[Taffycat]

As one or two of you might remember, I recently bought a new dual-core PC, which then had to be sent back to base, due to overheating problems. Currently it is still "in hospital" but, during the short time we had it, we both enjoyed using it and found it very different from our previous laptop experience. So..........we decided to get it a little friend

This time, I shopped at "Novatech" having seen them recommended here on PC Review so many times (and now I understand why.) It was ordered on the 13th, at lunchtime, and delivered by 10:20 am next morning. Incredibly speedy! It's not the same spec as the one that is currently "sick" and might not impress the devotees of gaming power but we're finding it to be quick and responsive.... and it wasn't a piggy-bank breaker

I chose to buy it without an OS (because we didn't want both to be running Vista right now.) So, I'm feeling a tad pleased with myself for installing XP Pro, (I purchased an OEM version with the PC) plus drivers, etc., all on my ownsome, which for me is a first (But in case anyone has noticed the time-delay since the delivery ... that was due to my being ill in-between, then, when I'd completed the installation, there were the inevitable up-dates ....... hours of 'em on dial-up!)

Icon Pro 400

Processor
AMD Athlon 64 4000 64 Bit Processor

Memory
2048MB DDR2 667MHz Dual Channel Memory

Hard Drive
320GB Serial ATA II Hard Drive

Graphics
nVidia 6100 High performance Integrated Graphics & 1 x 16 PCI-E Slot

Sound
Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio

Optical Drive
16x Dual Layer +R/-R/RW DVD burner

LAN
1 x RJ45 Network Port (10/100/1000)

ATX Midi Tower Case

3 x 5.25" Drive Bays

4 x 3.5" (2xInt, 2xExt) Bays

2 x DDR slots (2GB max)

1 x Parallel Port, 1 x Serial Port

6 x USB2 (2 Front, 4 Back)

1 x RJ45 Network Port (10/100/1000)

Dimensions (mm)-
185 (W) x 361 (H) x 421 (D)

Logitech Keyboard & Optical Mouse ( I also bought a separate modem, monitor and OEM XP Pro) so total came to £547.02 inc VAT

Regarding the hospitalized PC - I received an email this morning to let me know that the problem had been corrected by PC Specialist's technicians, and the PC is now "in quality control" where their engineers are attempting to replicate the original problem. If all is well, it should be returned to us in a day or two. Hurrah!

[Ian]

Well done TC! You've done well installing XP, drivers and updates and Novatech do seem to be on the ball

What do you have in mind for the PC - it should be very good at anything but gaming judging by the specs.

[Abarbarian]

If you got one of the X800 GT from here you could play tons of games with that rig very nicely . If you want I could send you a CD with the latest AutoPatcher build on it . That would save you lots of downloading and time if you ever needed to re-instal XP .

http://www.retekdirect.co.uk/acatalog/Video_Cards.html

[PotGuy]

That is a very nice base for any system. Stick a £100 card in there and you got a speedy gaming rig

And regarding the Quality Control-

Have they kept your system after they fixed the problem? Because surely that shouldn't be done on your time?

[Taffycat]

Thank you Guys

Originally Posted by Ian Cunningham

Well done TC! You've done well installing XP, drivers and updates and Novatech do seem to be on the ball

What do you have in mind for the PC - it should be very good at anything but gaming judging by the specs.

Well I really enjoyed having a go and it was very satisfying when Windows booted-up for the first time it is already crunching (got to get one's priorities right ) and seems to be happy - not quite so quick as the dual core, of course, but temp is holding nice and steady Otherwise it will be used for general stuff - my graphics programmes tended to slow-down the laptops a bit, now I will be able to knock myself out! Terry also has some software programmes that the laptops weren't keen on, but once again, plenty of room on the new systems.

Originally Posted by PotGuy

And regarding the Quality Control-

Have they kept your system after they fixed the problem? Because surely that shouldn't be done on your time?

Yes PG, it went back last Wednesday (funny really, one in then one out) and judging from the tracking record, it spent a couple of days in transit before reaching PC Specialist, so in one way, they've not actually had it for very long. My biggest criticism would be that they should probably have tested the system a bit more rigorously before sending it out in the first instance

Originally Posted by Abarbarian

If you got one of the X800 GT from here you could play tons of games with that rig very nicely . If you want I could send you a CD with the latest AutoPatcher build on it . That would save you lots of downloading and time if you ever needed to re-instal XP .

Gosh AB, that is very generous of you, thank you I'm not certain whether the "sick" PC will have been re-formatted (shouldn't have thought it necessary, but they asked permission to do so if they thought it necessary) If it has been "wiped" of all it's updates, then I'd really appreciate taking you up on your offer- that's if it is still open, of course. (...and I shall refrain from waving my giant leek at your barbaric slipper ever again, in sheer gratitude )