New (proposed) build

[PeterC]

I'd appreciate [constructive] comments/advice on the following, especially
with regard to memory, graphics card and optical drive.
No intention of overclocking, so the RAM appears to be matched to the CPU
and MoBo(?).
Graphics: very confusing; chosen ATI chipset as I've heard that it's cooler
than nVidia; would like a bit of 3D; no games; no fan.
Optical drive: really don't know - reliability is the essence (rather
shocked to see that burning time is spec'd at 2% od power-on time).

Case Antec Solo
PSU Enermax Liberty 400W (should be OK)
MoBo ASUS P5B-E Plus
CPU Intel Core2 Duo E6300
RAM Corsair Value PC-2 4200 2x512MB
HDD Seagate 7200.10 250GB (might go for 80GB)
FDD Sony Black internal (always worth having)
DVD RW Asus DRW1608 P35 black (OK?)
Graphics card Asus X300SE Extreme (???)
ADSL Card Zoom 5506(just to get rid of another 'box')
Monitor 19¡ Philips 190X7FB
Keyboard Cherry Cymotion Expert
Mouse Nortek Estio Optical
CPU cooler ZEROtherm CF800

Most from Scan; monitor from Komplett; HDD from Span.

Many thanks.

 

[Dave]

I'd appreciate [constructive] comments/advice on the following, especially
with regard to memory, graphics card and optical drive.
No intention of overclocking, so the RAM appears to be matched to the CPU
and MoBo(?).
Graphics: very confusing; chosen ATI chipset as I've heard that it's
cooler
than nVidia; would like a bit of 3D; no games; no fan.
Optical drive: really don't know - reliability is the essence (rather
shocked to see that burning time is spec'd at 2% od power-on time).

Case Antec Solo
PSU Enermax Liberty 400W (should be OK)
MoBo ASUS P5B-E Plus
CPU Intel Core2 Duo E6300
RAM Corsair Value PC-2 4200 2x512MB
HDD Seagate 7200.10 250GB (might go for 80GB)
FDD Sony Black internal (always worth having)
DVD RW Asus DRW1608 P35 black (OK?)
Graphics card Asus X300SE Extreme (???)
ADSL Card Zoom 5506(just to get rid of another 'box')

(snip)

NO!!! This is one box you do not want to get rid of. That is, if it has an
ethernet connection. If your ADSL modem is connected by USB, then never
mind. But an external ADSL modem is a good thing if it has an ethernet
connector. You will want to network someday. -Dave

 

[PeterC]

I'd appreciate [constructive] comments/advice on the following, especially
with regard to memory, graphics card and optical drive.
No intention of overclocking, so the RAM appears to be matched to the CPU
and MoBo(?).
Graphics: very confusing; chosen ATI chipset as I've heard that it's
cooler
than nVidia; would like a bit of 3D; no games; no fan.
Optical drive: really don't know - reliability is the essence (rather
shocked to see that burning time is spec'd at 2% od power-on time).

Case Antec Solo
PSU Enermax Liberty 400W (should be OK)
MoBo ASUS P5B-E Plus
CPU Intel Core2 Duo E6300
RAM Corsair Value PC-2 4200 2x512MB
HDD Seagate 7200.10 250GB (might go for 80GB)
FDD Sony Black internal (always worth having)
DVD RW Asus DRW1608 P35 black (OK?)
Graphics card Asus X300SE Extreme (???)
ADSL Card Zoom 5506(just to get rid of another 'box')

(snip)

NO!!! This is one box you do not want to get rid of. That is, if it has an
ethernet connection. If your ADSL modem is connected by USB, then never
mind. But an external ADSL modem is a good thing if it has an ethernet
connector. You will want to network someday. -Dave

I see your point Dave - thanks. But, as I live alone with little chance of
that changing :-( a network seems improbable.
ATM the modem is USB (yuk!), so the PCI one might be preferable (about £8,
so not a big risk).

Peter.

 

[Paul]

I'd appreciate [constructive] comments/advice on the following, especially
with regard to memory, graphics card and optical drive.
No intention of overclocking, so the RAM appears to be matched to the CPU
and MoBo(?).
Graphics: very confusing; chosen ATI chipset as I've heard that it's
cooler
than nVidia; would like a bit of 3D; no games; no fan.
Optical drive: really don't know - reliability is the essence (rather
shocked to see that burning time is spec'd at 2% od power-on time).

Case Antec Solo
PSU Enermax Liberty 400W (should be OK)
MoBo ASUS P5B-E Plus
CPU Intel Core2 Duo E6300
RAM Corsair Value PC-2 4200 2x512MB
HDD Seagate 7200.10 250GB (might go for 80GB)
FDD Sony Black internal (always worth having)
DVD RW Asus DRW1608 P35 black (OK?)
Graphics card Asus X300SE Extreme (???)
ADSL Card Zoom 5506(just to get rid of another 'box')

(snip)

NO!!! This is one box you do not want to get rid of. That is, if it has an
ethernet connection. If your ADSL modem is connected by USB, then never
mind. But an external ADSL modem is a good thing if it has an ethernet
connector. You will want to network someday. -Dave

I see your point Dave - thanks. But, as I live alone with little chance of
that changing :-( a network seems improbable.
ATM the modem is USB (yuk!), so the PCI one might be preferable (about £8,
so not a big risk).

Peter.

I have ADSL. My ISP rents me an external ADSL modem. It has an Ethernet
interface, but the protocol on the modem is PPPOE. I have a
separate router box I got for $40. It terminates PPPOE and makes
plain ordinary Ethernet packets from it. So my computer doesn't have to
run any software at all from my ISP. I enter the account and password
info, into the dialog box in the router, and the router makes the
connection. On the LAN side of my network, my computer uses a private
address, in the 192.168.x.x range. As far as my computer is concerned,
it thinks it is on a LAN, as none of my ISPs software is loaded.

ADSL_modem --- router_box --- computer
PPPOE, NAT

The hidden advantage of doing that, is the router is using NAT or
network address translation, because it is expecting multiple computers
to be connected to the LAN ports on the router. Network address translation
gives a measure of separation between the Internet and the computer.
So, for example, a particular worm on the Internet, cannot infect an
unpatched Win2K computer on the LAN side of my router. The protection
is not perfect, but is better than connecting the computer
directly, if that is what that PCI card you plan on buying is going
to do.

So there is a tiny difference.

I've tested my setup from one of those websites that will scan your
IP address, and currently I'm "stealthy". Not that it affords that
much extra protection, but at least my machine will not be nibbled
to death by script kiddies. If they get a response from an IP address,
they can scan through the port numbers, looking for whatever script
kiddies look for.

If the router_box has "Stateful packet inspection", that is supposed
to help a bit too.

You can always add to your security a bit, by using a software firewall
that checks outgoing connections. If the firewall software asks you whether
you want to let some unknown program have access to the Internet, that
can be a clue that something is in the machine that should not be there.

So those "external boxes" can contribute a bit to your security. But
in the grand scheme of things, not much, as there are always other
ways they can get you.

And the blinking lights are convenient too. My router is mounted up
high, so I can see the LEDs on it.

AFAIK, your video card should be suitable for Vista Aero, as the card
has Pixel Shader 2.0. Since you are not a gamer, I won't say anything
else nasty about that card The entry here for the X300SE, says
it has DirectX 9 hardware support, which is also a requirement for
Aero.

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/

Paul

 

[DK]

I'd appreciate [constructive] comments/advice on the following, especially
with regard to memory, graphics card and optical drive.
No intention of overclocking, so the RAM appears to be matched to the CPU
and MoBo(?).
Graphics: very confusing; chosen ATI chipset as I've heard that it's cooler
than nVidia; would like a bit of 3D; no games; no fan.
Optical drive: really don't know - reliability is the essence (rather
shocked to see that burning time is spec'd at 2% od power-on time).

Case Antec Solo
PSU Enermax Liberty 400W (should be OK)

I would recommend buying "B stock" of Antec P150.
It's a better case that comes with very good and very silent
430W PSU. "B stock" is only 40% of the nominal price.
I got mine two months ago for $70 and I can't tell it from a t
otally new even if I wanted too.

DK

 

[PeterC]

On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 22:06:25 -0500, Paul wrote:

those "external boxes" can contribute a bit to your security. But
in the grand scheme of things, not much, as there are always other
ways they can get you.

And the blinking lights are convenient too. My router is mounted up
high, so I can see the LEDs on it.

Thanks for the above, Paul. It's the most understandable way I've seen it
put.
I was aware of changing default security and that a router could help but
never understood it.

AFAIK, your video card should be suitable for Vista Aero, as the card
has Pixel Shader 2.0. Since you are not a gamer, I won't say anything
else nasty about that card The entry here for the X300SE, says
it has DirectX 9 hardware support, which is also a requirement for
Aero.

In that case it'll be OK for XP Pro - by the time XP won't function
sufficiently I'll go over to Linux!
Found a site of HP's that was reassuring on the power for a 300 card -
reassuringly low

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/

Ah, thanks, another one to add to my bookmarks (once I'd figured out that
The Proxomitron was stopping mouseover events!

Peter.

 

[Tal Fuchs]

1. what do you need the Floppy for ? I took mine out after not using it for
few years.
2. I think you can get nVidia graphics cards that are at the same price and
much better ones.
3. Don't go for 80GB. I suggest going for 160GB one. they priced almost the
same.

 

[caronte]

I'd appreciate [constructive] comments/advice on the following, especially
with regard to memory, graphics card and optical drive.
No intention of overclocking, so the RAM appears to be matched to the CPU
and MoBo(?).
Graphics: very confusing; chosen ATI chipset as I've heard that it's cooler
than nVidia; would like a bit of 3D; no games; no fan.
Optical drive: really don't know - reliability is the essence (rather
shocked to see that burning time is spec'd at 2% od power-on time).

Case Antec Solo
PSU Enermax Liberty 400W (should be OK)
MoBo ASUS P5B-E Plus
CPU Intel Core2 Duo E6300
RAM Corsair Value PC-2 4200 2x512MB
HDD Seagate 7200.10 250GB (might go for 80GB)
FDD Sony Black internal (always worth having)
DVD RW Asus DRW1608 P35 black (OK?)
Graphics card Asus X300SE Extreme (???)
ADSL Card Zoom 5506(just to get rid of another 'box')
Monitor 19¡ Philips 190X7FB
Keyboard Cherry Cymotion Expert
Mouse Nortek Estio Optical
CPU cooler ZEROtherm CF800

Most from Scan; monitor from Komplett; HDD from Span.

Many thanks.

Don't forget to upgrade the ram i think this is insufficient (1gb)You
probably overload your system soon. So, it's better think long term.

 

[PeterC]

I'd appreciate [constructive] comments/advice on the following, especially
with regard to memory, graphics card and optical drive.
No intention of overclocking, so the RAM appears to be matched to the CPU
and MoBo(?).
Graphics: very confusing; chosen ATI chipset as I've heard that it's cooler
than nVidia; would like a bit of 3D; no games; no fan.
Optical drive: really don't know - reliability is the essence (rather
shocked to see that burning time is spec'd at 2% od power-on time).

Case Antec Solo
PSU Enermax Liberty 400W (should be OK)

I would recommend buying "B stock" of Antec P150.
It's a better case that comes with very good and very silent
430W PSU. "B stock" is only 40% of the nominal price.
I got mine two months ago for $70 and I can't tell it from a t
otally new even if I wanted too.

I'd considered this box, but just a bit wary of the Antec PSU. My present
rig is acting funny, not the HD, sort of runs with either stick of RAM in
any slot but not both sticks; other rails OK. If I could find a 3.3V
point...

Anyway, I'll have another look at the P150, thanks.

 

[PeterC]

1. what do you need the Floppy for ? I took mine out after not using it for
few years.

It rescued me after I cocked up installing then removing Ubuntu!

2. I think you can get nVidia graphics cards that are at the same price and
much better ones.

Please, how are they better? I really don't understand graphics cards, but
I'd read somewhere that nVidia chips are hotter. If I'm wrong and there are
advantages I'll change it. Any particular make?

3. Don't go for 80GB. I suggest going for 160GB one. they priced almost the
same.

Yes, just thought that 1 platter and 1 head would be simpler. My current
HDD, after 3 yeras, has 53GB empty!

Thanks,

Peter.

I'd appreciate [constructive] comments/advice on the following, especially
with regard to memory, graphics card and optical drive.
No intention of overclocking, so the RAM appears to be matched to the CPU
and MoBo(?).
Graphics: very confusing; chosen ATI chipset as I've heard that it's
cooler
than nVidia; would like a bit of 3D; no games; no fan.
Optical drive: really don't know - reliability is the essence (rather
shocked to see that burning time is spec'd at 2% od power-on time).

Case Antec Solo
PSU Enermax Liberty 400W (should be OK)
MoBo ASUS P5B-E Plus
CPU Intel Core2 Duo E6300
RAM Corsair Value PC-2 4200 2x512MB
HDD Seagate 7200.10 250GB (might go for 80GB)
FDD Sony Black internal (always worth having)
DVD RW Asus DRW1608 P35 black (OK?)
Graphics card Asus X300SE Extreme (???)
ADSL Card Zoom 5506(just to get rid of another 'box')
Monitor 19¡ Philips 190X7FB
Keyboard Cherry Cymotion Expert
Mouse Nortek Estio Optical
CPU cooler ZEROtherm CF800

Most from Scan; monitor from Komplett; HDD from Span.

Many thanks.

 

[Tal Fuchs]

look in Tom's hardware VGA charts
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html?modelx=33&model1=544&model2=532&chart=225
It will make you easier decide what is best for your money.

You can also look in some older charts
http://www.tomshardware.com/site/vgacharts/index.html

I'm not sure but I think the X300SE is one of the shared emory cards. this
mean it's using the main memory.
If you consider one of these you can take a MB that already have the graphic
card on board.
Taking a MB that already have a graphic card on it can be a good solution
and you will be able to upgrade later. Some do have X300 on board, and some
have nVidia 6100 or nVidia 6150. If you go for nVidia one take the 6150.

BTW - Intel CPU are more expensive then AMD ones, and some (though not all0
will say AMD are faster.

1. what do you need the Floppy for ? I took mine out after not using it
for
few years.

It rescued me after I cocked up installing then removing Ubuntu!

2. I think you can get nVidia graphics cards that are at the same price
and
much better ones.

Please, how are they better? I really don't understand graphics cards, but
I'd read somewhere that nVidia chips are hotter. If I'm wrong and there
are
advantages I'll change it. Any particular make?

3. Don't go for 80GB. I suggest going for 160GB one. they priced almost
the
same.

Yes, just thought that 1 platter and 1 head would be simpler. My current
HDD, after 3 yeras, has 53GB empty!

Thanks,

Peter.

I'd appreciate [constructive] comments/advice on the following,
especially
with regard to memory, graphics card and optical drive.
No intention of overclocking, so the RAM appears to be matched to the
CPU
and MoBo(?).
Graphics: very confusing; chosen ATI chipset as I've heard that it's
cooler
than nVidia; would like a bit of 3D; no games; no fan.
Optical drive: really don't know - reliability is the essence (rather
shocked to see that burning time is spec'd at 2% od power-on time).

Case Antec Solo
PSU Enermax Liberty 400W (should be OK)
MoBo ASUS P5B-E Plus
CPU Intel Core2 Duo E6300
RAM Corsair Value PC-2 4200 2x512MB
HDD Seagate 7200.10 250GB (might go for 80GB)
FDD Sony Black internal (always worth having)
DVD RW Asus DRW1608 P35 black (OK?)
Graphics card Asus X300SE Extreme (???)
ADSL Card Zoom 5506(just to get rid of another 'box')
Monitor 19¡ Philips 190X7FB
Keyboard Cherry Cymotion Expert
Mouse Nortek Estio Optical
CPU cooler ZEROtherm CF800

Most from Scan; monitor from Komplett; HDD from Span.

Many thanks.

 

[PeterC]

Don't forget to upgrade the ram i think this is insufficient (1gb)You
probably overload your system soon. So, it's better think long term.

Well, atm I have 1GB and it's been OK so far. Have run it to below 10MB,
then XP shut down (I wonder why ;-) ), but that was running about 8 apps
plus 6 instances of Autoroute open!
No intention of going near Vista. Actually, atm I'm on 512MB due to a
problem and, although a bit slower, the system is running OK with about
100MB left.

Peter.

 

[John Doe]

Well, atm I have 1GB and it's been OK so far. Have run it to below
10MB, then XP shut down (I wonder why ;-) ),

Because you don't have enough RAM.

but that was running about 8 apps plus 6 instances of Autoroute
open! No intention of going near Vista. Actually, atm I'm on 512MB
due to a problem and, although a bit slower, the system is running
OK with about 100MB left.

If you go with 1 GB, just have memory slot(s) open.

 

[JAD]

Well, atm I have 1GB and it's been OK so far. Have run it to below 10MB,
then XP shut down (I wonder why ;-) ),

because you futzed with your virtual memory settings


but that was running about 8 apps

 

[PeterC]

Please, how are they better? I really don't understand graphics cards, but
I'd read somewhere that nVidia chips are hotter. If I'm wrong and there are
advantages I'll change it. Any particular make?

Just looking at these on Scan. 7100 and 7300 look possible - and I see what
you mean about the specs (well, there are more specs!).

Cheers,

Peter.

 

[PeterC]

because you futzed with your virtual memory settings

No - rather alarmingly, I found out that XP does the job quite well.
Destroyed years of cynicism.

Peter.

 

[John Doe]

because you futzed with your virtual memory settings

Or it could be an application. Xnews can easily use 1 GB of physical
RAM (with only 1 GB of RAM in the system) and bring XP to a crawl.
That verified by the programmer Luu Tran.

Message-ID: <[email protected]>

 

[John Doe]

No - rather alarmingly, I found out that XP does the job quite
well. Destroyed years of cynicism.

JAD just doesn't get it. In fact, physical versus virtual RAM usage
depends on the application(s).

In a very large USENET group, Xnews will suck up every megabyte of
physical RAM and force Windows XP to a crawl. There are workarounds
though.