View Full Version : To Joseph........
http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif
We are toying with the idea of aquiring this:
Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 540 3.2GHz HT
RAM: 1GB
Hard Drive: 250GB plus 160GB personal media drive (removeable)
CD: Yes CD writer
DVD: Yes, DVD playback (separate DVD drive)
DVD-RW: Yes, dual format (+/-R +/- RW)
Graphics: ATI RADEON X300 256MB
Sound: Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 ZS 7.1 (3 front audio ports, 6 rear analog audio ports) Altec Lansing 2.1 speakers with subwoofer
LAN: 10/100BT Network interface
Modem: No 56K modem
Wireless: 802.11b/g
Card Reader: 9in 1 memory card
USB: 6 x USB 2.0 ports (2 in front)
Firewire: 2 Firewire ports (1 in front)
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
Included Extras: Wireless keyboard and mouse, HP Media Center remote control
Software included in the package:
Microsoft® Works Suite 2005:
Adobe® Reader 6.0
InterVideo WinDVD Creator
Sonic™ RecordNow CD/DVD
Microsoft® MovieMaker 2
HP Image Zone
Microsoft® Windows® Media Player
Apple iTunes
InterVideo
Is this a good choice? What is your opinion?
(I hope, you don't mind me asking http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/redface.gif )
Thank you
What is the price for that?
Graphics: ATI RADEON X300 256MB This card is quite weak (and it's without ShaderModel 3.0)! Better choose GF6600GT or GF6800GT or Ultra model.
[ 09. March 2005, 19:53: Message edited by: Apofiss ]
Nice new avatar Apofiss http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif
Thanks Anubis! http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif (it's Silent Hill 4 theme)
Chug a Bug
09-03-05, 23:25
Originally posted by GABI:
http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif
We are toying with the idea of aquiring this:
CD: Yes CD writer
DVD: Yes, DVD playback (separate DVD drive)
DVD-RW: Yes, dual format (+/-R +/- RW)
Graphics: ATI RADEON X300 256MB
Is this a good choice? What is your opinion?
(I hope, you don't mind me asking http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/redface.gif )
Thank you Hi Gabi. Well overall that seems a pretty good spec with a couple of provisos: first of all a DVD +/-R/RW writer will write CD-R/RW's too so you won't need both. I'd recommend the NEC 3500 16x writer.
Secondly as Apofiss says you need a better graphics card if you want to be serious about gaming, an ATI Radeon X800XT or even an X850 would be my top choice.
[ 10. March 2005, 00:17: Message edited by: Chug a Bug ]
Hi GABI! http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif
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http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif for this plan! Unexpected to me, and a big surprise.
Ehh...you say you're only "toying with the idea of aquiring this"? GABI use your powers, to make it more than an idea. :D
http://joseph.tombraiderforums.com/Images/FPCover.jpg
Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 540 3.2GHz HT
RAM: 1GB
Hard Drive: 250GB plus 160GB personal media drive (removeable)
CD: Yes CD writer
DVD: Yes, DVD playback (separate DVD drive)
DVD-RW: Yes, dual format (+/-R +/- RW)
Graphics: ATI RADEON X300 256MB
Sound: Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 ZS 7.1 (3 front audio ports, 6 rear analog audio ports) Altec Lansing 2.1 speakers with subwoofer
LAN: 10/100BT Network interface
Modem: No 56K modem
Wireless: 802.11b/g
Card Reader: 9in 1 memory card
USB: 6 x USB 2.0 ports (2 in front)
Firewire: 2 Firewire ports (1 in front)
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
Included Extras: Wireless keyboard and mouse, HP Media Center remote control
Software included in the package:
Microsoft® Works Suite 2005:
Adobe® Reader 6.0
InterVideo WinDVD Creator
Sonic™ RecordNow CD/DVD
Microsoft® MovieMaker 2
HP Image Zone
Microsoft® Windows® Media Player
Apple iTunes
InterVideo
Is this a good choice? What is your opinion?
Sadly you don't provide a link to the evidence. I'm sure you copied this text from the HP website, but there must be a link there that provides more details. So only based on this text, and reading the previous reactions i agree with Apofiss and Chug a Bug.
</font> Graphics: ATI RADEON X300 256MB Incredible they put this budget card in the package. It is a basic card. It does not belong in this (high quality-) list. The list suggests it is a Windows Media PC. Don't expect much media (movies and gaming) performance of this X300.</font> CD: Yes CD writer
DVD: Yes, DVD playback (separate DVD drive)
DVD-RW: Yes, dual format (+/-R +/- RW) Like Chug said, a cd writer + a dvd writer? Of course you don't need both, but maybe they're only listing the functions here, so the dvd writer covers all 3. However we see no brand and type specified in this list, i'm sure it's a HP. Brand is good!</font> Altec Lansing 2.1 speakers with subwoofer. Yeah, but which model of Altec Lansing speakers?! The Audigy card (and your ears!) deserves a THX certified set. Period.</font> My first reaction is: yeah i wanna know what this set will cost. If it is a bargain, buy it, and replace the graphic card by a either GF 6800 GT or Ultra, or ATI Radeon X800 Pro / X800XT / X850XT. But Windows Media is TV also, isn't it? So wouldn't it need a graphic card with TV-tuner then? So, an All-In-Wonder (AtiRadeon) card?
Provide us a link to the verdict, GABI. If you please. ;)
http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif
Well thank you everyone for your advice. You told me more or less what I already suspected. But with me being quite ignorant when it comes to the technical side, I thought I ask you clever lot first.
Now to the "buying" and "cost" bit: The thing is that the local council (who I work for) has started this scheme where you actually "lease" the equipment for a period of three years for a monthly deduction of your salary.
After those three years you then have the option of giving it back or "buying" it for the "fair market value" (to be determined then!)
Joseph, here is the LINK (http://www.nicatorcomputer.co.uk/kund/P_Run.asp?pages=314&firstid=145&zeroid=20&OldPages=308&OldType=P)
There is a username and password attached to it that I will pm to you.
Also I am not quite sure if we would be "allowed" to alter the package in any way, eg. by changing the graphic card.
The other option we are considering is THIS (http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/dimen_xps?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs)
Btw., Joseph, it was actually David's idea that I should get my own PC!! :eek: (He probably thinks I'm "doing too many things" with his - I bought an internal Audio Cable the other day! :D )
Oh! http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/yikes.gif and did you place the audio cable in his pc? :D
Hey but that is a fair deal with the council. Have you told them that you will spend most of the time playing tombraider on it? :D
Naa, joking of course, i'm sure you work very hard. But you say you don't know if they allow you altering the system. Well firstly: would they have to know about it? Secondly: if you take the cost for the upgrade they can hardly have a problem with it. But thirdly: are you prepared to pay the upgrade yourself?! Well i'd say fourthly: you could finally have yourself a hell of a monster of a super-pc capable for all media content at today's highest standards. And that's what you deserve of course. Ummm...it is a good deal anyway. They pay with you if i understand it right?
I will look at your link tonight. I'm a bit busy atm. Actually i am replacing the power supply on my big pc, and i'm online and typing this right now on my older pc. I come back to you when i'm up and running again on my big one again. http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
[ 10. March 2005, 22:34: Message edited by: joseph ]
BIG one? Can you tell more? http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/clown.gif
Chug a Bug
10-03-05, 23:27
Originally posted by GABI:
The other option we are considering is THIS (http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/dimen_xps?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs) Hi Gabi http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif This is actually a pretty good deal. I would go for the leftmost one it has more memory and a larger hard drive which would be an advantage. Dell have a fairly good reputation in my experience at least.
Good luck with whatever you decide ;)
Chug, the Dell at leftmost doesn't have a larger hard drive, it has a RAID configuration with 2 x 160 GB hdd.
I believe raid is for specialists, requires understanding of the RAID-system, because IMHO always the user has to be able to support his/her pc him/her-self as simply as possible.
I don't use RAID myself. Not that that is the criterium of course! http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/redface.gif ;)
My reason is that the percentage in speed gain does not weigh up to the contra of the possible situation that one disk fails to deliver half of your data so it will not be accessable untill you replaced, reconfigured and restored the RAID.
I think better is using the hdd's normal way, and always be sure you have all your precious data backed up on another drive or disk as well.
So, GABI, this is the PC from your first link (the HP): Specification:
Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 540 3.2GHz HT
RAM: 1GB
Hard Drive: 250GB plus 160GB personal media drive (removeable)
CD: Yes CD writer
DVD: Yes, DVD playback (separate DVD drive)
DVD-RW: Yes, dual format (+/-R +/- RW)
Graphics: ATI RADEON X300 256MB
Sound: Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 ZS 7.1 (3 front audio ports, 6 rear analog audio ports) Altec Lansing 2.1 speakers with subwoofer
LAN: 10/100BT Network interface
Modem: No 56K modem
Wireless: 802.11b/g
Card Reader: 9in 1 memory card
USB: 6 x USB 2.0 ports (2 in front)
Firewire: 2 Firewire ports (1 in front)
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
Included Extras: Wireless keyboard and mouse, HP Media Center remote control
Don't forget to choose a monitor should you need one!
N.B. To help improve your computer skills, included in your package is a copy of ECDL software
Software included in the package:
Microsoft® Works Suite 2005:
Adobe® Reader 6.0
InterVideo WinDVD Creator
Sonic™ RecordNow CD/DVD
Microsoft® MovieMaker 2
HP Image Zone
Microsoft® Windows® Media Player
Apple iTunes
InterVideo WinDVD with Dolby Digital Playback
[ 11. March 2005, 15:08: Message edited by: joseph ]
This is the pc from your second link, the DELL.
</font> Processor
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 630 with HT Technology (3.00 GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)</font> Operating system
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition</font> Memory
512MB Dual Channel DDR2 RAM</font> Harddrive
160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)</font> Graphic Card
256MB PCI-Express nVidia GeForce 6800 with DVI</font> Sound Card
Sound Blaster® Audigy 2T (Dell) Sound Card</font> Optical Drive
16x DVD+/-RW Drive#</font> Service
1 Year Collect and Return (CAR) service</font>
When i click the "Product Details" button, i get this: If only the best is good enough, the Dimension XPS Gen 4 is the right choice for you. Designed with the latest Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor with HT Technology Extreme and a new-look chassis optimised for performance, expandability and cooling, the XPS Gen 4 is built for the most extreme gamers and multimedia enthusiasts. It offers the highest expandability of the Dimension systems to tackle graphic-intensive files and video-editing applications.
The custom-built XPS includes 12 months on-site service and 24-hr XPS telephone support from our awarding winning staff - technical support for gamers by gamers.
</font> Chassis Design: XPS systems are easy to open, upgrade and expand with the tool-less entry chassis. The chassis comes standard with two front 2.0 USB ports, a front IEEE1394 port and front headphone jack, which are easily accessible behind a foldaway door. Thermal control features include dedicated internal fans for the CPU, power supply and PCI & PCI-Express cards. In addition, the power supply is in a separate compartment to minimize its effects on the system. The cable management system organizes multiple wires and allows for ease of system expansion and maximises airflow over internal components.</font> Operating System:
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional</font> Power Supply: The XPS is packed with 460W power supply that is located in a separate compartment along the bottom of the chassis to minimise the heat transferred to other critical components.
Cooling Systems: Two dedicated low profile fans quietly provide cooling to the power supply. Two additional chassis fans draw air across the CPU, keeping the system cool and quiet. One more fan drives air across the PCI and PCI-Express cards to keep them cool while running.</font> XPS Support: The Dell XPS Support Team. Not just game savvy technicians, but serious players, too. When XPS customers dial the dedicated XPS support number, they are routed to a dedicated queue of special technicians specially trained on the Dimension XPS.</font> Processor: Latest Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor with HT Technology Extreme Edition, which allows high processing speeds for multiple applications. The Intel® processor also features a new 1066Mhz Front Side Bus (FSB) with 2MB L3 cache, and uses the new Intel 925XE chipset for lightning-fast speed.</font> Memory: PC2-4200 Dual Channel DDR2 Memory at 533MHz. Configurable up to 4096MB using 512MB or 1024MB modules in pairs in the four accessible DIMM slots.</font> Video: Utilising the new PCI Express architecture of the Intel 925XE, the 256MB ATI Radeon X800XT delivers the performance, quality and bandwidth required for the latest DirectX9 games.</font> Storage: A range of SATA hard drives are available from the 250GB to 400GB to meet your storage needs. Choose your hard drive configuration from stand-alone, multiple or SATA-RAID using the integrated ICH6R controller. Three internal 3.5-inch bays are available for storage devices. All storage components are easily accessible with the new chassis design and cable management system for future expandability.</font> Drive Bay Options: Three 5.25-inch drive bays for your choices from the following drives: DVD-ROM, CD-RW, CDRW/DVD combination and DVD+/-RW.</font> I/O Ports: Eight USB 2.0 (2 in front/ 6 in back) ports for instant flexibility and future expandability. In addition, a front IEEE 1394 port is standard on the front with a 2nd port on back. (See Product Views for details of I/O ports.)</font> Connectivity: Integrated Gigabit Ethernet Networking makes the Dimension XPS broadband-ready for high-speed Internet access.</font> Modem: V.92 DataFax Modem supports up to 56Kbps download and 33.6Kbps upload to provide basic data and fax modem functions. Upgrade to V.92 Capable Telephony Modem (up to 56Kpbs download and 33.Kbps upload), which also supports voice communication so you can take phone calls through your PC or use it as your phone and answering machine.</font> Monitors: A range of quality CRT and TFT displays are available with Dimension XPS from the M993 19" and P1230 21" CRT displays, or the space-saving flat panel display up to the 2001FP 20" TFT which delivers outstanding clarity with a response rate of 16ms for uncompromising gaming performance.</font> Sound: Premium Creative® Audigy 2 sound card with DVD Audio paired with multimedia quality sound with speakers from the Dell A425 2.1 speaker system or the Dell 5650 5.1 speaker system. The AS500 stereo soundbar is a space-saving solution for use with Dell UltraSharp Digital Flat Panel Displays.</font>
[ 11. March 2005, 14:48: Message edited by: joseph ]
My first reaction on the DELL pc: although the "Product Details" story from the second (the DELL) is an exciting story, i find the Dell info not consistant.
First they say it is a Pentium 4 Processor 630 with HT Technology (3.00 GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB), with a price tag next to it. That is all very nice, but in the "Product Details" the processor is suddenly changed into a "Extreme Edition with 1066Mhz Front Side Bus (FSB) with 2MB L3 cache".
My question is which cpu you get for the price.
First, the harddrive is: 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM). In the "Product Details" it is: "A range of SATA hard drives are available from the 250GB to 400GB to meet your storage needs".
My question is which harddrive you get for the price.
First, the sound card is a Sound Blaster® Audigy 2T (Dell) Sound Card (the "T" makes it not original, but a Dell modified one). In the "Product Details" it is: "Premium Creative® Audigy 2 sound card" (i guess that is the original).
My question is which sound card you get for the price.
They are 2 different computers. http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif
[ 11. March 2005, 15:03: Message edited by: joseph ]
Anyway, both the HP and the DELL are (potentially, because the Dell you have to choose parts to assemble first) very good computers.
Both are without monitor.
The HP has a large 250GB harddisk, PLUS a 160GB 'personal media drive (removable)' :D , an original Audigy2 ZS, and Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.
If you can change the graphic card (if you take a 6800GT, you'll need to change Power Supply Unit also) you'd be ready. And choose a monitor.
The Dell company is designed for assembling pc's for their customers, so that is a pré. You are certain you can change every part of the pc, before they deliver it to your house. For that reason maybe it is the best choice to go for the Dell.
[ 11. March 2005, 15:19: Message edited by: joseph ]
Thanks for looking into it, Joseph. http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/hug.gif
Unbelievable as it might sound, David came home last night with the same offer from his employer (Rolls Royce), with the only difference that via them we would get it for an even better price. 1. because David classifies as a "high rate" tax payer, and I don't and 2. Rolls offer a nearly 70% saving against the Retail price whereas the City Council offers "only" 55%. :rolleyes: .
Apparently today they have a presentation about it and David was going to see if he could make it possible to attend to get some more info and to ask about the possibility of changing the Graphic Card.
It would be so nice if it worked out, I am getting all exited about it http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/sport/sport-smiley-001.gif.
Now to the Dell. I do not think they are talking about two different PCs.
What you see at first is what you get with that special offer. Under the "Product Details" they show you the options to that and depending on what you choose the price may vary.
Anyway, I'll have to wait and see what news David might bring home tonight.
In the meantime I might just browse around a bit and see what else is on offer out there.....
See you http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif
It would be so nice if it worked out, I am getting all exited about it .
I understand you're excited, it's an awesome attractive situation to get a top quality pc in the house! http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif
However Gabi, if David gets his pc via this way, wouldn't that be the second pc of David you would use?
Wouldn't you prefer to have your own pc this time?
Well, yes, of course I would!
But to be truthful, I really don't use the PC as much as David does, and I would get the one we are using now all to myself . Meaning that I would just get rid of all of David's stuff and upgrade whatever I like.
And I would still be able to play TR1 (complete sound and all) on the new one ;) .
Or we could get two new ones, but I think that is going a bit over the top, all things considered.
We'll see.
Btw. David didn't manage to go to that presentation, so I will try and find out about the Graphic Card in the coming week. (David is going to be away, so I will have to take matters into my little hands :D ).
I'll keep you posted.
http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif
[ 11. March 2005, 22:58: Message edited by: GABI ]
Chug a Bug
11-03-05, 23:01
Originally posted by joseph:
Chug, the Dell at leftmost doesn't have a larger hard drive, it has a RAID configuration with 2 x 160 GB hdd.
I believe raid is for specialists, requires understanding of the RAID-system, because IMHO always the user has to be able to support his/her pc him/her-self as simply as possible.
I don't use RAID myself. Not that that is the criterium of course! http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/redface.gif ;) Well, the PC would be already set up so you wouldn't need any more specialist knowledge than the average PC user has with a normal IDE hard drive I believe. (Very little.)
Originally posted by joseph:
My reason is that the percentage in speed gain does not weigh up to the contra of the possible situation that one disk fails to deliver half of your data so it will not be accessable untill you replaced, reconfigured and restored the RAID.
I think better is using the hdd's normal way, and always be sure you have all your precious data backed up on another drive or disk as well. Well, yes, thats true if you're using RAID 0. If you're using RAID 1 however then you'll have a mirror of the 1st hard drive on the 2nd and your data should be safe. But I agree it's not really something that the ordinary PC user would be able to change easily.
Personally speaking I don't use RAID either. ;) http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif
Personally speaking I don't use RAID either. ;) http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif http://joseph.tombraiderforums.com/Images/handdruk.jpg
Look what I just found out about the HP:
"3. Can I order product specifications other than those given in the brochure?
Only products and periphery equipment listed in the brochure can be ordered."
:( :mad:
Chug a Bug
13-03-05, 13:06
Personally I wouldn't touch HP or Compaq. You can't upgrade/change the specs without invalidating the warranty, in fact they don't like you lifting the lid at all and they're built in such a way that it makes it difficult to upgrade even if you wanted to.
tlr online
13-03-05, 13:09
Chug a Bug. Are you a fan of David Lynch by any chance?
Chug a Bug
13-03-05, 13:11
Hi TLR. No, not particularly. Why do you ask? http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
tlr online
13-03-05, 13:13
Your username is very unique. It's also very similar to a character in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.
If you get a chance, that and Mulholland Drive are two of my all-time favourite movies. http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif
Chug a Bug
13-03-05, 14:10
Ah, I see. Would that be Chug a Lug? :D
No, I'm named after something from a cartoon show, something that used to be a favourite of mine when I was a child. ;) http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif
Originally posted by GABI:
Look what I just found out about the HP:
"3. Can I order product specifications other than those given in the brochure?
Only products and periphery equipment listed in the brochure can be ordered."
:( :mad: Well that's it then. Don't take it. Choose the DELL, and let them assemble the best pc on the planet for you.
Originally posted by Chug a Bug:
Personally I wouldn't touch HP or Compaq. You can't upgrade/change the specs without invalidating the warranty, in fact they don't like you lifting the lid at all and they're built in such a way that it makes it difficult to upgrade even if you wanted to. Yes. That is proved once again.
[ 13. March 2005, 14:38: Message edited by: joseph ]
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