Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: hotel21 on 07 February 2008, 20:46:28

Title: possible new PC?
Post by: hotel21 on 07 February 2008, 20:46:28
How does this compare pricewise?  Got sent the e-mail flyer for this, as of 14th Feb.  Have bought similar from Aldi before and it was quite fine for the price.  seems good timing as mine is on the verge of getting binned at the moment....
 
  AKOYA MD 8830 ENTERTAINMENT
  PC BASE STATION
      £399.99 EACH  
SUPER FAST – ULTRA QUIET – ENERGY EFFICIENT

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E4500 2.2 GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800 MHz FSB
High performance dual core processor with ultra silent cooling technology.
Huge 2GB DDR2 memory, speed rating 667MHz. Massive memory for maximum performance.

Gigantic S-ATA 500GB Hard Disk, 8MB cache, super-fast 7200rpm. Stores up to 100,000 MP3 tracks (4MB) or 100,000 digital photos (4MB) or 225 hours of video (depending on quality of recording).

Windows Vista® Home Premium Operating System

NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600GS graphics card with HDMI connection and Microsoft® DirectX 10 support for crystal clear graphics.

Multi format CD/DVD Burner
Easy cable free connection with the Medion HDDrive 2 go port (HD Drive not included)

RF remote control included. Enjoy TV, video, photos or music at the touch of a button .  2-in-1 TV Tuner, DVB-T and analogue TV including remote control.
Multi format CD/DVD Burner
Supports all the usual CD/DVD standards, including dual layer DVD-R, DVD+R and DVD-RAM.
8 Channel High Definition Audio
Enjoy amazing digital ‘home cinema’ surround sound. Use in conjunction with a suitable speaker set.
Gigabit LAN on board: 10/100/1000 Mbit/s
 
  Front Connections  
1 x Audio-in
1 x Composite-in
1 x S-Video in
1 x e-Sata
1 x Firewire
2 x USB
1 x microphone
1 x headphones

 8-in-1 card reader:
IMD, CFC, MS, MSP,
MC, SMC, XD, SD
 
 Rear Connections  
2 x PS/2
4 x USB 2.0
1 x RJ-45 LAN
1 x Front Audio Line Out
1 x Side Audio Surround
Line Out
1 x Centre/Subwoofer
Audio Line Out
1 x Back Surround Audio
Line Out
1 x Line In
1 x Mic
1 x Aerial In  1 x HDMI
1 x TV-out
1 x Firewire
1 x Adapter DVI-I
to D-SubD  
    3 year manufacturer’s warranty.
   MEDION offer a telephone supporthotline charged at National Rates and a FREE call out service for on-site repairs.
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: TheBoy on 07 February 2008, 20:47:49
the most important piece of spec missing - the chipset
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: hotel21 on 07 February 2008, 20:49:34
heres the link to the webpage.  info lifted from the e-mail....

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/2867_5153.htm
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: zippo on 07 February 2008, 20:50:28
Quote
the most important piece of spec missing - the chipset
i plead ignorance whats that
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: CaptainZok on 07 February 2008, 20:50:51
Sounds like a capable piece of kit mate.
You still not getting anywhere with your old un?
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 07 February 2008, 20:53:33
looking to config. you want speed..Why not consider a faster say 15K RPM SCSI or better RAID with SATA disks..
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: hotel21 on 07 February 2008, 20:53:54
Quote
Sounds like a capable piece of kit mate.
You still not getting anywhere with your old un?

nope....

scandisc, defrag, both no great change.  Does not hang on the intel logo now but takes an age to actually load the windows bits and bobs..

Did a reformat and reinstall from clean and now got no crud but still takes longer than it should to fully load.....

Reckon something got fried on the motherboard...
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: TheBoy on 07 February 2008, 20:55:08
Dell aint in my good books, but check some of these out:

http://www.dmxdimension.com/blogcategory/dell_uk_inspiron_530.html
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: TheBoy on 07 February 2008, 20:56:41
Quote
Quote
the most important piece of spec missing - the chipset
i plead ignorance whats that
The most important part of the jigsaw...
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: TheBoy on 07 February 2008, 20:57:29
Quote
looking to config. you want speed..Why not consider a faster say 15K RPM SCSI or better RAID with SATA disks..
Disk performance is not really an issue on desktop (non workstation) pcs generally.
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: zippo on 07 February 2008, 21:01:56
Quote
Quote
Quote
the most important piece of spec missing - the chipset
i plead ignorance whats that
The most important part of the jigsaw...
i'll take your word for it
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: TheBoy on 07 February 2008, 21:04:15
Ideally for Core2 chips, 965 (or 975) is best bet
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 07 February 2008, 21:05:21
Quote
Quote
looking to config. you want speed..Why not consider a faster say 15K RPM SCSI or better RAID with SATA disks..
Disk performance is not really an issue on desktop (non workstation) pcs generally.

Boot times will be changed drastically with a fast disk..if no hardware

problem..

15 K compared to 7200 is half latency..
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: CaptainZok on 07 February 2008, 21:09:21
Have you not considered a laptop, much easier to lounge on the couch than sit at a desk. Run your old box as a file store and grab what you need from it over the network.
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: hotel21 on 07 February 2008, 21:10:13
Quote
Quote
Sounds like a capable piece of kit mate.
You still not getting anywhere with your old un?

nope....

scandisc, defrag, both no great change.  Does not hang on the intel logo now but takes an age to actually load the windows bits and bobs..

Did a reformat and reinstall from clean and now got no crud but still takes longer than it should to fully load.....

Reckon something got fried on the motherboard...

on the upside, got a new docking station today for the PDA.  Plugged it all in and it synced no problem.  The PDA connectors are a shade singed and the plastic has a slight melt but all appears working fine and dandy....  A good tenner spent there.... ;D
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: hotel21 on 07 February 2008, 21:11:44
Quote
Have you not considered a laptop, much easier to lounge on the couch than sit at a desk. Run your old box as a file store and grab what you need from it over the network.

yes I have but already have an 'office' corner in the lounge with a nice big flatscreen monitor, printer, scanner etc and all files and stuff close at hand....
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: TheBoy on 07 February 2008, 21:13:50
Quote
Quote
Quote
looking to config. you want speed..Why not consider a faster say 15K RPM SCSI or better RAID with SATA disks..
Disk performance is not really an issue on desktop (non workstation) pcs generally.

Boot times will be changed drastically with a fast disk..if no hardware

problem..

15 K compared to 7200 is half latency..
True, but a 15k scsi disk does not have double the throughput of 7.2k SATA for desktop use.  For the server environment, 15k makes sense due to the way requests come in, less important in single user desktop.  Yes, will be quicker, but ultimately not worth the extra cost for standard desktop
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: CaptainZok on 07 February 2008, 21:14:14
Quote
Quote
Have you not considered a laptop, much easier to lounge on the couch than sit at a desk. Run your old box as a file store and grab what you need from it over the network.

yes I have but already have an 'office' corner in the lounge with a nice big flatscreen monitor, printer, scanner etc and all files and stuff close at hand....
Your too organised, that's your trouble. ;D
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 07 February 2008, 21:15:59
using .net as developing tool , compile times were changed amazingly when we moved to 15 K SCSI..
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: TheBoy on 07 February 2008, 21:18:39
Quote
using .net as developing tool , compile times were changed amazingly when we moved to 15 K SCSI..
Software development is more 'workstation' than desktop, different beast.

That is advantage of x86 systems - you can pick and choose to ideally suit specific needs.

No disrespect to Hotel21, but I don't think he'll get into software development, and is more after a general purpose PC for web/office/email etc (I may be wrong).  So no need to up-spec too much :)
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: hotel21 on 07 February 2008, 21:34:25
 ;D

I am a long way from a software developer or indeed, dabbler in graphics!  Need a decent PC that can run assorted Office applications at the same time as web browsing and, sometimes, a decent enough spec PC to allow some gaming....  Enough HD space for family images and music....
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: TheBoy on 07 February 2008, 21:50:05
Quote
;D

I am a long way from a software developer or indeed, dabbler in graphics!  Need a decent PC that can run assorted Office applications at the same time as web browsing and, sometimes, a decent enough spec PC to allow some gaming....  Enough HD space for family images and music....
Gaming - that becomes a different issue.  Decent video card becomes a must.  The rest of a Core2 Duo system should be up to it
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: hotel21 on 07 February 2008, 21:53:01
Given the gaming bit then, would one of the higher end Dells that you linked to be a better bet than the Aldi one?  I dont do much gaming and, TBH, am pretty crap at it anyway...  I just enjoy some of the graphic blood and snot to vent frustrations!!   ;D
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: TheBoy on 07 February 2008, 21:59:25
Quote
Given the gaming bit then, would one of the higher end Dells that you linked to be a better bet than the Aldi one?  I dont do much gaming and, TBH, am pretty crap at it anyway...  I just enjoy some of the graphic blood and snot to vent frustrations!!   ;D
You got the screen already?

Gaming aside, my needs are similar (even though I run Visual Studio occasinally).

I'd be looking at Core2 Duo 2.0 - 2.4G, 2G RAM, 965 chipset, any video does me as not gamer, small HDD, as use (the OOF ::)) server for storage.

Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: hotel21 on 07 February 2008, 22:05:48
Quote
Quote
Given the gaming bit then, would one of the higher end Dells that you linked to be a better bet than the Aldi one?  I dont do much gaming and, TBH, am pretty crap at it anyway...  I just enjoy some of the graphic blood and snot to vent frustrations!!   ;D
You got the screen already?

Gaming aside, my needs are similar (even though I run Visual Studio occasinally).

I'd be looking at Core2 Duo 2.0 - 2.4G, 2G RAM, 965 chipset, any video does me as not gamer, small HDD, as use (the OOF ::)) server for storage.


Got a 19" LG flatscreen.  Not the fastest of response times but enough for what I need.  Nice and clear and sharp images.

So, depending on the chipset, the Aldi one seems OK-ish?  

What would your chipset recommendations be, from worst to best?
Title: Re: possible new PC?
Post by: TheBoy on 07 February 2008, 22:12:54
Quote
Quote
Quote
Given the gaming bit then, would one of the higher end Dells that you linked to be a better bet than the Aldi one?  I dont do much gaming and, TBH, am pretty crap at it anyway...  I just enjoy some of the graphic blood and snot to vent frustrations!!   ;D
You got the screen already?

Gaming aside, my needs are similar (even though I run Visual Studio occasinally).

I'd be looking at Core2 Duo 2.0 - 2.4G, 2G RAM, 965 chipset, any video does me as not gamer, small HDD, as use (the OOF ::)) server for storage.


Got a 19" LG flatscreen.  Not the fastest of response times but enough for what I need.  Nice and clear and sharp images.

So, depending on the chipset, the Aldi one seems OK-ish?  

What would your chipset recommendations be, from worst to best?
generally, chipset wise, stick to Intel, and higher the number the better.

Personally I'd go for the branded Dell than the unknown Aldi, plus Dell is cheaper.  Dell have peeved me off, and their helpdesk needs a lot of patience (don't fight it, just answer the Qs and do as they ask), but it will be hugely better than what Aldi offer.

I have a mutual hatred of anything Sony or HP, so won't recommend them.