slink9
asked on
New System / Programming Purposes / Dual Monitor Setup
My system is a bit old (P4 2GHz, 768M, single video card) and I want to get a new system. I am perfectly capable of assembling a system although I have been out of the loop as to what is the latest and greatest stuff. This is not a gaming system and will not be used for that so I do not need video speed for that purpose. It is for programming in VS2005 / VB6. Here is what I want:
Best processor at a decent price (approx 2 GHz, high FSB and cache)
Mobo capable of handling two video cards and SATA drives
Two video cards which will work well together (can one be AGP and the other PCI??)
2G of memory
160G (or so) SATA hard drive
Case with proper fans and ventilation
17" flat panel monitor (the second, I already have a Dell 17" FP)
I have always said that standard computers can be purchased cheaper from Dell or another mass producer but this is not standard and I don't like paying for another OS when I have XP Pro already (and other issues that I have with a brand new system from the retail places). I also have a CD and DVD writer so the mobo would need to support IDE (that is still a normal thing right?)
I want good prices but a reputable and trustworthy dealer. I could go to pricewatch.com and pick the best prices but can also get burned by doing that. Give me prices and sources you personally have dealt with. If giving your name as a reference will help I will be glad to do that.
Best processor at a decent price (approx 2 GHz, high FSB and cache)
Mobo capable of handling two video cards and SATA drives
Two video cards which will work well together (can one be AGP and the other PCI??)
2G of memory
160G (or so) SATA hard drive
Case with proper fans and ventilation
17" flat panel monitor (the second, I already have a Dell 17" FP)
I have always said that standard computers can be purchased cheaper from Dell or another mass producer but this is not standard and I don't like paying for another OS when I have XP Pro already (and other issues that I have with a brand new system from the retail places). I also have a CD and DVD writer so the mobo would need to support IDE (that is still a normal thing right?)
I want good prices but a reputable and trustworthy dealer. I could go to pricewatch.com and pick the best prices but can also get burned by doing that. Give me prices and sources you personally have dealt with. If giving your name as a reference will help I will be glad to do that.
do you have a rough idea of what you want to spend?
i just recently upgraded my comp to a quad core with 4gb of real fast ram and a nice vid card for about 900$.
i just recently upgraded my comp to a quad core with 4gb of real fast ram and a nice vid card for about 900$.
ASKER
I was hoping for around $500-600.
Does that mean that the systems with integrated video will not handle a second video card as the AGP? I have an ATI Rage 128 which I was hoping to be able to use as the second video card.
Does that mean that the systems with integrated video will not handle a second video card as the AGP? I have an ATI Rage 128 which I was hoping to be able to use as the second video card.
well then you could get a mobo with integrated video...but then that eats your RAM.
are you salvaging any other parts? like Hard drive, Case, power supply dvd/cd drive, keyboard/mouse etc...
because if not, that stuff adds up real quick
are you salvaging any other parts? like Hard drive, Case, power supply dvd/cd drive, keyboard/mouse etc...
because if not, that stuff adds up real quick
ASKER
I have hard drives (although a SATA drive may be added), CD and DVD writers, mouse, keyboard, one monitor. I will need a well ventilated case with power supply, CPU, Mobo, Memory, additional 17" flat panel. It sounds like I can go with a pretty standard mobo with integrated video and use the Rage 128 as my other video source?
With 2G of RAM on XP even with integrated video. Wouldn't that be plenty?
I just spen an hour upgrading VS2005 to SP1. I believe it would have gone faster with a SATA drive, mpre memory, and a faster CPU.
With 2G of RAM on XP even with integrated video. Wouldn't that be plenty?
I just spen an hour upgrading VS2005 to SP1. I believe it would have gone faster with a SATA drive, mpre memory, and a faster CPU.
yea that service pack is a monster. It took like 4 hours on my work pc haha.
what types of things are you developing?
how many hard drives, and are you planning on getting any more (to find out what power supply will best fit your needs).
and yea that video setup will be fine, its just that I like my video cards to have their own ram so they arent tieing up my system accessing system ram.
do you care about the looks of the case? or is the least expensive one that supports your needs fine?
what types of things are you developing?
how many hard drives, and are you planning on getting any more (to find out what power supply will best fit your needs).
and yea that video setup will be fine, its just that I like my video cards to have their own ram so they arent tieing up my system accessing system ram.
do you care about the looks of the case? or is the least expensive one that supports your needs fine?
ASKER
Tower case, but it is sitting under my desk so it does not matter how it looks as long as it has good ventilation. I used a low-end case with my P4 and I have to leave the side off of it with a fan blowing in, otherwise the hard drives go flaky.
I have two IDE hard drives now (one has my old stuff on it after my last system rebuild), a CDRW and a DVDRW. I also plug in a USB Hard drive for backup purposes.
I have two software packages of my own developed in VFP7 and I am doing contract programming on VB6 and VB.Net. The contract programming is on law enforcement software and my two programs are a Bail Bond system (quite appropriate) and referee assigning software.
I have two IDE hard drives now (one has my old stuff on it after my last system rebuild), a CDRW and a DVDRW. I also plug in a USB Hard drive for backup purposes.
I have two software packages of my own developed in VFP7 and I am doing contract programming on VB6 and VB.Net. The contract programming is on law enforcement software and my two programs are a Bail Bond system (quite appropriate) and referee assigning software.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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(the video card is silent too)
ASKER
Do they have good prices on 17" LCD FP Monitors? Case? I believe that is all that is missing to complete the system.
ASKER
email address: expech@l!nkemup.u$
replace the ! with an i and the $ wuth an s. Maybe I won't get too much spam.
replace the ! with an i and the $ wuth an s. Maybe I won't get too much spam.
ASKER
After looking at Staples I don't believe anybody will do any better on price. How would it work to put a 19" and 17" together in a dual monitor setup? 19" acer 700:1 contrast - $180.
the case is included in that post, its the first item...and i meant to say 450$ with $67 worth of rebates, sorry..
the cart was sent, read the message body I put some info in there.
in terms of monitor, you may want to look around yourself just because they all look different and they are all around the same price, so you might as well get one that matches your other monitor, or has stuff you like.
the cart was sent, read the message body I put some info in there.
in terms of monitor, you may want to look around yourself just because they all look different and they are all around the same price, so you might as well get one that matches your other monitor, or has stuff you like.
ASKER
I like that system but will leave it open for a day or two to see if anyone has any other suggestions. Thanks.
ASKER
Did that rebate thing work for you with two addresses? It seems that the memory would be listed on the same invoice so they may be able to catch it. I could do one under my wife's name to the PO Box and one under my name to our physical address. Do you think it would be an issue if the mailing name does not match that on the invoice?
ASKER
I noticed that they do not do PO Boxes. Oh well for that idea. I did place the order and get the 4G of memory since I will go with Vista. My only question was if the heatsink / fan were included with the CPU. I finally saw that they are. Since I am not planning to overclock the stock heat components should be fine. Thanks for the help.
also, check out
http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html
there is even an option for best cpu/price
If i were you id get 4gb of RAM.
visual studio is a hog, so if you got your browser open, visual studio, and anything else thats memory intensive (vmware, a database, etc) then youll be pushing the 2gb.
also amke sure you get at least dual core.