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New Computer Help
me

Posted on 09/02/2007 12:44:29 PM PDT by hc87

I need some help with a new computer purchase. I'm going to be replacing my almost seven year old computer (1 gz Athlon processor) and would like some advice from Freepers who know PCs. My general philosophy on PC purchases over the years has been to invest in a higher-end processor in a new computer and then plan to do mid-life upgrades on other components over the years. I've had great luck with my HP Pavilion and probably will look first at an HP mail order custom build, starting with one of their media center PCs. That being said, I would be interested in what people think about the following:

1. XP or Vista? If Vista, what flavor?

2 Processor. Single, Core 2, Quad? What speed?

3. Hard drive. Size? Two on board or just one? Portable back up?

4. Graphics Card? I'm more of a Civilization-type/Strategy gamer than anything else. I don't need bleeding edge graphics but would like room for growth.

5. Networking. Probably will use the new machine as the hub of network and use the old one as a kids machine. I'm inclined to worry about this later, so all I really want are expansion slots and (I'm guessing) some kind of network card.

6. Monitor. The 19" flat panel seems like a good trade between cost and screen size. Thoughts?

7. All in one. HP is offering All-in-one printer/copier/scanner/fax machines for $100-$200. Does anyone have any notable experiences with these?

8. Data transfer? HP pushes a Belkin transfer cable. Is this anything more than a USB cable? Or should I just set up a network and deal with data transfer that way?

Thanks for any help you can offer. This is a lot more complicated than choosing between an 8086 and an 8088 processor!


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KEYWORDS: computers; pcs; techsupport
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Thanks.
1 posted on 09/02/2007 12:44:29 PM PDT by hc87
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To: hc87
I recently bought a laptop.


2 posted on 09/02/2007 12:57:24 PM PDT by SquirrelKing ("Ocean in view! O! The joy!" - William Clark, December 3rd, 1805)
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To: hc87
1. XP or Vista? If Vista, what flavor?

Until the first Vista service pack comes out at least, if you have choice, stick with XP, service pack 2.

2 Processor. Single, Core 2, Quad? What speed?

If its a portable and if you are into to any type of strong processing, go duo, and I would go Pentium Duos. If a laptop, then use the mobile versions, up to 2 ghz or a little more. I personally like the duo 3 ghz in my XPS 600.

3. Hard drive. Size? Two on board or just one? Portable back up?

I'd use a RAID configuration giving 320 Gig first line, and 320 Gig backup.

4. Graphics Card? I'm more of a Civilization-type/Strategy gamer than anything else. I don't need bleeding edge graphics but would like room for growth.

I'd make sure, if its a desktop that you had at least two PCI-E 16 slots so you can SLI if you ever need to. I personally like the NVidia cards, 7900 or higher.

5. Networking. Probably will use the new machine as the hub of network and use the old one as a kids machine. I'm inclined to worry about this later, so all I really want are expansion slots and (I'm guessing) some kind of network card.

I'd stay wired as opposed to being wirelss and use a good 10/110 card and a decent 10/100 hub.

6. Monitor. The 19" flat panel seems like a good trade between cost and screen size. Thoughts?

I'd get a 20" or 22" wide screen flat panel. That's what I sue on my XPS and it's great and reasonable price.

7. All in one. HP is offering All-in-one printer/copier/scanner/fax machines for $100-$200. Does anyone have any notable experiences with these?

If you are going to have a network, get an HP networkable color all in one, either inkjet or laserjet. I have four compuers networked in what my kids call the "control room". Mom, Dad, two sons. Lots of gaming, lots of surfing, lots of music and movies. We use the HP Photosmart D7260 and REALLY like it. It';'s a network, phot, all in one.

8. Data transfer? HP pushes a Belkin transfer cable. Is this anything more than a USB cable? Or should I just set up a network and deal with data transfer that way?

I always take care of this myself over the network.

3 posted on 09/02/2007 12:58:16 PM PDT by Jeff Head (Liberty is not Free. Never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: Jeff Head

Great. Thanks for the advice.


4 posted on 09/02/2007 1:01:22 PM PDT by hc87
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To: hc87
Well, here’s my .015...

1. XP or Vista? If Vista, what flavor?
If that is what you are limiting yourself to, hands down...XP. Vista is just not ready for prime time, the EULA is a nightmare, and many applications just cough up hairballs on it.

2 Processor. Single, Core 2, Quad? What speed?
Depends on your intended usage. Since you mentioned Media Center, I’ll use that. Core 2 Extreme. Best all around processor on the market today.

3. Hard drive. Size? Two on board or just one? Portable back up?
I always prefer two hard drives in a mirrored array. This provides complete backup of all of your data, programs, settings without a performance hit. You’ll need to specify that in your order, or buy software after the fact.

4. Graphics Card? I’m more of a Civilization-type/Strategy gamer than anything else. I don’t need bleeding edge graphics but would like room for growth.
Graphic cards have come a long way in the last several years. What you buy depends a lot on the manufacturer of your machine and/or motherboard. No matter what you wind up with, you’ll want a graphics card that has it’s own GPU on board.

5. Networking. Probably will use the new machine as the hub of network and use the old one as a kids machine. I’m inclined to worry about this later, so all I really want are expansion slots and (I’m guessing) some kind of network card.
I’m old fashioned and security consciences (hey, I still use NetBEUI internally LOL). So, for me, any backwards compatible 10/100/1000 card will do. I haven’t noticed any functional differences in the lot of them.

6. Monitor. The 19” flat panel seems like a good trade between cost and screen size. Thoughts?
19” is the largest I’d go. To be honest, even at 19”, I find myself physically turning my head left and right to see everything. I much prefer two or three 17” flat screens to work with.

7. All in one. HP is offering All-in-one printer/copier/scanner/fax machines for $100-$200. Does anyone have any notable experiences with these?
I have grown away from mainstream HP Printer products in the last few years. They just don’t seem to last as long. Their commercial stuff is still up there, but consumer level has dropped in quality. I prefer Brother or even Lexmark.

8. Data transfer? HP pushes a Belkin transfer cable. Is this anything more than a USB cable? Or should I just set up a network and deal with data transfer that way?
If you’re staying with windows, just configure your network, prepare the files and settings you want to migrate, and use the transfer wizard. It does work well and it’s simple.

I can’t be more strong in my caution of Vista. That’s all I have to say. LOL

Good luck! :O)

5 posted on 09/02/2007 1:15:45 PM PDT by papasmurf (I'm for Free, Fair, and Open trade. America needs to stand by it's true FRiends. Others be damned!)
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To: papasmurf

Jeff did mention something I forgot. Networkable printer. What a Godsend.

Although I do like wireless, and I use a Brother 665CW for that. Don’t forget, printers can be “shared” also across your network, so it’s not mandatory to get a networkable one. It’s nice to have because you can print, scan, copy, etc. to/from it even if the other machines are off.


6 posted on 09/02/2007 1:19:21 PM PDT by papasmurf (I'm for Free, Fair, and Open trade. America needs to stand by it's true FRiends. Others be damned!)
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To: hc87
Have you considered Unix or Linux with VMware ?

I would recommend that you to get Root !


7 posted on 09/02/2007 1:23:35 PM PDT by Uri’el-2012 (you shall know that I, YHvH, your Savior, and your Redeemer, am the Elohim of Ya'aqob. Isaiah 60:16)
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To: hc87

I have an HP V40XI printer/scanner/copier/fax.

I am very happy with it, but get ready, the color cartridge was 39 bux.


8 posted on 09/02/2007 1:24:15 PM PDT by djf (America welcomes immigrants! Sadly, America welcomes crimmigrants even more...)
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To: N3WBI3

ping


9 posted on 09/02/2007 1:25:19 PM PDT by Ocracoke Island
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To: SquirrelKing

Great graphic!
A true keeper!

Somebody needs to put the Intel logo on it!


10 posted on 09/02/2007 1:26:02 PM PDT by djf (America welcomes immigrants! Sadly, America welcomes crimmigrants even more...)
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To: papasmurf

Thanks. Good stuff to think about.


11 posted on 09/02/2007 1:32:22 PM PDT by hc87
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To: XeniaSt

I’m not sure that this old dog can learn a new trick with Unix/Linux!


12 posted on 09/02/2007 1:33:40 PM PDT by hc87
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To: XeniaSt

That would have been my recommendation if he had not limited the choices to XP or Vista. :)

Ubuntu rocks!


13 posted on 09/02/2007 1:41:21 PM PDT by papasmurf (I'm for Free, Fair, and Open trade. America needs to stand by it's true FRiends. Others be damned!)
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To: hc87
Mac OS X is Unix and far more userfriendly
than any Windows product and can run your current windows
under VMware Fusion seamlessly.

Just an option to consider.


14 posted on 09/02/2007 1:44:53 PM PDT by Uri’el-2012 (you shall know that I, YHvH, your Savior, and your Redeemer, am the Elohim of Ya'aqob. Isaiah 60:16)
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To: hc87

All of the above.


15 posted on 09/02/2007 1:49:27 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: papasmurf

Curious why you pick Core 2 Duo Extreme over Quad?


16 posted on 09/02/2007 1:58:23 PM PDT by Snoopers-868th
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To: Snoopers-868th
Mainly, there is only, in the best of circumstances, a 20% performance benefit in the quad over the Extreme Edition, and yet at full load, it eats up 260 W worth of energy. That's an increase of 100 W! By comparison, the Core 2 Extreme X6800 system consumes 142 W in idle mode and requires 165 W at full load. BTW, that almost exactly mirrors my older EE 965's in my dual cpu system. Lots o' heat!

The difference in the 266 vs 333 FSB isn't even noticeable. And then, there is the price, which is almost double when you factor in the required MoBo, RAM, and Graphics needed to get use of all the performance.

If you're high dollar guy, and you want the absolute fastest, and you are willing to add the necessary accouterments to make it so, then the Quad is the way to go. HeHe, I seriously doubt that a consumer HP machine will make you happy. LOL

The Extreme Edition is the fastest processor, at a better price, that runs cooler, and is more widely usable on the various MoBo's in circulation.

Now, those are just my opinions, bolstered by some verifiable fact, some experience, and some common sense. (I hope, LOL)

Your mileage may vary, objects in mirror are actually much larger than they appear, place in park and set the hand brake before exiting.Please, compute safely!
17 posted on 09/02/2007 2:30:50 PM PDT by papasmurf (I'm for Free, Fair, and Open trade. America needs to stand by it's true FRiends. Others be damned!)
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To: N3WBI3; ShadowAce; Swordmaker; rzeznikj at stout; Bloody Sam Roberts; ThePythonicCow; Alia; ...

Tech Support Ping..


18 posted on 09/02/2007 3:12:17 PM PDT by N3WBI3 (Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak....)
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To: papasmurf; hc87

papa, don’t forget to help him set up his new box for folding !!!!


19 posted on 09/02/2007 3:14:03 PM PDT by dfwddr (Duncan Hunter '08 -- the real thing.)
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To: dfwddr

Oh, no. Sorry. Hmmm. Maybe he’ll let me write an “install” script? HeHe.

Borg time!


20 posted on 09/02/2007 3:16:08 PM PDT by papasmurf (I'm for Free, Fair, and Open trade. America needs to stand by it's true FRiends. Others be damned!)
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