OK, I've ordered the new machine - comments welcome

[Rik]

After the debacle with Evesham in February/March, I decided to pause a while before placing an order - partly to make sure the money was back on my card, partly to allow Intel's price cuts to work through. So, I finally got around to ordering this spec from Scan today. Any comments or suggestions welcome, I still have time to change things!


**3XS-CORE DUO HIGH END SYSTEM**

Akasa Mirage-62 Midi Tower Case - Hi-End (Thermo efficient case with front panel door & IO port)

**Intel BLKD975XBX2KR i975X, S775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 667/533, SATA I / II, SATA RAID, ATX, OEM (8 USB2, 2 Gigabit NICs, PS/2 x 2)

Now changed to:
Asus P5W64 WS Professional i975X, S775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 533/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX

700W Tagan U35 Easycon PCI Express, SLi, Molex, EPS 12V, 80% eff.

120mm Akasa Amber Case Fan, 3 Pin, 2 Ball Bearing , Ultra Quiet and Long life

50cm 3XS Round ATA133 Certified IDE Cable

50cm 3XS Round Floppy Drive Cable Certified

Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 S775, 2.67Ghz, 1066Mhz FSB, Conroe Core, 4M Cache Retail

Zalman CNPS9700-NT nVidia Tritium Super Aero Flower Cooler

4Gb (4X1Gb) Corsair TwinX DDR2 XMS2 Dominator, PC8500, 240 Pin, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-15

256MB Sapphire Radeon X1950GT, PCI-E(x16), Mem 1200MHz GDDR3, GPU 500MHz, 36 Pipes, RoHS
They talked me out of a higher spec card as they don't think I need one for my use: Office, web, Photoshop

80 Gb Samsung HD080HJ SpinPoint P80, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 8MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ
Two of these. I was mulling the WD Raptor 10000RPM, but was advised that these will perform as well or better in most circumstances as the Raptors are SATA150. These drives will be Windows/System and applications

750Gb Seagate ST375064AS Barracuda 7200RMP, SATA2, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, , NCQ
Two of these, one for data, one for internal backup.

Mitsumi FA404M 1.44 Black FDD+Int USB2 7 in 1 Card Reader (SM/MMC/SD/CF/MD/MS) Fits in 3.5" FDD Bay

2 x NEC AD7170S-0B 18x DVD±RW/RAM black internal SATA Oem

Creative Audigy soundcard
Don't need anything fancy

Microsoft Windows XP PRO Edition SP2b (Release 2)

23" Viewsonic VP231WB Thinedge Widescreen DVI/VGA 1920x1200 ,16 ms , 500:1 ,250 cd/m2 ,Black PC/MAC
Better for me than 24" Dell. No dead pixels guarantee, can be set to 6500K, next day swap out warranty

Microsoft Black Optical Value Pack V2 - Multimedia Keyboard & Intelli Optical Mouse
Going straight in the spares cupboard

Creative I-Trigue 2.1 3330 Speakers

120mm Akasa Amber Case Fan, 3 Pin, 2 Ball Bearing , Ultra Quiet

Extended Warranty (Insurance-Backed) - 2nd and 3rd Year On-Site Service


--------

I have to say I was very impressed speaking to them. I got hold of someone who knew what he was talking about and was happy to answer questions and to offer advice. He was also keen to save me money, reducing the spec where I didn't need the power, eg the graphics card. He even updated their website while we were talking to allow the 80GB Samsungs and the 3330 speakers, which weren't in the original spec.

Actually, it was a bit like talking to IDNet.

Interestingly, they install Windows from the CD and apply all the updates before sending it out, activating it and creating the user account with the name you choose - most unusual. All CDs supplied.

[Lance]

Looks a nice spec, Rik. Should last about 4 weeks I reckon!

A couple of notes though, do you really need a FDD? If you have old stuff on floppy disks would it not be possible to use either an older machine when you need the data, or simply archive them to your HDD and transfer them accross the network as and when you need to? You could even share the floppy drive on one machine over a network. I just think that in thi day and age there is no need for them, and the case is a little neater without them. Plus you'll save all of three pounds .

Also, if sound isn't important, could you not make use of the in built sound on the motherboard? This is what I do and it has a minimal effect on the CPU and is perfectly adequate.

Finally, what is the "50cm 3XS Round ATA133 Certified IDE Cable" for? All your hard drives and DVD writers are SATA so do this not use a different cable to IDE drives?

[Rik]

Hi Lance

This is the first machine with a floppy that I've ordered for a while. The reason being that if Acronis True Image has problems booting from DVD, they ask for a file to be written to a floppy, and only an internal floppy (ie non USB) will do. As it's combined with a card reader, it seemed a good idea. I would guess that's where the IDE cable goes.

On the soundcard font, I did consider using the mobo, but it was only £15 or so, so I thought 'compatibility'.

[RobMc]

but what colour is the case and does it have those nice perspex windows in them so you can see lot's of flashing lights? 


Seriously that sounds like a real monster of a system . I've been using scan for many years and have always found them helpful over the phone and a couple of times when I went to their site to use their counter service when I positively had to have something same day. I've got three of those 120mm akasa fans in my case and the system as a whole is as near silent as makes no difference.

Rob.

[Rik]

Black and no, Rob.

I was speaking to their systems manger, who was helping out on the phones. I couldn't get over the fact he wanted to save me money! Thanks for the information on the fans, I'm trying for silent but deadly... powerful. 

[Inactive]

Wow Rik, that is some monster of a PC, my only observations are;

( 1 )... I didn't see any Firewire Ports listed ( unless I missed them ).

and ( 2 ...) I had a Viewsonic LCD Monitor that had serious backlight bleed, I changed to a Dell, no problem whatsoever, I am still using it.

Keep us updated on progress. .

[Rik]

Hi Inactive

I didn't bother to list the Firewire ports, very remiss of my - 2.

This will be my third Viewsonic, and I've had no problems so far, but there's always a first time - let's hope not. The inability to set colour temperature, at least according to the Dell spec, counted greatly against it. For reprographics work, everything is calibrated at 6500K.

Oh, and I've decided overnight that, with all the money they've saved me, I might as well go for 4GB.

[siege2]

Hi Rik
Nice specs, it even outdoes mine,now that would be simular to my specs if I I was going to upgrade within the few weeks
:-)

[Rik]

Don't worry, Siege, it will be obsolete by the time it's delivered!

[siege2]

  true it will always be the Case :-)

[Rik]

Tell me about it. If you can buy it today, it's either obsolete, about to become obsolete, or about to have its price cut two days after you purchase. The story of my life.

[Mr Booh]

Great Machine.  Beats my Amstrad

[Lance]

I find my Amstrad a bit BASIC these days!

[Inactive]

I find my Amstrad a bit BASIC these days!

G.......R.......O........A........N

[RobMc]

10 PRINT "GROAN"
20 GOTO 10
RUN

Ahh memories....

Rob.

[Lance]

Lol. The amstrad was my first computer, when i was about 4! It had the wonderful green screen and tape drive, i think it was a cpc 464, but not sure.

[Inactive]

I can go back even further Lance, my first computer was a Sinclair with 1kb of memory, all it did was a ping pong game and Basic, as far as I recall, connected to a TV, all in glorious B&W.

I won it from Shell for buying central heating oil from them.


Next was a Texas Instrument with 16kb of memory and colour.


Then some cut down BBC thing with 32kb.

Next was a Sony Hitbit with a massive 64kb of memory, it is up in the loft somewhere.

Then an Ollivetti with two floppy drives with DOS.

Then my very first PC, which was a Dell, running W95, it cost a staggering £1400 at the time.

One IBM and 2 Medions have me up do date.

[Rik]

10 PRINT "GROAN"
20 GOTO 10
RUN

Ahh memories....

Now, if you were a BBC BASIC man, you'd have written that as a PROC.

[Ray]

My first Computer was a Dragon 32 and you had to save and load everything using a cassette tape.

My first PC was an Amstrad and this was followed by 2 Evesham machines in the days when they knew what they were doing.

My current PC is self built one.

[Rik]

this was followed by 2 Evesham machines in the days when they knew what they were doing.

A fellow traveller, Ray!

[Rik]

Scan are waiting for stock of the Intel board originally specified, and have recommended the Asus P5W DH Deluxe i975X, S775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 533/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX details here and review here.

They say it offers slightly better spec, which is hard to judge on the details available. It does seem to offer an extra gigabit LAN port, built-in wireless adapter, external SATA, of which I see the latter as the most useful.

Comments welcomed.

[Lance]

I've only read good things about that board, so it can't be that bad!

[Rik]

But is that only because you haven't read bad things, Lance?

I'm still trying to work out how they are going to connect 6 SATA drives with 5 headers, but I'm sure they know the answer. What was interesting was that the web page had an FAQ on it, one of the questions being about optical drives not working with the JMicron controller - as fitted by Evesham!!!

[Dolph146]

so how much has this all cost you out of interest?

[Rik]

£2711.02, plus new software, UPS etc... 

[Inactive]

£2711.02, plus new software, UPS etc... 

Inactive picks himself up off of the floor... .. Wipes his brow.. makes swear filter breaking comments under his breath..    something about travel and sex.. 

[Tanzanite]

I'll join you in the

[Inactive]

I'll join you in the

They are thudding in tandem...

[Rik]

Inactive picks himself up off of the floor... .. Wipes his brow.. makes swear filter breaking comments under his breath..    something about travel and sex.. 

I can't manage the travel, but...  8)

It's a serious investment, I appreciate. The monitor accounts for a good chunk of the price, and it is particularly good - in fact it's had me tweaking the ICM profile for this machine to try to get a match - without success.

Hopefully, it should last a few years, I've set the spec high in hopes. 1.6TB of storage for starters!!

[Inactive]

I know that Rik, just that I whinge if I have to spend £500 on my computer.

(Well £700 including my Dell Monitor.)

But I am just tight at the cheeks.



Sounds fantastic, keep us updated.

Oh I found a real nice smiley..

[Tanzanite]

Tight at the cheeks never heard that phrase before.

[Rik]

I know that Rik, just that I whinge if I have to spend £500 on my computer.

Well, part of the spec for me is about making Photoshop go fast while working on six images at a time, and playing music from iTunes. The rest is pure extravagance, but for an extra £700 over the Evesham machine, I gained better cooling, an extra 2GB of RAM, an extra DVD burner, 1TB of storage and a better build, so, for me, it was probably worth it. I shall let you know in the coming days!

Sounds fantastic, keep us updated.

Most major apps now in place, I will set up the backup routines tomorrow (getting a bit cross-eyed tonight), then when I am satisfied that it's ready to move to the #1 slot, I will have to do a bit of woodwork on the desk, the case is a lot bigger than the present machine. Once everything is in place, the final stage will be the switching of printers from this machine to the new one, shared for the network, then changing the other machines to the new share... That's half-a-day I reckon.

Oh I found a real nice smiley.

I love the smiley!

[Rik]

All the major apps are installed and configured. Lots of defragging and Acronis backups along the way. It was a delight, after the Evesham machine needing 69 critical updates, to find this one needed nothing until I installed Office. Scan had configured the machine as I'd asked, an 80GB system drive, an 80GB apps drive, a 750GB data drive (plenty of slack for the time being! ), and a 750GB internal backup drive. I'm now just 'equalising' menus between the machines, and setting up the backup routines (internal HD, two external USB HDs, with subsets to DVD-RW and flash drive daily, weekly an extra backup to a third USB HD). I should finish all of that today.

Then tomorrow, it will be a case of stripping both machines down, doing a little woodwork to accommodate the new case, then switching them over. Final job will be to install the printers on the new machine (5!), and then set up the shared network connections for the other machines.

By Thursday, this should be my full-time machine!!!

The w/s monitor is great for reading two pages, side by side, btw.

[Tanzanite]

You could run the country on that beast!

[Lance]

Do you take backups of your backups?

[Rik]

You could run the country on that beast!

I'm planning to... 

[Rik]

Do you take backups of your backups?

Yes, in a way, as I back up my Acronis backups, and the full copies to internal and external HDs are replicating the other routines. OTOH, I've only lost one set of data in 17 years - and I actually still have it, it's just on a tape cartridge for which I no longer have a drive. Slight oversight on my part.

[Inactive]

Do you take backups of your backups?

That thought crossed my mind as well Lance..

I feel really guilty about my back - up system now.

[Lance]

I know - all I do is a Acronis full disk back-up every few days or so!

[Tanzanite]

I've made backups of backups in the past  Mostly when I had my online shop, think I had 3 just incase lol

[Inactive]

I know - all I do is a Acronis full disk back-up every few days or so!

Every couple of weeks here.. 

[ReDGryphoN]

Very nice Rik,

I can recommend Scan have used them for my last 3 machines and will use them again. Very good build quality and very helpful.

Great spec too but mine would have to be more more gaming biased which of course you dont need so my motherboard and graphics needs would be greater.

I also have used Viewsonic monitors for 4 years and have only had one problem with one of them and they delivered a new one in 6 days !! No quibble no probems

So great choices overall, you may not need to specify Firewaire as most modern boards have them fitted anyway.

ReD

MAABOF

[Rik]

Hi ReD

I was very pleased with the overall performance of Scan, they advised me against spending money I didn't need to for my needs, but targeted where I could best invest. Generally, communication was good, though they did leave me hanging rather as to whether the machine was being despatched on Friday. The calls I have made to tech support have been answered quickly, and with knowledge.

There is Firewire on the mobo, it just took a while to find it amongst all the other sockets, which include 2 x gigabit ethernet and an eSATA. With my liking for backups, I can see that coming in handy!

This is my third Viewsonic monitor, and the best so far. I have never needed to call on their warranty, but have heard good things about it, thanks for the added reassurance.

Now, can someone tell me how I can persuade Sue to let me buy a second w/s monitor, to go on the old machine... 

[Kheldar]

wow wot a spec !

i'd be hung, drawn and quartered if i even suggested buying a pc like that.

and afterwards i'd probably be poked in the eye with a sharp stick 

makes the C64 and 1541 i've still got kicking around seem a bit old fashioned 

i assume this is a 'work' machine for you Rik ?

[Rik]

No, it's just to allow me to reply faster in here.

Seriously, I'm retired but I use Photoshop a lot, so like plenty of power, RAM and HD space. Hopefully, this one will last me for a few years, I've only bought it so that I could avoid Vista. At least that's what I told Sue.

[Kheldar]

No, it's just to allow me to reply faster in here.

Seriously, I'm retired but I use Photoshop a lot, so like plenty of power, RAM and HD space. Hopefully, this one will last me for a few years, I've only bought it so that I could avoid Vista. At least that's what I told Sue.

ahha i see.

no wonder i'm so slow at posting on this average to low spec HP lappy !

i've managed to buy 2 new pc's in the last 3 years and i dont think i'll be allowed another !

[Inactive]

i assume this is a 'work' machine for you Rik ?

It is his latest " BoyzToyz ".. If truth be known.. 

[Rik]

ahha i see.

no wonder i'm so slow at posting on this average to low spec HP lappy !

That and my fingers reflect my avatar - or vice versa! 

i've managed to buy 2 new pc's in the last 3 years and i dont think i'll be allowed another !

Well, I replaced the laptop last October, and my 'retiring' P4D 3.4GHz desktop is a tad under 32 months old. It helps to have a wife who is keen on digital photography and likes to surf, of course...

[Rik]

I've moved the two desktop machines (new and old) into their permanent locations, and have connected all the printers without major incident (the Dymo Labelwriter did offer a little resistance, but it usually does ). I've also shared the printer across the network, and tested everything. IOW, I think I'm done and normal forum service will be resumed.

[Tanzanite]

I hadn't noticed any difference to forum service lol

[Rik]

I've been very quiet for me, and only in for a couple of hours a day... I'm glad you noticed. 

[Tanzanite]

lol Well I had noticed you were off a lot more than on but as far as keeping up with posts etc, there didn't seem to be a huge difference,  you kept up with them very well!

[Inactive]

Great news Rik.. as they....sorted.

[Kheldar]

That and my fingers reflect my avatar - or vice versa! 

Well, I replaced the laptop last October, and my 'retiring' P4D 3.4GHz desktop is a tad under 32 months old. It helps to have a wife who is keen on digital photography and likes to surf, of course...

i  hope its only your fingers that are reflected in your avatar !

else u need to eat more   

[Tanzanite]

Blimey Kheldar, you've got the measure of this board so quick it's like you've been here for ages!

[Kheldar]

Blimey Kheldar, you've got the measure of this board so quick it's like you've been here for ages!

yeah i was lucky i was able to raid the wifes sewing box and borrow her tape measure earlier on....

[Rik]

lol Well I had noticed you were off a lot more than on but as far as keeping up with posts etc, there didn't seem to be a huge difference,  you kept up with them very well!

Thank you, I tried...

[Rik]

Great news Rik.. as they....sorted.

The full Basset. 

Scan 10 - Evesham 0!!!!

Scott, are you listening?? 

[Rik]

i  hope its only your fingers that are reflected in your avatar !

Oh no, I'm much deeper than that.  8)

else u need to eat more   

No, I need to eat less, much less.  And I do like my food...

[Rik]

yeah i was lucky i was able to raid the wifes sewing box and borrow her tape measure earlier on....

We normally rely on laser devices in here, we like technology.

Seriously, it is nice to see a new face in here that has the same humour as the rest of us...

[Kheldar]

We normally rely on laser devices in here, we like technology.

Seriously, it is nice to see a new face in here that has the same humour as the rest of us...

oh so this is humour ? i was right afterall.....

i'll have to find that rolling pin and use it on the wife as she never finds me funny even though i keep telling her i am 

[Inactive]

Seriously, it is nice to see a new face in here that has the same humour as the rest of us...

Indeed it is...

[Tanzanite]

Types too fast though, he seems to be typing several posts at once lol I can't keep up.

[Rik]

i'll have to find that rolling pin and use it on the wife as she never finds me funny even though i keep telling her i am 

Have you tried putting up some mirrors?? 

[Kheldar]

Have you tried putting up some mirrors?? 

nope not yet - does that work for you ?

Indeed it is...

Types too fast though, he seems to be typing several posts at once lol I can't keep up.

too many years spent on various bbs's and internet forums.

i'm what us known as a professional forum waster, i mean poster !

[Rik]

nope not yet - does that work for you ?

It does for Sue, every time I pass one (mirror, that is!) she corpses.

[Tanzanite]

You'll need one of these then  

[Kheldar]

You'll need one of these then  

can i borrow yours then ? seeing as how you cannot keep up 

[Rik]

Eve can keep up, she just doesn't post as fast!!!

[Tanzanite]

  I'm sure it should be renamed to devil rather than evil !

[Rik]

  That do you?

[Tanzanite]

That was fast! You're on the ball today lol

[Rik]

That was fast! You're on the ball today lol

I've only got the network printers on the notebook left to do.

[Kheldar]

ahha i see....

Eve has woken up and joined us.... 

[Rik]

Yup, she's a late starter... or so I've heard. 

[Kheldar]

so are the network printers sorted now Rik ?

[Rik]

Yes, thanks. All three machines have spoken to each other and are now on the best of terms!

Curiously, I had to use a wired connection to set the printers up on the lappy, but it did the shares wirelessly without complaint.

[Tanzanite]

I'm surprised you found the time this morning 

[Kheldar]

I'm surprised you found the time this morning 

he must have 3 arms to 

[Rik]

I'm surprised you found the time this morning 

So am I!

[Rik]

he must have 3 arms to 

Just call me Kali...

[Tanzanite]

You may want to add an additional adults only forum for Kheldar 

[Rik]

I feel we should have a Saga forum myself... 

[Kheldar]

You may want to add an additional adults only forum for Kheldar 

oi just what are you saying