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sirpaul484
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« on: December 22, 2008, 10:39:19 PM » |
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Well, it looks like this computer is taking its last gasps of air before it has to be put down. Once again, I am going to build it from scratch. I'm still having distrust with Intel (I owned a first-generation Pentium. Need I say more?), so I'm going to definitely go AMD. I'll also probablly salvage the disk drives from this machine, as they are probably still usable, plus I spent about $80 total on all 3. Any ideas on specific hardware?
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« Last Edit: January 04, 2009, 07:57:34 PM by sirpaul484 »
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Konata
Annoyance
Grandmaster Hack
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Posts: 812
Good job!
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« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2008, 10:20:27 AM » |
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Ick, I hate Pentium. AMD = Faster, cooler, cheaper, sexier.
ROCK YO NEW PUTAH! :3
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RedWolf
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« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2008, 11:31:15 AM » |
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Well, it looks like this computer is taking its last gasps of air before it has to be put down. Once again, I am going to build it from scratch. I'm still having distrust with Intel (I owned a first-generation Pentium. Need I say more?), so I'm going to definitely go AMD. I'll also probablly salvage the disk drives from this machine, as they are probably still usable, plus I spent about $80 total on all 3. Any ideas on specific hardware?
After a few computers with AMD processors, I switched back to an Intel Core 2 Duo with my latest PC when I put it together a year or so ago, and I'm happy with it. I personally emphasized quietness, with a quiet power supply with a big, slow fan, an awesome copper CPU cooler with special conductive grease (it has a fan, but it doesn't need to run very fast to work, thus quiet), and a video card that is entirely passively cooled. The case has lots of ventilation too. Sadly, the loudest things about it are my spare 160GB SATA HDs that I put in it -- the newer 250gb HD I bought when I built this computer is way quieter, and I suspect that's true with the latest HDs as well. I know you didn't ask about OSes, but stick to XP Pro. Vista blows in a major way. Or buy a Mac if you have the money.  Good luck, and let us know what you put together. Benj P.S. I buy most of my computer parts from http://www.newegg.com these days. |
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sirpaul484
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« Reply #3 on: December 23, 2008, 09:57:28 PM » |
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Hmm.. I'll look up the latest Intel offerings. I have just been burned one too many times with them so I'm kind of cautious about their hardware. as for OS, I wasn't even thinking about Vista. I've heard the stories, and I have dabbled with it first-hand to know not to even touch it with a 10-foot pole.
As for macs, I have heard good things about their hardware being good, but I really prefer to build my own systems by hand. As soon as Apple sells its own motherboards/processors/etc., then I'd get one.
I've been looking at Newegg, since there aren't many big-name computer stores where I live, except for Fry's, and when building this computer I had to return the video card, ram, and motherboard. I would patronize one of the many local mom-and-pop stores, but their stock is usually a joke.
I will post information about the hardware once I get it.
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Andrew Armstrong
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« Reply #4 on: December 24, 2008, 08:39:58 PM » |
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Get a Mac for the OS (and great hardware use by it), not for the hardware itself! It's things like automatic 32 and 64 bit programs, GPU-run display, nice virtual desktops and much easier program installation and some other odds and ends Windows is barely keeping up with (or not doing at all). But a PC is usually nicer, you can play games  although if you get a Mac with a decent graphics card (which requires a lot of dosh sadly) you can use Bootcamp to run Windows on it. Intel Core 2 Duo's are nice actually, as long as you get a decent enough motherboard for them. I've had no problems with mine, and I have one of the first lot of them from their original release date (a now-old E6600). Not sure about AMD, but I am sure they're just as good for some things. I'd check some specs out - although I like the idea of some of their technology, I've never had the opportunity to use it. Price might be also better on AMD things, but I don't think they rule at pure speed at the moment. Graphics cards, I've no idea, I have a nVidia 8800GTS which works fine for me, now you can get even better cards for what I paid for mine AMD are top dog on speed at the moment, but look mid-range and you'd be able to play any game. RAM - main thing is, DDR2 RAM, since I got my PC, has dropped so much you can have 4GB (so, 3GB in a 32bit OS, or the full 4 in Vista) is dead cheap, like half what 2GB cost for me (so, 1/4 of the price, at the same speed). Well worth getting 4GB for future proofing, and multi-tasking. |
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Konata
Annoyance
Grandmaster Hack
Offline
Posts: 812
Good job!
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« Reply #5 on: December 25, 2008, 11:33:20 AM » |
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I agree, get a Mac so you can only be compatible with half of the world's software unless you run a VM!
Seriously, get a PC. :3
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sirpaul484
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« Reply #6 on: December 28, 2008, 02:04:56 AM » |
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If I do get a mac (emphasis on if), I will get Boot Camp so I can run XP on it.
Oh yeah, almost forgot. As for sound levels of the computer, I usually use headphones when using my computer anyways, so it doesn't matter about how loud the fans are, so long as it is less than half the volume of my old Compaq server which I haven't dumped out because it is just too heavy for me to carry...
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RedWolf
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« Reply #7 on: December 28, 2008, 10:51:00 AM » |
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Oh yeah, almost forgot. As for sound levels of the computer, I usually use headphones when using my computer anyways, so it doesn't matter about how loud the fans are, so long as it is less than half the volume of my old Compaq server which I haven't dumped out because it is just too heavy for me to carry...
Well the noise problem is usually more of a nuisance / subtle irritant than something that actually interferes with hearing your speakers. Much like staring at a 60hz flickering monitor all day can fatigue your eyes, hearing too much noise can be fatiguing for your ears (and mind). I never realized how wonderful quiet can be until I invested in less noisy computer parts. By the way, I got 2GB of RAM extra (3GB total now) and a 1TB Samsung SATA HD for my PC for Xmas. The new 1TB hard drive is incredible -- not only is it much, much bigger, but it's much faster and _quieter_ as well (especially compared to a few older 160GB SATA drives I was using for extra space). Now I'm thinking about picking up a new graphics card when I get the dough. |
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sirpaul484
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« Reply #8 on: January 01, 2009, 04:36:22 PM » |
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Nice. I was thinking of going all SATA, if it is possible, on my new computer. All of the drives on this computer are IDE, and their speeds are rather slow. Hopefully, I can find some good SATA optical drives.
By the way.. does anyone know if modern motherboards have floppy connectors?
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RedWolf
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« Reply #9 on: January 01, 2009, 07:14:06 PM » |
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Nice. I was thinking of going all SATA, if it is possible, on my new computer. All of the drives on this computer are IDE, and their speeds are rather slow. Hopefully, I can find some good SATA optical drives.
Definitely go SATA with your hard disks. With your optical drive(s), it's ok to use IDE drives as long as your motherboard supports IDE and SATA together (most do). By the way.. does anyone know if modern motherboards have floppy connectors?
Yeah, I think they pretty much all do. |
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sirpaul484
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« Reply #10 on: January 04, 2009, 07:57:06 PM » |
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Welp, my computer died sooner than expected. I had to gird my loins, and get a pre-built computer. Here are the specs: - Hewett-Packard m9515f
- AMD Phoenom x4 9850
- 8 gigabytes(!) RAM
- 750 gigabyte hard drive, plus 1 terabyte external hard drive
- dual-layer DVD-RW/BD-ROM drive
- NVidia GeForce 9600GS
- TV tuner card, and
- WINDOWS VISTA... *shudders*
I am NOT liking Vista one bit. |
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Andrew Armstrong
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« Reply #11 on: January 04, 2009, 08:11:55 PM » |
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You can still get copies of XP I think. You'd need the x64 one though, heh. You could also tune Vista to be quite XP-ish. One thing; make sure you get a backup solution sorted, having 1.75TB of data to lose wouldn't be fun. Much better then my rig at least!  |
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sirpaul484
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« Reply #12 on: January 04, 2009, 09:35:43 PM » |
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Thanks for the advice. I am currently busy installing stuff from my backups, as well as other stuff I've been forced to delete earlier. I got Vista to be somewhat like XP, maybe I'll get it more like it later. I do not want to get more stuff, seeing how much money I blew on this...
In other news... I just remembered I left my A-Ha CD in my old computer... crap...
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RedWolf
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« Reply #13 on: January 06, 2009, 10:18:47 AM » |
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Oh no: Vista. Even making it look and kinda act like XP is a terrible XP replacement -- believe me, I've tried. I'm never touching Vista again with a ten-foot pole. XP SP2/3 is the best version of Windows ever, and it will remain to be seen if Windows 7 can match it. My advice is to install XP if at all possible so you don't have to pull your hair out. And 8GB of RAM? Damn! That's quite a bit. I just got 2GB extra for Xmas, bringing me up to 3GB. That machine must have been pretty costly. In other news... I just remembered I left my A-Ha CD in my old computer... crap...
Paperclip time! |
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Andrew Armstrong
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« Reply #14 on: January 06, 2009, 12:25:37 PM » |
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You can get 80% of the way there. Sadly, they've messed up so much in the classic theme (and other themes you install) it's pretty annoying. Sigh. I'll try it out once I get my RAM sent back I guess and do my reinstall.
8GB might be a lot, yeah, I'm impressed if you can use it all.
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