The Desktop Computer & Configuration Thread

Nikhilb2008 · 7th December 2006, 00:33

SATA will generally increase performance slightly...

If you have 2 identical SATA drives, you can install them in a RAID 0 configuiration which will make your comp fly

There are other RAID setups too...RAID 1 is mainly for security, etc....

RAID 0 is only for performance but it is risky...if you are RAID 0 'ing 2 200 GB drives, if they fail, you will lose 400 GB of data....that is why I said, take daily backups of critical data...

Mugen_Power · 7th December 2006, 00:39

Nikhil,

Is there more chances to fail hdd's in RAID setup ? if i have only 1 320gb hdd can i set it RAID 0 ? only sata hdd can be set as RAID ? is it type of cabeling or what ?

speedzak · 7th December 2006, 00:47

In raid0, each and every file will be split equally into the number of harddrives you have in it. If it's 2 HDDs, then file will be split into 2 parts and each part will be saved in different HDD. This way, when the file needs to be accessed, it'll be faster to read. Same for writing too.
If you don't get it still, go to wikipedia.

If you just get a 320gb HDD replacing a 200gb HDD, there'll be no performance gains. Instead there'll be a very small drop in performance theoritically.

@LBM, That's one bloody fast system. Crazier than your ICE!

mohit · 7th December 2006, 00:49

Here's a linky you can use to read up the basics

PC Guide Raid explanation

merve_extreme · 7th December 2006, 01:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mugen_Power

Nikhil,

Is there more chances to fail hdd's in RAID setup ? if i have only 1 320gb hdd can i set it RAID 0 ? only sata hdd can be set as RAID ? is it type of cabeling or what ?

The chances of a HDD failing in raid 0 is the same at that in a normal configuration.

In raid 0 you have to connect 2 identical capacity hdd to 2 sata ports,no more cabling to do.
then you have to configure your motherboard bios to recognize the 2 hdd installed as a Raid 0(i:e 2 hdd as 1 big hdd)

Raid 0 increases your speed because your file is being written simulateously to 2 hdd,so both hdd work at max speed giving you the combined speed of both hdd.the only issue is you cannot carry your hdd around to connect at someone's place,but for that you can buy a small(40gb) usb HDD.

Mugen_Power · 7th December 2006, 01:31

zak,merve,mohit..

Thanks for the explanation, RAID information is really useful.
Will definately go for RAID setup later...

EDIT : if both hdd have single partition how it will be showed in windows ?

Mugen.

merve_extreme · 7th December 2006, 01:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mugen_Power

EDIT : if both hdd have single partition how it will be showed in windows ?

see you have two 200 Gb HDD,that makes it a total of 400 GB,your computer will show you this 400Gb as a single drive(i:e raid 0),so whatever partitions you make are shared between the 2 drives equally.you have to make the partitions after or during installing the OS.i think in intel matrix raid ,you can actually raid partitions and not entire hdd.i am not sure though.

eg:you make a 40Gb partition.20Gb is on drive 1 and 20Gb on drive 2.

hence you need 2 same capacity hdd,so that no space is wasted on the larger hdd.

but it is not a good idea to partition a raid 0 array,it will slow down the system.you create simple folders to save different things on a single large drive.

islandman · 8th December 2006, 18:49

Nehru Place IT Hub - Delhi - INDIA - Latest Prices for Computer Hardware, Laptop, Desktop PC, PC, LCD, LCD Monitor, router, Access Point, Wireless Devices, USB devices, Laptop spares Parts, Laptop Accessories, Laptop Batteries, External Casing, Print

The above is Nehru place's website which perhaps has the cheapest hardware rates. Users could go check prices first before they buy anything in any other city.

kkr2k2 · 11th December 2006, 13:45

Probably, i have the most archiach system here.

This is my system configuration:

Intel P-III 700Mhz.
192MB SDRam. (of which 64MB hyundai bought in 2000, 128MB in 2005)
Samsung 40 GB HDD.(till 2004 i had a 20GBHDD)
Mercury 810E chipset.
ATX Cabinet.
TVS Gold Keyboard.(Probably the best keyboard in india, and only mechanical keyboard, paid 1200/- back then in 2000, now its cost is still 1000/- even though now you can get more featured keyboard for a lesser price in the market, ' talk about exclusivity ')
Logitech 3-button mouse.
LG 52x CD-ROM drive.
2.5" FDD(forgot what brand it is, but it is still working!!)
LG Studioworks 552V - 15" color monitor.
340W Mercury speakers (very bad for music, but decent for vocal)
{currently i am using a 50W speakers of my old BPL cassette player, sounds much better than most of my friends computer speakers}

Gtea · 13th December 2006, 15:23

This is my system configuration:

Athlon64 (939 socket) 1.8 Ghz
512MB DDR Ram.
Seagate 200 GB HDD (Sata)
Seagate 80 GB HDD (Pata)
Asus Geforce 7300 GS 256mb DDR 2
ECS RS480-M Motherboard.
VIP Excalibur Cabinet.
Mercury Keyboard.
Logitech wireless mouse. (don't know the exact Model)
Asus Dvd writer.
Floppy drive (Sony)
Samsung SyncMaster 773s
BenQ V773 (BTW I'm using Dual monitors)
For sound I'm using my Philips tape deck through aux in.

hemi · 13th December 2006, 15:34

I have an antique config..here goes

intel celeron 2gig(had earlier OC'd to 2.4)
mercury mobo,via chipset
256MB ddr 233 RAM
Creative Live 7.1 sound card
Segate 40GB hdd
AT&T non MM keyboard,its ROCK solid compared to logitech/microsoft
Mercury Rat(mechanical)
Sony Cd-writer
Sony dvd rom
LG 15" CRT
Creative 2.1 SBS series speakers

safari dude · 14th December 2006, 22:27

With all this discussion about comps in this thread, I am would like all you comp gurus to advise me how to share a broad band connection( one coming to the flat) between two comps. Would installing the broad band cable into a wireless router help split it into two separate entities?
I have a desktop and a laptop. Right now I have to do this alternately(i.e connect one or the other to the broadband cable.the laptop is wifi ready but the desktop is not. Which components am I gonna need to split this connection &how?
regards,
Safari dude

Mugen_Power · 15th December 2006, 02:19

Guys,

I am Planning to buy a Gamepad and speakers.

Xbox360 or Logitech Rumblepad or frontech ?

Any Suggestions ?

Cheers,
Mugen_Power.

khanak · 15th December 2006, 02:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mugen_Power

Guys,

I am Planning to buy a Gamepad and speakers.

Xbox360 or Logitech Rumblepad or frontech ?

Any Suggestions ?

Cheers,
Mugen_Power.

speakers depends on your budget. if you can spend around 15-20k on them get the Logitech z5500s. NOTHING can beat them

rr_zen · 15th December 2006, 03:49

I have a DELL INSPIRON Notebook with the following specs:

120 GB HDD
1 GB RAM
Intel Pentium Core Duo Processor 2550 Ghz
Intel 128 Media Accelerator
Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy Edition
Internal Blue Tooth Module
CD/DVD Read Write
15.4 inch screen WSXGA with Dell Ultra Sharp with True Life

7th December 2006, 00:33	#286
Nikhilb2008 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,196 Thanked: 10,138 Times	SATA will generally increase performance slightly... If you have 2 identical SATA drives, you can install them in a RAID 0 configuiration which will make your comp fly There are other RAID setups too...RAID 1 is mainly for security, etc.... RAID 0 is only for performance but it is risky...if you are RAID 0 'ing 2 200 GB drives, if they fail, you will lose 400 GB of data....that is why I said, take daily backups of critical data...
	() Thanks

7th December 2006, 00:39	#287
Mugen_Power Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gujarat 03 Posts: 1,302 Thanked: 18 Times	Nikhil, Is there more chances to fail hdd's in RAID setup ? if i have only 1 320gb hdd can i set it RAID 0 ? only sata hdd can be set as RAID ? is it type of cabeling or what ?
	() Thanks

7th December 2006, 00:47	#288
speedzak BANNED Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: India Posts: 4,347 Thanked: 27 Times	In raid0, each and every file will be split equally into the number of harddrives you have in it. If it's 2 HDDs, then file will be split into 2 parts and each part will be saved in different HDD. This way, when the file needs to be accessed, it'll be faster to read. Same for writing too. If you don't get it still, go to wikipedia. If you just get a 320gb HDD replacing a 200gb HDD, there'll be no performance gains. Instead there'll be a very small drop in performance theoritically. @LBM, That's one bloody fast system. Crazier than your ICE!
	() Thanks

7th December 2006, 00:49	#289
mohit BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toronto / Kurukshetra Posts: 677 Thanked: 168 Times	Here's a linky you can use to read up the basics PC Guide Raid explanation
	() Thanks

7th December 2006, 01:31	#291
Mugen_Power Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gujarat 03 Posts: 1,302 Thanked: 18 Times	zak,merve,mohit.. Thanks for the explanation, RAID information is really useful. Will definately go for RAID setup later... EDIT : if both hdd have single partition how it will be showed in windows ? Mugen. Last edited by Mugen_Power : 7th December 2006 at 01:39.
	() Thanks

8th December 2006, 18:49	#293
islandman BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: bangalore Posts: 94 Thanked: Once View My Garage	Usefull Info Nehru Place IT Hub - Delhi - INDIA - Latest Prices for Computer Hardware, Laptop, Desktop PC, PC, LCD, LCD Monitor, router, Access Point, Wireless Devices, USB devices, Laptop spares Parts, Laptop Accessories, Laptop Batteries, External Casing, Print The above is Nehru place's website which perhaps has the cheapest hardware rates. Users could go check prices first before they buy anything in any other city.
	() Thanks

11th December 2006, 13:45	#294
kkr2k2 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Melbourne, Hyd Posts: 1,294 Thanked: 66 Times View My Garage	Probably, i have the most archiach system here. This is my system configuration: Intel P-III 700Mhz. 192MB SDRam. (of which 64MB hyundai bought in 2000, 128MB in 2005) Samsung 40 GB HDD.(till 2004 i had a 20GBHDD) Mercury 810E chipset. ATX Cabinet. TVS Gold Keyboard.(Probably the best keyboard in india, and only mechanical keyboard, paid 1200/- back then in 2000, now its cost is still 1000/- even though now you can get more featured keyboard for a lesser price in the market, ' talk about exclusivity ') Logitech 3-button mouse. LG 52x CD-ROM drive. 2.5" FDD(forgot what brand it is, but it is still working!!) LG Studioworks 552V - 15" color monitor. 340W Mercury speakers (very bad for music, but decent for vocal) {currently i am using a 50W speakers of my old BPL cassette player, sounds much better than most of my friends computer speakers}
	() Thanks

13th December 2006, 15:23	#295
Gtea BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Shillong Posts: 163 Thanked: Once	This is my system configuration: Athlon64 (939 socket) 1.8 Ghz 512MB DDR Ram. Seagate 200 GB HDD (Sata) Seagate 80 GB HDD (Pata) Asus Geforce 7300 GS 256mb DDR 2 ECS RS480-M Motherboard. VIP Excalibur Cabinet. Mercury Keyboard. Logitech wireless mouse. (don't know the exact Model) Asus Dvd writer. Floppy drive (Sony) Samsung SyncMaster 773s BenQ V773 (BTW I'm using Dual monitors) For sound I'm using my Philips tape deck through aux in.
	() Thanks

13th December 2006, 15:34	#296
hemi BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mysore Posts: 62 Thanked: 0 Times	I have an antique config..here goes intel celeron 2gig(had earlier OC'd to 2.4) mercury mobo,via chipset 256MB ddr 233 RAM Creative Live 7.1 sound card Segate 40GB hdd AT&T non MM keyboard,its ROCK solid compared to logitech/microsoft Mercury Rat(mechanical) Sony Cd-writer Sony dvd rom LG 15" CRT Creative 2.1 SBS series speakers
	() Thanks

14th December 2006, 22:27	#297
safari dude Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 18 Thanked: 0 Times	With all this discussion about comps in this thread, I am would like all you comp gurus to advise me how to share a broad band connection( one coming to the flat) between two comps. Would installing the broad band cable into a wireless router help split it into two separate entities? I have a desktop and a laptop. Right now I have to do this alternately(i.e connect one or the other to the broadband cable.the laptop is wifi ready but the desktop is not. Which components am I gonna need to split this connection &how? regards, Safari dude
	() Thanks

15th December 2006, 02:19	#298
Mugen_Power Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gujarat 03 Posts: 1,302 Thanked: 18 Times	Guys, I am Planning to buy a Gamepad and speakers. Xbox360 or Logitech Rumblepad or frontech ? Any Suggestions ? Cheers, Mugen_Power. Last edited by Mugen_Power : 15th December 2006 at 02:21.
	() Thanks

15th December 2006, 03:49	#300
rr_zen Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 1,799 Thanked: 400 Times View My Garage	I have a DELL INSPIRON Notebook with the following specs: 120 GB HDD 1 GB RAM Intel Pentium Core Duo Processor 2550 Ghz Intel 128 Media Accelerator Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy Edition Internal Blue Tooth Module CD/DVD Read Write 15.4 inch screen WSXGA with Dell Ultra Sharp with True Life
	() Thanks