Simviation Forums

I have been called upon to build a mediocre system for my dad to do little networking stuff. The basic use will be to run surveillance applications and have it hooked up to the Internet so it can be streamed from home. Not a real demanding use.

Here are the planned specs:

MSI P43 Neo3-F LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ

Western Digital Caviar SE WD3200AAJB 320GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive

EVGA 256-P2-N751-TR GeForce 8600 GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card


For a case I'll be using an old one from a 6 year old computer in the garage and I might salvage a PSU from it as well not to mention a few fans.

What do you think?


Also I would have to go with Vista so that's a bummer. Unless i buy OEM XP 32xbit.

First of all, the case in your garage, is it an ATX, mini ATX or micro ATX? ATX is a no go in any old name brand premade computers (i.e. HP Dell.) Usually micro.
For Vista you will need to 8600GT for XP you could save a couple bucks and get the 8500. Or not. 1 x 2GB sticks are faster, look into that. Processor looks good. PSU will need to be new with the 8600GT, might I suggest the Antec Earthwatts 430w PSU. After m&a it's only $30. 8-) I have the 500w and it works great.

First of all, the case in your garage, is it an ATX, mini ATX or micro ATX? ATX is a no go in any old name brand premade computers (i.e. HP Dell.) Usually micro.
For Vista you will need to 8600GT for XP you could save a couple bucks and get the 8500. Or not. 1 x 2GB sticks are faster, look into that. Processor looks good. PSU will need to be new with the 8600GT, might I suggest the Antec Earthwatts 430w PSU. After m&a it's only $30. 8-) I have the 500w and it works great.

Thank you very much for you input. Yes I am still deciding. I'll look into 1x2Gb and will keep the 8600 GT even if I go with XP or Vista. I think a little boost of power is worth it. Well the cases are ATX so no need to worry about that.

One thing to be careful of is the uploading of this streamed material. Not so much the security issues (though as you may know there are ways to access webcams through Google) but also if your ISP doesn't mind it.

It depends how much you are uploading I suppose. If it is constant streamed colour video then if it is using up too much bandwidth (I don't know how much is too much, but some ISPs hate people launching their own servers) then you might get a yelling through a phone call or email.


It might not happen, but just be aware that not all ISPs like you to use your connection to it's fullest.



Hardware wise, it should be fine. Vista and those specs will run great as well. I have 2gb RAM and a slightly weaker processor, and I can run games and many programs fine. Currently there is firefox with 6 tabs, 4 MSN messenger tabs and some other things... My RAM usage is at around 54% so you should have no issues.


P.S was that a train or a jet that just went by outside  ::) Loud screatching sound.

Well it is kind of complicated...

The camera's are linked up to the surveillance system. The surveillance system is hooked up to a router that is hooked up to a computer for the IP address. All this computer is an active IP address and receiver for the Internet. The video is then linked to a website where i can stream the live video feed from.

Get a second hand P4 system with an old AGP graphics card.. it will be more than adequate for your requirements.

I have a P4 system from 5 years ago that has PCI-E :O.


I have a 7300 GS in it that I got for 5$ at fry's, works great.

Get a second hand P4 system with an old AGP graphics card.. it will be more than adequate for your requirements.

Or do what I did and raid a recycling centre for freebies. With their permission of course, I was able to take 2 towers. One's insides were smashed more than a chav on a Friday evening and the others' were immaculate.