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OT: Building a new computer again
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It's got to that time again.
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I'd go for an E4300 Core2Duo, tis the cheapest C2D at the mo', if you get
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This looks like good value but I can't find out if it has DVI out -
anybody know?
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this CPU you at least know you can safely upg to faster C2D cpu's in the
future.
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My experience is that by the time the cpu needs updating so does every
other component.
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I guess your best off finding some company that has an online configurator
that allows you to select XP rather than Vista.
I know we offer this, so I guess our competitors must.
The belinea stuff is good, and well made, I had to deal with the parent
chinese company a few weeks back and I was very impressed with there QC
procedures.
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Yes I've had a Belinea CRT for 10 years with no problems
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Similar to mine then.
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A few years ago I ordered and built (as in buy all the individual
parts, glue together and switch on) a respectable computer based on an
AMD Athlon XP 2100+ processor and threw in 1Gb RAM to help with the
ageing process a bit.
I've swapped (AGP) graphics cards a couple of times now to help keep
up with more modern software and currently have an AGP 4X ATI Radeon
X1650 with 256mb of DDR3 RAM chugging away.
I intend to build a new computer but I'm not sure if I'm certain I
want to build it from scratch again.
Hardware I'm happy with and don't want to change:
LG Flatron L1710B TFT (VGA/DVI)
Microsoft Natural Keyboard
Microsoft Intellimouse Optical
NIC
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There's a theme running here...
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So I need:
Case
Mobo
Processor? (Plus cooler)
RAM 2Gb?
HD 200Gb?
DVD -/+ RW
Sound card
Graphics card
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It will be difficult to get a decent mobo these days without at least
5.1 onboard sound, and all will have onboard network interface so that
frees up two slots. If you're going for Vista then 1Mb RAM is the
minimum. Graphics are now PCI Express 2, AGP getting hard to find.
What's wrong with the old case? If intact suggest up-market quiet power
supply in the old one.
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Sorry to follow up on my own post but...
P.S. The PC Pro A-list is a good place to start, once you've decided
between Intel and AMD.
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I was looking at jumping to:
* core 2 duo (the performance is a leap ahead of the AMD/ATI stuff)
* 2 GB ram (seems to be a consensus for vista)
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snip
I'm about to buy too but can't help thinking that I don't need core 2
duo price tag and if I stick with XP then I only need 512Mb Ram too.
After all, I really only surf and do a bit of Autocad. What I really
want is a BFO monitor: at least 19" widescreen
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You may want to look at 20" rather than 19". Most of the 19" monitors
I found when looking last week only went up to 1280x1024 resolution
(i.e. the same as the 17" ones).
It may just be me but I can't see the point in paying extra for a
bigger monitor with the same resolution. Why not just sit closer ?
The 20" monitors step up to 1600x1200 and above.
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Good point. Should I be looking for analogue or digital plug thingy?
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As mentioned 22" ws with a DVI connector (ensuring you buy a vga card with
DVI).
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Should I assume that if a graphics card DOESN'T say DVI that it isn't or
do most cards have DVI nowdays
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Most [1] of the high end cards have DVI these days and ship with a DVI ->
VGA Adapter.
Most specs will state either "1 x VGA & 1 x DVI" or "2 x DVI"
[1] - Stuff I've been testing with e.g. NV8800GTS / GTX / NV Quadro / AMD
FireGL etc
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The belinea/maxdata monitors mentioned by dr Z above are great value for
money.
If you can find one, get one with a height adjustable stand as well, very
easy to work with and the screen can be rotated to portrait, couple this
with vga drivers that can do sceen rotate and you've got a great platform
for mech desktop/inventor.
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I'm happy with my dell 2405FPW.
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£200 for a 22" WS
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£201 for the PC Pro A-list 20" widescreen.
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http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/3308941/Belinea_Artistline_2225S1_W_22_5ms_Widescreen_TFT_Monitor/Product.html
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* X1950XT (best price/performance PCI-E gfx card out at the mo)
* Motherboard - was looking at an asus one, but trying to find one
without all the bells and whistles I've already got.
* Vista
The above is weighing in at about 650 quid though. Something's been
putting me off doing it though, but I'm not sure what.
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(Maxdata Intel PentiumD Dual Core 3.4Ghz 1024MB DDR2 250GB SATA DVD-RW
16x Dual Layer 7in1 Card reader XP Home 3 Years Warranty)
Not sure of the performance difference ofr a PentiumD Dual Core 3.4gHz
vs AMD Athlon 3800+ Dual Core, however.
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2=472&chart=167
Look for the red bars in that chart.
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Ahh yes. Shame they weren't like for like (Athlon had DDR2-800 and
Intel had DDR2-667)
I'm considering building a new one from scratch again but I'm a bit
out of practice and behind on specifications.
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does. Looking at the availbity of 123121 it may well be an upcoming
special offer (new line too as there are no photos) as they're getting
250 of them in within 10 days.
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If you're going to buy a graphics card then a creative
something-with-EAX will be worth it (Audigy 2?), if WoW supports it.
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I've not been in the loop for a while with regards to hardware and
what represents longevity and good value for money. My current system
cost me about £300 to build a few years ago
I gather that AGP graphics cards are a bit old hat these days and that
some new form of PCI sort is the bees knees.
I've been tempted by the following and would like to know if you've
got any opinions about either of them, or if I've missed something
better elsewhere.
£309.99
(Acer T180 AMD Athlon 3800+ Dual Core 1GB 160GB DVD-RW, VGA On-board,
KB, Mouse Microsoft XP Media Centre -Free Upgrade to Vista)
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I bought this about a month ago and am delighted with it - but for me it's
more of a media centre / file server than a machine I use a lot. It's very
quiet, which I consider a bonus after the last machine I had. You will want
a better graphics card given your gaming predelictions - the PSU may be a
stumbling point, depending on what you want to put in it.
I personally think the CPU is becoming an irrelevance for the vast majority
of 'normal' home PC activities (incl games) - but depends what you intend
doing with it...
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£349.97
(Acer T180 Athlon 64 3800+ Dual Core 160GB Hdd 1GB Ram DVD+RW Windows
Vista Home Premium)
The £349 version is the same as the £309 version but the £309 comes
with a 'free' upgrade to Vista, but the £349 comes with Vista Home
Prem.
Having looked at the reviews it appears that it comes with 2x512Mb of
RAM, 256mb of which is used by the onboard graphics board but sticking
in a proper graphics board gives you the other 256mb back. Weak point
might be the PSU.
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