Best hardware for XP?

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

I would recommend performing some computer housecleaning
maintenance:

Download the thirty day trial version of System Mechanic and
scan your computer for 'Junk Files', then 'Find and Fix Broken Shortcuts'.
http://www.iolo.com/sm/5/index.cfm

System Mechanic Optimization Tools
http://www.iolo.com/sm/5/index.cfm#optimize

Then perform the following:

Download Ad-aware SE and scan your PC for the presence of sp­yware:
http://www.download.com/3000-2144- [...] tag=button

Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/h [...] VMUYTACDCO

Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads [...] laylang=en

3 Simple Steps to Help Ensure the Protection of Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/athom­e/ [...] ult.msp­x

Utilize the following maintenance programs, at least monthly,
to maintain the optimum performance of Windows XP:

Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/defau [...] duct=winxp

How to Perform Disk Error Checking in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/defau [...] duct=winxp

HOW TO: Analyze and Defragment a Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/defau [...] duct=winxp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/se [...] hoose.mspx

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

"HP32e" wrote:

| Hello there!
|
| Currently, the PC that I'm using (Dell 4600) is a great little machine, but
| it has many issues: very slow (despite 3.2GHz processor and 2G RAM), has
| noise in its core audio, and its HDD fragments too often to be useful for
| video editing.
|
| No biggie - so here's my question: For XP, what would be the best machine
| out there for audio and video work? I feel that my current machine's
| bottlenecks and other difficulties coul be residing within its motherboard,
| hence, my consideration for a possible replacement.
|
| If there are any good experiences out there, I'd like to know of them, be
| they with manufactured PCs as well as ones built part by part (names of
| motherboard manufactures would be great).
|
| Thanks to all in advance for your time - I truly appreciate and value your
| opinions and experiences!

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

There is no such thing as best hardware and or software but only *better* or
*worse* ones.

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

HP32e wrote:
> Thanks for a most informative post!
>
> Just one more thing: where can I download Windows XP Service Pack 2 as a
> stand-alone so that I will be able to apply it BEFORE my computer is
> connected to the internet (after I re-image the HDD one last time)?
>
> Thanks again!


You could also have Microsoft send you a CD with the Service Pack which
makes it much easier in the future if you have to fix the computer or a
friend's.

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Every component "looks" fine for your needs. However there are a few
options that you will need to look at:

1) Run anti-virus and anti-spyware utilities. Keep then up to date and run
scans periodically.

2) Run disk clean-up and defrag utilities periodically.

3) Consider replace the "core" on-board audio with a more profession grade
sound card. Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum may be such a
card.

4) Add SCSI hard drives in an external hard drive unit. SCSI will give you
more throughput on the hard drives for video editing (since SCSI is
multi-threaded for reads/writes).

5) Add additional network adapters and/or consider Gigabit networking.


"HP32e" <HP32e@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9C2B18A6-7CEF-4144-85B4-D383FDDC9700@microsoft.com...
> Hello there!
>
> Currently, the PC that I'm using (Dell 4600) is a great little machine,
> but
> it has many issues: very slow (despite 3.2GHz processor and 2G RAM), has
> noise in its core audio, and its HDD fragments too often to be useful for
> video editing.
>
> No biggie - so here's my question: For XP, what would be the best machine
> out there for audio and video work? I feel that my current machine's
> bottlenecks and other difficulties coul be residing within its
> motherboard,
> hence, my consideration for a possible replacement.
>
> If there are any good experiences out there, I'd like to know of them, be
> they with manufactured PCs as well as ones built part by part (names of
> motherboard manufactures would be great).
>
> Thanks to all in advance for your time - I truly appreciate and value your
> opinions and experiences!