PC Inquiry
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I might be looking into getting a PC over the next couple of weeks. I'm probably looking for a prefab from newegg or something, but I haven't ruled out building my own again either.
I know it is kind of a generic question, but what sort of technology should I be looking into? Are there notable processor changes or graphics card changes that I should read/look into? Any information you can provide would be excellent. -
QUOTE (Governor @ Jun 14 2010, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I might be looking into getting a PC over the next couple of weeks. I'm probably looking for a prefab from newegg or something, but I haven't ruled out building my own again either.
I know it is kind of a generic question, but what sort of technology should I be looking into? Are there notable processor changes or graphics card changes that I should read/look into? Any information you can provide would be excellent.
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Shock aside, what are you looking to do with it?
Btw, anyone else notice a strange correlation between the timing of Gov asking for monies for the site and suddenly getting a new computer?! I keeeeed -
I'm not much up on the intel processors.
AMD's Quadcores have been coming down in price, especially since the 6cores came out.
I'll add more later.
Anyone have some input from intel? -
Input?
Case:
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811129042
Power supply:
COOLER MASTER Silent Pro 700 RS-700-AMBA-D3 700W ATX12V V2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817171037
DVD burner:
LG DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model GH24NS50 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16827136177
Motherboard:
ASUS P7P55D EVO LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131407
Processor:
Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115214
Video card:
VisionTek 900287 Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814129138
OR
EVGA 01G-P3-1158-TR GeForce GTS 250 1GB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130514
Ram:
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820145278
HDD:
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822152185
Edit: Added alternative video card choice -
I don't know if this is really true or if I am overblowing it, but the one item I regret not getting is a solid state hard drive. I don't really know anything about them, but I do know that's the factor that slows down my computer more then anything. It's also the biggest pain in the ass to change out later because it's not a plug and play device. You have to move all your data/reinstall everything. If I had to do it over again that's the one item I would skimp on. Most everything else you can easily upgrade later (add more ram, replace or add a second video card, etc).
Not saying that your HD is bad, I honestly don't know. I just wish I had gotten a good state as opposed to a conventional one. Someone is more then welcome to tell me I'm completely off base here. -
QUOTE (Pheylan @ Jun 17 2010, 04:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I don't know if this is really true or if I am overblowing it, but the one item I regret not getting is a solid state hard drive. I don't really know anything about them, but I do know that's the factor that slows down my computer more then anything. It's also the biggest pain in the ass to change out later because it's not a plug and play device. You have to move all your data/reinstall everything. If I had to do it over again that's the one item I would skimp on. Most everything else you can easily upgrade later (add more ram, replace or add a second video card, etc).
Not saying that your HD is bad, I honestly don't know. I just wish I had gotten a good state as opposed to a conventional one. Someone is more then welcome to tell me I'm completely off base here.
That is a good point, but I can't justify the added cost at the moment. I used to reformat my windows machine every three months or so, so backing up/reinstalling stuff isn't really an issue. -
The Video card seems a bit low end there, I currently run the 4850..and I've had it since last fall.
Don't get me wrong though, its a great card, and I have no issues with it whatsoever. -
QUOTE (Pheylan @ Jun 17 2010, 04:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I don't know if this is really true or if I am overblowing it, but the one item I regret not getting is a solid state hard drive. I don't really know anything about them, but I do know that's the factor that slows down my computer more then anything. It's also the biggest pain in the ass to change out later because it's not a plug and play device. You have to move all your data/reinstall everything. If I had to do it over again that's the one item I would skimp on. Most everything else you can easily upgrade later (add more ram, replace or add a second video card, etc).
Not saying that your HD is bad, I honestly don't know. I just wish I had gotten a good state as opposed to a conventional one. Someone is more then welcome to tell me I'm completely off base here.
The problem with SSDs is they have a limited read/write cycle amount before they die. Worse, the smaller the flash cells (meaning the larger space of the drive), the sooner they die. The first SSDs on the market had bigger flash cells and could withstand 10k-20k read/writes. Now they only do 5k-10k. At that rate, you'd be very lucky to have it last more than a couple years. Buying an SDD wouldn't have saved you the trouble of copying everything over (unless you lose it all when the SDD won't boot), Mr. Phey.
The speed of SSDs are nice, but both the price and lifespan make them not worth it IMO.
As for the HD you picked out Gov, there's certainly nothing bad about it, but it's a bit overpriced. Every week there are 1.5tb HDs on sale for $80-85. This one was $84.99 shipped from newegg just last week. -
QUOTE (z @ Jun 19 2010, 12:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The problem with SSDs is they have a limited read/write cycle amount before they die. Worse, the smaller the flash cells (meaning the larger space of the drive), the sooner they die. The first SSDs on the market had bigger flash cells and could withstand 10k-20k read/writes. Now they only do 5k-10k. At that rate, you'd be very lucky to have it last more than a couple years. Buying an SDD wouldn't have saved you the trouble of copying everything over (unless you lose it all when the SDD won't boot), Mr. Phey.
The speed of SSDs are nice, but both the price and lifespan make them not worth it IMO.
As for the HD you picked out Gov, there's certainly nothing bad about it, but it's a bit overpriced. Every week there are 1.5tb HDs on sale for $80-85. This one was $84.99 shipped from newegg just last week.
See, I learned something. I didn't know any of that. -
QUOTE (Pheylan @ Jun 19 2010, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>See, I learned something. I didn't know any of that.
Unfortunately, it is not widely known. It should really be the first thing mentioned when someone asks about SDDs IMO though because most people keep hard drives longer than a year or two.... -
daaaamn. Yeah. Good to know.
Though frankly, I haven't really seen the appeal of SSDs anyway. Sure, access speeds are fast as hell. But I have a pretty run of the mill 1.5 tB drive and movies don't skip and music plays well and searches quickly. I don't know why I'd want my music/movies/tv drive to go any faster. -
QUOTE (Andrew @ Jun 21 2010, 08:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>daaaamn. Yeah. Good to know.
Though frankly, I haven't really seen the appeal of SSDs anyway. Sure, access speeds are fast as hell. But I have a pretty run of the mill 1.5 tB drive and movies don't skip and music plays well and searches quickly. I don't know why I'd want my music/movies/tv drive to go any faster.
At first I liked the idea that it makes the comp boot up so much faster, but then I realized I never shut my shit off.
btw gov i've been watching for a hd deal. there was just one at newegg--1tb internal + encolsure for $60 shipped, but it sold out way fast. they come up pretty often though so there should be another soon. -
QUOTE (Andrew @ Jun 22 2010, 08:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>It sold out pretty much as soon as Attack of the Show had Jess Chobot plug the deal as part of the Killer Deals segment.
But yeah. A couple terabytes shouldn't cost you over 150
She became my hero last night. She's pertty. -
http://www.dealsofamerica.com/Western-Digi...rive/101129.htm
Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARS 2TB Hard Drive for $109.99 -
QUOTE (z @ Jun 26 2010, 03:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>http://www.dealsofamerica.com/Western-Digi...rive/101129.htm
Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARS 2TB Hard Drive for $109.99
What are the benefits/drawbacks to the "green" drives from WD? -
This is what I went with:
Processor
Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor BX80605I7860
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115214
Power supply
COOLER MASTER Silent Pro 700 RS-700-AMBA-D3 700W ATX12V V2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817171037
Hard drive
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822152185
Case
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811129042
Ram
2x G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820231277
Video card
EVGA 01G-P3-1158-TR GeForce GTS 250 1GB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130514
DVD drive
LG Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16827136177
Motherboard
ASUS P7P55D EVO LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131407
Monitor
SAMSUNG XL2370-1 Charcoal Gray 23" 2ms Full HD HDMI LED Backlight LCD Monitor Slim Design 250 cd/m2 DC 5,000,000:1(1000:1)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16824001380
I ended up sticking with that hard drive mostly because it was fast and it came down in price. I figure it will make a decent primary drive, and then I would start purchasing more energy efficient drives (such as the WD you linked) for my additional external requirements. -
just wanted to post that what i read about ssds was wrong. most have 100k write cycles, and an ssd rated at 100k write cycles will have to write 100k times to every single memory cell within the device before it fails because ssds have a 'wear leveling' controller that spreads out writing so that, for instance, you won't reach 100k at one cell while the rest are at 50k. given these facts, how long will it take for an ssd to die? http://wiki.eeeuser.com/ssd_write_limit gives some numbers. The short answer is a typical user using it 6 hours a day with a 10% write rate will have the drive last 25 years. i'm sorry for the false information before.
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