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Set · Xandrosianding Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 858

novice · Xandrosianling Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 408

Hi Set,
This computer will be an "everything" computer. It will be used for running your every day apps, like Quicken, Open Office, etc. Plus it will be used for the grand kids gaming, the Internet, and I will probably network it to the computer I am using now with a wireless connection. I want the computer to have plenty of capabilites for upgrading, as I will have to keep it for a long time.

I am leaning towards your first set of options. Maybe even going to this processor:
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103514, and a 550w power supply.

Thanks for everyone's input and recommendations. I really appreciate it. I have a lot of options to look at.

Set · Xandrosianding Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 858

If you want it for a long time, socket 939 is the way to go. I own the psu I suggested in the expensive computer, it's truly great.

Also, here is a short intro to nVidia's brand of video cards (the 6### series).

Mid end:
- "6600gt" this card gives the most for the money today
- "6800le" almost same prices as 6600gt, but slower.
- "6800" much faster than 6600 gt and noticable more expensive

High end:
- 6800 gt same as ultra, but runs at a lower frequency
- 6800 ultra this is the best chips combined with the best parts.

Don't spend money on anything but 6600 gt. The others are not worth it. Soon they'll be outdated anyway. It's just how the IT world is.

You mentioned in an earlier post that you're planning to buy it part by part over time. Make sure that the video card, cpu and harddrive are the last things you buy, as they fall extremely fast in price or get replaced by better alternatives. Memory is very cheap right now.

- Set
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novice · Xandrosianling Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 408

Thanks Set,
For the info on the video cards. The 6600gt sounds like what I would need.
What is the difference in the PSU, you suggested, and this PSU:
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103918
Also educate me in the PCI slots: The motherboard, you suggested has these PCI slots:
Expansion Slots
PCI-E x16 1
PCI-E x1 2
PCI Slots 3
Other Slots 1x Abit Audio Slot
I think the PCI-E x16 is for the video card, and I know what the PCI Slots are, but what are the two PCI-E x1 for??

Set · Xandrosianding Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 858

To make it simple.

PCI Express is the standard that will replace AGP and PCI. For now, there is only Video Cards that comes for PCI Express (as far as I know). PCI is used for most of the add on cards of today, such as Network cards, sound cards, modems, isdn modems, etc. In the future, more and more of these will be made for PCI Express, but for now, they aren't.

I'm quite sure someone else is much more capable of explaining the difference between them Smile

That PSU you suggested looked fine. I have first hand experience with the other one, though.

- Set
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novice · Xandrosianling Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 408

Thanks for all your time and info. I have one more question, and then I am outa here to study all this info, and hopefully start building a computer.

The motherboard, you suggested, looks good to me and has good reviews. I went to the manufactures web site. There are no Linux bios updates or downloads of any kind, for this board. Should this be of any concern in purchasing this board to run Xandros??

Set · Xandrosianding Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 858

BIOS is OS independent. Smile

I'm sure it will work excellent with Xandros.

- Set
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Monster_user · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 8:25 pm Post subject:

Davepet · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 8:30 pm Post subject:

Hey Set, any idea about what the difference is between those memory cards? They look identical exept for a couple od digets in the model#, but the one for the "general" computer is $5.30 more?

Dave
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Set · Xandrosianding Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 858

I have no idea. They should be the same, for the first suggestion, I picked the Corsair Value pack that was on the frontpage, for the second, I went into details and picked Corsair Value pack. Didn't notice that there was a price difference. My mistake. I think the difference might be when they are made. Probably why the first ones were sold out a little cheaper.

Now I'm just guessing. Have no idea, really.

- Set
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Monster_user · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 9:55 pm Post subject:

novice · Xandrosianling Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 408

Monster,

Thanks for the explanation on the PCI slots.

Set,

This is probably a dumb question, but if Xandros is the only O/S on the computer and you wanted to upgrade the bios, how would you go about it? Even though the bios is O/S independant, the bios upgrade download is an .exe file. I realize I would probably never have a need to upgrade the bios, just wondering how I would go about if I should ever have the need.

Also, what is the difference, between the Corsair memory Dave is talking about and the Corsair memory here: There is one heck of a difference in price.
http://www2.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145522

Set · Xandrosianding Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 858

The exe file is probably a program that makes a boot floppy that holds the flash program for the bios. It should be possible to run it with Wine or a Dos emulator. Flashing the Bios isn't something you do everyday, though.

- Set
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Set · Xandrosianding Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 858

apolinsky · Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 8:14 am Post subject:

There is no question that computers can be built easily. You purchase a few parts: motherboard, case, cpu, memory, disk drives, possibly a sound and special video card. My son just built one. I've built them in the past. One question: will you end up with a computer significantly better (or cheaper) than the one you buy at Dell on sale? If you go for the high end, in one year it will be surpassed by whatever is the newest on the market.

I don't use computers for games; I am a programmer who makes a living from one. A computer is just a tool. If you think of it as such, perhaps you'll see that the mass marketers produce an acceptable product at a quite reasonable price.