Is this a good computer

I need a new machine, I've just ordered Windows 7 I was wondering if this is any good for the price I would be paying. I don't recognise the graphics card, does that mean it's rubbish??



Oh and one more thing, can I run a 32bit version of Windows on a machine which has a 64bit processor???

The GTX260 isn't a bad card. It's a touch better than the 9800GTX it replaced. Yes a 32-bit version of Windows will run fine on a mainstream 64-bit processor, however you will lose a good chunk of RAM (you'll likely only be able to use around 3.2GB - and the more memory a graphics card has, the more system memory you'll lose access to), and that wouldn't increase if you added more RAM - you'll never have access to more than ~3.2GB of RAM, and with the graphics card above, you'd be limited to ~2.5GB of RAM. 64-bit Windows is perfectly fine in all but the worst programmed programs now and doesn't have such RAM limitations.

Had a look at speccing up a similar system myself, and came up with this:



Triple core processor, so split between the dual and quad offered above - the speed of it is also right down the middle. Odd that they didn't offer the choice really. It wouldn't make sense to get a dual core (you'd only save £5-10) and the quad cores I'd recommend (the 45W 2.2GHz one) aren't out yet. Triple will give you a strong medium and excellent value for money.

Graphics card is one of the excellent new DirectX 11 ATI ones - similar basic speed to the GTX260, which costs around the same if you prefer NVIDIA. Edit: didn't realise that HD5770 was out of stock - there's another identical one from Powercolor which is 50p more.

Hard drive is one of the fastest 500gb ones around (there's also the similarly good Samsung F3 for a fiver less).

Power supply isn't one made of PR numbers. It's a good solid PSU rather than trying to blind you with a cheap PSU that can't output the rated power (which is the usual trick for cheap Ebay-style OEM systems) and usually ends up in a bang which takes out half your system if you push them beyond half of their rating. Whether that is one of those or not I don't know for certain, but such a PSU specced with such a system is normally a damn good giveaway - a good version of a 700W+ PSU costs £100 on its own.



In short, the spec listed isn't bad value - you're not being fobbed off with a @#$%&, onboard graphics chip - but you could build better for less and be safer in the mind that what you have bought is solid as a rock. I'd say in the end it boils down to how much you trust the seller, but if you do go with it, I'd change the graphics card. 1.6GB of graphics memory is a complete waste of time and will only slow down the rest of the system if you use 32-bit Windows - the 800MB GTX260 is exactly the same speed.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/2009 01:55PM by gav.

Thanks a lot Gav, really appreciate you taking the time to do that.

So if I went with something along the lines of your system instead, would I still be limiting the RAM because of the 32 bit Windows?

Maybe I can change my order to 64 bit cause it was the studenty download thing on my girlfriend's uni ID :P

EDIT: Actually, I can't do that. So I'm stuck with a 32 bit Windows 7...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/2009 05:18PM by loque.

You would still be limited to at most 3.2GB RAM regardless of the rest of the system if you use a 32-bit OS.

With some licenses you can order a 64-bit DVD from Microsoft, but I think you have to cover postage. The 32-bit license would still work with it.

I'm going to jump in here and ask an unrelated question.

I too will be looking to get a new computer after Christmas for the first time in 4 years. My computer usage has changed rather dramatically in that timeframe and my current system (designed initially for gaming) is epically failing to cope with my current activities (CAD 3D modelling, movie editing, VHS-->DVD encoding, etc.) It's usually running for 10-12 hours straight every day.

I'm basically looking for something with insane amounts of processing power, to allow the system to cope with this intense workload without busting a gut. I've already lost 2 PSUs and had issues with my HD in the last 4 years. At the same time it's got to reliable, and ideally last me a further 4 years.

I'm not after a specific component list, but could someone possibly give me an idea of the key areas I need to focus on and the likely price I'll be looking at?

Sorry for dovetailing the thread somewhat, but any help is appreciated.

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for 3D CAD, you'll be looking at one of the Workstation graphics cards, which are horrendously expensive for what they are (Nvidia Quadro FX). Nvidia graphics cards (including comsumer ones) are far superiour for CAD work, and some of the consumer cards can be 'tweaked' so thay they work with the workstation driver (seeing as how they are exactly the same hardware, just badged differently)

Video editing, as far as i'm aware, is far more processor dependant, which means for me personally, i'd be looking at a Core i5 or i7.

Just out of interest, which CAD package are you using?

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As harjinator says, for encoding you want a Core i5 or i7. Even the slower Core i5 would be better than a higher-specced Core 2 Quad due to the new instruction set.

CAD I've got no experience of myself.

PSUs: get a Seasonic. End of issues. :P

I'm using AutoCAD LT 2008 for the modelling and Photoshop CS2 for the rendering. CS2 is fairly old software and doesn't usually struggle, but when there are upwards of 1,000 layers the thing really starts to slow down lol.

The bulk of the work is movies and DVDs, though. So if I'm going to splash out on anything, it should be a processor, correct?

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Both CPU and RAM really. You'll need a new CPU architecture for a decent boost, so Core i5 or i7 is a given, and that will need new RAM and a motherboard. I suspect your bottleneck for those large Photoshop files will be RAM.

CS2 can't make any real use of GPU acceleration, so it wouldn't benefit from a better graphics card for that.

As I say, AutoCAD I don't know about, so I've no idea how a different set up would improve performance.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2009 10:13AM by gav.

gav wrote, (and the more memory a graphics card has, the more system memory you'll lose access to),

I thought you only lost system memory if you had onboard graphics. Having a graphic card with it's own memory should help with the memory.



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gav Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> With some licenses you can order a 64-bit DVD from
> Microsoft, but I think you have to cover postage.
> The 32-bit license would still work with it.

Gav, just wondering where you read this? I've been looking on Microsoft's website and various forums but I can't find anything about it...

BellofFanClub Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I thought you only lost system memory if you had
> onboard graphics. Having a graphic card with it's
> own memory should help with the memory.

This is a different issue with 32-bit operating systems. There's more info from Microsoft themselves here.



loque Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Gav, just wondering where you read this? I've
> been looking on Microsoft's website and various
> forums but I can't find anything about it...

Here's one for Vista. It doesn't look like there's a one for 7 yet.

Yeah, I just thought buggerit and ordered a 64-bit version too, which is currently downloading. It's funny because the whole offer clearly states that one person is entitled to only one copy of Windows each, but it's charged me and is currently downloading my 64-bit version in addition to the 32-bit I ordered before.

I haven't activated the 32-bit yet, and the key's different to the new 64-bit one I'm downloading, so I'll just sell it to someone to recuperate the £30.

Now, this might sound like a hilariously stupid question, BUT, you know if I install this 64-bit software now, and activate it, when I get my new PC in a month's time and do a fresh install, am I going to run into any problems because I've already installed and activated it???

You wouldn't have any issues, and even if it wouldn't allow you to activate, you could just call up and they'll sort it fine.

Ok, cheers.

I wish Microsoft were this helpful.

I just realised that the two keys I have for the two versions are probably both paired with the student email address you have to give when you order it, so it may be that I can activate the 64 one but if I get someone to take the 32 off me they might not be able to activate it because their system will tell them two keys are running under one email address. I don't know how likely that is, but worst case scenario is that I wasted £30.

To be honest, that was the price to pay for stupidity and it's still miles cheaper than what I would have paid...

Post deleted.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2009 03:57PM by loque.