My Windows 7 Box
Possibly overkill - but an experiement in performance and an evaluation for Windows 7.
Can write-off for tax purposes
The decision was to go with another AMD Dual Core (I have an Intel E8400 box running as a media server). Virtualization and XP-Mode is a goal to investigate so a processor that supports this was chosen. The AMD Phenom II X2 550 ****** with the AMD recomended motherboard (Asus M4A785TD-M EVO) - DDR3 memory is required for this configuration, however, only 1066MHz (the slowest it seems) is required as there is no primary intention of overclocking.
The ASUS manual for the M4A785TD-V EVO states that it is a full ATX board and will require a 12"
by 9.6" amount of real estate in the box. I may have to shift the "torrent box" to the IBM housing.
The board I thought that I wanted was an M4A785-M (no TD M not V size is smaller and memory is cheaper DDR2 677 vs. DDR3 1066)
The motherboard purchased was a M4A785TD-M EVO - the same size as the non EVO (whatever that means!) but with the same chipset and
useage of DDR3 RAM - 4G of DDR3 1,600MHz.
Construction timing will depend on the availability of an OEM version of Windows 7.
OEM Price of Windows 7
This is a little difficult to determine (beginning of October 2009) since the pricing seems to be
all over the place. For example, Vista Home Basic 64 bit is listing at $269.99CDN (TigerD) and Ultimate 32 bit
at $219.99 and 32 bit at $269.99 - seems like a case of more for less????? In any case I can't remember that I paid that
much for Home Basic!! All OEM except Home Basic which was the Full Version (I paid $125.99CDN for the OEM)
STOP PRESS - At the time of writing this TigerD Canada have posted prices for ALL the OEM versions at $1,349.99!!!!
BB are listing pre-orders of 7 Professional (Home Prem does not have XP-Mode) for $329.99 and Ulimate for $349.99 - upgrades are less - but I need the full version - these prices are for the full versions.
As a guess-timate, as BB sell Vista Ultimate 64 bit for $349.99 and TigerD sell the the OEM for $219.99 ---- TigerD should be selling the OEM Windows 7 (both 32 and 64 bit) for around the $219CDN region. MS has Win 7 Professional as a pre-order at $199.99US. (looks like full version) MS Canadian site is not clear and only lists Vista with free upgrades. And, not clear if you buy the full version you get the Full Version of 7 or an upgrade (presume it is the latter - which is of no use!)
Budget
This will probably change:
- Processor -- AMD Phenom II X2 550 - $119.99 (purchased Sep 09) - Now used on ITX m/b
- Upgraded to a quad --- AMD Phenom II X4 965 $199.99
- Motherboard --- M4A785TD-M EVO -- $97.99
- Memory --- DDR3 4G --- $134.99 -- Kingston HyperX KHX1600C9D3K2/4G - actually 1600 - faster than I was planning
- Operating System - Windows 7 Professional 64 bit OEM - $202.99 (TigerD) - I do have a downloaded copy of the Win 7 RC 32 Bit but the amount of RAM that I want to use would not be seen.
- Power Supply ---- $39.99 - Thermaltake 430W (V007ORUC)
- HDD --- re-used from owned hardware - 500G WD SATA
- Case ---- Ultra Mid Tower $59.99 TigerD
- Optical drive (borrow from another computer for setup)
Links
