best interest.

 

A 4690K (Or 4690) has 4 cores and 4 threads.

While a 4790K (Or 4790) has 4 cores 8 threads. 

So it depends if you need those extra threads.

 

For 4th gen CPUs you do not need DDR4 memory. DDR3 1600 is fine.

 

And for the motherboard, I will find one. Z97 sounds like the one you need because it allows for overclocking later. 

 

Core i5 build

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant



 
Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($134.97 @ OutletPC) 
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($64.33 @ Newegg) 
Total: $419.29
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-14 16:30 EST-0500
 
Core i7 Build

 
 
Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($134.97 @ OutletPC) 
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($64.33 @ Newegg) 
Total: $499.29
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-14 16:32 EST-0500
 
Motherboard supports USB 3.0 SATA 6.0GB/s and all the fancy stuff.
And RAM is standard office high performance stuff. (2x4GB)
CPU is the only difference. 

 

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Hi Sony Enthusiast,

 

Thank you so much for your answer & information.  I can see you put some time into this; I appreciate that very much.

 

You're right that OC may defeat my attempts to keep the machine silent.  That has me leaning toward the 4790k with it's 4.0 Gig turbo mode speed.

 

Looks like I'll follow your i7 build suggestion.

 

Just 3 questions:

 

1: I'm unfamiliar with A-Data memory. Is it a reliable brand?  (I don't mind paying a bit more for quality.)

 

2: I notice that the motherboard supports some faster levels of memory. Would it be advantageous to go for faster RAM?  

 

3: And, if so, is there a point at which I'd see diminishing returns?

 

Again, many thanks.

 

ADATA is a very popular brand and I went with it because it seems you will be keeping this computer for quite some time. (ADATA is reliable) 

ADATA produces SSD products as well. I have been using their stuff for quite some time. And the price is not bad at all for that speed.

 

1600MHz is the high performance standard (While the regular performance standard is 1333MHz) faster RAM will see some improvement but not enough to spend money on.

Even for gaming 1333MHz is fine. So 1600MHz will be enough.

 

If you want to go higher I would suggest nothing over 2100MHz because you will just be wasting money by then.

But really, 1600MHz will be more than enough. 

 

Also, as a side note, the Core i7 can reach 4.0GHz on all 4 cores. But can reach 4.4GHz on a single core.

So single-threaded programs will be happy also.

 

Though I would suggest an Aftermarket cooler to keep it very quiet. "Be Quiet!" is a good quiet cooling brand. 

5800X3D - RTX 4070 - 2K @ 165Hz

 

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Hi again,

 

With more thanks.

 

I appreciate your words about RAM and about ADATA specifically.

 

We developers can be shamefully ignorant about components in our machines.  We might care when initially buying or building; soon, though, the demands of the job push that info into a musty, cob-webbed corner. We don't get around to caring again until something goes wrong.  You builder-folk are a great resource.

 

Thanks, too, for mentioning the speed of 4.4 for a single core. There are plenty situations in which all that's needed is one core.

 

I'll look into the Be Quiet coolers.

 

Best regards.

 

ADATA is a very popular brand and I went with it because it seems you will be keeping this computer for quite some time. (ADATA is reliable) 

ADATA produces SSD products as well. I have been using their stuff for quite some time. And the price is not bad at all for that speed.

 

1600MHz is the high performance standard (While the regular performance standard is 1333MHz) faster RAM will see some improvement but not enough to spend money on.

Even for gaming 1333MHz is fine. So 1600MHz will be enough.

 

If you want to go higher I would suggest nothing over 2100MHz because you will just be wasting money by then.

But really, 1600MHz will be more than enough. 

 

Also, as a side note, the Core i7 can reach 4.0GHz on all 4 cores. But can reach 4.4GHz on a single core.

So single-threaded programs will be happy also.

 

Though I would suggest an Aftermarket cooler to keep it very quiet. "Be Quiet!" is a good quiet cooling brand. 

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