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crockett

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Posts posted by crockett

    Building A New Computer

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    I also think that it is a good idea to hold on Windows Vista, Windows XP Prof can do everything Vista can and does it faster, in our IT road plan we skip Windows Vista totally. And will take in 2009 a look at MS Windows 7 which is said to be introduced in 2009.

    For us, Windows Vista is nothing more then Windows ME, it only lives one year and is full of bugs and leaks actual performance benefits...

    The pace that Microsoft is pushing Windows 7 with makes me think exactly the same thing.

    Building A New Computer

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    Downspec, put the quids aside and update again in eighteen months. Repeat the exercise as required. Paying top whack for something that will be middle of the road in 18 months doesn't make sense unless you really need the oomph. Why XP and not Vista? Vista is going to be useful to you a heck of a lot longer and apparently with SP1, it is going to be comparable in performance to XP.

    Many of the application I use do still not work with Vista. XP is stable and works great for me so I prefer to stick to it. I can upgrade to Vista anytime.

    Building A New Computer

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    I built a new computer 2 weeks ago so I've done a lot of research recently.

    First off, I would stay away from the Samsung 2232BW. If you do a search on the internet you'll find that Samsung out-sourced some of the production of that model and if you're unlucky and get one not made directly by Samsung it will have a slight color imbalance, which is probably important to you if you're going to do video editing. Spend a couple thousand more and get the 2232GW which has gotten excellent reviews. The GW has a glossy screen so you need to be careful where you put it so there isn't too much reflection though. I got one and I can't believe how good the picture is. My Samsung 17" at work looks blurry now.

    I found an E8400 after a lot of looking around at Panthip. You might want to look at a quad-core though if you're mainly doing video editing. If you do get the E8400, I would definitely upgrade from the stock cooler since there's almost no metal to it. I got the Asus V60 and it's over 10C cooler under load. I upgraded the motherboard bios before installing the E8400 so I didn't experience any of the temperature problems that have been reported with that cpu. I've got it overclocked at 3.6 and it's totally stable.

    With that much memory make sure you run memtest over night soon after building your computer. Both my brand new Corsair 1GB sticks had errors and I was able to exchange them with no questions asked (lifetime warranty). There's been tons of problems with 2GB dual channel kits - lots of sticks being reported DOA.

    Do you really need the X38 chipset? Why not save 50% on the motherboard and get one with the P35? The X38 looks like a ton of more money for very little performance increase to me. I even saw one review where it performed worse than the P35. The Asus P5K is a good board the price.

    I totally agree the 750W power supply is overkill for your system. You don't need anything more than a 450W or 550W, so save some money there.

    The 8600GT sounds fine, as long as you're not looking for a card that will play games years into the future. The 8800GT is the best bang for the buck right now though.

    Great advice Ludacris, especially for the monitor and CPU cooler. I will also take a closer look at the P5K. Thanks a lot.

    Building A New Computer

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    CPU

    Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.00GHz, FSB1333MHz, 6M, LGA775

    I was thinking of the same CPU but was advised to go for a quad core, even if it's less than 3Ghz, since for video editing you'll be more interested in running several programs at a time rather than the speed at which one task is done.

    Yes, but as far as I know, XP 32-bit cannot fully utilize 4 cores so it would not make sense.

    Building A New Computer

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    I wonder why you not change to two the same Seagate 320GB or 500GB hard drives, you can use them as RAID and that will increase your transfer speed.

    Personal we use almost for all our systems 320GB Barracuda 7200.10 (16mb cache), very good experience with it. If you buy your HDD make sure it has a Dcom or Synex sticker otherwise you could get into trouble with warranty (Dcom or Synex do 10 minute swapping if you have problem)

    I have to make myself a bit familiar with RAID (never used it). What I understand is that it increases speed but you have also a certain risk of data loss. Anyway, good point, I will look into this.

    Thanks for the Dcom/Synex tip as well.

    Building A New Computer

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    Been waiting for 4 weeks to get an E8400 here in thailand.. all the suppliers just keep repeating the next week mantra so I ordered it from UK (my bro will bring it in a couple of days). Oc'ers getting + 4ghz out of this.

    Same here. In Fortune Town, many dealers have the E8400 already on their price list (7,900-8200 Baht), but when you ask, they don't know when it will be available. Panthip same same.

    Building A New Computer

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    Blu Ray, where is it? It won the war on formats , my next computer will definetly have one, although Im gonna wait till the price drops , kinda pricy now.

    Right, forgot that. Since HD-DVD is out I will need to consider. But, as you said, still way too expensive. I'll better wait.

    Building A New Computer

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    Looks pretty nice. I love that CPU, that is a beauty.

    1. If you did want to increase your graphics capabilities, Nvidia just released the GeForce 9600GT ($180US). It has pretty nice price/performance for the mid range. Still DX 10.0 however. But if you don't need much graphics umph, 8600GT should do.

    2. I suspect you are careful to get a 32-bit OS with 3GB of RAM because you know it is maxed out. Why not get 64-bit XP and 4GB so you have an extra gig with negligable cost and ease of headroom down the line. Get 2x2GB now, then years down the road drop another 2x2GB in the other 2 free DIMM slots saving your original investment and no need to upgrade the OS.

    3. I would opt for a 24" monitor as they are 1920x1200 res / 1080p for movies, but perhaps too expensive and rare if you are restricted to shopping in Thailand.

    4. 750 watt PSU??? I don't see why 400 watts wouldn't easily fulfill your requirements. You have a power efficient CPU and graphics card which typically are the ones that would require bigger supplies. No reason to generate more heat, noise, and electricity waste than necessary.

    Thanks for your detailed comments cali.

    1) I will definitely take a look a the 9600 GT, only wonder if it is already available in Thailand (e.g. the Intel 8400 will be in stock only from next month onwards)

    2) I'm a bit afraid about drivers and application compatibility for the 64-bit XP. For now I prefer to use 32 bit XP and probably upgrade to Vista at a later stage.

    3) Exactly, expensive and rare. For now, I think the 22" will be ok.

    4) Thanks for that. Especially for the PSU I was not sure which one to use.

    cheers,

    crockett

    Building A New Computer

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    Hi,

    I want to build a new computer myself (for the first time). This machine should give me 3-4 years peace of mind without any major upgrades required. I am not a gamer, but rather do a lot of video editing and graphics (Photoshop). Below are my ideas about the components which I want to use. It would be great if you gurus out there could give me any comments on this (especially on mainboard, graphic card, memory and psu). Am I over-doing it or where do I need to improve?

    Thanks & cheers

    OS

    Windows XP Pro SP2

    Mainboard

    Gigabyte GA-X38-DS5 Intel X38 Express Chipset

    CPU

    Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.00GHz, FSB1333MHz, 6M, LGA775

    Memory

    Geil Value Series 240 Pin 2GB (2x 1GB) DDR2 800 PC-6400

    Model: GX22GB6400DC

    Geil Value Series 240 Pin 1GB (2x 512MB) DDR2 800 PC-6400

    Model: GX21GB6400DC

    Case

    Coolermaster CM 690 (RC-690)

    PSU

    Thermaltake W0117 750W

    Graphic Card

    Galaxy 8600GT 256MB DDR3 128-bit /TD

    HDD

    1x Seagate 320GB Barracuda 7200.10 16MB Cache S-ATA II NCQ

    1x Seagate 500GB Barracuda 7200.11 32MB Cache S-ATA II

    DVD-RW

    Pioneer SATA 215BK

    DVD-Rom

    Asus "DVD-E818A3" Dual Panel 18x

    Monitor

    Samsung SyncMaster 2232BW 22"

    Windows Xp Pro

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    You may go to the next IBM Service center and request a CD. But not forget to take the laptop with you because otherwise they would give you a CD. You even may have to pay a small amount.

    In BKK the IBM Service Center is at IBM Head Office at Phayathai Road, the way from the Victory Monument to Chatuchak on the right side. Is an big building and difficult to miss.

    I paid by Acer THB 100 each for Driver DVD and XP Media-Center CD which both was on an hidden Partition (and still is) on the HDD!

    Cheers.

    I bought the laptop in Indonesia, so I'll think it's a good idea to call IBM here them first. Not that I waste time to go there and them telling me that I have to get the CD from the place of purchase.

    Anyway, thanks again Reimar.

    Firewalls

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    It used to be the case - or so I heard - that the Windows firewall only stopped stuff trying to get in and did not stop stuff trying to get out. I don't know if that is still the case.

    That applies to the firewall which comes with XP. I believe since Vista it works both ways.

    Windows Xp Pro

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    I know Gary A, but the first thing I did after I bought it, was to remove the hidden partition with the factory installation to

    gain the space and then did my own image with Acronis. Thus, without CD no clean install. I should have created a recovery disk

    first before removing the partition.

    Firewalls

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    Any other recommendations?

    A friend has installed the complete Zone Alarm Suite and is experiencing conflicts.

    Personally I use Zone Alarm Pro and have not had any problems, so far.

    I had Zone Alarm Pro as well, then switched to the free version and now to Comodo.

    Since Checkpoint took over Zone Alarm things are getting worse. It installs far too deep into

    the system and uses much too much resources. To get really rid of it you must go through the pain

    of removing it manually.

    For me, I am verry happy with Comodo.

    Windows Xp Pro

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    Last week I bought a OEM disk of XP Pro in IT City. In the box was a leaflet with a critical notice as below:

    "As you know, Microsoft has rolled out Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2c (SP2c). As part of

    this new rollout, a new product key range has been introduced. Therefore only SP2c product keys will

    work with the SP2c image. The SP2c product keys will not be recognized by previous images of

    Windows XP Professional.

    Required action: System Builders MUST use the enclosed end user media to create new images of

    Windows XP Professional, to ensure it works with the new range of product keys.

    End users will not be able to successfully complete installation of Windows XP Professional with

    Service Pack 2c if System Builders do not update their images to Windows XP 2c. For more

    information, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/oem/xp2c."

    Now, I have a laptop with a pre-installed XP Pro SP2 already. Let's assume I use this disk to do a

    clean install of Windows on the laptop, using of course the old product key of the original installation.

    Does above notice mean that my old product key will no longer work?

    Thanks for any input.

    Normally your "old" CD key works with your "old" windows only. If the Windows XP, which came pre installed on your Laptop uses an VLK Key from an OEM Manufacturer, will not work anymore or have some errors or so, you'll need the CD from the Manufacturer (from your Laptop) to use that CD Key.

    In Case you wan to install the "new" XP from your "new" OEM-CD, you can use the CD-Key wich came with this CD only.

    The enclosed End User Media is an extra CD which contains special software for to pre-install Windows on an new PC for to sell that computer to an other person and the buyer have to complete the setup on the first start. But that has nothing to do with that you can install that Windows version on any of your computer, you just need to use that new supplied CD-Key which came with it.

    So, no problems at all.

    Cheers.

    Thanks for that Reimar.

    In this case I better get the CD from the manufacturer of the laptop (IBM) because

    I rather keep the new license for a new computer in the future. I do not want to "waste"

    this product key just for a re-installation.

    Firewalls

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    Depends on your setup. If you are behind a router with its firewall enabled and you use Vista, the Windows firewall

    will do the job (if properly configured). I am on XP and recently switched from ZoneAlarm Free to Comodo.

    Best switch I have ever made.

    Otherwise, as Reimar said, do not use two firewalls at the same time.

    Windows Xp Pro

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    Last week I bought a OEM disk of XP Pro in IT City. In the box was a leaflet with a critical notice as below:

    "As you know, Microsoft has rolled out Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2c (SP2c). As part of

    this new rollout, a new product key range has been introduced. Therefore only SP2c product keys will

    work with the SP2c image. The SP2c product keys will not be recognized by previous images of

    Windows XP Professional.

    Required action: System Builders MUST use the enclosed end user media to create new images of

    Windows XP Professional, to ensure it works with the new range of product keys.

    End users will not be able to successfully complete installation of Windows XP Professional with

    Service Pack 2c if System Builders do not update their images to Windows XP 2c. For more

    information, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/oem/xp2c."

    Now, I have a laptop with a pre-installed XP Pro SP2 already. Let's assume I use this disk to do a

    clean install of Windows on the laptop, using of course the old product key of the original installation.

    Does above notice mean that my old product key will no longer work?

    Thanks for any input.

    Ibm Thinkpad R51 3+ Years Old

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    Hi,

    I have a IBM Thinkpad R51 (2888 BQA) which is now becoming of age (bought it in September 2004).

    It has a genuine Win XP Pro SP2 installed and during last year I have upgraded it to a 100 GB

    drive and 2 GB Ram. The machine is working fine, never had any problems. However, for video

    editing which I do quite a lot, it is too slow and I am thinking of buying a new one.

    Nowadays, with quad core processors becoming standard very soon, would it still be possible to sell

    it at a reasonable price? I payed US 2K for it back in 2004. How much would I get for it now?

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