Custom PC - Building the perfect computer

Custom PC - Building the perfect system (2005)

This page is dedicated to building the best computer system possible. It is based on the hardware I'm playing around with at the moment, that I've used for years and wholly respect or that is upcoming and I have faith in. Incidentally, to qualify my judgements, I was a purchasing director of one VAR, and in my own right owned my own computer consultancy for over a decade and was / am an authorised reseller/partner for a number of manufacturers including:

Build spec for 2005 ~ first draft!

Almost mirroring last year, my recommendations for an Uber system are marred by late technology and, in this case, a miriad of options. I'll have a better idea after the CTO trade show next month (April) but here's my preliminary guidelines…

My first recommendation: Wait until at least June before making at major purchasing decisions

My second recommendation: If you can't wait, buy a new base unit to tide you over, either of the following should be more that adequate unless you are a games freak…

i.e.:

• Intel 2.8Ghz P4 (Socket 775), Asus P5G01 915G motherboard, 512Mb PC300 Samsung DDR400, case, 160Gb SATA Seagate
  Just £270 ex vat - about £320 - if you shop around!
  
  
• Intel 2.8Ghz P4 Celeron (Socket 478), Asus P800-MX motherboard, 512Mb PC300 Samsung DDR400, case, 160Gb SATA Seagate
  Just £200 ex vat - about £235 - if you shop around!
  
  

Concerns first:

The P4 Prescott (Socket 775) still run way too hot and I can't see that improving.

I expected ATX to be replaced by BTX last year, never mind this year but, apart from a small selection based in Intel Prescotts, it's looking barren. 2006, it seems, will be the year BTX comes to the fore when heat, noise and cooling issues encourage, even force AMD and others to forget the polital issues, and/or bite the bullet on cost related re-design issues

The landscape is going 64 bit, dual core and 90nm and while the vast majority of you won't see any real benefit from the extra technology, it's a brave fool who'll throw several thousand at a computer without being sure - really sure - that the changes Microsoft's Windows XP replacement, Longhorn, brings on the wind to eat it all up.

All change on the western front!

As you can see looking back, I've being doing this page for several years now and so far have always learned towards Intel over AMD…

There was a time, a long way back when another 'pretender' tried to steal Intels' crown. For the life of me I can't remember the companies name, but the floating point for the chip was phenominal for the day. I'm also sure - very sure - that a little known 'AMD' took over them…

I can remember being more that a bit miffed when a 100Mhz Cyrix 486 in the office stomped all over my shiny new Intel P90.

I can recall a number of occasions where I've firmly recommended AMD chips to folk based on price/performance issues.

HOWEVER… this is the first time in over twenty years when I've decided to not only recommend AMD over Intel but to use it in my prime workstation!

Basically, in my opinion and readings, Intel has let the suits run the show, dictating to the techies the re-written laws. Given the nature of the beast, Intel as a corporation has, to me, lost the plot!

Meanwhile, AMD has listened to the customers - and the suits that be have asked the techies how they can (profitably) meet these requests, demands and wishes.

Personally, I couldn't care less how fast they are any more, I just want the darn things to stop humming and buzzing all day under the weight of cooling fans. The fact I am pushing Antec Sonata cases as the default to folk and looking at outrageously expensive Zalman cases for the likes of myself says it all.

Anyway, below is my tentative list. I'll pad it out with prices and links later in the year.