Opt,

The heaviest work my studio machine does is converting RAW image files into jpgs with this software.

Seems it will handle a Quad core processor so that can be on my shopping list.

TP

TP

That looks like it can use the quad core OK but it looks as though it will be a while before it will run on a 64 bit OS so you will have to keep to a standard 32 bit OS.

BTW have you any experience of video editing software? I want to know the best (cheapish) package to convert my cameras .mov files to .wmv and DVD format

Opt,

"BTW have you any experience of video editing software?"

No, sorry. But I'll put a msg on the forum I use and we ought to have an answer by tomorrow morning.

TP

TP

Thanks.

Opt,

Gosh. Quad core really ups the price - at Mesh anyway.

TP

on mesh start with the base only at 329 then add quad (+80) and another 500 gig HD (60) and you get

Elite Essential (includes upgrades - click to view)
420.00 + vat

LINK

System Base Price: 280.00
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad Core Processor(2.4GHz,8MB Cache,1066MHz) [upg 80.00]
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium Edition with SP 1
New MESH Mini-Tower Micro ATX Case +250W PSU
PCI-Express Nvidia Geforce Mainboard Intel Core 2 Duo/Quad Core MATX
2GB DDR2 667MHz Memory - (2x 1GB)
500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive with 16MB Buffer
500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive with 16MB Buffer [upg 60.00]
Super Format 20x Dual Layer DVD Writer +R/-R/RW/RAM
128MB Integrated On-board Graphics (SMA)
5.1 High Definition onboard sound card - 6 Channel Cinema sound
Free Microsoft Works 8.5 + Limited Microsoft Office Trial
Free Cyberlink Video Editing Suite - 7 titles (oem)
Multi-format Memory Card Reader (matx)
1 Year Hardware Warranty - Back to Base (UK Mainland only)

if you have 2 hard drives ask them to mirror image so you have a backup all the time,so if one drive goes the other will be OK,but Opty will be better with the techy thingys,
EDIT you should go for a graphics card too,
sometimes a pre-made high spec tower is as cheap as a besic tower when you start adding more upgrades,
just have a good look at the diff systems,
give me a price to spend and i will look for you,
i love spending other peoples money ;-)

Strange goings-on with my Oulook Express Local Folders. At the last computer shut-down Outlook Express asked if I wanted to compact the Oulook files. I clicked OK. When I opened up this morning the large Deleted Items folder was empty and a lot of the deleted items were being moved to the Inbox. The Sent Items folder was empty and, most worryingly, two local folders had disappeared. Anyone with any ideas about where the two missing folders might be and how a computer numbskull could recover them? I'm running XP Pro SP3 and Outlook Express 6.00.290. TIA to all. K

Thanks scussy,

I was not using their 'build' option correctly.

Do you reckon that 2gb of memory is enough - or should I go for 4?

Would Mesh be able to set up the mirroring?

Exec,

That PCSpecialist operation seems to come in for some flack if one Googles. So does Mesh sometimes - but at least they are within thumping distance for me.

Sorry for hogging the bandwith from all you other folks - but nobody seems to be having any problems so we hope the chat is vaguely interesting.

TP

Spoke too soon T O K.

All yours for the helpline.....

TP

TP,yes they will,they are helpfull over the phone,(the sales team)
getting 2 systems from them so ask for a discount,then say iam sure you can do a little better then that,

Elite M8300
system 2
i would go for the 550 w power supply

TP

With regard to the Mesh spec that Scussy posted. It is very likely a good machine and not very expensive. However it is built down to a price.

The Q6600 proccessor is the least powerful quad core
Windows Vista Home Premium - go for at least the business addition, preferably the Ultimate. Or go for XP Prof if your happier with that.
Full motherboard spec is not given.
DDR2 667MHz Memory is a bit slow DDR3 is coming into it's own now and667MHz is a litttle slow. Go for more than 2GB if possible (128MB is taken by video card)
Don't install any free software unless youreally need it.

Thanks Opt,

I'm happy with XP Prof. I did not know it was still available.

Free software. No, I have very little on my studio machine. What I have is relatively unusual - and all purchased.

scussy. Your second spec increases the processing but loses the second hard drive. Yes? I think I'd rather have the second drive if it makes the machine more recoverable.

TP

Thanks Opt,

I'm happy with XP Prof. I did not know it was still available.

Free software. No, I have very little on my studio machine. What I have is relatively unusual - and all purchased.

scussy. Your second spec increases the processing but loses the second hard drive. Yes? I think I'd rather have the second drive if it makes the machine more recoverable. I'm just about to Google mirroring to see if it is essentially a software feature not needing more hardware.

TP

I think Microsoft has stoppte selling XP as of June 30th but I've heard that Dell are still offering it though possibly not pre-installed. I'm sure that there are still other sources.

TP looks like the upgrades does not link,
i think this one is good value and spec,
the higher the spec the more you pay

for this sys 3 start here the do the ups and lose the screen,

Elite Q9300 Pro (PCA) (includes upgrades - click to view)
607.45 + vat



System Base
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Quad Core Processor(2.5GHz,6MB Cache,1333MHz)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium Edition with SP 1
New MESH Midi-TowerATX Case + 550W PSU
PCI-Express Mainboard - Core2Duo/Quad Core/Penryn ATX
4GB DDR2 800MHz Memory (2x 2GB)
500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive with 16MB Buffer
500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive with 16MB Buffer [upg 60.00]
Blu-ray ROM Player Dual layer DVD Writer 24 x CD Writer
512MB nVIDIA GeForce 9600GT - Dual DVI, HDTV, TV Out
Without 22" Widescreen Monitor [upg -90.00]
5.1 High Definition onboard sound card - 6 Channel Cinema sound
Logitech S220 - 2.1 Speakers with Subwoofer
Logitech Cordless Keyboard & Cordless Optical Mouse
Free Microsoft Works 8.5 + Limited Microsoft Office Trial
Free Cyberlink Video Editing Suite - 7 titles (oem)
Assassin's Creed - Ubisoft, PC, DVD-ROM Game
Multi-format Memory Card Reader (ATX)
1 Year Hardware Warranty - Back to Base (UK Mainland only)

Thanks scussy, but over the top for my needs.

TP

good graphics card and cpu

MESH Pulse 8400
525.00 +vat



Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad Core Processor(2.4GHz,8MB Cache,1066MHz) [upg 10.00]
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium Edition with SP 1
Aluminium ATX Midi Tower + 550W PSU [upg 30.00]
SLI nForce 650i SLI(C55) - Intel Core 2 Duo/Quad-Core - ATX
2GB DDR2 Memory - 667MHz
500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive with 16MB Buffer
500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive with 16MB Buffer [upg 60.00]
LightScribe Super Format 20x Dual Layer DVD Writer +R/-R/RW/RAM
512MB nVIDIA GeForce 9600GT - Dual DVI, HDTV, TV Out
Without 19" Widescreen TFT MESH Monitor [upg -75.00]
5.1 High Definition onboard sound card - 6 Channel Cinema sound
Logitech S220 - 2.1 Speakers with Subwoofer
Logitech Cordless Keyboard & Cordless Optical Mouse
Free Microsoft Works 8.5 + Limited Microsoft Office Trial
Multi-format Memory Card Reader (matx)
1 Year Hardware Warranty - Back to Base (UK Mainland only)

Thanks scussy.

I understand the Mesh builder now. I'm starting to get choice overload now and I fear that we are boring the others to death with all these specs! Can we just address the special issues.

For example, Optimist, would putting two 500 gig disks into a machine, with the intention of one mirroring the other, really achieve a great deal.

I'd have felt that (a) the mirroring would use up quite a bit of processing speed. But also (b) if one disk catches a bug or gets a damaged registry surely it will instantly migrate to the second one. So the only real benefit will be if one gets a bad sector that brings the operating system down and the other one has no damage.

Or are there other benefits?

TP

double.

Optimist,

You asked about video editing - but you might have meant video converting.

Anway here is a site for converting and you can work back to the similar one for editing.

I'll come back with any other links that my photo chums suggest.

TP