What components does a new PC need to be future friendly?
Within the next year I will need to replace a main pc. I anticipate using windows 8. Want large form w plenty of expansion bays and pcie/memory slots. Would like fotward looking motherboard design ready for whatever innovations may become common in the next few years. It will be used for +_ 600 Gig Music file storage (raid 1 protected), Photoshop CS edits, and general computer chores. Would like some integrated internal/external backup solution as well.
Every few years we have purchased new pcs, leaving us with a household of useful but dated electronics to which we have given mild updates (ie PCI cards , new OS's, Better memory, and in one case faster CPU). Have held back on upgrades lately because it looks like it's time to start over.
Now it's time to plan for the next big purchase. There is so much that is in development and looks imminent, or that is here already but really pricey: (ie SSD's, SAS, a variety of 3rd and 4th generation i/o ports, etc). The idea would be, for example, a system to which I could add SATA drives now, replace w/ SAS or SSD when the prices fall. Is this possible? If so, I have 2 questions:
1. What new or breaking technology should I keep in mind while working on new configuration?
2. Is there a branded solution you would rec, or should I look for something custom? (I've never done that hefore and would have no idea how to find one)
Know this won't be cheap, but I remember that my first "loaded" Dell cost over $10,000 many years ago, so I guess it's all relative.
Every few years we have purchased new pcs, leaving us with a household of useful but dated electronics to which we have given mild updates (ie PCI cards , new OS's, Better memory, and in one case faster CPU). Have held back on upgrades lately because it looks like it's time to start over.
Now it's time to plan for the next big purchase. There is so much that is in development and looks imminent, or that is here already but really pricey: (ie SSD's, SAS, a variety of 3rd and 4th generation i/o ports, etc). The idea would be, for example, a system to which I could add SATA drives now, replace w/ SAS or SSD when the prices fall. Is this possible? If so, I have 2 questions:
1. What new or breaking technology should I keep in mind while working on new configuration?
2. Is there a branded solution you would rec, or should I look for something custom? (I've never done that hefore and would have no idea how to find one)
Know this won't be cheap, but I remember that my first "loaded" Dell cost over $10,000 many years ago, so I guess it's all relative.
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Is anyone allowed to make specific recs? I'm having trouble finding samples. For example, what's sufficient power? Do I want on board raid and sas ports, or rely on PCI express cards later? Is there a branded pc that already has better i/o bus design? Is there a motherboard that you could rec, and then how can I find a pc that uses this mbo? Sorry I am so dense about how to research this. I've even had trouble searching for PC's by the number of PCI express slots they have. Maybe you can guide me to a reliable website that discusses all this? Thanks.
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working on these suggestions. will report back. thanks.
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Am deep into research with dell, hp, and puget systems. They transfer me from consumer department to workstation department due to audio/visual editing and desire for upgrade/expandability. Thanks to your good advice I have refined my search. When I come to issues that have more focus I will be back with more targeted questions. meanwhile, thanks for getting me started.
Great. You might also seriously consider a mac, especially if you want AV. I run Win7 in a virtual machine when necessary, and it is so well integrated that I can double click on an attachment in my email, and if it is a .doc it opens up microsoft word. You can drag and drop files between the mac and windows sides with ease.
This has proven true with disk drives, memory, and CPUs. It has not proven true with I/O bus & slots & power (Graphics controller families come both ways)
So my advice is to buy something with high speed PCIe slots, and sufficient power, and leave room to grow.