I have invested in a new computer

[Terrywoodenpic]

Just invested in a new computer, my previous one could not be upgraded any more and was very short on memory. And very troublesome.
After looking around at prices and specifications I settled on a modified Intel Titanium from Palicomp.



Spec… of the build...

CPU Intel SkyLake i5 6400
Heatsink intel copper cooler
Mobo ASUS PRIME B250M-A
RAm 16GB DDR4 2133Mhz
SSD WD 250 gb M.2
Optical ASUS 24XDVD+/-RW Dual Layer/Dual Format
Case Fractal Design Core 1100 + 500W 80+ PSU
Gfx nVIDIA GT1030 2GB
OS Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit Loaded and updated +disk
Software Libre Office
HDD WD 2TB SATA 3
USB PCI-E USB 3 Card - 4 Ports + two usb2 and 2 usb3 on the rear and 2 usb3 on the front.
Cooling 2 x 12CM Case Fan - (Side & front) 8cm rear
Tune OS Tuning
cable tidyup and headset and mic
special Instructions: All Data libraries set to be set to 2TB drive.
Warranty 3 year Carefree collect and return Warranty

After loading all my software on the 250 Gb M.2ssd, I still have 157Gb free

This is all a considerable improvement over my existing machine, though I have had to settle for a Skylake processor rather than than the new Kirbylake, as the Kirby does not support Windows 7.
Were I to move to Windows 10, I could upgrade the processor on this mother board later. though the difference is in reality minimal for my needs.
I still have two memory slots and one card slot free. and space for another hard disk. and one front bay still free.
With a total of eight usb3 slots and two usb2, I can use as many external devices as I could ever need.

I tested it on stitching, with PTAssembler, a very simple pan of two large tiffs. Including opening the program selecting two images, making a preview, correcting the verticals and correcting the colour balance between the two images, and changing the projection to rectilinear and re-optimising and redrawing Then outputting and saving in full resolution.
The entire process took 1 minute 38 seconds. Which is fast enough for anyone….

Lightroom opens in a flash, and Photoshop much the same.
Though the Lightroom files are now on a different hard disk to the Program. It found the correct library and opened it at once without any delay.
The Computer also merged all my library files as I loaded them from a copy from my previous computer.

I have never changed over to a new computer so easily.

A standard Palicomp Intel Titanium costs £500 and is very capable in its basic form. this upgraded version cost me £780 delivered. And in my mind at least, is capable of everything I need it for…. and then some….

 

[Snapsh0t]

That's a pretty sensible spec. About the only nit-pick I can find is the use of Open Office rather than Libre Office as the latter is much more actively maintained & updated.

 

[GTG]

About the only nit-pick I can find

I am a PC builder and I can nit-pick.

They generally don't use silent fans, silent cases or quality brand PSU`s like corsair,

They don't use very good motherboards with features like customisable fan RPM.

That does not mean that it is bad but you can do much better learning to build them yourself.

I hate loud PC`s, you can make them near silent so why not if you have to sit by the thing for hundreds of hours or more.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

That's a pretty sensible spec. About the only nit-pick I can find is the use of Open Office rather than Libre Office as the latter is much more actively maintained & updated.

I agree with you, and asked them to substitute Libre office, which they did They had a number of other "Free" programs as standard. which I asked them to not to load

I am a PC builder and I can nit-pick.

They generally don't use silent fans, silent cases or quality brand PSU`s like corsair,

They don't use very good motherboards with features like customisable fan RPM.

That does not mean that it is bad but you can do much better learning to build them yourself.

I hate loud PC`s, you can make them near silent so why not if you have to sit by the thing for hundreds of hours or more.

They make them with what ever components you choose.
They will silence them or supply silent cases but it is an extra cost. In a small case like this, anything that restricts airflow is a negative. and I don't mind a slight noise. as simply I turn off my hearing aids
Small cases are not Ideal in many ways, but this case was perfect for where it needed to go. and is totally un-flashy, which would be my first choice every time.
They use bog standard fans But you can select what ever you want. Just as you can chose what ever PSU you want.

With most choices, I went for the biggest "ban for the buck" though picking a skylake rather than a Kirbylake cost £15 more for an older CPU.... but it works with WIN 7.

I went for choosing rather better than "Good enough" to do what I needed at a moderate price, compared to the best and fastest of everything.

Components like fans and Psu's are cheap and easy enough to change if they fail or that you want to change them for better later.

I had though of building it myself. but with my now dangerously shaky ( old age) hands it would not be a good idea.
I even have to use two hands to use a mouse.

 

[neil_g]

Quiet fans shouldn't mean less cooling.

Also psu can kill other components when they fail, cheap ones can be false economy.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Quiet fans shouldn't mean less cooling.

Also psu can kill other components when they fail, cheap ones can be false economy.

I have never had a PSU fail since My first computer many many years ago around 1986. though any thing can fail in its own time
I have only ever replaced one fan that became noisy a couple of years ago.
The Psu fitted on my Palicopm Titanium is an upgrade choice, so should be more than adequate.

who suggested quiet fans were less efficient? more expensive, yes.

Unless you buy as "expense no object" all purchases are a compromise. And even then there is no guarantee that nothing will fail.
A good compromise is one that relates purpose to cost. Palicomp allow you to do that.

 

[stryvya]

Just invested in a new computer

Not to LOUD are we`ll all want one.!!!!!

 

[Mr Bump]

why oh why W7 is my nit pick?

End of life support
January 14, 2020

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

why oh why W7 is my nit pick?

End of life support
January 14, 2020

Because I like it......and windows 10 will hopefully be a better animal by 2020.
And with any luck I will still be alive. And all of 85. And I might just live dangerously and run on....
However win 7 does exacly what I need it to do. And my needs are very unlikely to change.

I have absolutely no need of all the bell and whistles, complications, and interconnectivity. Or the inappropriate and failing updates that are the lot of windows 10 users.
Unfortunately there is no prospect of a linux version of Adobe CC. Nor can PTAssembler be run on it either.

If windows did not have more holes than a fishing net, they would not need so many patches. Windows 7 inherited its share, but 10 just introduced a whole new generation.

Windows 7 is still by far the most used operating system in the world today, with almost twice that of 10. And will most likely still be the most used in 2020 and beyond.

 

[Snapsh0t]

I have never had a PSU fail since My first computer many many years ago around 1986. though any thing can fail in its own time
I have only ever replaced one fan that became noisy a couple of years ago.
The Psu fitted on my Palicopm Titanium is an upgrade choice, so should be more than adequate.

who suggested quiet fans were less efficient? more expensive, yes.

Unless you buy as "expense no object" all purchases are a compromise. And even then there is no guarantee that nothing will fail.
A good compromise is one that relates purpose to cost. Palicomp allow you to do that.

I've never had a PSU fail because I select decent ones as GTG suggests but I have replaced a fair number for other people.....

 

[Snapsh0t]

I am a PC builder and I can nit-pick.

They generally don't use silent fans, silent cases or quality brand PSU`s like corsair,

They don't use very good motherboards with features like customisable fan RPM.

That does not mean that it is bad but you can do much better learning to build them yourself.

I hate loud PC`s, you can make them near silent so why not if you have to sit by the thing for hundreds of hours or more.

I built my first PC in 1989 so I think I'm reasonably qualified to comment. Your points are generally valid but aren't specific to Terry's circumstances. Being closer to his age than yours, I think I have a better grasp of what's important to him and commented appropriately.

I don't like loud PCs either and the one I'm using now has only two case fans, passive cooling for CPU & GPU and an 80+ Gold PSU plus a load of added soundproofing. But that's what I built for me, not what I would necessarily recommend to anyone else.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

On the question of fans. If I do find them in any way annoying, I will replace them with silents. But Iistened to some tracks of Alison Krauss on it today, while I was sorting some files and I never heard any fan noise at all, even though it must have been there somewhere in the background. So it is certainly manageable.

 

[GTG]

In heinsight my comments were silly.

It was more of a childish dig at these company`s and the way the operate

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

In heinsight my comments were silly.

It was more of a childish dig at these company`s and the way the operate

All such companies operate and market in a way that give them the maximum leverage on price and potential customer satisfaction.
The market determines what they can offer on the Base model in each range. Palicom specialise in customisation to add value. It is a business model I understand.

Palicomp at least offer "online" alternative options on every single specification except perhaps the Case, which is the base for that particular range. and they will even change that or anything else if you ask.
This is my first contact with them and they seem no different in the way they operate to any other small company.
However their offer did come out noticeably better than the competition on almost identical specifications.

Have I had minor issues during the process? Yes, but no more than you would expect when dealing with Technical and sales people in tandem.
I insist on seeing every thing in writing, before moving on... this is not just with firms like Palicomp, but with anything that has the potential to be misunderstood, or to go wrong further down the line.
Fortunately I have had considerable experience as a buyer in my past life, often being personally responsible for an annual spend in excess of a million pound a year. (that would be rather more in 2017 terms)

 

[User.82148]

I am a PC builder and I can nit-pick.

They generally don't use silent fans, silent cases or quality brand PSU`s like corsair,

They don't use very good motherboards with features like customisable fan RPM.

That does not mean that it is bad but you can do much better learning to build them yourself.

I hate loud PC`s, you can make them near silent so why not if you have to sit by the thing for hundreds of hours or more.

I looked into building my pc last year but I found it would cost more than buying a ready made one with the same specs. PC suppliers must be able to buy the components and software at lower prices and even allowing for the built costs and their margin, they come out cheaper. Was I looking in the wrong place for my components?

 

[GTG]

I looked into building my pc last year but I found it would cost more than buying a ready made one with the same specs. PC suppliers must be able to buy the components and software at lower prices and even allowing for the built costs and their margin, they come out cheaper. Was I looking in the wrong place for my components?

Same case, psu and motherboard ?

If they say 500 watt PSU but no model name or anything it is likely a £13 one that barley passes fire safety laws and has shoddy soldering.

 

[draiman]

Yeah. With pre built computers you're never going to get the best. You'll get the bare minimum for whatever you need.

Building yourself isn't that tricky, but a bit daunting at first. The main attraction is that you usually will get the build you want at the same price as a lower spec pre built pc. This might mean better looks, more overclocking options, more reliable parts etc....

A pre build will do fine though providing you aren't interested in those things and pick what you like looks wise. I'm a tinkerer so I love building from scratch.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Yeah. With pre built computers you're never going to get the best. You'll get the bare minimum for whatever you need.

Building yourself isn't that tricky, but a bit daunting at first. The main attraction is that you usually will get the build you want at the same price as a lower spec pre built pc. This might mean better looks, more overclocking options, more reliable parts etc....

A pre build will do fine though providing you aren't interested in those things and pick what you like looks wise. I'm a tinkerer so I love building from scratch.

Building computers is a hobby in itself much as photography is.
I grant you that building a PC is not exactly difficult, but It is not my thing either. I would far rather pay a technician do it for me, and to my specification. It might cost slightly more but It will usually comes with some sort of guarantee. in this particular case it came with a so called "Carefree" 3 year warranty, which includes sorting all hardware faults, software issues and remote software access and all carriage fees. If a technician gets things wrong , they sort it. If you want over-clocking they take responsibility for that as well..... unlike a hobbyist they are less likely to push their luck. as mistakes can come back and bite them.

 

[draiman]

Building computers is a hobby in itself much as photography is.
I grant you that building a PC is not exactly difficult, but It is not my thing either. I would far rather pay a technician do it for me, and to my specification. It might cost slightly more but I will usually come with some sort of guarantee. in this particular case it come with a so called "Carefree" 3 year warranty, which includes sorting all hardware faults, software issues and remote software access and all carriage fees. If a technician gets things wrong , they sort it. If you want over-clocking they take responsibility for that as well..... unlike a hobbyist they are less likely to push their luck. as mistakes can come back and bite them.

Fully in agreement. If you don't have the time or interest then it's not worth the effort. The guarantee is worth the extra for the peace of mind alone.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Same case, psu and motherboard ?

If they say 500 watt PSU but no model name or anything it is likely a £13 one that barley passes fire safety laws and has shoddy soldering.

However if they put a 3 year parts and labour warranty on their kit. they are unlikely to be fitting a bargain basement stuff with a short life.
The main difference is that they tend to buy by the pallet load... especially cases, whereas individuals buy one at a time.

I have suspected for some time that trade Psu's are also ordered in bulk by commercial builders, but from named makers. at a set specification and cost, that they would not want to put their name to for commercial not technical reasons. Non functional frills like the way they look are usually very down market. But it is hardly worth a manufacture to specially make the guts to a lower standard than usual. It is standardisation of manufacture That reduces costs.