OT but a hardware question

This sounds a bit like a "catch-22" situation. If the bleeding edge is =
required, then the cost of the hardware generally goes up and is =
amortized over its working life. What I try to do is buy chipsets that =
are fairly new, (mmm...say 865/875 for example), and RAM. Then, couple =
that with a slower CPU and upgrade later on. The other school of =
thought is to buy at a specific price point, (think less expensive), and =
simply replace the entire setup sooner.

Don't educational institutions have some sort of deal they can offer?

fhd
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----- Original Message -----=20
From: "ec" <eculbert@yahoo.com>
To: <plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2003 12:12 PM
Subject: Re: OT but a hardware question


> Okay, guys, what I didn't elaborate on is that she
> works in an educational instuition that stays close to
> the bleeding edge software and hardware wise so....
> She needs compatibility and ability to hopefully hold
> on for several years.
> =20
>=20
> --- Rob Wultsch <robert.wultsch@asu.edu> wrote:
> > ec wrote:
> >=20
> > >The following questions/opinions is to help someone
> > >who needs to buy a new machine to work on at home
> > and
> > >stay up-to-date M$ software wise for several years
> > >into the future to keep her job. See explanation at
> > >bottom.
> > >
> > >I took a friend's sister over to Elitepc yesterday
> > to
> > >look at the '32 bit' machines and we got 'side
> > >tracked' looking at the new xp3200+ 64 bit as it is
> > >only about $200 more than a 2600 with upgrades. She
> > >and I were impressed with price/value? of the basic
> > >xp3200+ 64bit machine there.
> > >
> > >She is a 'pc/web training coordinator' for a local
> > >governmental function. She is looking at getting a
> > >better home pc than the k6-2 333 so she can do work
> > at
> > >home as it is almost impossible to do at work due
> > to
> > >everyone walking in and distracting her. Closing
> > door
> > >doesn't do any good...they will just see the light
> > is
> > >on and pound on door till she answers!!!
> > >
> > >My thougths were since it looks like 64 bit
> > processing
> > >is coming that she might want to get one of the
> > >'bottom' line 64 bit amd's that they sell. Believe
> > it
> > >or not, the machine is under $1k in minimum config.
> > It
> > >is the xp-3200+, not the fx51 version. It will have
> > >512k, 80gb wd hd, use old monitor and kb, mx440-8x
> > >video.
> > > =20
> > >
> > The 512K version is called 3000+ not 3200+. Remember
> > that not only will=20
> > you spend a 100% premium for the mobo/ cpu you will
> > also have to buy=20
> > registered ddr (read more expensive). I pricewatch
> > the 3000+ combo at=20
> > 334 on pricewatch. It might be worth your time to
> > look at the an=20
> > opteron 140 (aka single cpu opteron running at 1.4
> > Ghz, which=20
> > pricwattches at 304 for mobo/cpu combo). The opteron
> > is better in a=20
> > couple of ways, but in my mind the big thig is that
> > it would not have=20
> > been bin sorted as having bad cache.
> >=20
> > As long as she does not play games I should think
> > that just about=20
> > anything over 1 Ghz will be good for a long time. A
> > ton of ram may well=20
> > IMHO bring better results that a faster cpu...
> >=20
> > Mind you this is comming from a guy on a pentium pro
> > 200 Mhz, 128 ram,=20
> > and 40 Ghz drive, which i think is very useable
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>=20
>=20
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> Cyclists should expect and demand safe=20
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> just as does every other user. =20
>=20
> Nothing more is expected.=20
>=20
> Nothing less is acceptable!
>=20
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