[dba-Tech] OT: Shopping for a new comp

I've seen the motherboards hanging on the rack at Fry's but never paid much
attention.  Maybe I'll take a field trip there and spec out a box.  The
components are pretty much plug and  play I know - gotta buy a copy of W7
though. Do you use an SSD? 

R

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Mark Breen
Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2011 10:20 AM
To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] OT: Shopping for a new comp

Hello Rocky

I listened to a podcast last year by Joel Spolsky and his partner in Stack
Overflow.  In that podcast they discussed the ultimate developers machine.
They went on to discuss building your own box.  Their summary was the Jedi
warriors build their own light sabres, they never just buy them.

When I listened to it, I smiled smugly and thought "I do not waste my time
building my own machines".  Well guess what, after 20 years of buying Dell,
I am have switched opinions to building my own machines.

I was so surprised at what can be built.  I can build a machine for myself
for USD 200, which is OK, but I can also build a machine for USD 1200.  Both
are fun to build and there is a price break anywhere in between.

I have to say that since then, I have built approx 4-5 machines and loved
doing it.  It is so simple to do and really fun.

Finally, let me tell you about my main machine.  I bought the Intel i7 950
processor, which is a 3.00 GHz (approx) processor.  I also bought a USD 80
heatsink.  I then simply changed a few settings and I now have my machine
running rock solid at 4.5 GHz.

Do give it a try, it is really fun.

Even the USD 200 machines are fun to build

Mark



On 11 June 2011 14:26, <rockysmolin at bchacc.com> wrote:

> Dear List:
>
> It's time.  My current development box is 4-5 years old.  Dell P4, 
> 3GHz, XP, limited to 2 GB RAM.  And the HD is pretty small (<100 GB, 
> IIRC - I'm not at home at the moment - in Chicago, actually), though 
> it was huge at the time.  Been a very solid workhorse but (like me) is 
> slowing down. I think part of the problem is that I have more stuff 
> open than I used to so there's some swapping going on.
>
> I could dump the HD, reformat and reload I suppose.
>
> My 14 y.o. wants a more powerful box, too and needs better graphics 
> than he has.  So I told him with the right GPA at the end of the year 
> I'll get him a new box, too.
>
> All we need are the boxes, BTW - got plenty displays and external HD.
>
> I need speed, not a lot of graphics, and no need for huge HD storage.
> Any new box will have a big enough HD for me.
>
> But the new crop of multi-core processors is unfamiliar to me.
>
> We'll probably take a field trip to Fry's but if Dell has a good price 
> I usually order from them and have it delivered.
>
> What would you advise?
>
> TIA
>
> ROcky
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> dba-Tech mailing list
> dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com
> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech
> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com
>
_______________________________________________
dba-Tech mailing list
dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com
http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech
Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com