it/computer people

[darkdezigns]

BDT, you've managed to get that last rig to last pretty well, 800MHz would make it what, 9 or 10 years old? Good work. My advice would be to splash out a bit and get something decent (looks like that's what you're thinking of) as then you'll manage to do the same again.

My last laptop cost over £1000, but lasted over 5 years (now not portable any more but still running as a music/dvd player). The desktop I'm using at work now must have been a fair bit new 4 years ago (dual 3GHz Pentium 4 processors - think it's 2 separate packages, not dual core), but still runs Matlab simulations, CFD and CAD nice and smoothly.

So even if 4 or 8 GB of memory is a lot just now, it won't be in a few years and your machine will still be happily running along. Same with processors - get the best you can, not because you need it now, but because it will still be happy in 5 years time.

Parting shot - consider sticking Ubuntu on the old machine to give it a new lease of life, even just to play - it's free to download, and you might like it

cheers buddy and noted,think i'll try and get quad core if i can,if not tricore

[adpsimpson]

Aren't Intel working on a 16-core processor at the moment?

[darkdezigns]

Aren't Intel working on a 16-core processor at the moment?

lol i aint that well off!
ok so i'm aiming for
quad 3.0ghz or above proc
4/8gb hdd
and as much hard drive as i can get
and no clue on sound and graphics cards

[RodLeach]

cheers buddy and noted,think i'll try and get quad core if i can,if not tricore

Pointless going for tricore mate.

AMD for a start an at the moment intel are better.

Just get a decent dual core system. Nothing really needs a quad core. Like i said. My processor is the 8400 3.0ghz dual core an its nailed everything!!

Aren't Intel working on a 16-core processor at the moment?

I think thats only going to work with 64bit Vista.. which like i said. Nothing works on! Its almost super computer stuff.. In a few years it may well be everywhere.


As for the 8gb of RAM not only can 32 Bit Vista not use it but its also from a hardware point of view the machine will leave 4gb sat reduntant..

Get the windows task manger up and click performance.. If your running vista an a few internet explorer pages then expect to see around 900mb being used with the processor just buzzing along doing nothing. Mine hardly goes above 5% use.

[MattF]

I think thats only going to work with 64bit Vista.. which like i said. Nothing works on!

There is a world outside of M$ in the O.S dept. Wodders. Most other O.S'es won't have any problems with new S.M.P setups.

[darkdezigns]

Pointless going for tricore mate.

AMD for a start an at the moment intel are better.

Just get a decent dual core system. Nothing really needs a quad core. Like i said. My processor is the 8400 3.0ghz dual core an its nailed everything!!



I think thats only going to work with 64bit Vista.. which like i said. Nothing works on! Its almost super computer stuff.. In a few years it may well be everywhere.


As for the 8gb of RAM not only can 32 Bit Vista not use it but its also from a hardware point of view the machine will leave 4gb sat reduntant..

Get the windows task manger up and click performance.. If your running vista an a few internet explorer pages then expect to see around 900mb being used with the processor just buzzing along doing nothing. Mine hardly goes above 5% use.

i can see yr point rod,but i dont like spending on computers that often,i prefer the do it once approach,this one has lasted 7yrs odd,and will still be plenty enough to pass onto one of the kids i think,so im going all out lol

[RodLeach]

lol i aint that well off!
ok so i'm aiming for
quad 3.0ghz or above proc
4/8gb hdd
and as much hard drive as i can get
and no clue on sound and graphics cards

3.0ghz an above quad core processors are expensive.

Just go dual core. Honestly!! It will work perfectly well. Some more demanding applications work better on dual core!!

4gb RAM MAX!! forget all the 8gb cr*p.. it wont work. End of!

Hard drive - yep as large as you can within reason. There will be a monster price hike at some point along the size line.. It may even be cheaper to pick up two hard drives.

Sound card. Just a basic sound card will do. Dependant on the motherboard it may have some built in unit. But unless you want a 7.1 surround sound system fitted or its going to be used in a home recording enviroment.. dont worry about going OTT.

Graphics card... http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/prod...N95GT512&af=50

Something like that would be fine.. Would let the kids play Sims 3 no worries but it wont break the bank!

[RodLeach]

There is a world outside of M$ in the O.S dept. Wodders. Most other O.S'es won't have any problems with new S.M.P setups.

I know.. But your splitting hairs.. Chances are BDT is going to get vista which wont work for it!

No point adding to the confusion by chucking in linux etc.

i can see yr point rod,but i dont like spending on computers that often,i prefer the do it once approach,this one has lasted 7yrs odd,and will still be plenty enough to pass onto one of the kids i think,so im going all out lol

I see your point mate. But im telling you what would probably make a better system.

You need it to work in harmony with the other hardware/software.

Forget the "bigger number = better" because very often.. it doesn't mean jack!!

[darkdezigns]

I know.. But your splitting hairs.. Chances are BDT is going to get vista which wont work for it!

No point adding to the confusion by chucking in linux etc.


I see your point mate. But im telling you what would probably make a better system.

You need it to work in harmony with the other hardware/software.

Forget the "bigger number = better" because very often.. it doesn't mean jack!!

ok boss,ps not sure bout vista yet,i'm of the thinkin its prob worth doin as everything is goin that way so may as well

[darkdezigns]

ok putting tower in the surf boot now seeeeeeeeeeeeee ya

[RodLeach]

ok boss,ps not sure bout vista yet,i'm of the thinkin its prob worth doin as everything is goin that way so may as well

Im on vista an i've got no issues with it mate.

A bloke i know bitches about it being a memory hog an cr*p like that though.

If its a huge concern you can always turn the flashy cr*p off.

[MattF]

What honestly does make me chuckle these days, (in one of those reminiscing old fart type of ways), is the fact that people even need to be considering dual core processors and 4Gig of memory just to be running a poxy desktop O.S. That really is abysmal. Hell, in a couple of years, a Cray may be the minimum spec for the latest M$ fare.

[adpsimpson]

What honestly does make me chuckle these days, (in one of those reminiscing old fart type of ways), is the fact that people even need to be considering dual core processors and 4Gig of memory just to be running a poxy desktop O.S. That really is abysmal. Hell, in a couple of years, a Cray may be the minimum spec for the latest M$ fare.

Parting shot - consider sticking Ubuntu on the old machine to give it a new lease of life, even just to play - it's free to download, and you might like it

The speed difference between vista and Ubuntu (or anything else other than Microsoft's stuff) is pretty impressive. Even more impressive is that every new version of Linux runs faster and cleaner on the same hardware.

Part of it is because it's not running multiple compatibility layers, competing virus check programmes and drivers from any 2-bit hardware manufacturer on ebay. Part of it is that it's not (I kid you not, Windows does this) phoning home to Microsoft with everything from your music playlist to how big your hard disk is. Part of it is encrypting everything. You know that the signal from a DVD is encrypted on disk, decrypted by the processor, re encrypted more strongly, sent to the graphics card, decrypted, processed, reencrypted, then sent to the monitor to be decrypted and displayed? Have you any idea how much computer power that takes?

Linux, but comparison, runs what you tell it to run. And that's it. So suddenly all that power wrapped up in tasks that you never told Windows to do is free for you to use. And you'll never get that virus anyway. Oh, and it's free.

[MattF]

You're preaching to a BSD user here.

[RodLeach]

You're preaching to a ginger dildo here.

I would have liked to have got a iMac instead of a PC. I never played games on them untill i got this system! There awesome..


Anyway... I know wind'oze' as you put it, Is a resource hungry beast!! Thats littered with cr*p..

but sh!t happens...