I'm wondering what I should do. All my machines are ancient. I want a machine to do development on SQL/Visual Studio, UX stuff. Also some light gaming, WOT, flight sims, Minecraft for the kids. But the work stuff is the priority.
Up to now my main machine was a Dell 17" laptop and its still usable because I have a SSD in it, and its has a 1920x1200 screen,but it maxes out at 3GB. Its on its last legs though. The GFX card fails regularly and I have to fix it. The screen is good but it takes a bit of time to warm up, from dim to bright. The M1330 is perfect, but its too small so its the couch surfer.
Dell 17" 9400 laptop T7200/2Ghz 3GB RAM, 128GB SSD
Dell M1330, 1.5 C2D, 2GB RAM
I have an old Dell 4GB DDR2(533) QX6700/500GB (slow HD). HD7750
A HP 2GB DDR3 (slow) E8400 32GB HD.
The Desktops I got to play with and to make a cheap gaming machine. But the HD and low RAM are slowing them down a lot more than they should be.
The HP is a lot slower than it should be. I reckon its the slow Ram. I have had E8400's before and thought they were nippy. This one crawls. I picked it up thinking it would be decent if upgraded, but 1333 Quads are ridiculous prices. I could re use any DDR3 ram I bought for it though. The Dell can only take 8GB of RAM but DDR2 is pricey and its a dead end path. It can't take 1333 CPU's. Only 800 bus speed. With the 7750 it can play some things. I was using it for WOT.
I have a 24" monitor but struggle to find space for it. The 17" get used a lot as a result. I was thinking, of getting something like a light 14/15" with mega battery life to do development on, as I can bring that anywhere. Only problem is I'd want a really good screen and the budget laptops generally have mediocre screens.
When I do build a new machine it will be bargain basement. Something like a G3258, Case, MB, 8GB RAM and SSD and use the GD7750. I'll probably need Windows too. Do I upgrade any of them? Do I stick a SDD in the QX6700 and make do till I have a budget for a better machine?
Really just want some idea's. I'll probably limp along with what I have for a while. Put a SSD in the Quad and wait.
Up to now my main machine was a Dell 17" laptop and its still usable because I have a SSD in it, and its has a 1920x1200 screen,but it maxes out at 3GB. Its on its last legs though. The GFX card fails regularly and I have to fix it. The screen is good but it takes a bit of time to warm up, from dim to bright. The M1330 is perfect, but its too small so its the couch surfer.
Dell 17" 9400 laptop T7200/2Ghz 3GB RAM, 128GB SSD
Dell M1330, 1.5 C2D, 2GB RAM
I have an old Dell 4GB DDR2(533) QX6700/500GB (slow HD). HD7750
A HP 2GB DDR3 (slow) E8400 32GB HD.
The Desktops I got to play with and to make a cheap gaming machine. But the HD and low RAM are slowing them down a lot more than they should be.
The HP is a lot slower than it should be. I reckon its the slow Ram. I have had E8400's before and thought they were nippy. This one crawls. I picked it up thinking it would be decent if upgraded, but 1333 Quads are ridiculous prices. I could re use any DDR3 ram I bought for it though. The Dell can only take 8GB of RAM but DDR2 is pricey and its a dead end path. It can't take 1333 CPU's. Only 800 bus speed. With the 7750 it can play some things. I was using it for WOT.
I have a 24" monitor but struggle to find space for it. The 17" get used a lot as a result. I was thinking, of getting something like a light 14/15" with mega battery life to do development on, as I can bring that anywhere. Only problem is I'd want a really good screen and the budget laptops generally have mediocre screens.
When I do build a new machine it will be bargain basement. Something like a G3258, Case, MB, 8GB RAM and SSD and use the GD7750. I'll probably need Windows too. Do I upgrade any of them? Do I stick a SDD in the QX6700 and make do till I have a budget for a better machine?
Really just want some idea's. I'll probably limp along with what I have for a while. Put a SSD in the Quad and wait.
