[AccessD] Rocky - computer build

 > So I got that vicarious thrill and will be getting a Dell i7 quad core with 8GB, 1TB, W7 Home 
Premium, etc.

Now you can have a friendly Intel / AMD fanboy war with your son.

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com

On 6/23/2011 11:21 AM, Rocky Smolin wrote:
> Building the box was really simple.  Specing the components was really the
> hardest part.  Required a little research (and help from the list) but he
> specced out what he wanted.
>
> I helped him with a couple things on the build but remember he's coming off
> that win at the national robotics competition in St. Louis last April and is
> not afraid of hardware.
>
> So I had him do most of the stuff.  He wanted me to drop in the chip and
> attach the cooler but he did pretty much everything else.  And was really
> happy that he built one instead of buying a box.
>
> Being out of school is a big plus - he can spend the rest of the week
> configuring without being pestered with inconveniences like homework.  Or
> eating and sleeping.
>
> So I got that vicarious thrill and will be getting a Dell i7 quad core with
> 8GB, 1TB, W7 Home Premium, etc., in a week or so with 1 year on-site service
> - never left my chair - they bring it to me - which I find has a certain
> charm about it - for about $850.
>
> And of course, as you know, doing a project with the boy is its own reward.
>
> R
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of jwcolby
> Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 7:31 AM
> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] Rocky - computer build
>
> NICE system!  A hex core  with 8 gigs will last a good long time.  My only
> concern with the build is the AM3 socket.  It cannot use the new bulldozer
> processors coming down the road.  OTOH changing the motherboard is pretty
> trivial these days.
>
> So now that the dust has settled, and considering that this was your first
> build, how do you rate the difficulty of building your own system?
>
> I think it is important just because it lets your son see what's in there,
> learn each part and have confidence that it is easy to add memory, change
> the graphics card and so forth.
>
> My son was in there with me as we blew the dust out of the inside of his
> desktop machine.  I showed him each part and he was fascinated.
>
> John W. Colby
> www.ColbyConsulting.com
>
> On 6/23/2011 9:05 AM, Rocky Smolin wrote:
>> Done!  We had a problem with the thing just NOT starting - no post
>> screen - nothing.  The fans powered up, HD turned, DVD lit.  So we
>> knew there was power to the mobo.
>>
>> Finally figured out we had left off one important connection to the
>> motherboard - the CPU power connector from the PS - guy a Fry's helped
>> us with that.  Felt pretty dumb. But the mobo installation
>> instructions left out that step. :)
>>
>> He ended up with the AMD Phenom II Black - hexacore @ 3.2GHz, 8GB 1333
>> RAM, 1TB HDD, MSI 870U-G55 motherboard, GTX 560Ti graphics card that
>> dims the lights in the house when it fires up, and a 600W PS.
>>
>> The chip has some function on it where it will reduce itself from 6 to
>> 3 cores and up the speed to 3.4GHz.  It's also set up to overclock easily.
>>
>> It took three trips to Fry's to get the job done, but he's happier
>> than a pig in dirt.  Busted his budget - I gave him $600 - he figured
>> to get there for $700.  Probably be closer to $850 when the dust settles.
>>
>> One thing he hadn't counted on was the OS - my copy of W7 Ultimate
>> would not load for some reason on his machine - says key invalid. :(
>>
>> So he put 64-bit XP on for the moment and will upgrade when he gets
>> some dough saved up.
>>
>> Does anyone have a cheap source for W7?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Rocky
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
>> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of jwcolby
>> Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 5:29 AM
>> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
>> Subject: [AccessD] Rocky - computer build
>>
>> Is the son busy building his computer?  Is dad in there with sleeves
>> rolled up?
>>
>> :)
>>
>> --
>> John W. Colby
>> www.ColbyConsulting.com
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