Recommendations on a new PC

[wanko80]

So I'm gonna get a new PC at work. While I don't have an unlimited budget, I don't need to get a basic one either. We prefer to use Dell's here, so that's what I'm gonna get.

I do some graphics work (using Photoshop, Acrobat, etc).

Any thoughts on what to go with? They have so many models and too much crap I haven't kept up with to know what is better.

For example here are some choices on processers for a Precision model:

Spoiler

Intel™ Core®2 Extreme X6800 2.93GHz/1066MHz/4MB L2/Dual-core/VT [add $1,134]

Intel™ Core®2 Duo E6700 2.66GHz/1066MHz/4MB L2/Dual-core/VT [add $709]

Intel™ Core®2 Duo E6600 2.40GHz/1066MHz/4MB L2/Dual-core/VT [add $489]

Intel™ Core®2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz/1066MHz/2MB L2/Dual-core/VT [add $319]

Intel™ Core®2 Duo E6300 1.86GHz/1066MHz/2MB L2/Dual-core/VT [Included in Price]

Intel™ Pentium® 4 Processor 631, 3.00GHz, 2MB L2, 800MHz, HT [subtract $30]

And here are video card options:

Spoiler

512MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX 4500, Dual Monitor DVI or VGA [add $1,450]

256MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX3500, Dual Monitor DVI or VGA Capable [add $825]

256MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX 3450, Dual DVI or Dual VGA or DVI + VGA [add $525]

[SIZE=-1]Enhanced Graphics[/SIZE]

256MB PCIe x16 ATI Fire GL V7200, Dual Monitor DVI or VGA Capable [add $725]

128MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX550, Dual VGA or Dual DVI or DVI + VGA [add $71]

128MB PCIe x16 ATI FireGL V3400, Dual DVI or Dual VGA or DVI + VGA [add $71]

128MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro NVS 285, Dual DVI or Dual VGA Capable [add $10]

128MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro NVS 285, Dual Monitor VGA Capable [Included in Price]

And the part I'm most clueless on, hard drives:

Spoiler

C1 All SATA drives, Non-RAID, 1 drive total configuration

C1 All SATA drives, Non-RAID, 1 drive total configuration [Included in Price]

C1a All SATA drives, Non-RAID, 2 drive total configuration add $0

C2 All SATA drives, Non-RAID, 3 drive total configuration add $0

C3 All SATA drives, Non-RAID, 4 drive total configuration add $0

May delay your Dell Precision 390 ship date

C4 All SATA drives, RAID 0, 2 drive total configuration add $0

C5 All SATA drives, RAID 1, 2 drive total configuration add $0

C6 All SAS drives, Non-RAID, 1 drive total configuration add $0

C7 All SAS drives, Non-RAID, 2 drive total configuration add $0

C8 All SAS drives in RAID 0, 2 drive total configuration add $0

C9 All SAS drives, RAID 1, 2 drive total configuration add $0

Boot Hard Drive

For hard drives, GB means 1 billion bytes, total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment.Mixing of SATA/SAS Hard Drives is allowed, but the 1st Hard Drive or Boot Hard Drive must be SATA.When Ordering SAS Hard Drives, you must select a SAS controller.When ordering RAID, all hard drives in the RAID must be exactly the same capacity, speed, and type.

80GB SATA 3.0Gb/s with NCQ and 8MB DataBurst Cache™

Help Me Choose

160GB SATA, 10K RPM Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst Cache™ [add $231]

80GB SATA, 10K RPM Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst Cache™ [add $130]

750GB SATA 3.0Gb/s with NCQ and 16MB DataBurst Cache™ [add $501]

500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s with NCQ and 16MB DataBurst Cache™ [add $301]

[SIZE=-1]New Lower Price[/SIZE]

320GB SATA 3.0Gb/s with NCQ and 16MB DataBurst Cache™ [add $101]

250GB SATA 3.0Gb/s with NCQ and 8MB DataBurst Cache™ [add $71]

160GB SATA 3.0Gb/s with NCQ and 8MB DataBurst Cache™ [add $31]

80GB SATA 3.0Gb/s with NCQ and 8MB DataBurst Cache™ [Included in Price]

May delay your Dell Precision 390 ship date

300GB, 3Gbps, SAS, 3.5 inch, 10K RPM Hard Drive [add $501]

May delay your Dell Precision 390 ship date

146GB, 3Gbps, SAS, 3.5 inch, 15K RPM Hard Drive [add $501]

146GB, 3Gbps, SAS, 3.5 inch, 10K RPM Hard Drive [add $351]

73GB, 3Gbps, SAS, 3.5 inch, 15K RPM Hard Drive [add $301]

73GB, 3Gbps, SAS, 3.5 inch, 10K RPM Hard Drive [add $181]

Should I just go with a cheaper model (Optiplex)? It seems the Optiplex doesn't have as many options on the hard drive.

 

[fly]

why in the fuck did you spoiler that?

 

[Penis Envy]

SATA RAID 0
primary boot drive = 73GB 15kRPM drive
For the RAID go with two 750gb drives
7800gt card
and duo proc..

or get an optiplex..

 

[BeerAd]

Each of our computers are tossed together for like 200 bucks or packages from dell for about the same. No point to have major graphics cards and 300 gig hard drives here.

 

[wanko80]

why in the fuck did you spoiler that?

So it wasn't too long. I hate long posts because they make me not want to read them.

It's called being considerate asshole. Give it a try sometime.

 

[BeerAd]

So it wasn't too long. I hate long posts because they make me not want to read them.

It's called being considerate asshole. Give it a try sometime.

So setting up a spoiler that we have to take extra steps to see that it is long and then not want to read them is more considerate?

 

[wanko80]

So setting up a spoiler that we have to take extra steps to see that it is long and then not want to read them is more considerate?

No, I was just tricking you into reading it.

 

[BeerAd]

No, I was just tricking you into reading it.

EXACTLY!!!





ive done that before

 

[wanko80]

Follow up question on monitors.

I'd like to get a widescreen, but they're pretty damn expensive. Would I get a noticebly better deal buying one somewhere besides Dell?

 

[BeerAd]

www.pricewatch.com

 

[theacoustician]

Follow up question on monitors.

I'd like to get a widescreen, but they're pretty damn expensive. Would I get a noticebly better deal buying one somewhere besides Dell?

No. Widescreen monitor is the fucking win. Buy the 2407 and revel in its glory.

 

[JAXvillain]

how big are the graphics you deal with? seems like you'd want raid and a nice vid card

 

[APRIL]

why in the fuck did you spoiler that?

I like it, it's very interactive.

 

[theacoustician]

Follow up : you don't need a Quattro or Fire card. That's top of the line pro-only stuff (read : printshops and architects). If you can, get a GT7950. Its SLI on a single card and that's fucking hot.

Don't do RAID 0 for your primary, unless you feel comfortable buying a new drive, restripping the RAID, and installing your OS from scratch. Its not likely you'll have a drive fail, but if you do, those are the steps you will have to take. DO NOT use RAID 0 for long term storage of photos, videos, music, etc. That's just fucking stupid.

You won't notice the difference between a SATA 300 15k rpm drive and a 7200rpm drive 90% of the time.

There is never such a thing as too much RAM. If you don't want to buy it from Dell installed, then buy some extra from Newegg after you get the machine and max it out.

Only worry about the Core2 E series. Skip the Extreme and the P4. Buy as fast as your budget allows, but I'd say the 6700 is just an ass-raping for the marginal improvement over the 6600.

 

[wanko80]

I'm not doing major graphics stuff here, but I do edit photos and such to create our flyers and catalogs.

Now, I really do want the 2407FP monitor, but it's so much more than the 2007FP. I only have a 17" flatscreen right now, so would I be correct that the 2007FP would still be a huge upgrade over what I have now?

 

[theacoustician]

I'm not doing major graphics stuff here, but I do edit photos and such to create our flyers and catalogs.

Now, I really do want the 2407FP monitor, but it's so much more than the 2007FP. I only have a 17" flatscreen right now, so would I be correct that the 2007FP would still be a huge upgrade over what I have now?

Size wise? No. It would just be wider than your current monitor. Remember that's 20" measured on the diagonal. You're dealing with 2 different aspect ratios (16:9 vs. 4:3). Would it be better quality wise? Depends on what you have now.

This is assuming you mean the 2007WFP and not the 2007FP since we're talking about widescreens here. If you do mean the 2007FP, moving from 17" to 20" isn't a huge leap. Quality wise, well, same as I said above.

 

[APRIL]

WFP FTW

 

[wanko80]

Size wise? No. It would just be wider than your current monitor. Remember that's 20" measured on the diagonal. You're dealing with 2 different aspect ratios (16:9 vs. 4:3). Would it be better quality wise? Depends on what you have now.

This is assuming you mean the 2007WFP and not the 2007FP since we're talking about widescreens here. If you do mean the 2007FP, moving from 17" to 20" isn't a huge leap. Quality wise, well, same as I said above.

I meant the WFP. Their website says FP Widescreen.

Right now I have a 1703FP.

 

[theacoustician]

I meant the WFP. Their website says FP Widescreen.

Right now I have a 1703FP.

Ah, then its nearly the same horizontal resolution. The colors will be slightly better, but I think the biggest thing you'll notice is the widescreen desktop. fly didn't believe me when I said it makes a difference. He's a believer now.

 

[Sarcasmo]

That Intel Core 2 Extreme is the new quad core processor, right? Get that. Instant internet penis elongation.