To build or buy - that is the question!

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Title says it all really.

In the market for a powerdull desktop. It's job is to run a Virtual domain (seperate, physical ISA box), and some video editing (not at the same time!).

Reason i ask, is there are good offers with Manufacturers like Dell, and there is also good offers with components with e-buyer.

Any suggestions (and parts)?

Coolermaster still good cases?

 

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Dell make some good ones like the XPS but I Was reading custom PC magazine the other week and the staff built the same powerful XPS system for a 3rd of the price .

Edit: coolermaster are still good.

 

Cheers GBL - that's not a bad idea; spec an XPS up and then price the bits up.

Anyone recommend nice fast drives and RAM?

 

The new velociraptor http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?origin=gbase21.3&prodID=B103553

I have heard good things about this but it is expensive http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/21/ocz-intros-worlds-fastest-1200mhz-pc2-9600-flex-xlc-ram/

 

I usually end up building my own boxes, if only because they do end up being cheaper so I can get a more powerful system for the same price as a pre-built system. That being said, at the end of every build I always say that it's the last build I'll do!

Who knows what I'll do next time. I don't really play that many PC games, so I'm thinking about using only a laptop in the future. However, if you have the time and the desire, I'd suggest building vs. buying. It's generally pretty fun.

 

If you don't mind buying your own OS and a refurb, you can get the following Dell Spec

# Model: XPS 720
# Colour: Silver on black
# Cabinet / Case: Tower
# Operating System: No Operating System
# Processor / Type: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
# Processor / Clock Speed: 2.4 GHz
# RAM / Installed Size: 4 GB
# RAM / Technology: DDR II SDRAM
# Memory Clock Speed: 667 MHz
# Storage Hard Drive / Capacity: 2x500 GB
# Storage Hard Drive / Interface Type: SATA
# Optical Storage / Type: DVDRW
# Audio: SoundBlaster X-Fi
# Video Output / Interface Type: DVI
# Video Memory / Installed Size: 768 MB
# Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 8800GTX
# Networking / Data Link Protocol: 1xEthernet 1xIEEE 1394 (FireWire)
# Networking / Type: Adapter On board
# USB: 8
# DIM used: 4
# DIM free: 0
# PCI free: 1
# PCI express: 1
# PCIe Graphics: 1x1 PCIe Graphics free 1x1 PCIe Graphics used
# Serial Port: N/A
# Storage Floppy Drive / Type: None
# Keyboard: UK
# Card Reader: Multimedia

All for £599 + VAT + Delivery

 

Boyce,

Questions:

1. What kind of virtual domain?
2. What are the system requirements for ISA?
3. What are the system requirements for the video editing application?

 

Also, don't forget to go and talk to your local PC shops - these guys really need support. Having been there and done that I wholly support the action against Dell who are selling at below cost price to drive the small retailer out of business. Well they can and do fight back and need not be as expensive as you may think.

Always worth having a friendly local supplier !

 

Thanks for the replies. I will price up/plan up and report back. In the meantime;

Sparks - Can you forsee any issues running a "real" ISA box when the other machines are physical?
Need a mobo with a few PCI slots. Haven't seen any cards with more than one ethernet outlet on.

Madman045 - Any links to hand for that?

Rhlee - 1) A domain running 2003 STD, ISA, Exchange front/back (ideally) and an XP client.
2) Self Training
3) Pinacle Studio Plus Version 12

 

If you're using Pinnacle then you should consider a RAID array for the editing.

See :

http://www.videoguys.com/system.htm

(There was a ref on the Pinnacle site somewhere too but I couldn't find it)

Who state :

RAIDs are great! For the best results set up a dedicated RAID 0 stripe for your video & media files. This will give you a huge capacity with the fastest possible sustained throughput for your editing.

RAID Warning! We do NOT recommend setting up your computer with a single RAID 0 array as your boot drive and video storage. This will actually give you poor performance for video editing. The constant reading and writing of small bits of data to the boot drive works against the need to read & write large continuous video files. Add in the overhead of the RAID controller and you get potential bottlenecks. For video editing you always want to have a dedicated drive or RAID array for your video files

 

coolermaster ATX/BTX case http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cooler-master,828.html

 

Personally I'd buy. but then I'm lazy.

If you are looking to buy I'd suggest www.dell.co.uk/outlet

Here you can pickup pre configured Dell's a lot cheaper simply because the orders that they were originally built for have been cancelled, and as they've already been built they have to get rid of them.

 

I won't make any suggestions on what to buy but all I will say is: BUILD BUILD BUILD!!!

 

BUILD! It's not that hard. If you can read a manual, you're sorted. Don't do Dell, you're stuck with them for Dell parts afterwards. Honestly, just don't.

 

Thanks for the posts - appreciated.

I have built quite a few sytems in the past, so not frightened, just got to work out if it's still worth it or not. Can't beat the satisfaction the first time it Post's.

 

Build build build

 

No you only get one per NIC, so you need to buy as many NICs as you require.