New PC questions

[pennylink]

I've been using SONAR 2.2 on a PIII/800 with 512 RAM, dual hard drives and Win98SE , but need to take the leap to a faster processor so I can run Sonar 3 in XP, and generally have more flexibility with soft synths, etc.

So here are a few questions to help me in my search/research:

1. Any reason not to buy Dell? (I'll also need to run e-mail and other basic computing functions on the same PC)

2. Is it worth it paying $50 to go from a P4 2.8GHz to a 3GHz or even more for a 3.2 GHz? Is there a noticeable difference?

3. I'm thinking 1GB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM. Any reason to get more RAM at this point?

4. Since I have my Aardvark Q10 audio card that I will transfer, should I just get the "Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio", as opposed to adding a Sound Blaster card at additional expense, and which I understand doesn't always play well with other soundcards?

5. I'm thinking of getting a 80GB 7200 RPM hard drive, and transferring the second 80GB 7200 RPM from my current setup for audio data...

6. Anything else I should consider or avoid?

Thanks in advance for any feedback

 

[vestast]

Pennylink - I read on a post here recently about a member that was having an issue with fitting his PCI card into his new Dell. Something about the case not being wide enough...

Just thought I'd mention that as a possible concern since you will be transfering over your existing audio card..

 

[dachay2tnr]

FWIW, I just upgraded from a Dell 733 MHz machine that sounds very similar to yours.

I built my own new system. Here's what I bought:

New case w/o power supply.
Quiet 350W power supply
2 Quiet Case Fans
ASUS P4P800 Mobo
Pentium4 2.8 GHz
1 Gig Crucial DDR, PC2700 memory.
AGP Graphics Card
Floppy Drive

I took the existing Hard Drives, CD burner and Delta 1010 out of my Dell, and kept the existing monitor, keyboard and mouse. (I could have taken the AGP graphics card as well, but I went with a dual monitor system and needed a dual monitor graphics card).

Total upgrade cost was $650.00.

I would highly recommend this approach. Nothing particularly wrong with Dell's (I got 3-4 years of excellent service from the one I just replaced). However, this approach allows you to select the specific components you want in your machine, and the future upgrade path is easier. And unless you have a ready-made buyer or use for your old system, you won't even get the value of your two hard drives out of it.

BTW, the new system rocks!

 

[Qwerty]

So here are a few questions to help me in my search/research:

1. Any reason not to buy Dell? (I'll also need to run e-mail and other basic computing functions on the same PC)[/i]

=> You pay for the brand and it will be cheaper from your local white box retailer.

2. Is it worth it paying $50 to go from a P4 2.8GHz to a 3GHz or even more for a 3.2 GHz? Is there a noticeable difference?

=> Yes. About another 2,500 MIP/S.

3. I'm thinking 1GB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM. Any reason to get more RAM at this point?

=> No. Make sure that you get an 800MHz front side bus and PC3200 DDR SDRAM. 1 Gig of that will SCREAM!

4. Since I have my Aardvark Q10 audio card that I will transfer, should I just get the "Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio", as opposed to adding a Sound Blaster card at additional expense, and which I understand doesn't always play well with other soundcards?

=> Onboard is fine for that stuff, save yourself the slot.

5. I'm thinking of getting a 80GB 7200 RPM hard drive, and transferring the second 80GB 7200 RPM from my current setup for audio data...

=> Do it.

6. Anything else I should consider or avoid?

=> Herpes, syphillis and V.D.

Q.