Comments Invited - Hardware for Acad 2005/6

this is a one seat operation. but I STILL have a few opinions for whatever you can get from them.

I build my own computers, and need to get preformance cheap. this new box I am still "testing", but I think it will be a real workhorse. it's an ASUS K8N( cut and paste from Belarc Advisor )

1.60 gigahertz AMD Pentium 4 (translates to AMD Sempron 2800) 64 kilobyte primary memory cache 256 kilobyte secondary memory cache

NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 with AGP8X [Display adapter] CNA 17TFT LCD MNT [Monitor] (18.2"vis, March 2001)

512 ram

WHAT I THINK I HAVE LEARNED IS THAT THE FRONT SIDE BUS SPEED WAS A BOTTLENECK FOR ME.

my answer to many issues was to look for the 800 spec on the front side bus. faster processors and more ram do not live up to expectations if the FSB won't deliver those speeds.

and I think your chipset is vital. I have had good luck with nVidia chipsets, this one being the best I've owned and it's not top of the line. just nForce 3

manufacturers? I hear good things and bad things, and I believe most of it. I think they buy thier motherboards in bulk and sometimes they have a lot of real stinkers to unload. that make sense?

hope it helps.

roy

snip..........

Thanks Roy it all makes sense. I am in the fortunate position where I can spec a decent machine, but don't want to spend for spendings sake.

Yes the machines bought so far have 800MHz FSB.

My main point of concern is the move to LCD screens. Our CAD supplier is going down the Dell route and specifying a "value" panel! Usually, the term "value" suggests the cheap side of average quality. I have enquired of Dell directly and they have put forward "Wide aspect ultra sharp" version (more £s obviously). Don't really have a clue what spec's what if truth be known!

The specs for flat panels are a bit of a minefield so I was looking also for opinions on flat panels for CAD use. I know they look all fine and dandy on the living room wall playing DVDs, but what are they like up close?

Any further comments appreciated

Phil

snip

Thanks again Roy Can't see them sending us trial screens, we only have 4 to buy at the moment! The link below made for interesting reading though:

Phil

I am staring at a CORNEA MP704 - it was $300 2 or 3 years ago. monitors are extremely important, and I am low budget. this (cheap?) flat screen LCD has lived up to all expectations. you need to be comfortable with the resolution. I run at 1280 x 1024 true color. no real eye strain. but we don't do rendering (yet).

I think LCD is the best way to go, and also that the actual screens are pretty equal across a wide price range. back when I was shopping last, all the actual SCREENS were the same MFG, just a different name on the corner. things may have changed. (but I seriously doubt it)

HEY! if you are buying in a quantity that could get their attention, have them send you a sample of the product.

best of luck to you.

thanks, that was a good read.