There should be a way

[Nandu]

I just bought a barebone and got my ram and HDD. I dont want to buy a new monitor.
Is there a way i can use the monitor attached to another system be used for this system too. I wonder if there is anything like a switch which connects monitor to my old/new system when i want. (Both systems are at same desk)

Also i have been seeing heat synchs, HDD thermal synchs and so. What are they and are they needed for any system?
Also my 2.8 P4 is coming with a 350watt power system. I am adding 1GB to it and a 120 HDD. Friend says porwer is not sufficient. Is that correct?

 

[beverage]

You can get a KVM switch that will let you use one monitor, keyboard, and mouse with multiple computers...most commonly 2 machines, but you can buy them to support even more.

 

[John]

Get a 2 port KVM switch

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: Nandu
I just bought a barebone and got my ram and HDD. I dont want to buy a new monitor.
Is there a way i can use the monitor attached to another system be used for this system too. I wonder if there is anything like a switch which connects monitor to my old/new system when i want. (Both systems are at same desk)

Also i have been seeing heat synchs, HDD thermal synchs and so. What are they and are they needed for any system?
Also my 2.8 P4 is coming with a 350watt power system. I am adding 1GB to it and a 120 HDD. Friend says porwer is not sufficient. Is that correct?

Like other said.... get a KVM... If you need/want audio for both systems without having two speaker sets or rigging something, get a KVM that has audio switching built in.

Also... THat 350watt could be just fine for your box.... Only way to find out is to fire it up complete and see if you have any problems. Your bare bone should come with the Processor Heat Sink..... Unless you are over-clocking, you need not worry about adding all the additional heatsinks to the drives, video, chipset, memory, etc. Heatsinks transfer heat from the surface of a chip to the ambient air inside your case. They have "fins" to increase surface area of the sink and sometimes feature a fan mounted on the heat sink to more effectively cool the chip in question.

Most "average" systems will have a heatsink/fan combo on the processor. Most video cards come with one already built on. Throw in a good case fan to help introduce fresh air from outside the case, and the fan that's already built into your power supply to help exhaust the heated air and you have a typical setup.

So... try the 350watt supply... I think you'll find it will work just fine..... Keep an eye on your cpu and case temperatures and then decide on if you need additional case ventilation and/or case fans.

 

[MarklarMarklar]

I've been wondering the same thing for some time now. Is there any screen quality degradation when using a kvm switch?

 

[1sikbITCH]

My brother and father share a monitor with a switch and from what I saw their picture looks just fine regardless whose pc is switched on at the moment. My brother plays video games as well and I don't hear him bitching about the picture. As far as "no" degredation, I don't know, but it seems to be negligable at most.

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: MarklarMarklar
I've been wondering the same thing for some time now. Is there any screen quality degradation when using a kvm switch?

Good question. Yes and No.....

You need to ensure that the KVM will support the resolution and refresh rate that you run today and maybe what you might run next year - good advice if you buy used.

Also.... Buy good quality cables. You'll get leakage/ghosting with cheap cables and you'll wish you spent the extra $10-20 per set.

To my naked eye I've noticed no perceptable visual degradation.... there always will be when you add cable length and connections in between, but I don't notice.