I'm planning a new system and I respectfully ask for your opinions, advice and suggestions.
Me: a computer programmer to whom things like "memory" and "CPU" are conceptual terms that I can make do wonderful things, but wouldn't know if they were taking a whiz on my hush puppies. I don't play games at all right now nor do I do any heavy duty graphics work, but I'd like to. I have no interest in overclocking the system. I'm looking for a cutting edge, yet solid, system that will last a while. I've done alot of research and this is what I have do far:
MB: Shuttle AS45GTR; I read the THG article and I'm sold.
CPU: Intel P4 at 2.53Ghz (533 FSB); seems to hit the right price/speed point
RAM: 1.5 gigs (512 x3; I need some help here; I'd like to max the board out in terms of speed/amount, but it seems like 1Gb memory is WAY expensive);Suggestions on the PCXXXX thing greatly appeciated. I know it will sound odd to you but the whole PCXXXX, FSB, double pumping thing just leaves me swimming. I don't even want to talk about that whole CL thing. )
VidCrd: ATI Radeon Pro 9700 - AGP 8x; I might go with the comparable All-In-Wonder if I can use it like a Tivo. Can I?
SndCrd: On board for right now...
HD: Maxtor Diamond Max 9 : 120Gb, 7200 rpm, UDMA 133, SATA(maybe 2 if I can "Tivo" with the All-In-Wonder)
Case/PS/Cooling: No clue. I could really use your help here. I prefer a full tower, since, though I don't open my machine on a regular basis, I don't want to spend half my time in the machine fighting to get things seated correctly or wedging cables into the machine. Air flow, air temp, and quietness are key. Nifty mods are not; plain is fine. Its only sitting under my desk afterall.
Monitor: Keeping my Viewsonic G790. Love it. Never give it up.
CDRW: Keeping my HP9300; works well enough. Nero rules.
DVDROM: Here suggestions are welcomed. One question though: When I first looked at these a long time a ago, when it came to watching DVD video there was a distinction between "software" DVD and "Hardware" DVD. I think Creative had a hardware version (in the Vid card), while others used software to decode the DVD and send it to your vidcard. Is this an issue anymore?
NIC: The AS45GTR doesn't come with one, so I'll get a new one. But I'd like to get one that will allow me to connect to my old machine without having to go through a router/hub (?; remember I'm a programmer). I picture the machines "in series" not in a "star"). Suggestions?
KVM: I'm also toying with the idea of getting a KVM switch so that not only can the machines "see" each other I can "sit" at each. Again suggestions are welcomed.
That's about it, I think. I'm sure that I'm missing lots, but that's why I'm posting this.
Also, if I were to put this together myself would my pool table be a good place to do it? Its all wood with a slate/felt top. I know that sounds REALLY stupid, but hey..
And where can I buy the stuff? I know Pricewatch is a good place to start if I wanted to buy it all in pieces, but it'd be nice to buy a system that been put together. I've heard that Newegg is good. Any other suggestions?
I thank you all for your indulgence and help.
Me: a computer programmer to whom things like "memory" and "CPU" are conceptual terms that I can make do wonderful things, but wouldn't know if they were taking a whiz on my hush puppies. I don't play games at all right now nor do I do any heavy duty graphics work, but I'd like to. I have no interest in overclocking the system. I'm looking for a cutting edge, yet solid, system that will last a while. I've done alot of research and this is what I have do far:
MB: Shuttle AS45GTR; I read the THG article and I'm sold.
CPU: Intel P4 at 2.53Ghz (533 FSB); seems to hit the right price/speed point
RAM: 1.5 gigs (512 x3; I need some help here; I'd like to max the board out in terms of speed/amount, but it seems like 1Gb memory is WAY expensive);Suggestions on the PCXXXX thing greatly appeciated. I know it will sound odd to you but the whole PCXXXX, FSB, double pumping thing just leaves me swimming. I don't even want to talk about that whole CL thing. )
VidCrd: ATI Radeon Pro 9700 - AGP 8x; I might go with the comparable All-In-Wonder if I can use it like a Tivo. Can I?
SndCrd: On board for right now...
HD: Maxtor Diamond Max 9 : 120Gb, 7200 rpm, UDMA 133, SATA(maybe 2 if I can "Tivo" with the All-In-Wonder)
Case/PS/Cooling: No clue. I could really use your help here. I prefer a full tower, since, though I don't open my machine on a regular basis, I don't want to spend half my time in the machine fighting to get things seated correctly or wedging cables into the machine. Air flow, air temp, and quietness are key. Nifty mods are not; plain is fine. Its only sitting under my desk afterall.
Monitor: Keeping my Viewsonic G790. Love it. Never give it up.
CDRW: Keeping my HP9300; works well enough. Nero rules.
DVDROM: Here suggestions are welcomed. One question though: When I first looked at these a long time a ago, when it came to watching DVD video there was a distinction between "software" DVD and "Hardware" DVD. I think Creative had a hardware version (in the Vid card), while others used software to decode the DVD and send it to your vidcard. Is this an issue anymore?
NIC: The AS45GTR doesn't come with one, so I'll get a new one. But I'd like to get one that will allow me to connect to my old machine without having to go through a router/hub (?; remember I'm a programmer). I picture the machines "in series" not in a "star"). Suggestions?
KVM: I'm also toying with the idea of getting a KVM switch so that not only can the machines "see" each other I can "sit" at each. Again suggestions are welcomed.
That's about it, I think. I'm sure that I'm missing lots, but that's why I'm posting this.
Also, if I were to put this together myself would my pool table be a good place to do it? Its all wood with a slate/felt top. I know that sounds REALLY stupid, but hey..
And where can I buy the stuff? I know Pricewatch is a good place to start if I wanted to buy it all in pieces, but it'd be nice to buy a system that been put together. I've heard that Newegg is good. Any other suggestions?
I thank you all for your indulgence and help.