PC upgrade time. Advice, tips, great deals please!
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Sunray
Its sunny somewhere.
The 64bit version prevents you loading kernel level drivers that don't have a proper certificate signed by Microsoft. I think they get them from when they pass the WHQL tests. Not sure about that though
This generally ensures that they will not pull the machine over. Certainly for most hardware that's the case. Graphics cards don't come into that bracket, but have been reasonably reliable of late.
This generally ensures that they will not pull the machine over. Certainly for most hardware that's the case. Graphics cards don't come into that bracket, but have been reasonably reliable of late.
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
Vista SP1 on decent hardware is a fine OS. The early vista grumbles were due to the poor setup of the original release combined with older hardware. This is where getting a pre-made machine has great benefits - you know you're not going to have weird hardware issues.
Bob_the_lost
Elsewhere
How much RAM do you use eh? EH!? I WILL NOT BE SILENCED!
Sunray
Its sunny somewhere.
No, DDR3 is just a new version of DDR memory. Triple channel is something Intel implemented.
http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Mem...l-Channel-vs.-Triple-Channel-Memory-Mode.html
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
Incidentally, I've got my biggest 3d model open, with multiple views, and that's got a 1GB footprint. Email, autocad, browser, acrobat etc as well. 4GB system, but windows 32-bit only sees 3.1. I still have 1.4GB available physical memory. I suppose using the full 4 would be nice, but most of the time I don't need more...
editor
hiraethified
I use tons of the stuff. If I'm stitching panoramas and working on a ton of large images (and have the usual pile of windows open) it's not unusual to see the 'Windows is low on memory' warning to come up. Firfox is currently feeding its fat face with 730k on its own.
I'm beginning to warm to this Dell for £679
Change the graphics card, add an extra HD and bosh in a bit of extra RAM and I reckon I'll have a mean mo'fo of a machine.
Sunray
Its sunny somewhere.
And you would be correct. Good price. Has to be an X58 motherboard and that has everything you could possible want built onto it.
Remember to ask for more memory as bigger DIMM modules not another set of 1Gb modules or you'll be throwing away memory if you want to upgrade.
ohmyliver
poppin' like a cork
if you do go for the dell, add the voucher code from that site (although the same voucher code seems to be floating around on a number of sites) above when you get to the checkout, and it'll take 10% off.. so 612 quid for that spec... oh and latest dell bios update seems to have reduced the noisyness of it
editor
hiraethified
I'll be sure to check out the voucher code before buying. I am a bit concerned about the noise. PC Pro now review noise levels of new PC but they haven't reviewed this model yet.
Ah, here's a very glowing review which says it's prtty quiet. Well, most of the time. http://www.desktopreview.com/default.asp?newsID=537
Clair De Lune
Apocalypse cocktails
Can I have your old one ?
Bob_the_lost
Elsewhere
Put it in a box.
Easiest, simplest way to silence a computer. Box it (box should be lined with 4' fiberglass for ultimate sound proofing), vents must be provided for inflow/outflow.
GarfieldLeChat
fucking awesome but wrong
I can recommend it for graphics work just gone to 64 bit vista from 32 bit xp
so the skinny is...
most of it works fine the extra ram is wonderful (photoshop however has a theoretical limit of 3 gig even in 64 bit version).
the components i used were seagate baracudas (3.5 TB of the them)
6 Ram DDR2 800 (DDR 3 compatible board)
Quadcore c2d 6600
geforce 8800 gts dual monitor card (which again i'd have thought you'd want)
and a 750 w PSU
this little lot set me back around £600 in total tho was self build.
assuming that you can attach satas and dvd drives to motherboards then there's really minimal 'installation' to a pc these days and components have finally got simple sensible coupllings generally.
and you'll get a kick arse machine for less...
in terms of VIsta 64 install it took no longer than a standard vista install, worked out the box and with the exception of codecs for raw files (which is a touch shit) then you'll have no problems.
From build to first boot to first use as a computer was around 6 hours (2 of which was using the jolly simple transfer my setting function in vista which pulls through near enough all your old settings programs and ting from xp download the vista compatiblity tool which can tell you if you are going to lose out by going to 64.
whilst spending say 6 hours fiddling in the innards of a machine and setting it up might not be your idea of fun, you have to spend that time sorting out a new machine with your programs on it before you can use it if you buy off the shelf.
I'd also recommend buying caddies for any storage in the old pc which you want the data off this can reduce the amount of time needed to build as you simply treat the old disks as external hard drives.
ddr2 800 is fantastically cheap at the moment for 4 gigs (around £70)
I'd recommend any asus p5 series board really (haven't had any issues with machine's, (around 12) I've built based around this board, all been bullet proof thus far)
for graphics work then i'd also chose a quad over a standard c2d
the only potential i can see in this being slightly hard work for you will be fitting the cpu cooler due to the simplfied (yet slightly annoying) system for attaching it which doesn't with the kit cooler with the chip at least feel terribly secure...
ohmyliver
poppin' like a cork
re: the noise. Before the Bios update I was getting a leaf blower/hair dryer fan noise thing for a couple of seconds on boot up, and then every so often (especially noted if I was running programs that were gpu extensive like Fallout) a similar blast of noise.
After, it's noticeably quieter, ambient fan noise is quieter, and there is less of a leaf blower thing at boot up...but there seems to be a mixed response from users about it, most raving about it, but some saying it's had little effect.
After, it's noticeably quieter, ambient fan noise is quieter, and there is less of a leaf blower thing at boot up...but there seems to be a mixed response from users about it, most raving about it, but some saying it's had little effect.
GarfieldLeChat
fucking awesome but wrong
heard of google...the program has a limit of 3 gb from cs3 on wards you can if you can be arsed create a ram disk to use as your first scratch disk however it's still got a theorectical limit on it's ram useage.
but obivoulsy you are both much more informed than me i shall retire from the thread.
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
How much RAM do you use eh? EH!? I WILL NOT BE SILENCED!
How many tons would you recommend for a new build?
Bob_the_lost
Elsewhere
Normal: 3GB for an i7, 4GB for a 775.
Heavy user: 6GB or 4GB.
Very heavy user: 6-9GB or 4-8GB.
Heavy user: 6GB or 4GB.
Very heavy user: 6-9GB or 4-8GB.
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
Do you get to keep the warranty after doing all that?
Sunray
Its sunny somewhere.
the program has a limit of 3 gb from cs3 on wards you can if you can be arsed create a ram disk to use as your first scratch disk however it's still got a theorectical limit on it's ram useage.
but obivoulsy you are both much more informed than me i shall retire from the thread.
How can you have a theoretical limit, computers are machines, it either has a limit or it doesn't,
Yes, I checked an couldn't find any limit. 3Gb is for 32bit when you boot the OS with the 3Gb switch.
Given that there is no limit on addressing on 64bit computer, certainly not one I'm going to breach in my lifetime why would Adobe limit it to 3Gb,
2^64 is a very large number.
You are running the 64bit version of PS CS4 not the 32bit version which would have such a limit.
ohmyliver
poppin' like a cork
the program has a limit of 3 gb from cs3 on wards you can if you can be arsed create a ram disk to use as your first scratch disk however it's still got a theorectical limit on it's ram useage.
but obivoulsy you are both much more informed than me i shall retire from the thread.
Yes, yes I have.
if you use cs4 x64 on 64 bit windows then the maximum amount of RAM Photoshop can use is "as much RAM as you can fit into your computer"
(from http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=kb404901)
sorry for making you all huffy...
Sunray
Its sunny somewhere.
Is that a huge problem for the PS community? I can imagine that its not so difficult to recompile it 64bit.
editor
hiraethified
I don't think I use many Photoshop plug-ins come to think about it, although it'll be a minor pain if I can't run the nifty B&W one I sometimes use.
Bob_the_lost
Elsewhere
Which is true but upgrading from 6GB of RAM? That'd be some scary useage.
