Computer upgrade

Ray · Apr 06, 2008, 16:24:50

Well I carried out a major upgrade transplant on my main PC on Friday, it now has a new MB complete with 2Gb of ram and a Core 2 Quad E6600 CPU and a new Radeon 3850 graphics card, what an increase in speed over my old AMD dual core setup.

I haven't been here much for last couple of days as I have had to do a complete reinstall of Win XP and all my software and have just about finished now. I didn't really want to do this but as I suspected the new hardware broke Windows and there was no way I could get it to run.

Inactive · Apr 06, 2008, 16:26:46

Wow that's impressive Ray, you are far braver than me, I get nervous just changing memory modules, well done.

Rik · Apr 06, 2008, 16:27:13

It's always a pain, Ray, but at least you've got a clean install with no redundant drivers. I bet all the updates bumped your bandwidth usage.

Ray · Apr 06, 2008, 16:40:50

Quote from: Rik on Apr 06, 2008, 16:27:13
It's always a pain, Ray, but at least you've got a clean install with no redundant drivers. I bet all the updates bumped your bandwidth usage.

Very true, Rik, it must be 3 or 4 years since I have done a clean install so I must have got rid of a lot of rubbish and software I don't use anymore.

I think my bandwith must have taken a beating with all the Windows updates as well.

Rik · Apr 06, 2008, 16:42:02

I can remember having to do 69 on the trot. Talk about a yawny day.

Lance · Apr 06, 2008, 17:36:59

Glad it all went well, Ray

Malc · Apr 06, 2008, 18:26:43

Quote from: Rik on Apr 06, 2008, 16:42:02
I can remember having to do 69 on the trot. :

That must have been dificult

Rik · Apr 06, 2008, 18:46:23

Simon · Apr 06, 2008, 19:33:52

Well done, Ray! I suspect that time may be coming for my desktop, which is suddenly seeming quite tired.

Ted · Apr 06, 2008, 20:36:47

Quote from: Simon on Apr 06, 2008, 19:33:52
Well done, Ray! I suspect that time may be coming for my desktop, which is suddenly seeming quite tired.

Simon, one of THESE should "perk" you up a bit.

Simon · Apr 06, 2008, 20:50:01

They look cool, Ted, but I've never seen the point of spending loads on a flashy computer case, then shoving it under a desk.

Ted · Apr 06, 2008, 21:04:59

me neither, just dreaming

Does look nice though

john · Apr 06, 2008, 21:19:15

Quote from: Malc on Apr 06, 2008, 18:26:43

That must have been dificult

Quote from: Rik on Apr 06, 2008, 18:46:23

We didn't want a demonstration

Malc · Apr 06, 2008, 21:27:08

Quote from: Ted on Apr 06, 2008, 20:36:47
Simon, one of THESE should "perk" you up a bit.

Alienware now owned by Dell

Indian call centres

Ted · Apr 06, 2008, 21:40:24

Quote from: Malc on Apr 06, 2008, 21:27:08

Alienware now owned by Dell

Indian call centres

Didn't know that!!...Now that is sad

Malc · Apr 06, 2008, 21:42:35

I think they try to hide it

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1941376,00.asp

Last year

Ted · Apr 06, 2008, 21:45:22

Quote from: Malc on Apr 06, 2008, 21:42:35
I think they try to hide it

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1941376,00.asp

Last year

I wonder why?

Rik · Apr 07, 2008, 08:54:21

Quote from: john on Apr 06, 2008, 21:19:15
We didn't want a demonstration

Sebby · Apr 07, 2008, 13:29:35

Quote from: Sheltieuk on Apr 06, 2008, 16:24:50
I haven't been here much for last couple of days as I have had to do a complete reinstall of Win XP and all my software and have just about finished now. I didn't really want to do this but as I suspected the new hardware broke Windows and there was no way I could get it to run.

That sounds highly likely! Still, a clean install is the way to go, especially with all this lovely new hardware.

Ray · Apr 07, 2008, 14:09:02

Quote from: Sebby on Apr 07, 2008, 13:29:35
That sounds highly likely! Still, a clean install is the way to go, especially with all this lovely new hardware.

Yes, Sebby I was all prepared to do a clean install, I was just hoping there might be a remote chance I wouldn't need to. $:-\$
I must say I'm well impressed by these Intel Core 2 CPU's they run really cool compared to my old AMD dual core, I have always used AMD ones for several years as I felt they were better, Intel seem to have got it right with this range though. Things certainly seem to run much faster now.

Rik · Apr 07, 2008, 15:09:48

The coolness of the Core 2 processors is quite noticeable, Ray, this machine runs about 20C cooler than the old P4D.

Sebby · Apr 07, 2008, 16:20:53

My AMD Athlon X2 (Brisbane core, I think) runs so cool I don't believe it can be accurate. I'm talking 10-15 degrees Celcius. The Brisbane cores were designed to run cool, which is why I got it, so perhaps it is right.

Rik · Apr 07, 2008, 16:26:18

I wonder where all these names come from. There must be a committee spending hundreds of hours each year thinking of them...

Sebby · Apr 07, 2008, 16:26:39

I sometimes wonder that...

mrapoc · Apr 07, 2008, 18:15:38

You can often overclock up to 100% on these c2ds

I got the e6300 (lowest one) up to 3.6ghz easily enough on air and still under 60c

Mines on water now at a comfortable 40c odd (watercooling...not in the bath :p)

Danni · Apr 07, 2008, 19:12:01

* Danni imagines mrapoc's computer in the bath.

I do like the Core2Duo's. Before they came out, I was all for AMD (and still have an AMD processor in my main computer) but the C2Ds are just great. A new one of them (or maybe a Core2Quad) is going to be part of my own major upgrade to Matilda.

Rik · Apr 07, 2008, 19:13:28

Aw, go on Danni, just call him Sam like the rest of us do.

Sebby · Apr 07, 2008, 19:14:39

I have to agree, I think C2Ds have the edge now.

Danni · Apr 07, 2008, 19:15:48

But... Matilda even has a sticker with her name on it!

Rik · Apr 07, 2008, 19:17:56

But Mrapoc doesn't

Lance · Apr 07, 2008, 19:32:53

I'm more than happy with the C2D in my laptop!

Danni · Apr 07, 2008, 20:03:26

Quote from: Rik on Apr 07, 2008, 19:17:56
But Mrapoc doesn't

Ahh, I misunderstood you. Brain corrected.

Rik · Apr 08, 2008, 09:19:01

Sam will soon change that for you.

mrapoc · Apr 08, 2008, 11:15:31

I can be Brian if you want

Ive been working at woolworths for almost 8months now and i still have a name badge "Alex"

i cant get blamed for mistakes at least

Rik · Apr 08, 2008, 11:21:34

I'd have thought you'd have wanted to keep the Woolies link quiet, Sam.

Inactive · Apr 08, 2008, 11:23:02

Quote from: Rik on Apr 08, 2008, 11:21:34
I'd have thought you'd have wanted to keep the Woolies link quiet, Sam.

My thoughts entirely Rik..

mrapoc · Apr 08, 2008, 12:03:30

its actually really good

haha 20% discount

Rik · Apr 08, 2008, 12:05:19

So if I need some pick'n'mix, I come and talk nicely to you, eh Sam?

Ray · Apr 08, 2008, 14:19:23

Well these Computers will never cease to amaze me I've just installed the components I upgraded in my main machine into my standby machine. After having to reinstall Windows on the other PC after the upgrade I was expecting a repeat performance

. So I switched on the standby PC and to my surprise it booted straight up into Windows with no problems except for several found new hardware messages.

Rik · Apr 08, 2008, 14:31:01

Nice one, Ray.

Ray · Apr 08, 2008, 14:36:07

Quote from: Rik on Apr 08, 2008, 14:31:01
Nice one, Ray.

Thanks, Rik, I'm still puzzled though the only thing I can think is that this Pc is running XP Home and the main one runs XP Pro.

Rik · Apr 08, 2008, 14:38:23

I've never understood what triggers the activation/acceptance issue, Ray. I suppose if the mobo drivers are in Windows, or are similar to what was in use, you can get away with it. Or maybe it's whether the day of the week is a Tuesday?

Ray · Apr 08, 2008, 14:45:33

Quote from: Rik on Apr 08, 2008, 14:38:23
I've never understood what triggers the activation/acceptance issue, Ray. I suppose if the mobo drivers are in Windows, or are similar to what was in use, you can get away with it. Or maybe it's whether the day of the week is a Tuesday?

True, Rik, it could even be because there isn't an 'R' in Tuesday

any way because it's on oem version it keeps telling me I've only got 3 days to activate it now.

Rik · Apr 08, 2008, 15:00:07

Par for the course.

Ray · Apr 08, 2008, 15:54:46

Quote from: Rik on Apr 08, 2008, 15:00:07
Par for the course.

Well it activated ok on line, thought I might have a problem with it being oem and effectively being installed on a different pc, the only original hardware being the HD.

Inactive · Apr 08, 2008, 15:55:46

Good result Ray..

Rik · Apr 08, 2008, 16:00:37

Sometimes, MS confound us.

TheMonkey · Apr 18, 2008, 12:07:53

Quote from: Sheltieuk on Apr 06, 2008, 16:24:50
Well I carried out a major upgrade transplant on my main PC on Friday, it now has a new MB complete with 2Gb of ram and a Core 2 Quad E6600 CPU and a new Radeon 3850 graphics card, what an increase in speed over my old AMD dual core setup.

I haven't been here much for last couple of days as I have had to do a complete reinstall of Win XP and all my software and have just about finished now. I didn't really want to do this but as I suspected the new hardware broke Windows and there was no way I could get it to run.

you have the same graphics card as me. i have 4 gig of ram (not all being used

) and i'm looking to go quad.

I have my current intel Dual core running at 3.2 as i over clocked it and i'm umming and ahhhh'ing to go quad. is the difference massive?

Rik · Apr 18, 2008, 12:10:15

It depends on how you use the machine. Most software can't use all the cores, so unless you run more than two heavy-duty apps at a time, you're probably better off going for a faster dual core.

TheMonkey · Apr 18, 2008, 12:18:48

rik,

i often do a lot in photoshop CS3 and gaming. safetly i don't want to over clock a quad too much and could probably get it running at 3.0 ghz

just looking at ebuyer OEM they are so cheap at the moment.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131823/show_product_reviews

Rik · Apr 18, 2008, 12:28:30

You really need to check whether a software package can use four cores, most can't, in fact most can't use two. So it comes back to how you use the machine as to which is better for you.

Ray · Apr 18, 2008, 12:54:25

Quote from: TheMonkey on Apr 18, 2008, 12:07:53
you have the same graphics card as me. i have 4 gig of ram (not all being used ) and i'm looking to go quad.

I have my current intel Dual core running at 3.2 as i over clocked it and i'm umming and ahhhh'ing to go quad. is the difference massive?

The E6600 quad certainly gives a significant speed increase over my old AMD X2 4600, and the February issue of Custom PC gives it a very good write up as one of the best CPUs available at present, and it is also very overclockable, though I haven't tried this yet. I have certainly noticed a marked performance increase when handling Video editing and digital image editing.

Malc · Apr 18, 2008, 13:23:42

I've got a E6300 overclocked at 3ghz.