My turn to spec. a new computer!

[Ian]

Re: My turn to spec. a new computer!

Amazing - with the Core i7 2670qm CPU and 8GB RAM everything is just so fast. In Lightroom 4.1 there is no delay in the adjustment sliders and the response of adjustments is virtually real-time in the preview.

Ian

[Autumn]

Re: My turn to spec. a new computer!

I'm happy for you Ian. I was interested in what you said with regard to Lightroom. Sometimes I have to wait many seconds for the actions to take place. Is this to do with the RAM? I have 4 Gb and never had any problem with LR3.

Enjoy.

[Ian]

Re: My turn to spec. a new computer!

Hi Audrey - it's basically about pure processor grunt. The CPU in my new laptop is almost 7x faster than the old one. I do have more memory too (8GB) and that might help too, especially for large batch jobs but probably not for the responsiveness of adjustment sliders.

What spec. is your computer (processor make, model, GHz)?

I have just run a video editing test and rendering a 12 minute video took around three and half hours on my old laptop and it took just 28 minutes with the new one. When I get around to enabling hardware video acceleration I'm expecting it to me significantly faster again.

Ian

[Autumn]

Re: My turn to spec. a new computer!

Hi Ian

This is the info:

OS Name Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Version 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer MEDIONPC
System Model MS-7502
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E6750 @ 2.66GHz, 2656 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG, 06/09/2007

[Ian]

Re: My turn to spec. a new computer!

Hi Audrey, unfortunately your system was a fast one when you bought it (3-4 years ago?) but it's now quite slow. The CPU in my new laptop is about 4x faster on its own and other improvements also make newer systems faster in different ways.

Ian

[Autumn]

Re: My turn to spec. a new computer!

You put it so kindly Ian. I think it could do with a good spring clean.

[Autumn]

Re: My turn to spec. a new computer!

Roy's computer has died - it says:

"Disk read error occurred. Press Ctrl +Alt + Del to restart. I have done this many times and searched the internet trying various suggestions.

It is now a case of taking it to the Computer Man or Roy having mine and me getting a new one.

Well that's a no brainer as Roy's is 13 years old and when I tried to install Windows 7 I was told that the computer is only 32 bit and W7 is 64.

So I need your help.

I want a desk top computer, fast, 1Tb min hard drive, 8Gb Ram. I only use it for photographs but I have over 50,000 and store them on an external HD and my computer.

I don't do games.

I would like a TV card.

Your thoughts and links would be greatly appreciated.

[Ian]

Re: My turn to spec. a new computer!

Windows 7 can be installed in 32-bit form - in fact my old laptop that my daughter now uses is in 32 bit Windows 7 mode.

But I think a 13 year old PC would be too old to install Windows 7 on - possibly even XP - because of a lack of recent enough device drivers.

Can I ask if a TV card is really necessary as you can watch most TV now via the Internet?

However, there are some inexpensive USB-based FreeView solutions available, so no need for an internal card at all.

Ian

[Autumn]

Re: My turn to spec. a new computer!

Windows 7 can be installed in 32-bit form - in fact my old laptop that my daughter now uses is in 32 bit Windows 7 mode.

But I think a 13 year old PC would be too old to install Windows 7 on - possibly even XP - because of a lack of recent enough device drivers.

Can I ask if a TV card is really necessary as you can watch most TV now via the Internet?

However, there are some inexpensive USB-based FreeView solutions available, so no need for an internal card at all.

Ian

I think my Windows 7 is only in 64 bit as it came with my laptop and I did put it on my current computer. When I tried to put it on Roy's broken one a dialogue box showed me that it would not go on this 32 bit computer. Originally, the OS was Millennium!

A TV card is not necessary if I can view TV from the internet but I don't really know how, so I'd like some advice on that too please or a link to what I need.

You see we only have one TV in our house and that is the 40" one in the lounge. Occasionally, it is my turn to host a Supper Club and Roy has to be banned to the bedroom. Both of our computers have TV cards in them, but with Roy's being kaput and me being unable to get TV since we went digital (I have downloaded new drivers), I would like a back up.

[Ian]

Re: My turn to spec. a new computer!

Hi Audrey, which TV channels do you tend to watch the most? BBC and ITV have software for watching their programmes (BBC iPlayer, for example) - I don't know much about the ITV software but iPlayer lets you download many programmes so you can watch them later (within a time limit of about a week). There is also an online service at http://www.tvcatchup.com/ that seems to stream all the Freeview channels over the Internet. You will sometimes need to sit through some advertising at the beginning of a programme - even if it's a BBC prog, but it seems to work quite well. I don't know what broadband provider and tariff you are on - do you have a download limit per month?

Using a USB-based Freeview TV setup is also an attractive proposition if you have a good TV signal and as you already use TV on your existing PCs I guess you already have a decent aerial connection. Here are some options on Amazon: [ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/tag/usb%20freeview/products"]301 Moved Permanently[/ame].

The nice thing about USB TV is that you can plug it in to any PC, including laptops, and use it when you travel (a small aerial is supplied but you need a very good signal for this to work). Windows 7 has built in TV support via its Media Center system and it's very good. I used to use this on my old laptop at the office. I haven't yet installed it in my new laptop there as I usually only watch BBC News there during my lunch time!

I think it is worth investing in USB TV and then you will have a choice so if one stops working for any reason you can watch the other. At present, I think USB TV is better in terms of picture quality, too. You can also record and pause and rewind live TV.

What's your budget for the desktop TV - will you be using an existing monitor? Is there a particular reason for not choosing a laptop?

Ian

[Autumn]

Re: My turn to spec. a new computer!

Hi Audrey, which TV channels do you tend to watch the most? BBC and ITV have software for watching their programmes (BBC iPlayer, for example) - I don't know much about the ITV software but iPlayer lets you download many programmes so you can watch them later (within a time limit of about a week). There is also an online service at http://www.tvcatchup.com/ that seems to stream all the Freeview channels over the Internet. You will sometimes need to sit through some advertising at the beginning of a programme - even if it's a BBC prog, but it seems to work quite well. I don't know what broadband provider and tariff you are on - do you have a download limit per month?

Using a USB-based Freeview TV setup is also an attractive proposition if you have a good TV signal and as you already use TV on your existing PCs I guess you already have a decent aerial connection. Here are some options on Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/tag/usb%20freeview/products.

The nice thing about USB TV is that you can plug it in to any PC, including laptops, and use it when you travel (a small aerial is supplied but you need a very good signal for this to work). Windows 7 has built in TV support via its Media Center system and it's very good. I used to use this on my old laptop at the office. I haven't yet installed it in my new laptop there as I usually only watch BBC News there during my lunch time!

I think it is worth investing in USB TV and then you will have a choice so if one stops working for any reason you can watch the other. At present, I think USB TV is better in terms of picture quality, too. You can also record and pause and rewind live TV.

Ian

Hi Ian, Well I don't really watch much TV at all except Strictly (when I can).

I followed the links you gave and I can see BBC and ITV and others Realtime. I wasn't aware of that. I knew I could see BBC iPlayer on our TV if I'd missed something, but wasn't aware that it was Realtime. I can also see stuff through TV Catchup! So I don't need a TV card. I need to be brought into the 21st Century!

The Lupo Digital USB dongle also looks useful. Thanks.

I am with Talktalk and have a strong BB signal. Our TV signal is also good, even though we only have an indoor aerial. I can't remember how much I can download, but my downloads barely show on the TalkTalk graph.

What's your budget for the desktop TV - will you be using an existing monitor? Is there a particular reason for not choosing a laptop?

Ian

Do you mean a desktop PC