[Gllug] OT hardware recommendations

[George F. Saxby]

hi,


On Sunday 09 March 2003 7:46 pm, you wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I am building a new PC for my Dad  as he has decided it is time to upgrade
> from the AMD K2 400 he is running at the moment, and am hoping for some
> advice on the hardware.  I am going to install win2k on it aswell as Linux
> and it is going to be used for:
>
> - Scanning/image manipulation
> - Maybe some  some video manipulation taken from the DV camcorder that they
> have (has what looks like a firewire connector)
> - Word processing.
> - Surfing the Information Super-Interweb
> - Not games (well, minesweeper of course)
>
> The plan is to maybe install the OSes on the IDE disk and using the SCSI
> disk for things like storing images/video on for the speed.
>
> I have compiled a shopping list (below) from scan.co.uk, but have some
> questions.
>
> - The scan 17" TFT screen seems pretty cheap, what is the catch?  Would it
> be better to go for a 17" CRT for the same price?  What are peoples
> experiences of these?

All the graphical bods I know have gone back to big old fashion monitors for 
the very fine dot pitch definition for video & still manipulation.


>
> - If my Dad is going to be doing 3D work, will a consumer 3D card make much
> difference, or are these more useful for 3D games acceleration?
>
> - SCSI disks, I assume that U320 is faster than U160, will he notice the
> difference, it is worth splashing out for the extra speed and controller.

For digital movie editing SCSI is the animal everyone uses and the faster the 
better providing the drive is AVI spec (most are these days)

>
> - I know nothing about SCSI, is the controller I have selected OK?  Anyone
> got any suggestions about what I should go for?
>
> - Memory, Should I spend the extra for ECC, and would there be a benefit
> for going for branded RAM?

Do NOT buy cheapo RAM it is hell on wheels for digi work, do not ask how I 
know :-{

>
> - Any recommendations for a motherboard?  I have no clue here...
>
> - UPS: Are these make any good from peoples experience?

Get at least 5 mins of close down time from your UPS for movie work they are 
VERY big files to save & close
>
> - Can anyone see anything obvious that will not work with Linux?
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> shopping list
> ---------------------------------
>
> Monitor:
> 17" XIOD TFT (Samsung) IM17SM 1280x1024
>
> Case:
> SuperMicro SC-760 ATX Tower Case (Without PSU)
>
> PSU:
> 350W Enermax EG365AX-G-FMA PSU with Manual Fan Control/Temp Control 2Yr

400W  is better

>
> Firewire card:
> 3 Port D-Link DRF-A3 FireWire card Retail inc. cable + software
>
> Sound card:
> Creative Labs Sound Blaster 4.1 PnP PCI
>
> Graphics card:
> 128Mb ATI Radeon 9000 TV Out OEM
>
> Motherboard:
> ?
>
> CPU:
> AMD Athlon XP 2700+ *333 FSB* (2.17 GHz) "Thoroughbred"
>
> Memory:
> 512Mb PC3200 (PC400) DDR Memory (Major) - x2
>
> SCSI disk:
> 73GB IBM 68Pin LVD 4.9ms 10Krpm 8Mb cache U160
>
> SCSI controller:
> Adaptec AHA-29160N Ultra-160 OEM 'Entry Level Server'
>
> IDE disk:
> 80Gb Maxtor D740X ATA-133 (7200rpm, 2MB Cache) Quiet Drive Technology 1yr
>
> CD writer:
> Plextor 48x24x48 IDE Re-Writer Retail Kit Inc Media/Software
> http://web6.scan.co.uk/Products/Info.asp?WPID=37449
>
> UPS:
> 350Va - Liebert - Powersure Proactive (10 mins)
>
>
> The collective expertise and opinions of the group are much appreciated :-)
>
> Many TIA
> Will.

-- 
Bandiera tuxa trionfera,
Evviva il penguin e la liberta
www.saltmine.org.uk
           
               George F. Saxby
     

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