On Friday 14 November 2003 01:27 pm, Jeff Long wrote:
> Hello listers,
>
> I am taking a class at the local Vo-Tech on building and upgrading PCs.  I
> took the same class 4 years ago and built 1 computer then (433 Celeron on
> an ASUS P2B-B w/64 MB RAM and still working well.)  For this class I have
> researched components till my brain is mush, and have assembled a list I
> would like to submit for comments and suggestions.
>
> This computer will be used in an accounting office.  We have 3 computers in
> a peer-to-peer network, 2 running Win 98 SE and 1 running Win 98.  We use
> several tax programs, accounting programs, spreadsheets, word processing,
> time & billing and a few others.  No graphics, photo/video editting or
> games.  Boring, I know; just basic office stuff.  I have a DSL connection
> to research computer parts, e-mail.  I need stable reliable computers that
> are on 10 hours a day, 5 to six days a week.
>
> I plan to use Win 2000 on the one I will build.  If all goes well, I will
> build another and rotate out of use the two oldest machines.  Currently,
> the fastest machine has a P 3 on an Intel board with 256MB RAM and a 30 GB
> hard drive, with 8 GB used.  It is plenty fast for our needs, and the new
> machine will be more than adequate.
>
> ASUS P4PE-X w/Intel 845 PE chipset.  My reading indicates this is a good
> stable chipset. Pentium 2 2.4 GHz with 533 FSB.
> 512 MB Kingston 333 MHz DDR SDRAM PC 2700
> Western Digital 40 7200 RPM ATA 100
> AGP 4x...I'm open to suggestions.
> Enlight mid-tower case EN-7280 w/340W power supply.
> Sony CD-RW.
> US Robotics modem. (I receive faxxes into the computer).
>
> I believe the parts to be compatable, stable and reasonably priced.  I try
> to use for several years.
>
> Thanks for your input and I'll let you all know how it works after
> assembly.
>
> Jeff Long

Jeff:
Looks good to me. Since the crux of a system is the motherboard, your choice
of ASUS is a good one. Comments:

1. Be sure to add one or two extra case fans to your budget. Even though
Intel's don't run as hot as AMD's, they do generate considerably more heat
than your old system.

2. Don't spend a lot of money on a video card -- all that you need is a good
2D card.

3. You don't mention the monitor. If I were still a cube dweller, I would want
a panel monitor. They take less desk space, use less energy and generate less
heat than conventional CRT's. My other rule about monitors is that bigger is
better. I can access more open apps, do less scrolling, and be much less
tired at the end of the day. Given the relatively long life of monitors, It's
money well spent.

3. Verify that Win2000 supports any on-board cards that are to be used (sound,
network, video).

4. Verify that the ASUS provides the correct number of external serial and
parallel ports. (I recently bought an ASUS A7V8X-X that only has one serial
port, but I really needed two -- one for my modem and one for feedback to my
UPS.)

5. Verify that the type and number of internal slots is sufficient.

6. Be aware that there may be some incompatibilities between the apps that you
have been running under Win98 and those that you will be using with Win2000.

If all goes well -- and I think it will -- about the only problem that you're
going to have is that these 2+gb CPU's go through the initial boot very
quickly, so you don't have much time to access the BIOS.

Good luck,
Carroll Grigsby

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