NSS: New Computer

Jenny · 12-21-2003, 01:22 PM

Ok, so I got a new computer a week ago and I am loving it!

Went from a 900MHz P3 to a 2.4GHz P4 (the Dell 400SC on the deals page regularly). I upgraded to 384 memory and will replace the 128 in there after Christmas with another 256, making it 512.

It is sooo good! Fast, not giving me any problems, etc. Love it!

It used to take me 3 hours to encode a full movie cd (splitting a movie into 2 cd's would take me 6 hours). Right now, I'm encoding Daddy Daycare, and not only can I USE the computer while I do it, for the first cd (not a full cd, but was too big to fit on 1 so had to split it into 2) it is only taking 21 minutes! LOVE IT!

Markel · 12-21-2003, 01:56 PM

Upgrades are always nice. I let the kids have the newest system I bought (a Dell 4550 4.53GHz that was $400 after rebate a while ago) so they would stop bugging me to let them play games on my computer. Their old one was a 400Mhz P2. I'm still using a 1Gig AMD Thunderbird system, but I've to 2 120 Gig SE drives in Raid 0, so I does ok. But I am definately thinking about building myself a new system before too long. Of course, with salaries frozen at the -2.5% level for the coming year and no year end bonus this year, it might be a while.

cheapie · 12-21-2003, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Markel
Upgrades are always nice. I let the kids have the newest system I bought (a Dell 4550 4.53GHz that was $400 after rebate a while ago) so they would stop bugging me to let them play games on my computer. Their old one was a 400Mhz P2. I'm still using a 1Gig AMD Thunderbird system, but I've to 2 120 Gig SE drives in Raid 0, so I does ok. But I am definately thinking about building myself a new system before too long. Of course, with salaries frozen at the -2.5% level for the coming year and no year end bonus this year, it might be a while.

your salary is getting reduced next year by 2.5%?

Quote:

Originally posted by Jenny
Ok, so I got a new computer a week ago and I am loving it!

Went from a 900MHz P3 to a 2.4GHz P4 (the Dell 400SC on the deals page regularly). I upgraded to 384 memory and will replace the 128 in there after Christmas with another 256, making it 512.

It is sooo good! Fast, not giving me any problems, etc. Love it!

It used to take me 3 hours to encode a full movie cd (splitting a movie into 2 cd's would take me 6 hours). Right now, I'm encoding Daddy Daycare, and not only can I USE the computer while I do it, for the first cd (not a full cd, but was too big to fit on 1 so had to split it into 2) it is only taking 21 minutes! LOVE IT!

sweet! nothing like technology to make illegal activities easier.

jk girl!

Markel · 12-21-2003, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cheapie
your salary is getting reduced next year by 2.5%?

No, it's staying "level" at a 2.5% reduction from 3 years ago. 2 years ago they reduced them 5%, and last year they gave back half of that.

I did a little Excel sheet that shows that by the end of this coming year, these actions (including 0 bonus this year) will havfe cost me $20K.

[edit: as compared to if they were giving minimalist 2.5% yearly raises all along.]

Jenny · 12-21-2003, 02:21 PM

Ick! Sorry Markel!

LOL cheapie

It also makes work easier. Windows are opening faster, getting places faster, just all in all faster.

Hoser · 12-21-2003, 05:25 PM

Jenny, why don't you get a DVD writer? You won't have to split the movies between two CDs, and the quality will also be better.

Jenny · 12-21-2003, 07:52 PM

It's on my list.

But can't afford it yet. Going to upgrade the memory again, then after that will be a dvd writer, unless I get one for Christmas.

Hoser · 12-21-2003, 09:21 PM

Upgrading memory is probably the best upgrade to do first.

I've got two 400SC computers. The first is a 3.2GHZ P4 with 1GB memory an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro, and an Audigy 2. It has a 16X DVD and a 4X DVD +RW/-RW.

The second is a 2.8GHZ P4 with 256MB (using the 128MB from the other computer). I have to get a video card for this one, since it's going to be my HTPC.

I didn't upgrade the hard drives in either computer. I use external firewire drives for storage.

brain · 12-21-2003, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Markel
Upgrades are always nice. I let the kids have the newest system I bought (a Dell 4550 4.53GHz that was $400 after rebate a while ago)

There is a 4.53Ghz processor? Or is it just a typo?

DaFunkyUnit · 12-21-2003, 11:41 PM

so Jenny, when are you gonna overclock it? and then case mod it? and then add water-cooling?

Jenny · 12-21-2003, 11:52 PM

Yup, memory is definitely going to be upgraded. And video card as well. Luckily, I had a 180 gig hdd from my other computer, so I added it to this one, along with the 40 gig that was already in here.

And DaFunkyUnit, umm, probably never

DaFunkyUnit · 12-22-2003, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jenny
Yup, memory is definitely going to be upgraded. And video card as well. Luckily, I had a 180 gig hdd from my other computer, so I added it to this one, along with the 40 gig that was already in here.

And DaFunkyUnit, umm, probably never

pfftt... you are soooo not l33t

Markel · 12-22-2003, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brain

There is a 4.53Ghz processor? Or is it just a typo?

Typo.

(But I wish....).

2.53G P4 still beats 400M P2 by a long ways.

Grimm · 12-24-2003, 10:49 AM

Jenny I just got my 400SC too, 2.4Ghz P4 also. I pulled the 128MB ECC ram and put in 2x512MB Dual Channel DDR 3200 RAM. I was rushed and I think I put it in wrong so the dual channel is not working. But I am not gonna crack the case again untill the humidity increases. Too much static electricity atm.

The thing is so quiet the monitor makes more noise than the cpu. It's so fast, quiet and cheap that I am wondering why I usualy build my own systems. I should jut buy Dell 400SCs and upgrade them. I don't really like the black case though... I think I should paint it.

Hoser · 12-24-2003, 12:04 PM

For dual channel the RAM is put in the first and third slot (if you're using two sticks).

Jenny · 12-24-2003, 12:45 PM

Yeah, I'm loving mine and can't wait to upgrade the ram again and to get a dvd burner (Christmas bonus here I come!).

what is dual channel?

Hoser · 12-24-2003, 01:43 PM

Dual channel allows you to access both sticks simultaneously, resulting in faster memory access.

This link has good info: http://www.kingston.com/newtech/MKF_...whitepaper.pdf

12-21-2003, 01:22 PM	#1
Jenny Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Kansas City area Posts: 10,947	NSS: New Computer Ok, so I got a new computer a week ago and I am loving it! Went from a 900MHz P3 to a 2.4GHz P4 (the Dell 400SC on the deals page regularly). I upgraded to 384 memory and will replace the 128 in there after Christmas with another 256, making it 512. It is sooo good! Fast, not giving me any problems, etc. Love it! It used to take me 3 hours to encode a full movie cd (splitting a movie into 2 cd's would take me 6 hours). Right now, I'm encoding Daddy Daycare, and not only can I USE the computer while I do it, for the first cd (not a full cd, but was too big to fit on 1 so had to split it into 2) it is only taking 21 minutes! LOVE IT! __________________ Check out my spoilers for over 20 shows @ SpoilerFix.com Check out my TV blog, where I post weekly & daily TV schedules, TV news, interviews with TV stars & more! All new TV forums as well @ TV Is My Pacifier

12-21-2003, 01:56 PM	#2
Markel Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 11,733	Upgrades are always nice. I let the kids have the newest system I bought (a Dell 4550 4.53GHz that was $400 after rebate a while ago) so they would stop bugging me to let them play games on my computer. Their old one was a 400Mhz P2. I'm still using a 1Gig AMD Thunderbird system, but I've to 2 120 Gig SE drives in Raid 0, so I does ok. But I am definately thinking about building myself a new system before too long. Of course, with salaries frozen at the -2.5% level for the coming year and no year end bonus this year, it might be a while. __________________ stay low... keep moving...

12-21-2003, 11:41 PM	#10
DaFunkyUnit Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: the peanut gallery Posts: 3,909	so Jenny, when are you gonna overclock it? and then case mod it? and then add water-cooling? __________________

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12-21-2003, 02:21 PM	#5
Jenny Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Kansas City area Posts: 10,947	Ick! Sorry Markel! LOL cheapie It also makes work easier. Windows are opening faster, getting places faster, just all in all faster.

12-21-2003, 05:25 PM	#6
Hoser Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Omaha, NE, United States Posts: 1,275	Jenny, why don't you get a DVD writer? You won't have to split the movies between two CDs, and the quality will also be better.

12-21-2003, 07:52 PM	#7
Jenny Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Kansas City area Posts: 10,947	It's on my list. But can't afford it yet. Going to upgrade the memory again, then after that will be a dvd writer, unless I get one for Christmas.

12-21-2003, 09:21 PM	#8
Hoser Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Omaha, NE, United States Posts: 1,275	Upgrading memory is probably the best upgrade to do first. I've got two 400SC computers. The first is a 3.2GHZ P4 with 1GB memory an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro, and an Audigy 2. It has a 16X DVD and a 4X DVD +RW/-RW. The second is a 2.8GHZ P4 with 256MB (using the 128MB from the other computer). I have to get a video card for this one, since it's going to be my HTPC. I didn't upgrade the hard drives in either computer. I use external firewire drives for storage.

12-21-2003, 11:52 PM	#11
Jenny Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Kansas City area Posts: 10,947	Yup, memory is definitely going to be upgraded. And video card as well. Luckily, I had a 180 gig hdd from my other computer, so I added it to this one, along with the 40 gig that was already in here. And DaFunkyUnit, umm, probably never

12-24-2003, 10:49 AM	#14
Grimm 100% Pure Evil Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 7,861	Jenny I just got my 400SC too, 2.4Ghz P4 also. I pulled the 128MB ECC ram and put in 2x512MB Dual Channel DDR 3200 RAM. I was rushed and I think I put it in wrong so the dual channel is not working. But I am not gonna crack the case again untill the humidity increases. Too much static electricity atm. The thing is so quiet the monitor makes more noise than the cpu. It's so fast, quiet and cheap that I am wondering why I usualy build my own systems. I should jut buy Dell 400SCs and upgrade them. I don't really like the black case though... I think I should paint it.

12-24-2003, 12:04 PM	#15
Hoser Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Omaha, NE, United States Posts: 1,275	For dual channel the RAM is put in the first and third slot (if you're using two sticks).

12-24-2003, 12:45 PM	#16
Jenny Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Kansas City area Posts: 10,947	Yeah, I'm loving mine and can't wait to upgrade the ram again and to get a dvd burner (Christmas bonus here I come!). what is dual channel?

12-24-2003, 01:43 PM	#17
Hoser Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Omaha, NE, United States Posts: 1,275	Dual channel allows you to access both sticks simultaneously, resulting in faster memory access. This link has good info: http://www.kingston.com/newtech/MKF_...whitepaper.pdf

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