System Spec (OT?)

[Graham Watkins]

David C. Uhrig wrote:
> On Jan 31, 2008 11:46 PM, Graham Watkins <shellycat.gw at ntlworld.com 
> <mailto:shellycat.gw at ntlworld.com>> wrote:
>
>     It's hardware upgrade time again.  I have in mind the following custom
>     built system.
>
>
>
>
> Hi Graham,
>
>     A couple of thoughts for you to consider:
>
> 1) Consider getting 4GB (2x2GB) of RAM instead of just 2GB. With that 
> motherboard, since there are only two slots for RAM, if you ever 
> wanted to upgrade it to max out at 4GB you'd have to ditch the 2 
> sticks you already have. Newegg has some 667MHz sets for as low as 
> $78.99 and 800MHz for $83.99 (to use for another upgrade possibly 
> later on). [1]
>
> 2) Pick up a normal DVD Drive so you have the option to copy CDs/DVDs 
> on the fly or load multiple at a time.
>
> 3) You might have some troubles getting the drivers to work right for 
> the 8400GS. I have an 8800GT and haven't been 100% successful yet.
>
> 4) What kind of a RAID are you going to be doing with the hard drive? 
> 0? 80GB+160GB seems like a weird drive combo for anything else, and I 
> don't know what kind of benefits you'd get from a single 240GB 'drive' 
> as opposed to two separate drives.
>
> 5) Along the lines of #1, you might want to consider a slightly 
> upgraded motherboard for the extra FSB speed boost, such as the 
> GIGABYTE GA-73VM-S2, which is $62.99. [2]
>
>     Just some thoughts. I hope you find them helpful!
>
> -David C. Uhrig
>
> [1] 
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010170147+1052108080+1052315794 
> <http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010170147+1052108080+1052315794>
> [2] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128079
Thanks for your reply David

1) I'd thought I was pushing the envelope with 2Gb RAM.  Aren't there 
difficulties getting the OS to recognise RAM over a certain amount?  
Please correct me if I'm wrong about this.

2) I'll consider this although I don't as a rule copy on the fly - was 
put off it due to high production  of coasters when I first started burning.

3) I checked the NVDIA site and the driver is *supposed* to work with 
the 8400GS.  Can you think of another card that I might do better to 
look at?

4) 2 hard drives on my computer is sort of a tradition or an old charter 
or something due to usually running more than one operating system and 
backing up crucial files to both in case one fails. (And it *has* 
happened.) Didn't know much about RAID though I looked it up after 
reading what you wrote and it looked a bit more technically 
sophisticated than anything I'd needed up to now.

5)  I shall look at your motherboard recommendation although as I am 
based in the UK, newegg does not seem the most convenient site to order 
my stuff from.

Cheers,


Graham