Tuesday, August 4, 2009

5:59 PM

:D 5 more days to National Day and I am happy to say that I have yet to hang the Singapore flag . Too cumbersome ya know . Today we did the N.E. Quiz ( with plenty of propaganda no doubt ) ; darn it should have done all the 3 stars first . At least I managed to get an Expert builder rank , unlike Person X who managed to get a Junior Builder >.< ! This year's national day song is weird - the lyrics , the singer and all - although it isn't that bad to me . =/ . Sigh ,I find myself always wanting to sleep all the time nowadays . Simply too many things to do , and so little time .

P.S. : I can't get the " Insomnia " song out of my head now .

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My MINI PC Guide

- This guide is meant to help those with little understanding of computer parts.
- It is very brief - please contact me via MSN to know more.
- This guide contains personal opinions and may not be taken seriously.

With regards to recent inquires on which computer to buy / get or build, I shall have the honour of explaining the pros and cons of the computer builds.

DIY OR NON-DIY

I would say DIY for more variation, creative touch, personal touch and better functionality for cost-performance ratio.
However, non-DIY computers save you the trouble of building one from scratch.

CPU: INTEL OR AMD

With both being major CPU chips making companies in the world, it does take a while to decide on which you prefer.

A brief overview:
AMD - Better price/performance ratio, for average performance and cost. Inferior to Intel in performance.

INTEL - More expensive compared to AMD for similar range of processors, but at a better performance which may be at least 1.5X more superior. Best for computer enthusiasts and
those seeking to overclock their computers.

CPU: Processor type

You might probably ask - Dual core or Core 2 Duo? Is there any difference?
Yes, there is.

Both cores utilises 2 cores to process data - one cpu but 2 processors inside, but Core 2 Duo has a faster threading speed, thus doing work faster than Dual core processors, given the same clock frequency (e.g. 2.6Ghz)

However, currently, Quad-Core (4 processors in one CPU) and Core i7 are also out in the market. The prices are different significantly, hence depending on your usage, choose wisely.

Dual Core/Core2Duo - Standard work, normal gaming
Core2Quad - Performance gaming, video rendering
Core i7 - Enthusiasts, everything else possible

CPUs come in various clock frequencies, like 2.0Ghz, 2.5Ghz...
It does not necessarily mean that the higher the better, it is better to look at the processor type first than the clock frequency.

An example -
Core 2 Duo at 3.0Ghz ($289)
Core 2 Quad at 3.0Ghz ($789)
Pentium D at 3.0Ghz ($89)

Note the difference in prices?
Although all of them are clocked at the same frequency, all of them are very different in the speed at which they process data.

Motherboard

This is the most important part of the machine. It is the circuit board which different parts are connected and work together.

It is best to choose a suitable motherboard that suits your processor.
AMD motherboard is not compatible with Intel processors and vice versa.
Usually, processors and motherboards are sold in a bundle for cost and compatability issues.

Be sure to check out the following when buying:
- RAM slots (Best if 4 for P45 architecture mobos, or 6 for X58 mobos)
- USB slots
- PCI-e slots
- CPU socket

Optional
- Beauty
- Lightings

Graphics Card

This is important for playing games, and the rendering of images onto your computer screen is determined by your graphics card.
It is difficult to go in depth into graphics card explanation hence I will just highlight the important points.

Latest graphics cards usually play the latest games, but at a cost. I recommend medium-budget graphics card as technology always changes and changing graphics cards will happen biannually.

Do not pick graphics card as and how you like. Decide between AMD/NVidia depending on your motherboard.

For more information about it, contact me via MSN.

CD/DVD drive

Buy this if needed.
If Blu-ray reading/burning is not needed, do not buy blu-ray compatible drives.

Power supply

Another important asset of the computer which is occasionally overlooked.
When buying a powerful computer, make sure the power supply is capable of providing enough power for your computer.

RAM

1 GB is the bare minimum these days, normal computers run at 2GB. Gaming computers running Vista run at 4GB RAM.

Choose a RAM module that is compatible with your motherboard.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Gaming system
CPU: Intel Core2 Quad Q9550 +
Motherboard: Gigabyte EP45-UD3R ($534)
Graphics Card: Palit GTX 285 ($499)
or (CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE) ASUS ATI Radeon HD4850 ($229)
RAM: Corsair XMS2 DHX PC2-6400 DDR2-800 CL4 4GB (2X2GB) ($99)
HDD: Western Digital 500GB 32MB Black ($100)
PSU: Corsair HX520W PSU ($150)

Hardcore system
CPU: Core i7-975 Extreme Edition ($1499)
Motherboard: ASUS Rampage II EXtreme ($450)
Graphics Card: ASUS ENGTX295 GeForce GTX 295 ($899)
RAM: HyperX DDR3-1600 triple-channel kit (3 x 1GB) ($99)
HDD: Western Digital Blue 640GB ($199)
PSU: Any 1000W PSU (~$249)

Do not forget to add on a casing which will cost between $50-$200, and monitor for about $200 and Operating system (if you need) for about $200.

OTHERS

Extreme
Intel Core i7-975 Extreme Edition & ASUS Rampage II Extreme ~ $2170
Corsair DOMINATOR TR3X6G1600C8D DDR3-1600MHz 6GB (3X2GB) Kit~ $508
Palit HD4870 X2 CrossFireX ~ $1600
or Dual Leadtek GTX295 ~ $1558
SSD 160GB - 320GB
Western Digital Caviar Black 1 TB for Storage ~ $168
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Corsair HX1000W PSU ~ $385
Cooler Master ATCS 840 ~ $400

Total ~ $5XXX

Intel Core i7-950 & ASUS Asus P6T Deluxe ~ $1356
or Intel Core i7-950 & ASUS Asus P6T-SE ~ $1195
Corsair TR3X6G1600C9 XMS3 Classic DDR3-1600MHz 6GB Kit (3X2GB) ~ $408
Palit HD4870 X2 CrossFireX ~ $1600
or Dual Leadtek GTX295 ~ $1558
or ASUS HD4890 Voltage Tweak CrossFireX ~ $738
SSD 160GB - 320GB
Western Digital Caviar Black 1 TB for Storage ~ $168
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Andyson MT8 AD-M800A2 800W PSU ~ $215
Cooler Master ATCS 840 ~ $400

Total ~ $4XXX

Intel Core i7-920 & ASUS Asus P6T-SE ~ $772
or Intel Core i7-920 & Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R ~ $797
Team Elite DDR3-1333MHz 6GB Kit (3X2GB) ~ $148
ASUS HD4890 Voltage Tweak CrossFireX ~ $738
or Gigabyte GTX275 SLI ~ $758
SSD 64GB - 128GB
Western Digital Caviar Black 1 TB for Storage ~ $168
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Andyson MT8 AD-M800A2 800W PSU ~ $215
Cooler Master ATCS 840 ~ $400

Total ~ $3XXX

High-End Systems

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 & Gigabyte EP45-UD3R ~ $691
Corsair XMS2 DHX PC2-6400 DDR2-800 CL4 4GB (2X2GB) ~ $99
Palit GTX285 ~ $499 or ASUS HD4890 Voltage Tweak ~ $369 or Gigabyte GTX275 ~ $379
SSD 64GB - 80GB
Western Digital Caviar Black 1 TB for Storage ~ $168
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Corsair HX620W PSU ~ $174
Cooler Master ATCS 840 ~ $400

Total ~ $2XXX

Mid-Range Systems

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 & Gigabyte EP45-UD3R ~ $534
Corsair XMS2 DHX PC2-6400 DDR2-800 CL4 4GB (2X2GB) ~ $99
or AMD Phenom II X4 955 & MSI 790FX-GD70 ~ $591
Kingston ValueRam DDR3-1333MHz 4GB (2X2GB) ~ $98
Palit GTX285 ~ $499 or ASUS HD4890 Voltage Tweak ~ $369 or Gigabyte GTX275 ~ $379
Western Digital Caviar Black 1 TB ~ $168
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Corsair HX620W PSU ~ $174
Cooler Master CM690 ~ $129

Total ~ $16XX

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 & Gigabyte EP45-UD3R ~ $534
or AMD Phenom II X4 955 & DFI LANParty DK 790FXB M2RSH ~ $528
Corsair XMS2 DHX PC2-6400 DDR2-800 CL4 4GB (2X2GB) ~ $99
PowerColor HD4870 1GB ~ $259 or Leadtek GTX260 Extreme+ ~ $299
Western Digital Caviar Blue 640GB ~ $95
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Corsair HX520W PSU ~ $146
Cooler Master CM690 ~ $129

Total ~ $12XX

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 & Gigabyte EP45-UD3LR ~ $475
or AMD Phenom II X4 810 & DFI LANParty DK 790FXB M2RSH ~ $470
Kingston ValueRam PC2-6400 DDR2-800 4GB (2X2GB) ~ $70
ASUS HD4890 Voltage Tweak ~ $369 or Gigabyte GTX275 ~ $379
Western Digital Caviar Blue 640GB ~ $95
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Aerocool E85 550W PSU ~ $139
Cooler Master CM690 ~ $129

Total ~ $12XX

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 & Gigabyte EP45-UD3LR ~ $475
or AMD Phenom II X3 720 & DFI LANParty DK 790FXB M2RSH ~ $430
Kingston ValueRam PC2-6400 DDR2-800 4GB (2X2GB) ~ $70
PowerColor HD4870 512MB ~ $229 or Palit HD4850 Sonic ~ $159
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB ~ $82
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Andyson G530W PSU ~ $79
Cooler Master Elite 334 ~ $59

Total ~ $11XX

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 & Gigabyte EP45-UD3LR ~ $475
or AMD Phenom II X3 720 & DFI LANParty DK 790FXB M2RSH ~ $430
Kingston ValueRam PC2-6400 DDR2-800 4GB (2X2GB) ~ $70
Palit HD4850 Sonic ~ $159 or Palit HD4850 ~ $139
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB ~ $82
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Andyson G480W PSU ~ $65
Cooler Master Elite 334 ~ $59

Total ~ $9XX

Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 & MSI P43 NEO3-F ~ $321
or AMD Phenom II X3 720 & Biostar TA760G ~ $310
Kingston ValueRam PC2-6400 DDR2-800 4GB (2X2GB) ~ $70
PowerColor HD4870 1GB ~ $259 or Leadtek GTX260 Extreme+ ~ $299
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB ~ $82
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Andyson G530W PSU ~ $79
Cooler Master CM690 ~ $129

Total ~ $9XX

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 & MSI P43 NEO3-F ~ $400
Kingston ValueRam PC2-6400 DDR2-800 4GB (2X2GB) ~ $70
or AMD Phenom II X3 720 & Biostar TA790GX A3+ ~ $399
Kingston ValueRam DDR3-1333MHz 4GB (2X2GB) ~ $98
Palit HD4850 Sonic ~ $159 or Palit HD4850 ~ $139
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB ~ $82
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Andyson G480W PSU ~ $65
Cooler Master Elite 334 ~ $59

Total ~ $8XX

Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 & MSI P43 NEO3-F ~ $321
or AMD Phenom II X2 550 BE & Biostar TA760G ~ $259
Kingston ValueRam PC2-6400 DDR2-800 4GB (2X2GB) ~ $70
Palit HD4850 Sonic ~ $159 or Palit HD4850 ~ $139
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB ~ $82
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Andyson G480W PSU ~ $65
Cooler Master Elite 334 ~ $59

Total ~ $7XX

Intel Pentium E6300 & MSI P43 NEO3-F ~ $259
or AMD Athlon II X2 250 & Biostar TA760G ~ $230
Kingston ValueRam PC2-6400 DDR2-800 4GB (2X2GB) ~ $70
Palit HD4850 Sonic ~ $159 or Palit HD4850 ~ $139
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB ~ $82
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Andyson G480W PSU ~ $65
Cooler Master Elite 334 ~ $59

Total ~ $6XX

Budget Systems

Intel Pentium E6300 & Biostar G31-M7 ~ $189
or AMD Athlon II X2 245 & Biostar TA760G
Kingston ValueRam PC2-6400 DDR2-800 2GB ~ $35
Palit 9600GT ~ $139
Western Digital Caviar® Blue™ 320 GB ~ $70
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Andyson G480W PSU ~ $65
Cooler Master Elite 334 ~ $59

Total ~ $5XX

AMD Athlon II X2 245 & Biostar TA760G ~ $195
Kingston ValueRam PC2-6400 DDR2-800 2GB ~ $35
Palit HD4670 Super ~ $129
Western Digital Caviar® Blue™ 320 GB ~ $70
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Casing ~ $40
Cooler Master 390W ~ $55

Total ~ $5XX

Entry Level Systems

AMD Athlon X2 5200+ & Biostar TA760G ~ $175
Kingston ValueRam PC2-6400 DDR2-800 2GB ~ $35
Western Digital Caviar® Blue™ 160 GB ~ $58
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Casing ~ $40
Cooler Master 390W ~ $55

Total ~ $3XX

AMD Athlon X2 5200+ & Biostar TA690G ~ $155
Kingston ValueRam PC2-6400 DDR2-800 1GB ~ $23
Hitachi 80GB ~ $50
Samsung SATA 22X DVD Rewriter ~ $31
Casing ~ $40
Cooler Master 390W ~ $55

Total ~ $3XX

Source : Derrick's blog
Written by : Derrick