custom made pc

[cambo]

just reading this guys thoughts on the subject, i actually think he is saying 4 hard drives, ffs lol.

"Anyone serious about multi-tableling more than 4 tables with HEM needs a fast disk subsystem. 2 velociraptors in a mirror set is NOT the answer, and SSD is not the answer. The real answer is 4 cheap drives - like 250gb satas for 50$ each using intel matrix raid. This is especially important if you import hands on a daily basis from a history service and want to minimize your import times. This is because raid 1 and SSD both SUCK for write performance, and that is around 75% of what HEM is doing. The more tables you run, the more writes you are making. Memory is 2nd, and proc is 3rd. I would much rather have a slow proc with a ton of ram and 4 disks than a fast proc with less ram and 1-2 disks - any day.

I am a Database Administrator by trade, and I am thinking about building custom poker PCs on the side. Microstakes to Nosebleed. I am working on spec-ing out a monster for one of the nose-bleed guys now with 4 24 inch monitors, and a big veloci-raptor raid.

I was thinking I would build a few custom PCs for 2+2ers at my cost to get some referrals for future customers. If anyone is interested, hit me up. I will work with you and build you exactly what you want/need."

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/45/software/buying-new-computer-need-advice-377737/index3.html

i think this is nonsense and overkill btw. poker software is some of the least process intensive software out there - and in terms of writing and reading from disk - apart from the hand histories is pretty minor. the ipoker client takes about 80meg, and about 10 meg for every table you open , so if this is all that is going to be running apart from system stuff, it is unlikely to ever use the disk for paging.

CPU and memory are what to concentrate on. Intel is obviously good but more pricey than the AMD equivalent. I would go for quad core if you can stretch to it.

have you already got your 22inch monitors ? I might have some at a really decent price if you are interested.

no not got monitors yet, had my eye on 2 x115 quid acers

can you recommend a route to go down,

buy this unit......

or buy this refurbed unit.....

or buy these parts and self build

[cambo]

im aiming to run holdem manager and a poker site with say 16 tables max, (6 to start, but may as well aim high)

needs to be wifi and handle the monitors

thats about it

i have a laptop for everything else, so its a poker only computer

[cambo]

have the chance of a dell dimension 5150 for free/nominal fee.

heres the spec

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/dimen_5150?c=us&cs=28&l=en&s=dfb

im pretty sure everything is default in it, with no upgrades.

so my questions are.....,

can this do what im looking for?

can it be easily upgraded to what im looking for?

does it support the two monitors?

does it have wifi?

can i get wifi put in with a usb stick?

or do i have to open it up and put a wifi board inside?

thanks

[lazaroonie]

have the chance of a dell dimension 5150 for free/nominal fee.

heres the spec

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/dimen_5150?c=us&cs=28&l=en&s=dfb

im pretty sure everything is default in it, with no upgrades.

so my questions are.....,

can this do what im looking for?

can it be easily upgraded to what im looking for?

does it support the two monitors?

does it have wifi?

can i get wifi put in with a usb stick?

or do i have to open it up and put a wifi board inside?

thanks

i think this would be ok - the Intel 3.0GHz range of processors is/was really good. Obviously considered a little bit old hat now, it should be ok with vista and 4gb ram, or alternatively it will be very good with XP and 3gb with ram....

you will need to check which graphics card comes installed, and whether it can handle multiple monitors. if not you will be looking at maybe 40-50 quid for a replacement.

personally I dont like wifi thru USB - i find it slow and unreliable. If you really must use wifi (because a network cable is always going to be a million percent more reliable and quicker) then I would install an wifi card in the machine, via pci slot.

[lazaroonie]

btw aria.co.uk are doing the 22inch acer monitors for  a ton

[cambo]

ok misco.co.uk basket looks like this

monitor 1             100
monitor 2             100
vat                       30
delivery                  5

total                    235



aria.co.uk

monitor 1             87
monitor 2             95
vat                      27
delivery(est)         12

total                    221



obv saving 14 quid is +ev, but why is the second monitor 8 quid more?
i can only assume its to stop bulk buyers selling them on or something
anyway, nice shout laz.

[lazaroonie]

yeah, aria do a "superspecial" which means it only allows you to buy single items at a special price - and that price for those monitors is pretty decent - i have a trade account with aria and even with the std trade discount i am still paying 105 quid for each unit.

check out aria for a graphics card also - as the delivery cost remains pretty much the same for all order sizes.

[cambo]

ok phoned dell

they said its a radion x300 (sp?) graphics card

it can support two monitors

one directly by a blue connection

one with the aid of a blue to white connection

[cambo]

Optional: 128MB PCI ExpressTM x16 ATI RadeonTM X300 SE Hypermemory1 (DVI/VGA/TV-out)

so i think all i need is a vga to dvi connection

big cable for tinternet (need to figure out how to get cable from one end of the house to the other)

2 monitors and we are ready to rock and roll

[TheChipPrince]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7908141.stm

[Tractor]

Not sure how much you want to spend it total with monitors etc but cube247 do great systems.

http://www.cube247.co.uk/?customise=8

[TheChipPrince]

btw aria.co.uk are doing the 22inch acer monitors for  a ton

I've just looked at these. How come so cheap??

This website 100% genuine I presume? 

Anyone had dealings with Aria??

[Graham C]

Aria are fine, used them before.  They've been around for a few years.

[TheChipPrince]

Aria are fine, used them before.  They've been around for a few years.

Thanks...

[cambo]

wow, thats freaky

just had my monitors delivered today, 2 acers 22 inch wide, side by side, roll on the grind.