Both systems will do fine with a 3-series chipset board with an E8400 (~$200). I recommend intel retail desktop boards. Your 2nd system as described (dealing only in 2D imaging) needs nothing more than integrated graphics as far as speed, but you'll want a digital output so I would recommend intel's DG33TL (~$120) with integrated GMA 3100 graphics and DVI output. Trust me, you DO NOT need any add-on PCIe GPU. Throw in 2GB of JDEC spec DDR2 (~$50) and a 74GB Raptor (~$140) and you have a screaming system for general I/O just north of $500.
I recommend an intel-based rig because a) nothing tops the price performance of the new 45nm core 2 duo's and b) the ICH9R RAID is a superior performing RAID southbridge when compared to nvidia's and amd/ati's current southbridges. > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: hardware@hardwaregroup.com > Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:48:00 -0400 > Subject: [H] another recommendation > > Hi all, > > Need to build 2 systems. > > 1. Strictly business. Don't need fancy graphics, or sound, so onboard > video/sound is fine. (I will up the RAM) Dual HDD that are Raid Mirrors are > needed. > > 2. System 2 can be almost like the one above, but needs a better video card. > My wife is a Medical Transcriptionist. This will be her work system and her > "playing with digital pics" system. I want dual hdd, and a raid mirror on > this as well. I have a Raptor SATA drive that I am going to put in along with > another Raptor of same size. Speed is important to her as she is paid on > production. > > Both systems will be using 19 inch basic flat screen monitors. Both systems > will be running XP. System 2 will be XP Pro. (Hospital requirement) and a > medical version of Word. Speed is important here, but nothing that has to be > ripping fast. (also, as the hospital upgrades she needs to be at least close, > so at least dual core if not quad if I can swing it) > > 1st system will be running XP home. So XP drivers for both systems will be > important. > > Both systems will be on networks. System 1 wireless and system 2 wired. > > I have looked on Tiger and Geeks and haven't quite seen what I need. Budget > is 800 for system 1, though I can go to 1k if needed. About 1000 - 1400 for > system 2. > > Any and all help appreciated. > > BTW, I have the legit copies of XP so that doesn't have to be part of the > expense. And, I can put my own systems together, so individual components, if > a better deal, is not a problem. > > Thanks all, > > Harvey > > hbest > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > More immediate than e-mail? Get instant access with Windows Live Messenger. > http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_instantaccess_042008 b _________________________________________________________________ Use video conversation to talk face-to-face with Windows Live Messenger. http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/connect_your_way.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_messenger_video_042008
