Atx Btx Power
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
For computer geeks...?
Ok, I'm going to assemble my dream computer... I bought a really nice case that's compatible with both ATX and BTX motherboards.
Can you guys compile me a "dream list" of what to put inside? e.g. motherboard, ram, power supply, etc. I'm thinking 6-8 gigs of ram...any reason for more, or less?
I'm going to use this for work and I like to have about 12 or so software programs open at all times- along with about 10-12 google pages. I'm a power user (for legal work- I'm a legal analyst) and I need a computer that will keep up with my fast paced style of working. I switch back and forth between software and I use 4 flat screen monitors.
Thanks for your suggestions!
You haven't mentioned a lot of important stuff, like reliability, cost.
Having 12 programs open at any time is not a problem for a good basic machine. It needs RAM, sure, but 2 GBytes is enough for almost anything you can throw at it from an office. In the o;ld days of Pentium 4s that was an issue. It isn't a problem now.
Put two 2gig chips in, gives you four GB. Of that, XP can use 3.5 or so, but that is enormous.amount of RAM. 12 pages of a browser is like chicken feed. I routinely run 50 to 100 pages open, cause I do a lot of research stuff, I'm looking for a needle in a haystack when I work. Unless I find the needle I don't get paid!
My thought?
Cash doesn't seem to be a problem here. But not having a computer available and working is a disaster in business.
So, why not make two computers.
#1 a high, but not stupidly high, spec machine that can do anything you will ever want for the next 5 years.
#2 A good basic high spec machine, a workhorse, but a good one.
Stay clear of cutting edge. Let others do that. Most early adapters are either highly technical or insane.
Its a lot cheaper staying with stuff that the Gurus have already tested and fixed, and it ups the reliability by a factor of ten.
#1 Any decent quad core processor. 4Gb ram. (2x2). 2 500GB disks in RAID so if one of the two fails, all of your business stuff is still there on the other disk. The RAID software will warn you that you are down to one disk. BE CAREFUL!. Back up to DVD anyways. I had a client who had to much beer and trashed the good disk, aargh!. Video card for office stuff is simple. I used to be a Nvidia enthusiast way back. At some time I changed to ATI radeon, not sure why, but I stuck there. There are zillions of Nvidia enthusiasts who can tell you what to buy in Nvidias range. #2 The same. An almost identical machine, but cut down a little. A 2 core will be fine. Can be ten times faster than the old Pentium 4s anyway.. 2GB RAM instead of 4.. Same 2x500 disks. On machine 1, run Windows 7. On machine 2, run XP. Mother board? J&W P45, or any decent P45 from Gigabyte. Not ASUS, some stabiility problems on their P45 stuff, and a lot of bad feedback about support. J&W's support is about zero, but you can buy two boards for the price of an ASUS. Doing what I said above means you don't have to spend a fortune at all. Slip in a cheap netbook for $300 at the end as a bonus. Get a cheap one with a GMA950 graphics, then download GMABoooster (www.gmabooster.com) Give the guy a $10 donation, You get a key back for permanent use. It ups the grapics speed by 250% so you can play a DVD or an H264 on your little netbook. PC#1 MMMmmm.$500 or so. Kickass stuff for $1500, huh! 2 nice machines, a free netbook.for under the price of a so-called top end (which has so much power for now (perhaps twice the sped of your top-end machine above - but in practice you would never see the difference. You would have to wait 10 years to see a stupendous improvemnt. The rest of the time wouold be boring "upgrades". Have some greast fun. Buy another case identical to the one you have. Where I live, a sexy case can come in for $25 with a free 450 watt PSU. machine 1 needs a beter PSU, so upgrade. Machine 2 could live with the freebie PSU. if you get infected by the disease known as "'Overclock or bust" you will sudenly find yourslef surounded by people who don't give a damn what you are doing with your machine. They just focus on making it glow a little red inside as it becomes a challenger for the latest shit out of the door.
RAM: I use OCZ Gold. RAM is cheap.Get good stuff.
PSU: All the good ones are about the same. I use Corsair. 600 or 650 Watt is a good number. Leaves room if you decide to do some 3D gameing wiith a hot new card, and it will be half-asleep and bored when you do intensive office stiuff. Cut he budget to a 400 watr is OK with good brads.
PC#2 Eeerrrrrrrrrr $400 or so(dual core and smaller PSU perhaps.
Netbook $300 + some ram to go to 2GB, $20
Items Recently Purchased From This Site:
Powered by phpBay Pro