The cost of computing.

[BigMac]

How much do the hard core of upgraders spend a month on their systems? I just got my credit card bill and I think I'm a hardware junkie.....help me please?

[stu]

hmmmm well I went to upgrade my video card 3 months ago and I need one more piece of hardware and I've fully rebuilt my system and $2,000 later as well erghhhh

[Stan]

Well, since January, I have allready spent 2100 pounds (I live in UK)...

Hummm

Stan

[KillerBug]

If I get a new Power Supply, Disket Drive, and case, then I would be totaly replaced, but I like all of those, so I will not replace them. I bought a $90 video about 3 months ago, 3.5gb hard drive, Eithernet Adapter x3, 128 bit sound card, Video in card, P3 450 CPU, ABIT BH6, 64mb PC100, raw parts for home made video card cooler, coustome made sound card cooler, 4 converted power supply fans, Scanner, Video Camera, Big Time Speekers, DVD 2x. Wow! I am a hardware Junkee! That stuff is about $2000!

[skywalker[TSG]]

im just gona say one thing 56" Plasma monitor


$$$$$$$6500$$$$$$

[stu]

how much have u spent by the way big mac ? if u dont mind me asking

[BigMac]

About £800 in the last two months, and I've already picked out at least another £600 worth of gear that absolutley have to have. In the last 2 months I've bought:
£400 19" 109MP philips monitor
£150 Diamond Viper v770 Ultra
£50 Ultra ATA 66 controller card
£90 Abit BX6 r2
£50 Assorted Tennmax cooling equipment
£15 Various leads & power splitters

I now have 3 IDE hd's (a total of 12GB), 3 cd-roms (1 writer), 128mb ram, 2 voodoo2's, a tnt2 ultra and pII 350 in the same machine.

I have an uncontrolable urge to buy:

£120 Quantum Fireball plus KA 9.1GB
£60 128mb RAM
£100 External modem
£200 PIII 450Mhz
£90 Abit BE6

Help me please, before anything new comes out!!

[stu]

I WAS GOING TO GET BE6 BUT HAVE DECIDED TO GET THE HOT ROD 66 TO SUPPORT THE ULTRA 66
QUANTUM ... AND THOUGHT I'D WAIT FOR THE PIII 500'S TO COME DOWN BEFORE REPLACING THE 350 I HAVE.....ESP IN THE U.K COZ PRICES REDICULOUS SOMETIMES...... BUT MY SYSTEM RUNNING FINE NOW SO AFTER I GET THE HOT ROD THATS IT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

[BigMac]

What's a hot rod 66, where can I get one? **** this accursed affliction, I must have one, go on, I'm good for it, just one more fix, pleeeeeaasssse!!

[Decklord]

Well,

For the last 3 months, I have passed more time in my computer than on it! I don't even want to think of all the money I've spend on my machine.

Decklord

[stu]

ABIT Hot Rod 66 allows you to run the Ultra ATA/66 drives at 66 MB/sec instead of the 33 which the BX6r2 only allows.
Not available in U.K till mid september I'm afraid. That's why they invented mail order I'm sure.

[BigMac]

Phew, that's ok, I already have a Promise Ultra ATA 66 card, been there done that.

[mnx]

let me see I have spent at least $1500/year over the last 4 years and I'm still in high school...
original system
p 100
8 mb ram
850mb maxtor
trident pci

current system
pii 350 oc 463
asus p2b
64mb pc100
13.6 gb maxtor
matrox mga millennium 2 4mb wram
sony spressa 2x write 8x read...

i got the hdd, cd-r, mb ram, cpu and case all in last November that cost me an easy $2000CDN...

By next summer i definitly need a new cpu, mb, video card maybe monitor oh and I'll need more ram, I'd like to have a dvd-writer.... It's an endless cycle...

[BBA]

I'll say for the year I've spent about $700.

I don't think thats an unreasonable amount, I mean most people spend over $100/month at bars and clubs anyway, I can stay out of trouble if I'm stayin home playin anyway!

BBA

[CMonster]

If you find help you must let me know where... "Maybe this is as good as it gets?"

[goldboyd]

just spent $500+ on a bp6, 2 cel 366's guaranteed to go 550, elan vital t10ab. still need some ram, tnt2 ultra... this is my first major purchase of the year, usually average about 2g's a year.

everybody's asking me why i need a 1100 mhz machine, and i can't think of a better answer than, because its cool. can anybody think of any better answers?

[brandon184]

I've recently been working on a system that
has the following components :

Dual 565Mhz (OC'ed) Processors
Appx. 1 Gigabyte in RAM
Two 18.2 10,000RPM hard drives (fastest)
Dvd-Rom
Iomega Jaz Drive
16MB Graphics Acceleration Card
Turtle Beach Montego II Sound Card
Ethernet Network Card
Advanced Digital Surround Sound System
UPS Power System
37" LCD Monitor
6 Fan Cooling System
Full Tower Case which is fully
vented on both sides.

This machine is in a 12.5' X 10.5' room in my house which is reserved for this machine,
the room is soundproofed, and fits the surround sound system perfectly. We are lucky enough, that it keeps its temperature the same all the time.

Price Tag on PC : $14,800.

Monthly Budget for Component Updates : $500



[This message has been edited by brandon184 (edited 07-15-99).]

[AndreBranco]

i spent plus or less 150$ every month with my computer

my system:
intel celeron 400,mb soyo 6ke
64mb pc100 sdram,wd 26400 6.4gb hd (slow)
voodoo3 2000 agp (fast),yamaha sound card
earthlink camera,canon bjc250 printer
microtek v300 scanner,wheel mose,80w speaker
44xcdrmo,56k modem,aoc spectrum 7vlr 17" monitor

plan to buy un the next 4 months:
more 64mb ram
altec lansing ada305 spekers
new ibm deskstar gxp 14.4gb 7200 rpm hd
wintv with dbx stereo -tv tunner card
and a new mouse ms-intelimouse http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
i plan to buy a dvd drive when software makers start to use dvd discs more
and i dont like lcd monitors because they are slow displaying things like videos and 3d graphics etc and you cant change the screen resolution to full screen in 800x600 or vga mode

[This message has been edited by AndreBranco (edited 07-15-99).]

[BigMac]

MNX, how can you get your pii 350 to 463mhz without pc133 RAM, mine falls over above 410mhz?

[AuraEdge]

Yeah MNX..whatcha set your maxtor to? cuz i have two of these suckers (8.4 and 5.6) and they dont like high bus speeds at all...
BigMac - I have PC66 RAM that goes up to 434 on my P2 350I prolly just got lucky tho..Try settin CAS down to 3 see if that works...It might not even be the ram..who knows

[BigMac]

AuraEdge, Are you running on a BX6(2), if so what are your settings in BIOS for clock speed, voltage, etc. What kind of cooling do you use? Please!!!

[mnx]

i have pc100 ram and it seems to work fine, it's oem stuff from a local computer store
my maxtor is set to udma mode 2 and it's 100% stable...

[BBA]

The MB runs the PCI bus at 33Mhz when at 133Mhz, so the Maxtor is running at standard frequency!

BBA

[Swipper]

One Questions to ya techno junkies.... What do you do with all spare high specification hardware you have left over from your upgrades?

My Next upgrade ISDN or DSL, if it turns up soon enough? The phone bill is going to be a killer...

[BigMac]

There are no spares, eventually you have so many spare parts that you build a new machine for your nearest and dearest.

**
Once again I have fallen victim to online billing, £110 for some PC133, sigh.

[This message has been edited by BigMac (edited 07-16-99).]

[Moe]

Hmmm.. I sense a hardware Junkie Club Forming here in this thread.

Well I have a very tight money supply but still manage to spend roughly $200 per year (but I guess that's nothing compared to you guys).

On the other hand, I'm spending 3+ G's on a dual box, as for reasons, how bout heavy multi-tasking (winamp, 8 browsers, 3 downloads, Mem hogs like photoshop, RC5, etc at once isn't too far away from normal operation), how bout just the fact that you have a cheap SMP system that would have costed a ton a few years ago???

I dunno, I try and make every dollar count, but that can sill mean $200-$300 per year for standard maintainance like RAM, HD space, etc.

[skywalker[TSG]]

well around 300-500$ a month + 200$ on coke ciggarets painkillers and caffinepils and so on

[socalgal]

LOL That stuff'll kill ya! esp the cigs *cough* if the prices don't get you first

[AuraEdge]

Bigmac,
Im using a BH6 v1.01. 124x3.5..no extra cooling cept a cardcooler (for AGP) and an $5 extra case fan. My Maxtors dont like this tho, but its nothing I cant handle (no bad sectors yet...still trying to burn it in to see if anything happens)

[Nathan]

I guess I'm a little embarrassed. I don't spend $1,000.00 a year! And it's not because I don't have the money either. But I see all the latest stuff out there, but I don't have any desire to own it. I'm looking however at a CD-RW tho. I haven't decided which one yet.

[socalgal]

ok. why not?

>$1K, but <$2K. (haven't added all receipts for exact amount yet, but will someday...)

Mid-Tower ATX case w/250w ps (slide out panel is great!)
Abit BX6 (flashed to PIII spec)
PIII-450 (retail boxed)
256mgs Mushkin PC100-222-620(Siemens)(2x128)
WD Caviar AC313000 (13G UDMA/66)5400rpm
Diamond V770 32mg TNT2 Ultra
3Com/USR 56k v.90 Internal Fax/Modem
CL SB Awe64
Mat****a DVD5x/CDROM32x
10/100TX NIC
Logitech Trackman Marble+
MS Sidewinder PrecisionPro joystick
Generic FDD
Generic Windows keyboard

All that in the last month and a half.

My 3 y/o Sony Trinitron 15" .25 dp Vaio CPD-100VS is still awesome. Will get a 19" someday, but find myself in no rush to part with my beloved Sony monitor!

I also find myself looking at the new mobos, esp. the Soyo 6BA+III. Only thing is they don't have the UDMA/66 controller. But a Promise 66 should fix that. I wish I would've held out for at least a 7200rpm hdd too!

I am running great @504mhz now (112FSB, 112x4.5)
Would really like to try 133FSB, but not sure yet how my WD hdd running at UDMA 2 will handle it. Don't really want to go back to PIO and do NOT want data corruption. More research needed. My PCIs will be ok I think.

Hey, this was fun! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 07-17-99).]

[Joel Kleppinger]

Ya'll are running rc5 ( www.sysopt.com/rc5team.html (http://www.sysopt.com/rc5team.html) ) on all that stuff, right? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[a Bill]

Just off the top of my head, I've spent about $1400 on computer parts this year. And I'm not a hardware junky http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif I'd hate to think what it would cost me if I were one though.

[goombaz]

I spent $10 on one computer (P75)and $20 on another system(P133) at garage sales. I spent $60 on RAM. --that's it--

I do so enjoy playing with these--but since I have found you all I just makes me want to spend a lot more and get some hopping machines. Once I learn about overclocking I will probably be in for some major financial investments http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif What I am curious about is what do you do with these machinges that you needs so much speed and power? MJ

[socalgal]

goombaz ~ (heh, love that nick) Everything happens faster! For me, the quest for more is part of the thrill; any success is a victory.

Joel ~ Team SysOpt Seti@home here http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[kec95]

My wife reminds me of how much I spend on Hardware every time I buy a new part.

This year alone I've had:
3 different mobos
2 different harddrives
3 different video cards
2 different Soundcards
4 different modems
3 different cases
5 different CPUs
6 different sticks of RAM

And all kinds of different cooling setups.

Am I a Hardware Junkie?


Kenny C

[Virus]

I have to budget my cash flow between two hardware junkie obsessions. Computers and Highend car audio. I got a new stick of 128Mb Micron PC133 ram on friday, Have a Matrox G400 hopefully coming in next week, and yesterday I just dropped a $1000+ (cdn) on Focal 3-ways for my car.

Over the years I have spent about $10+G on computers and $15-20G on car audio.

[Roy]

You made me do it! Only $70 per month ... since 1982!

[BigMac]

I'm not alone then, thank you....

[skywalker[TSG]]

600$ going today for a complete celeron 366system with 64mb ram 4,3gb HD + some other **** also a DVD unit and a mpg2 decoder card

i think 600$is a pretty good buy

[skywalker[TSG]]

i forgot to say that i own 15comps

one p3 450@558 posts at 580 and 600 but will not load windows
2 P2 450 both at 504
2 celeron 400´s
1 celeron 300A@400

+ 4 p133s with 16mb ram and 850mb HDs
and 6 486 class machines

all the p2+p3 and celeron systems have 64mb ram exept for the p3 that has 256mb

[Stan]

Hey Skywalker{TSG], what do you do with 14 (I mean 15) PC's ????????

Stan

[This message has been edited by Stan (edited 07-19-99).]

[Joel Kleppinger]

*cough*
Well, he doesn't crack rc5 on all of em
*cough*

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[BigMac]

I think skywalker's building himself an xwing, either that or he's the new Intel poster boy..

[skywalker[TSG]]

well i use them for rc5 and some other **** u can never have too many comps

joel what did u mean with the coughing ?

[Joel Kleppinger]

Ah, it was just a bit of friendly teasing there http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif I knew you were running it on one probably http://stats.distributed.net/rc5-64/psearch.php3?st=skywalker

But with all those machines, you would have a lot higher block rate than that... even if you merged all those emails http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif No harm intended - just some friendly ribbing.

Take care and Keep Cracking RC5 everyone! (oh, and Keep Searching, too! (for those SETI folk))

[bringspeed]

heh, i've spent about 3200$ total. for five years. i'm sad. i got one 486 sx 25mhz, for my first computer, a second hand 486 dx 55 as my second, which i have had till about three months ago, when i got this p2 450. needless to say, i like it. though i need a new video card... the rebirth of a tech junkie. =)

[BigMac]

Just three more posts and I'll hit 50, come on people, spend spend spend. My memory hasn't turned up yet, I think I'm going into withdrawl, nnnggghhhh, wwwwwwuhhh, jussssttt onnnneee morrrre fffffixx....

[Decklord]

I cannot resist!!!!! I want a 17" screen!!! ARRRGGGGGHHHHH!!! **** it!!!! I going to get one.....

Decklord -Hardware junkie

[bringspeed]

great, now i need a video card, and a new monitor. you see, you reminded me that i'm running something thats 12.4 viewable. as my secondary monitor, and when i move, i don't get to keep any of my primary stuff, the good monitor, or the p2 450(sniffle.) so, my number of dollars spent on computing will be skyrocketing in the next few months, cause i don't wan't to go back to win 3.1 on my 486 dx 55! would you? i mean if you had a choice between buiding a new one or staying with it, not if you had it, or nothing. post is long, bye now.

[skywalker[TSG]]

well i only use rc5 on three comps the others are not connnected to internet so i cant use them yet

hmm hmmm hmm hmmm hmm well i now i have a wery low keyrate hmm lots of q3 and halflife hehe

[BigMac]

Work this one out, you order some new funky PC133 Ram direct from the factory, crucial memory in scotland, wait a few days, but it still doesn't turn up. So you give them a call, "sorry sir we're out of stock". Let's ponder this for a few moments, factory, out of stock, funny. I'm now waiting for the factory in the US to resupply the UK factory, I am annoyed.

[bringspeed]

if it were me, i'd say "okay, bastards, i'm taking my bussiness elsewhere. cancel my order. don't expect any of my friends or family to order from you guys, either."

[William Wylds]

Hey Stu! Have you seen a review on the hot rod and who says it will work. I have been trying to find if it will work with my BX6R2?
:-)

[BigMac]

Good idea bringspeed, unfortunately, I'm English, and such and outburst would just not be British, sorry, Marquess of Queensbury Rules and all that.

[bringspeed]

how about you go and beat them with a cricket bat? sorry, couldn't resist. hee hee hee.

[bringspeed]

hey, i just thought a of a REAL idea. in america, we have that better busines burea, you report bad service to them, and they write them up. i think they send out a booklet talking about the really good abd bad bussiness. anything like that in england?

[BigMac]

Does the US have a Better Spelling Bureau? I'm not intrested in revenge, I just want my memory.

[BigMac]

My memory has arrived, yippee. Slapped it in the machine, cranked up the bus speed from 117 to 124, what happened, bugger all, that's what happened. It posted, once, for some reason it runs through the memory check three times? Needless to say that last night I was not a happy chappy. My expensive PC133 memory seems to be running worse than my generic PC100 memory, I have the distinct feeling that I have been ripped off. Any Ideas?

[U-96]

Sell all your stuff.
Take a chill pill.
Live in the woods.
It the only way to escape! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Stan]

Cool, I have just received my RAID card (Promise FastTrack) and my 2 IBM 22Gxp 9.1 Gb.
Can't wait to install them...

This is it for this month, won't buy anything else.

[chad174]

well lemme see im only 15, have a on and off job, and in the last year i have gone thru 3 mobos, 6 cpus, 2 vid cards, about 300 megs of ram, a million cfm's worth of fans, and enough alminum for heatsinks to float the titanic...i am a hardware junkie...i can hear it now...

"My name is Chad and I'm a hrdare junkie too. It all started when...." hehehe

[BigMac]

Once again I have been seduced by the dark side, one brand new p3 450 arrived this morning, I just couldn't cope with the detox program. Needless to say it was instantly overclocked to 580mhz which improved my mood somewhat, but not my bank balance. And now I've just heard that the Voodoo 4 will be here in time for christmas, oh dear.

[Decklord]

Vodoo 4!!!! My god.... I just got the TNT 2 Ultra and your saying that to me!!!! I got to get it..... NOOO!! Resist, resist!!! I want it!!! AARGGGGGGHHH