Laura wants a new computer

[Daniel, Laura, and Nora]

There are some fierce restrictions on the computer I can buy for her. It has to be a Dell and I am not allowed to monkey with it whatsoever. After much negotiating, we arrived at the following for $1210 + tax and shipping:

P4 1.6, 133 MHz bus
256 SDRAM
15" flat panel display (hey, she wants it)
16x CDRW
48x CD
minimal video card (16MB ATI Rage Ultra 4X AGP)
Windows XP home edition

We do no 3-d gaming (though our marriage is being threatened by Civ 3). Frankly, we do just fine with our P2 400 but we need a second computer.

Here's the question: is there any worthwhile advantage to upgrading to:
$100--1.8G processor
$60--64MB NVIDIA GeForce2 MX video card
$40--faster (24x) CDRW
$100 Windows XP Professional

Any suggestions for downgrading?

I'm buying it tomorrow. Speak now or I have to live with this.

D

[phil]

Do Dell do any Athlon XP systems? If so, I would seriously consider changing from the P4 (especially if you are going to run the Genome client on it).

[wylie]

I can honestly say I have never even SEEN the capabilities of my TNT2 Ultra. I'm just not a gamer.
The read speed between the 2 CDs would be negligible. are you likely to burn a lot of CDs???

Go the processor!!!

:)

(or better yet get an XP:D)

[MikeTimbers]

If it must be a Dell, it must be Intel.
If it must be Intel, you might as well buy a P4.
If you buy a P4, do NOT buy SDRAM which absolutely stifles your CPU. P4s need very high memory bandwidth to be worth having. It's not a question of it not working with SDRAM but you're restricting your system while paying a lot of money.
Unfortunately going with RDRAM is more expensive since the mobo and the RAM are more expensive but in the long run it will be worth it.

Of course, if it doesn't have to be a Dell,....

[Bruce]

Originally posted by Daniel, Laura, and Nora
$100--1.8G processor
$60--64MB NVIDIA GeForce2 MX video card
$40--faster (24x) CDRW
$100 Windows XP Professional


Don't buy the Dell.

A friend of mine had an (old) Dell that had become unstable. After trying to fix it several times, they decided to buy a new machine. They gave me the old one to salvage the parts.

After trying to use the case with a new mobo a couple of times I finally figured out the problem: The power supply connections have been made non-standard. . . . .

Why ? ? ? ?

-------------------

You did say that you were going to install G@H, and leave it running to heat the room, right?

IMHO:
$100--1.8G processor - - Yes.
$60--64MB NVIDIA GeForce2 MX video card - - No.
$40--faster (24x) CDRW - - No.
$100 Windows XP Professional - - No.

[pelligrini]

I'd spend the extra on the video card. You may not need it right now, but it's better to have some headroom for development, the to come up short.

IMO The faster burner is prpbably not worth it. The availability and stability of really fast media is limited.

An extra $100 for 200Mhz is not worth it.

Don't know anything about XP... yet.

You might think about a NIC.

[Bruce]

Originally posted by pelligrini
You might think about a NIC.

One NIC won't do any good -- but you will want a LAN, so (assuming you really have only two computers and they are in the same room) do buy a pair of NICs. Start without a hub -- you can buy a "crossover cable" instead . (Adding a third computer means a hub and new cables -- you won't need the crossover cable then.)

You'll be very glad you got the LAN, though you might not think so immediately. Plenty of folks here at TGC will help you get it set up.

[Daniel, Laura, and Nora]

Ok, done. RDRAM it is. The fancier mobo and ram costs a fortune, so I went with a refurbished system.

Here it is:
P4 1.7G
256 RDRAM
16x CDRW
48x CD
32MB DDR ATI Radeon 4X AGP
40GB 7200rpm HD
15" flat screen monitor

Total price including tax and shipping: $1600. My credit card feels a lot thinner.

Do we need all that? Absolutely not. Consider it $400 extra for my ego, G@H and TGC. Here's the bad news: it comes with Windows Me and Dell is out of upgrades. Quick, where's will?

Bruce, I like the double NIC idea. I will definitely need help getting that set up. The computers will be in different rooms but I have drilled a handy-dandy set of holes in the walls (the landlord doesn't surf the forum I hope) so I can run a well-shielded cable I think--total distance about 50 feet.

Thanks for the advice but remember, please, please, PLEASE don't tell Laura.
D

[Bruce]

Originally posted by Daniel, Laura, and Nora
Do we need all that? Absolutely not. Consider it $400 extra for my ego, G@H and TGC. Here's the bad news: it comes with Windows Me and Dell is out of upgrades. Quick, where's will?

Bruce, I like the double NIC idea. I will definitely need help getting that set up. The computers will be in different rooms but I have drilled a handy-dandy set of holes in the walls (the landlord doesn't surf the forum I hope) so I can run a well-shielded cable I think--total distance about 50 feet.


If they're out of upgrades, will they give you a downgrade? i.e.- can you get it with Win98SE? There's not really much difference between SE and ME, but SE is better.

Regarding your new LAN -- does this new setup come bundled with a new printer? You can share (though you'll have to walk to the other room.) Printers are now cheaper than the ink that goes in them, but don't automatically assume you need another one.

[Daniel, Laura, and Nora]

That's a cool thought. I like it. Sort of a latter day Luddite deal.

will is rumored to have some WinXP disks that fell off the back of a truck or something. Maybe he can set me up.

D

[wylie]

If you have no tedious scruples I'm sure "someone" here can help you....
;) ;)

[wbierman]

Definately XP Pro if for no other reason... you have a problem...you send me a request for assistance and I connect to your machine (with your permission) and I fix it while you watch. Such a deal!

I sent you a reply to your *.edu address.

[X-Calibur]

Originally posted by wbierman
... and I fix it while you watch. Such a deal!



Now what if... nah, forget it... I'm a perv....

:D

[Daniel, Laura, and Nora]

X, you are a brilliant diagnostician. Do you know the mnemonic for the cranial nerves? OOOTTAFAGVSH. Get your jollies with that!
D

[Bruce]

Originally posted by Daniel, Laura, and Nora
X, you are a brilliant diagnostician. Do you know the mnemonic for the cranial nerves? OOOTTAFAGVSH. Get your jollies with that!
D

I'm sure there are variations, but the one I learned was:
On Old Olympus Topmost Top, A Finn and German Viewed Some Hops.

[Daniel, Laura, and Nora]

I've heard that one. It works for some people. I could never get a mnemonic to work unless it was dirty, though.

Know the one for autonomic nervous system innervation of orgasm?

Oh, wait a minute. Am I allowed to write ORGASM on the board?

D