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Ordered Another HP desktop

Started by Carskick, October 04, 2004, 17:31 hrs

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Carskick

I know, I know, why buy HP when you can build your own? Well, my Mom has reasons including reward points at BestBuy and intrest free financing. I can't fight the system, I've tried. It's like taking on a burning apartment with a bottle of Aquafina.

Anyways, the HP we ordered is as follows:
custom a710e:
AMD Sempron 2800+
Via Chipset(Don't know which one yet)
1x512MB PC2700 (Supposedly doesn't support Dual-Channel)
80GB 7200RPM
CD-RW/DVD (48x32x16x48x)
Integrated S3 video (will replace with PNY PCI MX420)
Integrated 5.1 audio(Likely RT650)
9 in 1 card reader
Will add own wireless network card.

So that should be here in the next week or two. When it comes, I'll let you know how the new Sempron performs, and give pics. It should perform about the same as my sig computer, as the Sempron 2800+ is basicly an T-Bred B CPU.

And yes I know the video is outdated, but it's not a gaming computer. But at least the card has enough power where it could do some basic gaming and run the CAD software if it had to. At least it's better than the integrated.
Athlon64 X2 3800+ Machester@2.45Ghz, 4x1GB A-DATA PC3200@204(2.5-3-3-6), XFX 8800GT, ASUS A8N5X NF4, Antec 300 case, Antec EarthWatts 650w, 640GB 16MB and 200GB 8MB 7200RPM SATA WD HDDs, NEC3540, NEC3550, Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate<br />Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/Carskick

Carskick

#1
Well, we got it yesterday. First thing I did was install the wireless NIC card and the PCI PNY MX420, but little did I know the video card was going to be fun.

After much configuration, I got both Windows and the BIOS to recognize and use the PCI video card correctly. Only one problem, the computer still dedicates memory to the video card. It is selectible in the BIOS, and has the choices Auto, 8MB, 16MB, 32MB, and 64MB. Even with the PCI selected in the BIOS and the integrated video disabled in the device manager, AUTO still dedicates 64MB of RAM to the integrated video which is not being used, and zero or off is not a choice. I set it to 8MB to take the least RAM, but I want to make it use no RAM, as every little bit counts.

Other than that, it's great. Quiet and quick, as usual from modern HPs. The Sempron works very well, even at multi tasking, which I use wall installing all my software for it. Performed very similarily to my signature computer.

To my surprize, it came with a Segate hard drive, which isn't bad, but I'm a Western Digital person, so you know. Also, the PSU, still 250watts, is now a LiteOn. What do you think of this brand for PSUs? Better or worse than Besteks?
Athlon64 X2 3800+ Machester@2.45Ghz, 4x1GB A-DATA PC3200@204(2.5-3-3-6), XFX 8800GT, ASUS A8N5X NF4, Antec 300 case, Antec EarthWatts 650w, 640GB 16MB and 200GB 8MB 7200RPM SATA WD HDDs, NEC3540, NEC3550, Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate<br />Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/Carskick

query

Lite-on has an uncanny ability to produce electronics that expire just after the a 1-year warranty would - out of about 200 Compaq DL360 rackmount servers, I've seen almost 100% mortality of the power supplies within the 3 year warranty - all from Lite-On - fortunately, all covered by HPaq.  In the later models, HPaq dropped Lite-On as a supplier of power supplies.

And in the Dell desktops we've got, the Lite-On optical drives seem to endure about 13-15 months - fortunately, we get them with 3-year warranties.

Hopefully they've improved of late - but to me, Lite-On is the epitome of disposable engnineering.


Carskick

Quote from: query on October 13, 2004, 17:39 hrs
Lite-on has an uncanny ability to produce electronics that expire just after the a 1-year warranty would - out of about 200 Compaq DL360 rackmount servers, I've seen almost 100% mortality of the power supplies within the 3 year warranty - all from Lite-On - fortunately, all covered by HPaq.  In the later models, HPaq dropped Lite-On as a supplier of power supplies.

And in the Dell desktops we've got, the Lite-On optical drives seem to endure about 13-15 months - fortunately, we get them with 3-year warranties.

Hopefully they've improved of late - but to me, Lite-On is the epitome of disposable engnineering.



LOL

So why has HP returned to Lite-On I wonder? Both my old P2 and my signature computer have Beteks, which have proven reliable to me, so why switch? Oh well. Hopefully ours won't be a faulty one. Luckily, her computer's PSU isn't under as much stress as mine, as my video card is much more power intensive. Maybe once I build my new computer in a year or so, we can switch PSUs if hers malfunctions. That'll give me an excuse to build a new computer. ;)
Athlon64 X2 3800+ Machester@2.45Ghz, 4x1GB A-DATA PC3200@204(2.5-3-3-6), XFX 8800GT, ASUS A8N5X NF4, Antec 300 case, Antec EarthWatts 650w, 640GB 16MB and 200GB 8MB 7200RPM SATA WD HDDs, NEC3540, NEC3550, Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate<br />Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/Carskick

query

My guess would be cost  -- and perhaps, LiteOn requalified for HP.  There's also a major difference between a consumer-grade desktop and a server designed to run 24X7 - when those fail, the company or university faces a major problem.

In fact, when I worked in IT, the PS failures on the 360s and ML Compaq servers were the major reason we switched to Dell PowerEdge servers - while HPaq took care of the replacements, the downtime wasn't particularly welcome.

At any rate, yours will likely work fine - I don't think any of the brand-name systems are markedly better or worse than any of the others  - the manufacturer (Dell, eMachines, HPaq) just doesn't matter much any longer, since as is the case with notebook machines, no matter whose name is on it, it was produced by one of a few ODMs in Taiwan or China.


Carskick

Quote from: query on October 14, 2004, 06:01 hrs
My guess would be cost  -- and perhaps, LiteOn requalified for HP.  There's also a major difference between a consumer-grade desktop and a server designed to run 24X7 - when those fail, the company or university faces a major problem.

In fact, when I worked in IT, the PS failures on the 360s and ML Compaq servers were the major reason we switched to Dell PowerEdge servers - while HPaq took care of the replacements, the downtime wasn't particularly welcome.

At any rate, yours will likely work fine - I don't think any of the brand-name systems are markedly better or worse than any of the others  - the manufacturer (Dell, eMachines, HPaq) just doesn't matter much any longer, since as is the case with notebook machines, no matter whose name is on it, it was produced by one of a few ODMs in Taiwan or China.


Very good point.

That's why I buy from HP, as they are generally the cheapest, and Dell uses almost identical parts. All of their desktops except the XPS has a 250watt PSU, just like HP does in most of their systems.

Actually, her computer probably will be running 24/7, as she never turns it off at night!  ::)

Anyways, hard system to beat in the price range.
Athlon64 X2 3800+ Machester@2.45Ghz, 4x1GB A-DATA PC3200@204(2.5-3-3-6), XFX 8800GT, ASUS A8N5X NF4, Antec 300 case, Antec EarthWatts 650w, 640GB 16MB and 200GB 8MB 7200RPM SATA WD HDDs, NEC3540, NEC3550, Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate<br />Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/Carskick

query

Actually, I think Dell has gone to a 350W PS for most of its newer systems - certainly the Dell-built 8400s, if not the Mitac-built 3000 and 4700 series.

None of them are built they way they used to be - but of course they're not priced as they used to be either.


Carskick

#7
For kicks, I've gathered the PSU ratings on some common prebuilt/built to order computers.

Dell:

Dimention 3000
Output Wattage: 250W maximum continuous
Heat Dissipation: 853 BTU/hour (fully loaded - w/o monitor)

Dimention 4600
Output Wattage: 250W maximum continuous
Heat Dissipation: 853 BTU/hour (fully loaded - w/o monitor)

Dimention 4700
Output Wattage: 305W maximum continuous
Heat Dissipation: 853 BTU/hour (fully loaded - w/o monitor)

Dimention 8400
Output Wattage: 350 Watts
Heat Dissipation: 460.7 BTU/hour (fully loaded - w/o monitor)

Dimention XPS Gen 3
Output Wattage: 460 Watts
Heat Dissipation: 931.2 BTU/hour (fully loaded - w/o monitor)

Weird, the 350 watt has worse heat disipation than the lower end models. This could effect the power output, as a hotter PSU creates less power.


HPaq

HP610, 700, 710 series
250 Watt

HP750 series
300 Watt

HP Media Center m1050e
250 Watt

HP Media Center m1050y
300 Watt

Compaq1010, 1005, 1000 series
250 Watt
300 Watt (Athlon 64 models)

Compaq4000 series
400 Watt

Compaq X Gaming PCs
470 Watt Enermax power supply


Gateway

3200 series
Not Specified

5200 series
305 watt, dual voltage power supply

7200 series
305 watt, dual voltage power supply


Emachines

No PSU specs




This gives a general PSU rating idea. All this information was gathered from each companies respective website.
Athlon64 X2 3800+ Machester@2.45Ghz, 4x1GB A-DATA PC3200@204(2.5-3-3-6), XFX 8800GT, ASUS A8N5X NF4, Antec 300 case, Antec EarthWatts 650w, 640GB 16MB and 200GB 8MB 7200RPM SATA WD HDDs, NEC3540, NEC3550, Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate<br />Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/Carskick

query

Hopefully, the coming of BTX will change things a bit - the BTX specification is a bit more demanding of power supplies (to say the least).

iansl

Why so? About BTX's power requirements, I mean.

I used to have a 200watt or so PS in my sig PC, until I got fed up with the failing (read noisy) fan and had them send me a new one. THe new one is nice, although at times the fan sounds a teeny weeny bit like the old one, but not by far, and the new PS is 250 watts. It is also a tiny bit bigger, and the local technician 9remember my computer was in the shop) found it hard to cram it in, but he did...
Dell Inspiron e1505, Core Duo T2050, 1 GB DDR2-533, 160GB WD Scorpio 5400RPM HDD, 8x DVD+\-\DL burner, GMA 950, WXGA panel, Windows Vista Ultimate, Office 2K7 Pro (thx M$)

iMac Aluminum 2.4GHz 20" w\4GB RAM, LP1965 LCD, OS X 10.5.2 + WinXP Pro
Macbook Air 1.6GHz 80GB HDD, OS X 10.5.2 + WinXP Pro, SuperDrive addon

The man, the mac user, the cell phone

Neon

The power specs are going up as a direct result of the increase in power draw of newer CPUs and GPUs.

The higher power increases the heat generated, and the BTX spec tries to address that problem by positioning the fans and components to achieve maximum air flow over the hottest components, then out of the box.
Area 64 project|Asus SK8N|nForce3 Pro 150 chipset|AMD Athlon 64 FX-51|2x 512MB Kingston HyperX PC3200R|eVGA GeForce 6800GT|WD Caviar SE 1200JD SATA|Plextor PX-708A 8x DVD+R|Plextor PX-116A 16x DVD-ROM|Lian Li PC-60H1S|Antec TruePower 430W ATX|WinXP x64 edition