Time for a new compter

[Murph]

Its time to build a new system for the Murph, and I am looking at also updating Lupe's computer as well.


AMD Phenom 9850 BLACK EDITION 2.5GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor -
ASUS M3A78-T AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
8x gb of ram
150 gb Raptor primary drive
2x 1 terabyte RAID 1 secondary drives
XFX PVT98GYDLU GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case w/ 550 watt power supply

Basically I don't do heavy gaming anymore, but I do use my comp for Adobe Photoshop. I'll be using XP Pro until such time as Windows 7 comes out, so I know I have too much RAM, but I refuse to use Vista.

[groovyone]

Have you looked at the new i7 Intel chips? Both my laptop and desktop are AMD, but if I build another desktop I'll likely go with a true quad core i7. Fry's recently had one of the mid level i7s for $250.

[Murph]

Ouch. That's a great price. I am a die hard AMD user though.

[AndrewCCM]

Agree on the i7...It supposed to be a lot quicker than the best AMD's (so I have read).

I have been holding off for quite awhile. It may just be time for me to order a new one as well. I run XP-64bit and utilize all of that 8GB RAM on my current machine. So Murph if you do build it out with 8GB and stay XP... think about 64bit... Works extremely well and plenty of driver support now. Photoshop and Lightroom have 64-bit versions as well.

[Rson]

Murph, look into the AMD 940, it is the new generation or phenom quad core.

[Murph]

That was what was worrying me, the support for things like Anti-virus, Word, Photoshop, etc. Can you run regular photoshop or do you have to buy a much more expensive version? I'd love to run 64 bit software since it should run better/quicker using all the power of the processor.

Originally Posted by AndrewCCM

Agree on the i7...It supposed to be a lot quicker than the best AMD's (so I have read).

I have been holding off for quite awhile. It may just be time for me to order a new one as well. I run XP-64bit and utilize all of that 8GB RAM on my current machine. So Murph if you do build it out with 8GB and stay XP... think about 64bit... Works extremely well and plenty of driver support now. Photoshop and Lightroom have 64-bit versions as well.

[AndrewCCM]

When I installed CS4 and Lightroom, it installed both 32bit and 64 bit versions... But to answer your question more directly. Yes 32bit apps continue to install and run fine..

BTW: I posted this back on 12/31/08... So the prices may have changed.. but this is what I am thinking about.. I don't really do raid at home anymore. Used to back in the video editing days... Now I just have terrabytes of NAS appliances..

FWIW:
------------------------------------------------
I just priced out a custom built Core i7 system using parts from Mwave.com (where I get most all my components)...For an extra $79, they will assemble everything, install the OS and burn test it. Not bad for a pretty darn fast machine. My plans would be to just move all my external data drives to it and continue to use my 2 NAS appliances. I could have saved some money by going with a lesser video card and case as well as just building it myself and using the XP-Pro 64bit OS that I already own. But this case is very cool and I just hate to skimp on a highend system and would rather just have it show up ready to plug it...(this time around). One could easily save themselves $300 on a very similar config if they wanted to build it themselves and supply their own OS/video card...

This config is in my shopping cart. I need to sleep on it a couple of days before deciding. Would be a nice last tax write off if I purchased tomorrow though. Hehe

Here were the specs:

# ASUS P6T Deluxe intel x58 chipset ATX form factor 3xPCI-E(x16)/2xPCI-E(x1)/2xpci/6xddr3 w/sata2,dual lan(gb),usb 2.0 & audio -$793.99
- (cpu type:intel - socket i7)CORE i7 920 - 2.66G
- OCZ 6GB RAM KIT OCZ3G1600LV6GK

# OCZ / PC POWER & COOLING S75CF silencer 750 quad (red) 750w atx 12v nvidia sli / 80 plus certified rohs w/ active pfc power supply ($30 Mail-In Manufacturer Rebate Available from 12/17/08 till 12/31/08) - $99.99

# EVGA 512-P3-N874-AR GeForce 9800 GTX+ Superclocked Edition 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready (Retail) FREE EVGA Precision Overclock Utility - $199.99

# ANTEC TWELVE HUNDRED (black) ATX tower case no power supply 12x5.25" 3x3.5" 7x3.5"(hidden) w/windowed side panel, front i/o connectors & 120mm case fan x 5 - $162.00

# SAMSUNG SH-S223Q/BEBN LightScribe SATA 22X DVD Burner with software (Black)(OEM)- $23.90

# WD 500gb WD5000AAKS SATA2 16mb 7200rpm (bare drive)- $59.93

# ASSEMBLY & testing - $79.99

# MICROSOFT Windows vista 64bit home premium sp1 DVD (dsp/oem) #66I-01939/66I-00825 x 1 - $99.75

Sub Total $1,519.54
Shipping & Handling Calculator $44.25
Total $1,563.79

[Murph]

I am afraid of Vista, too many people have said really, really bad things about the nagware, the incompatabilities, etc. How has your experience been with it?

[Cre8tiveVisuals]

Go with an Intel processor. Amd has not had a processor in over two years that can out perform it's Intel counterpart.

[The Philos]

My machine I will be building:

2xG.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 109.98
COOLER MASTER Stacker 830 Evolution RC-830-KKR3-GP 439.99
4xScythe S-FLEX SFF21E 59.96
EVGA 01G-P3-1280-AR GeForce GTX 280 1GB 512-bit 324.99
3xSegate 7200.11 1TB 329.97
2xAcer X223Wbd Black 22" 5ms 319.98
DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T 27.99
BYTECC PCIe SATA II 300 29.99
EDIMAX EW-7128G IEEE 802.11b/g 18.99


Total: 2233.8

[Murph]

Well, its AMD for now, and I will be upgrading two other computers on the cheap for the kids.

[Rson]

Originally Posted by DizzyDoug

Go with an Intel processor. Amd has not had a processor in over two years that can out perform it's Intel counterpart.

in specs that is true, in Price vs. performance that is a lie.

[Zylone]

Looks like a great build there, Murph! The only concern if you want to call it that is the Antec 1200, they are pretty large! Personal preference ofcourse but I like the Antec 900. Just a smaller version of the 1200 really. No worries with Windows XP, I still run XP dual booted with Ubuntu, on this new quad core Intel and it is a screamer! Vista is just a resource HOG! BUT, remember with XP, if it is not 64bit you will not see all 8gb of that purdy new ram!

One more thing, I would recommend looking at some comparisons between the Raptor drive and regular "two platter" drives. You might be surprised at the price/performance! ;)

[Peacock]

You need another driver for paging file nothing big but your paging file should really be on a separate drive other than your system drive and do not forget about a true scratch drive.

As far are Vista, I have been running 64 bit and all of my apps have worked fine without problems...and it is not any more a resource hog as XP you just need to tweak it just like any other operating system.

As far as waiting for Windows 7, it looks and feels just like Vista!!! Yes there are some additions such as Backup that is better than Vista, moves a little better...but the look and feel is like Vista! So if you haven't played with Vista and are moving to 7 be prepared for the change!

[Cre8tiveVisuals]

Originally Posted by Rson

in specs that is true, in Price vs. performance that is a lie.

While your price per performance point may have been true and reliant several years ago when us enthusiasts were purchasing cheaper AMD chips and overclocking them to outperform Intel chips of similar clock speeds. That was then......And the fact is that the C2D chips from Intel have been killing AMD chips in performance, and the price for a similiar AND chip is not that different.