Judge these systems

[Ivan]

Going to do a few system rebuilds here when Vista comes out. Haven't decided on the main machine yet as im waiting for Vista shop release before I seriously start planning the configuration for that one. Some specs are already certain: Dualcore and 4GB memory.

OK here the configs:
Machine 1 will be used mainly for Windows software development. This one will run dual monitor with each screen set to 1280x1024.

Configuration:
[*]Board: Asus A8N-SLI (from my old flightsim machine)
[*]Processor: AMD Athlon64 x2 4200+ (Dualcore)
[*]RAM: 2GB PC3200 RAM (highest speed and size the board allows for Dual Channel operation), in 2x1GB layout
[*]Video: PCI-e Nvidia GeForce 6800 with 256MB (from old flightsim machine)
[*]OS: Windows XP Professional[*]Storage: Have yet to decide which harddisks to use in it, but this one will get SATA.
[*]Main bottleneck Apps: Visual Studio 6, 2003 and 2005, Eclipse.
[*]Main Usage: Programming, Webpage testing


Machine 2 will be used for Linux development and messing around with .NET applications with Novells Mono runtime. Screen size is at this moment not big enough for serious work

Configuration:
[*]Board: Asus A8V-XE (VIA Chipset)
[*]Processor: AMD Athlon64 3500+ (from my old FS machine)
[*]RAM: 1GB PC3200 RAM (from old FS machine), in 2x 512MB layout
[*]Video: PCI-e Nvidia GeForce 6200 with 64MB and TurboCache up to 256MB
[*]OS: Linux in 64 bit mode. Probably Suse 10.1 or whatever version is the latest when this one gets built.
[*]Storage: Have yet to decide which harddisks to use in it. Maybe SATA but more likely the largest PATA disk that i have now (ATA133 with some 200GB)
[*]Bottleneck Apps: No idea yet, but this one will most likely run Eclipse, KDevelop and MonoDevelop
[*]Main Usage: Crossplatform development and testing for .NET applications.

Anyway, this wil result in yet another 800 euro shopping list, but at least I have the excuse to say that I need it for work this time...

[ctjoyce]

That first one will score around a 4.5, the second a 3, or mabe a high two. Personally I don't think it would be worth putting Vista onto the second machine unless you throw 2GB of RAM into it, and a dual core processer.

Another thing I noticed is that your building 939. Remember that 939 pricessers are no longer being made. Once their gone, their gone. I would look into Core 2 or AM2 if I were you. Now thats going to cost you a bit more in the RAM area, but upgrading later will be cheaper, and easier.

Cheers
Cameron

[Ivan]

That first one will score around a 4.5, the second a 3, or mabe a high two. Personally I don't think it would be worth putting Vista onto the second machine unless you throw 2GB of RAM into it, and a dual core processer.

Another thing I noticed is that your building 939. Remember that 939 pricessers are no longer being made. Once their gone, their gone. I would look into Core 2 or AM2 if I were you. Now thats going to cost you a bit more in the RAM area, but upgrading later will be cheaper, and easier.

Cheers
Cameron

None of these machines will run Vista. Ever.
Vista machine will get 4GB RAM and an AM2 or whatever socket there is on the market when Vista comes out.

But These two will both use a 64 bit OS (XP64 Pro and Suse 64 bit)

And i know that S939 will be finished soon, but thats what i have at the moment. (First retail version of the A8N-SLI and a single core Athlon 64 from my current config) These configs are just meant to use up the stuff that comes from my current machine (1st genration SATA drives, PATA dvd drive, 500W PSU and the rest) when i'm going to rebuild that one
Both these machines will last at least another 2-3 years in the above config before they are going for the next major rebuild.

[ctjoyce]

Mmmk, guess I missed that. Anyway, I would stay clear of XP64, driver support is horrable. XP Pro is fine.

Cheers
Cameron

[congo]

That first crappy system is what I will upgrade to more than likely lol !!

Ivan, the 4200+, do you own this already? Also the 2gb ram, have you already got that as well?

I'm using the A8N-SLI and will probably be using it for my main simming PC for some time to come, it's not too shabby at all and it will run cpu's and ram much faster than you realise. (as fast as you can get hardware to run actually, my A8N-SLI becomes unstable at well over 600mhz DDR)

[Ivan]

Mmmk, guess I missed that. Anyway, I would stay clear of XP64, driver support is horrable. XP Pro is fine.

Cheers
Cameron

Did some more reading and decided for 32 bit... hardware providers probably too busy writing crappy Vista drivers instead of doing some real-world 64 bit testing

That first crappy system is what I will upgrade to more than likely lol !!

Ivan, the 4200+, do you own this already? Also the 2gb ram, have you already got that as well?

Havent got these parts in yet
Processor will probably stay in its box for a few weeks as I dont want to put that one in a year-old install that is internally configured for single core operation.
The 2 GB ram will probably be used as soon as i get it, saves some fiddling with the modules when i move the whole config around