Mid to High end PC system advice

AmRivlin · 08-09-2006, 02:04 PM

Need suggestions on Graphics, Motherboard, and Processor. It appears Core2 Duo is the best processor right now, but that is 32 bit, where AMD is now 64?

I am going to be working on Graphics, Video, and DVD creation. (Adobe CS stuff, avid, premier, among others)

2 gigs of ram minimum, most likely a SATA 200gig drive, and 5.1 audio.

Budget ~1200

pagemap · 08-09-2006, 02:12 PM

32 bit won't matter unless you plan to also run WinXP 64 bit edition. I'm not sure if Vista will be 64 bit out of the box, if it is then it might be worthwhile to buy a 64 bit proc.

If going with an Intel CPU it might be advisable to buy Nvidia graphics, seeing as ATI was just purchased by AMD and will likely be better supported on that platform from now on. Wait until the DirectX 10 cards are released because they will be fully supported by Vista and will have the longest useable life because next-gen games will utilize DirectX10 features more extensively.

Also, spend some dollars on a quality power supply. ****ty power supplies not supplying correct voltage or not enough watts can cause an otherwise perfect system to crash and lockup. I recommend OCZ power supplies http://www.ocztechnology.com/product...m_power_supply

With some of their power supplies the voltage rails are adjustable, which means you can attach a multimeter and dial the voltages in to exactly where they are supposed to be.

Devhux · 08-09-2006, 05:35 PM

Core 2 Duo is 64-bit capable. You might be getting confused with the original Core Duo for laptops, as that was only 32-bit.

redcolours · 08-09-2006, 08:15 PM

get a raptor for your drives. at least make one drive a rapor - 10K rpm on a 16MB buffer. fastest SATA drive you can get. Then get a 750GB SATA drive to complement that.

graphics? get a quadroFX. if not one of those 76xx or 78xx geforce cards will do.

not sure about AMD CPUs, but newer mobos that take the Conroe chips are usually capable of 8GB of DDR2 RAM. You can simply start off right away with one 2GB stick. (even the newest small form factor PC from Shuttle is capable of that).

one thing though (and this is in a real world situation): If youre running XP and looking ahead to Vista, 32 or 64-bit really means nothing even if the OS itself is 64bit. Are the apps youre going to use capable of using a 64bit chip? or do they have a 64bit version you can use that will be optimized for a 64bit chip? If it comes with conroe, then good, but i dont see any benefit if its not going to be used. Its actually a waste, no matter how bleeding edge it is.

ok enough soapboxing. One thing i do know, and i quite agree with pagemap. just make sure you have a really powerful and reliable PSU to run all these power-hungry components.

Grubbie · 08-09-2006, 08:43 PM

Good luck getting a core 2 duo though. You can go ahead and get a E6300 or maybe a E6400 but it is almost impossible to find a E6600 right now at a decent price. I got an email alert saying one was in stock at zipzoomfly, but the time I checked it, it was sold out.

Hopefully around the 16th when more retailers get more supplies the price will come down and they will be easier to get.

Jeffbx · 08-10-2006, 05:44 AM

Have a look at the Dell Precision 390 - that one's designed for exactly what you're doing.

08-09-2006, 02:04 PM	#1
AmRivlin Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: May 2000 Location: Singapore Posts: 2,061	Mid to High end PC system advice Need suggestions on Graphics, Motherboard, and Processor. It appears Core2 Duo is the best processor right now, but that is 32 bit, where AMD is now 64? I am going to be working on Graphics, Video, and DVD creation. (Adobe CS stuff, avid, premier, among others) 2 gigs of ram minimum, most likely a SATA 200gig drive, and 5.1 audio. Budget ~1200 __________________ Got\|Apex Senior Experienced Poster SEP

08-09-2006, 02:12 PM	#2
pagemap Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 924	32 bit won't matter unless you plan to also run WinXP 64 bit edition. I'm not sure if Vista will be 64 bit out of the box, if it is then it might be worthwhile to buy a 64 bit proc. If going with an Intel CPU it might be advisable to buy Nvidia graphics, seeing as ATI was just purchased by AMD and will likely be better supported on that platform from now on. Wait until the DirectX 10 cards are released because they will be fully supported by Vista and will have the longest useable life because next-gen games will utilize DirectX10 features more extensively. Also, spend some dollars on a quality power supply. ***ty power supplies not supplying correct voltage or not enough watts can cause an otherwise perfect system to crash and lockup. I recommend OCZ power supplies http://www.ocztechnology.com/product...m_power_supply With some of their power supplies the voltage rails are adjustable, which means you can attach a multimeter and dial the voltages in to exactly where they are supposed to be. __________________ Got\|Apex Senior Inexperienced Poster S.I.P. Last edited by pagemap : 08-09-2006 at 02:15 PM.*

08-09-2006, 05:35 PM	#3
Devhux Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Calgary Alberta Canada Posts: 2,511	Core 2 Duo is 64-bit capable. You might be getting confused with the original Core Duo for laptops, as that was only 32-bit. __________________ 0118 999 881 999 119 725... 3

08-09-2006, 08:15 PM	#4
redcolours in living colour Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: above a raging c Posts: 1,739	get a raptor for your drives. at least make one drive a rapor - 10K rpm on a 16MB buffer. fastest SATA drive you can get. Then get a 750GB SATA drive to complement that. graphics? get a quadroFX. if not one of those 76xx or 78xx geforce cards will do. not sure about AMD CPUs, but newer mobos that take the Conroe chips are usually capable of 8GB of DDR2 RAM. You can simply start off right away with one 2GB stick. (even the newest small form factor PC from Shuttle is capable of that). one thing though (and this is in a real world situation): If youre running XP and looking ahead to Vista, 32 or 64-bit really means nothing even if the OS itself is 64bit. Are the apps youre going to use capable of using a 64bit chip? or do they have a 64bit version you can use that will be optimized for a 64bit chip? If it comes with conroe, then good, but i dont see any benefit if its not going to be used. Its actually a waste, no matter how bleeding edge it is. ok enough soapboxing. One thing i do know, and i quite agree with pagemap. just make sure you have a really powerful and reliable PSU to run all these power-hungry components. __________________ there are pictures, but no,nothing happens on my site.

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08-09-2006, 08:43 PM	#5
Grubbie Captain Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Redmond Posts: 1,596	Good luck getting a core 2 duo though. You can go ahead and get a E6300 or maybe a E6400 but it is almost impossible to find a E6600 right now at a decent price. I got an email alert saying one was in stock at zipzoomfly, but the time I checked it, it was sold out. Hopefully around the 16th when more retailers get more supplies the price will come down and they will be easier to get.

08-10-2006, 05:44 AM	#6
Jeffbx Fleet Admiral Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,390	Have a look at the Dell Precision 390 - that one's designed for exactly what you're doing.

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