I'm building a new PC every 18 months or so and post the progress of selecting the right PC components here on this blog. I actually spend more most of my time on the evaluation of computer hardware, as I have to live with the selection for the next 12 to 18 months. Bad choices in the beginning can have a huge impact on my productivity, that's why I'm extra careful here.
I always start with an assessment of my needs. What do I need the new PC for? What would I like it to be? Which features should it have? Do I have hardware that I need to connect to the computer? Are there additional important characteristics that I should pay attention to?
I first and foremost need the PC for work which leads to the first batch of requirements:
But work is not the only activity on that computer. I'd furthermore like to use it for entertainment and gaming as well:
And then there are things that I do not need at all:
Now that I have written down what I want, need and what I do not want or need, it is time to find the right PC hardware for that. The next part will be about that, stay tuned.
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I on the other hand still use my 10 years old IBM Thinkpad A31P with XP Sp3, 1GB of memory , ATI Radeon video card with 64MB of memory !! and screen resolution of 1600×1200.
I don’t play games or watch HD movies on this laptop (I stream full HD movies & audio to my Media Streamer connected to A/V system with Pioneer KURU 50″ HD TV), but even with it’s old video card I can watch 720p/1080p HD movies on the laptop.
This laptop is on 24/7 (I switch it off only on vacations) and still fast and responsive. I use maily portable applications and replace installed applications when I find a suitable portable replacement.
During those 10 years I have replaced under extended warranty the screen(once), the internal HD (once) and the external power adapter (once).
I would do pretty much the same if I would not play the occasional game. No need to update at all in that case unless you need one of the new technologies.
hi, what soft and drivers you use on HD playback?
my a31p 2ghz won´t play smooth those files.
thankz
would u be goin the amd way?
Motherboard- asus crosshair iv formula -expensive but future proof
processor – amd phenom ii x6 1090t or an x4 could do.
graphics- hd 6850 -should be sufficient fr gamin needs
Sean I always start with no preferences, could go AMD or Intel, will have to see how their products perform.
Timely! I’m in the market, too, and have the same requirements.
you want to play new games for the next 2 years, but also want a silent, power saving pc? does not compute.
I have done the exact same thing for the past ten years or so. What makes you think this is not possible.
hi, what soft and drivers you use on HD playback?
my a31p 2ghz won´t play smooth those files.
thankz