Defrags are overrated.

Sure, partition them incase a virus chews up the partition table headers...but 6 is ridic.

 

I found this link that explains the different raid levels pretty well:

http://www.prepressure.com/techno/raid.htm

For home most people who use RAID use either level 0 or 1, which come on many motherboards nowadays. If you want to run level 5, which is what many businesses use, you'll probably need to buy a RAID 5 controller so it starts to get pricey.

 

[QUOTE=NFRs2000NYC,Aug 9 2004, 04:16 PM] Im not 100% great at explaming RAID, but Ill explain partitions......

Partitions are basically multiple hard drives you create from one drive.

In essence, imagine a 100GB hard drive.

 

Dells at home warranty is complete crap, it takes a lot for them to come to your house.

They offer a 3 year warranty, and their service guys actually know computers.

Also, I just built as closely as possible comparable Dell, and it came out to
$3423.

This is with a 1 year warranty mind you.


I just built a very very nice computer and the total came out to $1320 bucks.

 

I dunno, I priced one out and it was about 2G's. I agree that the computer he's looking for is more in the 1K range though. I think we're kinda hijacking the thread

Honda606 - If you feel like 'taking the plunge' and building your own box, cyberpower is a good one-stop-shop to get parts. A vendor I almost always use is newegg.com, they are usually cheaper than everyone, and shipping is free. I'm sure you have a bunch of questions now...

 

Excellent "input" everyone. I feel as if I know computers pretty well but the technology in this field seems to grow so quickly that I can't keep up with everything. RAID was new to me until now and is very interesting.

Intel vs. AMD. I've had both in the past but what is currently considered the most stable and reliable? What's your preference?

Yogi...now that you mention I have used newegg before. Years ago I ordered 128mb of RAM from them and their service and prices were excellent. I'll have to check them out again.

So let's say I'm going to build one. I was looking over the list of items, which I'm aware is overkill, that NFRS2000 laid out and I have a question regarding the external power supply. How necessary and/or beneficial is that these days? Do most of you'll use them? I've seen them in the stores but have never purchased or used one myself?

 

I usually go AMD unless there is a too-good-to-pass-up type deal in a Intel chip. External power supply? I don't remember one being listed there. A few hundred watts is sufficient unless you are running 3 CD drives, 4 HDs, etc etc. Maybe you're talking about battery backup? I don't use any except on my servers. If you're paranoid about losing power and data that you were working on, I think it's okay...buys some peace of mind. But be warned that you'll lose your monitor anyway, so remember the save shortcut keys for you applications.

 

I only read most of this so I hope I dont recover anything anyone else said.... I am with yogi in building your own. If you get a Dell you get a craptastic MoBo and tech support from some guy in India or Pakistan (forget which exactly) that barely speaks english. Nothing against people in foregin countries not being able to speak english, but big problems with "American" companies who outsource to non-english speaking countries for over-the-phone help.

Anyway, I am currently building a box and here are some specs and numbers (most of which I think you will like in your price range)

AMD A64 3200+ (64 bit processing is the future so its best to get it)
Western Digital HDD 80gig (SATA so this plus another 80 gig will run a crap load better and quicker than one 160gig IDE)
1gig Corsair PC3200 ram (this is XMS series which you really dont need)
Epox longname mobo (great board at $99)
Antec "true 430" power supply
Lian Li Case = Bling
Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
Windows Xp
NEC DVD burner

And the Nvidia 6800 GT (at $400 you can really get a cheaper video card, I say Ati 9800 pro, at around $200, if your not playing any games you can save BIG money here)

Total Cost without $400 video card around $1000.... Plus $199 19" Samsung montior $1200... Video for games $1400.... No gaming $1250-1300

........In summary, there is a crap load in the above that I highly doubt you need, like that RAM which is $230 for a Gig, when you could get good "value" RAM for $160 a gig. The PSU is probably more than you need so save $20 there, The Case is $100 so get a cheaper one for $50 or even $35.
That is just my computer I am building, if you really want to build your own I could goto newegg and "whip-up" a list for about $1000 which would probably more than meet your needs, everything but monitor in that price.

 

Just read your second post, www.yoshi.us is a forum for "case modding" but those guys are really nice in helping people out in building thier computers (run buy a guy named Yoshi who works for G4TechTV)
Thats a great forum to join and ask questions....

When you get a little more experienced in the parts and functions (like RAID, which does nothing for me personally) you should go join www.hardforum.com but be warned those guys can be real pricks to "n00bs" so read the FAQ's there and certainly search before posting, they love screaming thier "omniscient" knowledge at others. Or just go to hardforums and look or search without joining, you can find tons of reviews on that site. As much as those guys can be asses they deffinetly know thier stuff, and will help out if they haven't done so 20 times in the past (why I say search there first)
I'm ninethreeeleven on both forums, and I will recommend yoshi.us to anyone wanting to get more into computers, more than just reading the new dell catolog.

 

Here's What i would build with unlimited budget

CPU: AMD ATHLON64 FX53 Socket 939 $ 840.00
RAM: OCZ 1 GIG PC3200 PT Edition 2-2-2-8 - $300.00
VIDEO: BFG Geforce 6800 Ultra 256meg - $499.99
SOUND: Creative Audigy 2 ZS - $80.00
MOBO: ABIT AV8 - $120.00
HD: 74 gig 740GD Raptor 10,000RPM 8MEG SATA 150 $179.00
PS: PC Power and Cooling Power Supply 510watt Trupower $110.00
CASE: CoolerMaster WaveMaster $170.00
DVD: Pioneer Slot Load 16x DVD $45.00
DVDR: Pioneer 16x DVD-R $100.00
MONITOR: MITSUBISHI DP930SB-BK 19" SuperBright Diamondtron CRT $285.00
MOUSE: Microsoft Black Optical Mouse $14.00
Logitech Keyboard: $10.00
SPEAKERS: Klipsch ProMedia ultra 5.1 $345.0

Grand total: $3098.00

But to be with a realistic budget I would change the Cpu to a AMD 3500+ take out the speakers use onboard sound Tada

after minor cpu change price is : $2173.00