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 =20 ----- Original Message -----=20 From: "ec" To: 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 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 > > --------------------------------------------------- > > PLUG-discuss mailing list - > > PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail > > settings: > > > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >=20 >=20 > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > Cyclists should expect and demand safe=20 > accommodation on our public roads,=20 > just as does every other user. =20 >=20 > Nothing more is expected.=20 >=20 > Nothing less is acceptable! >=20 > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard > http://antispam.yahoo.com/whatsnewfree > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >