Is this a good system?

[jmiasi]

I would really love an "HD" widescreen monitor but my husband would kill me as it would greatly increase the proce of this. We have a 19" Samsung flat panel right now. He said we should just get a card that offers a dual monitor set up like he has at work. What is your opinion?

 

[jmiasi]

We would just buy another samsung monitor for that?

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: jmiasi
I would really love an "HD" widescreen monitor but my husband would kill me as it would greatly increase the proce of this. We have a 19" Samsung flat panel right now. He said we should just get a card that offers a dual monitor set up like he has at work. What is your opinion?

All of the video cards recommended so far support dual monitors (although I don't think any of them are dual DVI, so they would not be the best for running two LCD monitors).

Really big widescreen LCD monitors are very nice, but expensive (usually $900+). It's certainly something you can add later.

 

[jmiasi]

He said since I have so many windows open at one time the dual monitors would be more useful than a single 26"

 

[jmiasi]

so I can plug two monitors into the ATI 800 video card you recommended?

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: jmiasi
He said since I have so many windows open at one time the dual monitors would be more useful than a single 26"

I also prefer that sort of setup. You certainly get a lot more screen area for your money -- two 19" LCDs gives you a 2560x1024 effective desktop, compared to 1920x1200 on a 24" widescreen LCD, and it's physically larger.

 

[jmiasi]

Hey Bob and YoYo, Where did two go? Did you think four hours of helping this helpless chick was enough? LOL

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: jmiasi
Hey Bob and YoYo, Where did two go? Did you think four hours of helping this helpless chick was enough? LOL

Sorry, I was attempting to have a life

Yeah, all these videocards will support dual monitors, but like Matthias mentions there's not all dual DVI.

I just yesterday started using dual monitors and I like it so far.
I don't really have an opinion on dual smaller vs 1 larger.

 

[Bobthelost]

I'm still here, just but mathias is quicker off the mark than i am and i'm off to bed soon (other side of the pond remember).

I've got dual monitors as well, it's wonderful for code and photoshop, you can have the picture at full screen on one and all the tools on the other. Once you go for them you hate using single screen systems again. The X800 can do dual monitors but one has to use VGA (not as good as DVI).

 

[Bobthelost]

No, all the cards that are viable options have one DVI and one VGA output. I'm not sure what the 7300GS will use, but it's not out in the US yet so it's a bit pointless wondering.

It's not a massive problem by any means, but would have been a nice extra.

 

[jmiasi]

So it is after midnight there then?

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: jmiasi
So it is after midnight there then?

0:49 AM and i'm off to bed in ten mins or so.

 

[jmiasi]

Well, Bob thank you VERY VERY much for all of your help. Have a wonderful night!!!

Jen

 

[Bobthelost]

Will do, enjoy your new computer.

 

[jmiasi]

Okay, so Matthias99 do you think my configuration is good? I want to be sure before I buy it...

Jen

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Could you list what you're planning one more time just to be sure we're all talking about the same thing?

 

[jmiasi]

Sure!

Monarch Furia Custom Workstation (PCI-E) 1 $89.00 $89.00
Case: 100587 - No PS - Antec SLK3000B ATX Mid Tower (Bla $51.71 $51.71
Power Supply: 100337 - PS 400W - Enermax Liberty ELT400AWT ATX 2 $74.98 $74.98
Case Fan: 100887 - 120mm - Antec 120mm SmartCool Case Fan $18.92 $18.92
Motherboard: 110460 - DFI NF4 Infinity nForce4 Audio/GB-LAN/IEE $85.64 $85.64
Processor: 120242 - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Dual-Core 512K Per $555.75 $555.75
Thermal Grease: None
Heat Sink Fan: 800083 - None - Fan REQUIRED - except with RETAIL
Memory: 140210 - DDR (400) 3200 - 2 GB (2 pcs 1GB) Corsair $198.87 $198.87
2nd Memory: 140210 - DDR (400) 3200 - 2 GB (2 pcs 1GB) Corsair $198.87 $198.87
Hard Drive: 150175 - Western Digital Caviar SE16 400 GB SATA 1 $230.74 $230.74
2nd Hard Drive: None
3rd Hard Drive: None
4th Hard Drive: None
RAID Setup: None
RAID Controller: None
CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW: 160081 - DVD±RW - BENQ DW1640 16X DVD±RW DL (Black $51.85 $51.85
CD-RW/DVD-RW: None
CD-RW Software: 210613 - Ahead Nero 6.6 Suite DVD+-RW Software (OE $15.99 $15.99
DVD-ROM Software: 210600 - nVidia DVD Decoder 1.00.58 (OEM) $15.97 $15.97
Floppy: None
More Storage: None
Sound Card: None
Video Card: 190441 - ATI (Sapphire) Radeon X800 GTO 256MB GDDR $168.00 $168.00
Modem: None
Network Card: None
Wireless Network Card: None
Add On Card: None
Case Function Add On: None
Round Cable: None
Operating System: 210111 - Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/Servi $155.72 $155.72
Additional Software: 210863 - Microsoft Office 2003 Basic - CD-License $179.00 $179.00
Antivirus: None
Warranty: 800010 - Standard Tech Support, 3 Year $125.00 $125.00
Hot Rush: None - Standard Order ( ships within 10-15 busines
Nero 7 Promotion: None
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Video Capture: None
TV Tuner: None
Lance Armstrong: 270447 - Lance Armstrong LIVE STRONG wristband
Free Giveaway: 270251 - Patriot Pen Blue and Grey - Free!
Subtotal for 80327 with your selected options: $2,216.01

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I didn't realize until just now that the configs have had 4gigs of ram.

That's a lot. I think most people are running 1 gig around here with the more serious users having 2 gigs. 4 is a lot.

I know photoshop loves memory, but I'm not sure you really need 4 gigs, especially if you're coming from a rig with only 512mb.

 

[jmiasi]

Having Photoshop and Illustrator open at once KILLS 512, not to mention that I keep my email and internet open at the same time too. I think earlier in the discussion a couple people mentioned getting 4gb. What do you think I should do? I want more than 1gb but do you think 2 would be good or would you just go with the 4?

Jen

 

[jmiasi]

I also should mention that I want this computer to stay "awesome" for a long time, not just for the next year Plus, at only $200 more, I think I'll go with the 4gb - why not, right?

Jen

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I'm not sure if this board has issues running 4 sticks at full speed or not, but sometimes you can run into trouble running 4 sticks.

If you're not comfortable adding ram later though, might as well max it out now I guess though.

 

[jmiasi]

What kind of troubles could I run into?

 

[jmiasi]

My husband says he's added RAM before so he could do it later... but if you think it's OK I'd rather just get the 4gb now...

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You can get ram cheaper on its own actually, you might want to just get 2 for now and see how it runs. If you use it all up and want more, you can add another two sticks later for cheaper than adding them now.

Has your husband ever added a PCI card before? If he can add ram, he can probably transfer the soundcard over too. The added difference is you have to deal with 1 screw

 

[jmiasi]

Yeah, maybe I should just do the 2gb of RAM and then once I'm up and running on it I'll see if that's sufficient enough. I'm sure he could - since we're not buying a sound card (someone said that the motherboard has one??) then maybe he can just use the one from our current computer.