Re: Laptop and an expansion box questions??????

PeoplesChoice@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
I forgot to mention that I'd like to build the 'best' with quality
components. From your email, considering the spec detail, I think that's
where you're coming from too.


I operate "strictly USENET", as this way, if the conversation
has any value, it's archived. Alternately, if someone else
has a better idea than I do (the team approach), they can
add their two cents worth.

For example, on computer cases, there are too many of them,
for any one person to have seen them all. And when it comes
to the perception of whether stuff will fit, a person
who has actually fitted a GTX 480 into a computer lately,
has a more valuable opinion than I do.

I'm willing to answer questions, as they arise. But I draw the
line at "writing a book" (most of my posts are book length as it
is). If you give us a snapshot as to where you're at (what
components you've selected), we can suggest stuff to watch out for.

For example, processors come with up to six cores now, but there may not
be a whole lot of extra value by using such a solution. On a server,
you might get some tangible benefit from it, but on a desktop,
most of that power will be snoozing, even when gaming. We still
aren't at the point, where "six cores" is mainstream. Software
has to catch up. A quad is probably a good choice, with the clock
speed a function of the dollars you have to spend.

Part of the exercise of building a system, is "learning without
getting burned". The objective, is to build a computer, without
having a lot of parts left over. That would be considered a success.
If you have a lot of trouble getting it running, then swapping in
spare parts, makes the exercise less satisfying. You can always rely
on the retailer or the manufacturer, to support the warranty, but
depending on the cost of the component, you might not want to wait
that long. The failure rate on motherboards is probably in the 3% range,
which means one builder in thirty three, has a "rough ride".

There used to be a computer store in my town, where if you bought
the parts from them, they'd assemble it for $100 more. So that is
another alternative. The advantage in that case, is if there is
a defective component out of the box, while they're building,
they just reach for another one. That saves some of the time
involved in returning stuff to an Internet retailer. If you already
have a feeling for how well you and "electronics" or "gadgets" get
along, you may already know what risk level there will be while
building your own system. (To give an example, I don't get along
with small gasoline engines -- therefore, if someone brings me
a chainsaw to fix, I politely have to tell them to walk away. It
helps to know your own limits :-) I know how to ruin a chainsaw,
but not fix one.)

Paul
.

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