Just bought a new computer-- confused

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1088

Okay, just ordered what seems to be a very very badass computer. But it is custom and I don't know what Operating system I should put in. My choices are XP home, XP professional, XP professional pro, or Vista.

With XP, what are the benefits of getting the pro? I am confused. Also I am not sure if my pro tools will work on profesional....is there anything wrong with home?

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1088

There is also XP media center as an option

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1088

32 bit, 64 bit?

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1088

Here are my stats if that helps

Processor Speed:
6,000 MHz

Memory (RAM):
4,000 MB

Intel Pentium D 925 Dual Core 800MHz 2x1MB LGA775 CPU

Motherboard: ASROCK CONROE 1333 MOTHERBOARD

VIDEO CARD 227MB INTEL VIDEO ACCELERATOR (ONBOARD)

DDR2 RAM 4GB (2x2GB) DDR-2 667MHZ PC-5400

Segep · Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 219

I would go with XP Pro 32 bit. You'll be able to do everything you want with that setup. XP Pro is more compatible than XP Home, and doesn't suck up nearly as much system memory as Vista.

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1088

What do you mean by more compatible? Is there a chance that windows home wouldn't work on the new computer?

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1088

also whats the bit thing about? What is 32 bit compared to 64 bit? I have no idea what this means. Thanks for the help Segep

Segep · Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 219

What I mean by "more compatible" is there are a few things that will only run on XP pro and not XP home. Zune's, for instance.

What I mean by 32 bit is how much information the system bus processes at one time. 32 bit has been the standard for at least 15 years now. 64 bit is newer, but there aren't that many applications yet that can handle it. So it's like this. A 32 bit system can transfer this much information on the system bus each clock cycle (if you have a 1GHz processor, the clock cycle is a billion times per second):

10111010 00110100 11001100 01100110 <---32 bits

So there are 32 parallel lines on the circuit board running between the CPU, memory and PCI bus, each one capable of being in the on or off state (1's or 0's).

And 64 bit can do double that, obviously. But a 64 bit system requires totally different hardware drivers. Your current printers and other peripherals may not work on a 64 bit system without downloading new drivers, IF the manufacturer has bothered to make them available.

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1088

The only thing I am concerned about is, I am not sure if my current version of pro tools runs on XP pro or if I would have to rebuy the program (since my current computer is XP home.)

Thanks for the help Segep. I find it all very interesting!

Segep · Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 219

Kizzume · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:08 pm Post subject:

XP Pro has everything that XP Home has but more. XP pro would be the best.

I'm very saddened by your poor choice that went against all the advice I gave you, literally ALL the advice I gave you:

ONE: Ordering online or through places that the warranty requires shipping the computer off http://cgi.ebay.com/INTEL-PENTIUM-D-925-4GB-DDR2-320GB-HD-20x-DVD-RW_W0QQitemZ110218430601QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item110218430601 THAT is the computer you're getting.

TWO: WESTERN DIGITAL HARD DRIVES. I bet you never even asked them about that--it just looked like a good deal on eBay. I just got done talking to them on the phone. This is the same company that a friend of mine ordered a computer through and it took them 3 months to finally get it right. Good luck.

THREE: ASROCK motherboards which I warned you about.

It doesn't even come with a real video card, it has onboard video, which isn't worth jack diddly. But again, good luck. You won't be able to return it because they'll charge you a restocking fee.

Go the XP Pro route. Don't get 64bit windows, since it doesn't really give you any advantage right now.

Kizzume · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:46 pm Post subject:

Sorry I was so harsh.

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1088

Well, for the record, I wasn't attempting to deliberately go against your recommendations. I'm sure you have spoken about motherboards with me before, but since I don't really know what you are talking about, not all of that information sticks.

As far as ordering off ebay goes, don't forget that I have asked you about that in the past, regarding laptops, and you gave me the go ahead. You specifically said "man, if I had the money right now I would like to buy one of those too!" So it isn't like you have consistently, always said, hands down, DO NOT BUY FROM EBAY.

I am only buying a new computer in the first place because you have said in many different threads that a hard drive craps out after a few years. I got to thinking, "shit, I have had my computer for 5 now-- the hard drive is probably going to crack any time now.) As for the apparently lame specs on my new computer. Something to consider. I have lasted 5 years now with an Emachines that, at the time of my purchase, was valued somewhere around $450. While my new computer may not have the best motherboard or hard drive brands, I am highly skeptical that my EMACHINES does either, and it has, for 5 years now, been a very reliable computer.

Also, I can't help but think this vendor must be okay. They have a 99.7% approval rating with over 2000 customers. If they were robbing people blind, I don't think they would get such a high approval rating.

As for completely taking apart my new computer, step by step, and telling me why it sucks, honestly I thought you could be a little more supportive than that. Typically, in my opinion, purchases a friend makes sort of goes like this

I have seen person A many times in the past, but I haven't jumped down their throat telling them how stupid their purchase was and how screwed they are because it is a lose lose situation. If they love what they bought, they are going to think your opinion isn't credible. And if they hate what they got, the last thing anyone wants is to have a friend rub it in.

Just sayin', I made the purchase already. Trying to make me bummed out about my purchase isn't something a friend would do. Its coming in the mail and I hope it doesn't suck. If it does then I will be able to see a list here for all the reasons why and I can lament over it.

Kizzume · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:19 pm Post subject:

Chances are, the computer will go well. I'm just trying to let you know to be vigilant about ANYTHING that could possibly be wrong with it. Work closely with the people who made it if there is anything questionable. I was basically saying that you are going to be stuck with this purchase, so make sure you're vigilant about things that are wrong with it--during the first month that you've bought it is your only REAL chance to do anything about it in at least a somewhat timely manner--IF there is anything wrong at all, which hopefully there won't be.

I also didn't say I wouldn't help you any further on anything--I was just so disappointed and I shouldn't have said anything. I'll help you in any way that I can.

I've been in these kinds of scenarios before--the last one was when a friend of mine wanted to get an old camper-style VW van from the 70's. None of us knew it was as much as it was going to be, and we were trying to let him know--"be careful". Once he bought it and got it home, it was a piece of crap that was falling apart and he had already paid $5,000 for it. So we all tried to tell him--it's okay man, we can probably do this and this and this to it and get it going like new. Well, that never transpired, and my friend regretted that we weren't more honest about it, and he was kind-of vocal about it, so I didn't want to make that same mistake again with anyone else.

Now there's THIS scenario and I didn't want to make the same mistake as I did with my other friend, but I went overboard the other way, and I'm sorry.

I simply recommend getting a video card for that machine--it looks like it's a PCI express 16x capable motherboard, so I recommend getting an ATI PCI Express card.

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1088

So without a video card...does that mean I can't watch videos...? I mean, with what it comes with, does that mean I can't see stuff on youtube, watch avi's etc, or is that for stuff like games?