Topic: Leave of absence

[Michelle]

what do you think of this

Intel Pentium 4 Processor 650
 
3.4GHz Clock-Speed
 
800MHz Front Side BUS
 
1024 Mb DDR RAM Memory
 
400 Gb Hard Disk Capacity
 
MultiFormat Dual Layer DVDRW & DVD Drive
 
128 MB ATI Radeon X700 PRO Graphics
 
802.11g Wireless Network Ready
 
Includes HP Printer & USB Cable
 
Hitlist 2005 Games Pack, 17" TFT Monitor

for £1099.00

I wouldn't mind a new printer too, smaller monitor than I'd wanted.
I'm not sure these graphics are up to much? Simon? It does seem alot of money but when I was looking before this machine was 1499.00 without the printer?

[Michelle]

or this?   no printer or monitor

AMD Athlon 64 processor 3500+
 
Windows XP Home Edition
 
1024 Mb RAM Memory
 
320 Gb Hard Drive
 
M-Format Dual Layer DVD ReWriter Drive
 
256 Mb nVidia 6200+TurboCache Graphics
 
9-In-1 Media Card Reader
 
7 x 2.0 USB Ports
 
2 x Firewire Connections
 
56k Modem
 
£639

[Simon]

The second one certainly had the higher spec graphics, but you could always update that anyway.  My God, the size of those hard drives!  :ooo:  I do have a slight concern over these enormous hard drives, in that it must take a fortnight to format one of them!  Also, should you ever in one lifetime, manage to fill one up, that's a hell of a lot of data to lose if it goes wrong.  I wonder why the second one is half the price of the first?  I know the first one has a Pentium, but that shouldn't make quite that difference in price.

[Michelle]

I guess cos the first one was in the PC bundle part and the second one in just in base units.

Yeah I guess I need only half of that hard drive really, I'm more concerned about graphics.

I've no idea on the athlon which is the best one - what do there numbers mean.

Everytime I open MSN on this it bleedin crashes, lol

[Sandra]

The amd 3500 + runs at 2.2 ghz the intel runs at 3.4ghz.
Not sure if that one is 64 bit or not.

AMD has since attained both of these goals, and has released their 90nm Winchester in a number of 939-pin iterations. The Athlon 64 3500+ matches its 130nm predecessor and runs at 2.2 GHz, while the Athlon 64 3200+ and 3000+ hit 2.0 and 1.8 GHz clocks speeds, respectively. These last two processors fill a very real market niche for AMD, as Socket 939 supplies dual-channel DDR for the masses and these processors hit the needed sub-$200 price point. The single-channel DDR controller on the Socket 754 processors is certainly powerful, but keep in mind that Intel holds the mindset by allowing even entry-level Celeron CPUs to enjoy dual-channel DDR performance.

In terms of outward physical design, there is no difference between the current 90nm and 130nm Athlon 64 Socket 939 models, and the internal architecture also remains mostly unchanged. The 90nm Athlon 64 3500+, 3200+ and 3000+ feature 128K L2 and 512K L2 cache levels, and include an integrated dual-channel DDR controller. The core voltage has been lowered slightly, with the new 90nm processors running at 1.4V, down from the 1.5-1.55V of their 130nm cousins.

Intel introduces the Intel® Pentium® 4 processor with HT Technology targeted for desktop PCs and entry-level workstations. This Pentium 4 processor features 800MHz FSB and 2MB cache in the LGA775 package. This new package is pin-less and implements a 4 wire fan control for improved thermal acoustics. This Pentium 4 processor is designed to deliver performance across applications and usages where end-users can truly appreciate and experience the performance. These applications include Internet audio and streaming video, image processing, video content creation, speech, 3D, CAD, games, multimedia, and multitasking user environments.

The AMD only has 512 kb L2 cache, the standard Intel P4 now has 1mb.
This Intel has 2mb L2 cache which is massive and will really allow the CPU to do its stuff  

As its using a 32 bit OS there wont be much advantage until you upgraded to a 64 bit OS and they bring programs out that are written for 64 bit cpus.

The graphics on the first are rather outdated now, the second is about the minimum spec now.

As Simon says you could upgrade theGFX but if you can wait for an Aldi Medion then you will find that you have the first ones features with a PCI express GFX card, 2 to 4 x faster than any 8x AGP card although they only come with 512mb ram I think and it may be the Intel P4 cpu with the 1mb L2 cache.

I would rather buy a tower alone that way I could buy the printer and monitor I wanted rather than as a bundle.

Hope this hasnt added to your confusion Michelle  :wink:

[Michelle]

Thanks for that fab reply sandra!  

Its a bit clearer now, so the p4 is better - shame that graphic card on the first one is so poor. I think it is quite an old line in machines, thats why they've reduced them so much.

I don't really want to get a machine I have to upgrade right away.

As its using a 32 bit OS there wont be much advantage until you upgraded to a 64 bit OS and they bring programs out that are written for 64 bit cpus.

Did joudi write this bit? lol sorry!  

So I need a P4 2mb L2 cache 64 bit - is that right?

I saw a medion in toy'r'us not sure what one it was but it was a reasonable price, but what would the support be like, straight to medion I guess. Although I really want 1024 ram.

[Clive]

Talking about Joudi - is he away on holiday?

[Sandra]

The current versions of XP are 32 bit operating systems.
The next version of XP which is still in Beta testing mode I think, is a 64 bit OS.
To get the benefit of a 64 bit CPU then you need the correct 64 bit operating system and the programs that support 64 bit usage  

.Just been looking on Ebuyer for cpu prices Michelle.

There must be some reason for the Intel being over twice the price, I suspect its quality and performance  


AMD (Venice) Athlon 64 3500+ 939pin 512Kb L2 Cache 90nm Retail Boxed Processor With 3 Year Warranty and Fan Included.
  £133.12
£156.42 inc VAT


Intel Pentium 4 650 3.4Ghz Socket 775 800mhz 2mb Cache Retail Boxed
  £274.78
£322.87 inc VAT

The P4 650 is 64 bit too I have found out  

RAM is relatively cheap now Michelle and very easy to get and add yourself.

As far as I know the support is quite good and I believe they have their own forum, Lona will know better than me about that.

Check that its the Intel P4 one and not the AMD one in toys R us, as you have already seen there is a big difference in the price between Intel and AMD based PCs  

[Lona]

Here's the addy for the medion forum, Michelle

http://medion.adslweb.co.uk/phpbb2/

There's also a medion website at www.medion.co.uk

I don't think their customer support is great but then who's is.  

[Michelle]

OS Oh I see !!  thanks!   Yeah there is a big difference in prices there!

Just looked at toys are us, not too impressive, this one is the more expensive but the other one has P4 3.4 with 17" screen and GEforce 6200 128mb and only 512 ram. Which is £799.


 
Description
Features the latest Intel Pentium Dual Core Processor delivering outstanding performance and power.

Provides the ability for true multi-tasking
Enhances your video editing ability
Improves gaming with crisp, clear graphics

Please click here for a demonstration of Dual Core Technology.

Specification


Intel Pentium D 820 2.8 GHz with 2x 1MB cache and 800MHz FSB.
1024MB fast dual channel DDR II RAM (533 MHz)
ATI Radeon X600 Pro 256MB DDR RAM with TV out/DV-I
320GB (2x 160GB) S-ATA 7,200RPM
56K V.90 data/fax/modem
DVD re-writer - 4x DVD+R dual layer, 16x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 16x DVD-R, 4x DVD-RW, 40xCD-R, 24x CD-RW. Plus separate 16x DVD ROM
19" TFT screen with built-in speakers
8 channel intel high definition audio
Built-in digital & analogue TV tuner with remote control included
Built-in wireless LAN 802.11G (54 Mbit/s)
Wireless keyboard & mouse
6x USB 2.0 (2x front, 4x rear), 2x firewire IEEE 1394 (1x front, 1x rear), S-video in, composite video in, audio in, line out, microphone in, , 2x PS/2, 1x SPDIF in, 1x SPDIF out, plus digital memory card readers for Sony memory stick/pro, smartmedia, SD/multimedia, compactflash, IBM microdrive, XD-picture card
Microsoft XP home edition (service pack 2), Medion power cinema, power DVD, power producer 2 video editing suite & musicmatch jukebox, nero 6 CD/DVD burning software, works 8 including spreadsheet, database, calendar, e-mail, internet tools and my organiser.

This is for £899 with a free 3inOne Printer which is worth a bit.

But whats an Intel D? Bit rubbish is it?


I don't know about joudi clive sorry.

Just found a great page for graphics comparison.

http://www.pantherproducts.co.uk/Articles/Graphics/GFX_Comparison_II.shtml

[Sandra]

Dual core seems to be the way that all CPUs are going to go in the future  

Its like having 2 CPUs in one. The first core does the normal boring everday stuff more or less like when its idling so runs like a 2.8 ghz with 1mb cache.
When you start using it for cpu intensive stuff like video editing/converting it uses the second core so its like adding another cpu for that bit.
A bit like a turbo charged PC  

I think that should do you for a lot of years to come Michelle, the GFX are ok its got the latest type of ram DDR 2 and plenty of it.

The screen alone would be around £250 and if the printer is a good one then as I said before you couldnt build it at that price  

Aldi medions come with a 3 year guarantee, not sure if thats Medion or Aldis guarantee, has that got the same ?

[Michelle]

Thats sold me, turbo charged !  lol  - so its good then.  I thought 2.8 doesn't sound good.  I've not heard of the D before.

Graphics aren't great though .... still better than most I've seen for that price, its a good price isn't it.   Not sure if the printer option is only if you buy on line and its only until the 25th August!  

I was looking at the guarentee, it sounds like its only a year, but they come out to you if there is a problem, I might have to check that out.

[Sandra]

That GFX card is a PCI Express x 16 so even better than I thought.

This is the price and the specifications of the card :

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=7190&GroupID=330

Wheres that one from Michelle ?

[Sandra]

Graphics aren't great though .... still better than most I've seen for that price, its a good price isn't it.   .

You wont get better GFX than that with an AGP card Michelle, theyre supposed to be 2 X or 4 X faster than an 8 X AGP card.

I think just for the PC its a good price, with the 19 inch TFT included I would be tempted to rip their arm off  

[Michelle]

thats the most expensive one from toy's r us £899 - oooh so its not bad then