O.k. so Win XP is gone and I should update soon.
Win 7 Professional looks to be the better solution, but 32 bit or 64 bit ?
How much memory should one get ? Just a small company 2 crews - normal cad - lot boundary surveys, Topo's and ALTA's Condo's small subdivisions - no engineering per say.
Should probably go with Carlson......
Any suggestions ?
Thanks,
Russ
Last week I bought a Dell I3 with 4Gb memory and 500 Gb HD for $400. Not the fastest available by far, but much, much more capable than the Pentium XP that I was using. I'd far rather get an I7 with 16Gb Ram and a massive solid state HD, but that going to run me a lot more money. So it's really up to you and your wallet. If the old Pentium XP has been doing the job you can get something a little better fairly cheap.
There is just no reason not to go with 64x either way.
Stick with the 32 bit version of Windows if you're going to keep your older hardware (it requires less in the way of system resources) or if you're going to continue using some older software that is not compatible with the 64 bit architecture.
If, on the other hand you're going to use any programs that require more than 4 GB of RAM, you'll need the 64 bit version, 4 GB is all that the 32 bit version can make use of. Check the RAM requirements of any new software you're going to buy, there's no sense buying extra RAM that won't be used. Memory generally gets cheaper over time, you can always purchase additional RAM later if you need it and it's very easy to install it yourself.
From microsoft:
32-bit Windows has an address space of 4GB. Part of that is used by system BIOSes and graphics memory.
With a 256MB graphics card about 3.3-3.5GB of RAM can be addressed and used, assuming you have 4GB fitted.
If you fit a graphics card with 1GB of memory only about 2.6-2.8GB of the RAM would be addressable and usable.
RAM is cheap and makes things hum. Win 7 uses more than XP.
Dell has an outlet store (Dell Financial Services) that sells off-lease machines at highly discounted rates. I bought a 17" i7 quad core a few month ago for $415.52. It came with 8gb. For the money you can't do better.. a heck of a machine and it probably cost $3k brand new 2 years ago.
They actually have several similar machines (although i5) available now:
http://www.dfsdirectsales.com/dell/ctl641/cp43623/cl2/precision
$370 after you apply the code M40DELL$400
Yep, I'm sure the computer manufacturers didn't squawk about Microsoft's decision to discontinue XP updates. They're making boatloads (literally and figuratively). I read somewhere a few months ago that 33 percent of computers used in business were still running XP.
> O.k. so Win XP is gone and I should update soon.
>
> Win 7 Professional looks to be the better solution, but 32 bit or 64 bit ?
>
> How much memory should one get ? Just a small company 2 crews - normal cad - lot boundary surveys, Topo's and ALTA's Condo's small subdivisions - no engineering per say.
>
> Should probably go with Carlson......
>
> Any suggestions ?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Russ
It is definitely up to your wallet.
I figure I owe it to the customer to have at least an efficient and safe machine. You might not want to send your Field crew out in a 1995 Geo Metro, but at the same time a 80k Cadillac would be obnoxious and excessive.
2005 Geo Metro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883156014
Basic Chevy 1500 work truck
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883156035
Cadillac
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229511
You can also get on the Dell website and build your own system that can range from the Geo Metro to a Koenigsegg One:1.
I would probably get the Chevy Truck so that I could be sure that it can get the job done and be expandable later to keep up with my needs. Windows 7 is great and what I use. The new windows 8.1 is what the world is going to, so you might as well hire a teenager to teach you how to use it and like it.
If you get into any of the new photogrammetry software in the future then the chevy will need little to get it going and producing. Also holler at a few computer nerds,..... well i guess thats what you are doing here huh.... A friend of mine built me a new PC for the photogrammetry software that I am about to be running and he was able to build it for 800 bucks! It has the specs and pedigree of a Cadillac on NOS. You can find these nerds several places; in gaming forums or in their mothers basement wearing a http://www.amazon.com/The-Mountain-Three-Short-Sleeve/dp/B002HJ377A
which is a great shirt based on the reviews......no really ..look at the reviews.......best shirt ever....period.
Good Luck with your selection. look at your old 7 year old computer and think of all the times you wished it was a little faster or a little better in some way. Think of the amount of time she has left you on the side of the road waiting for her to reboot. Now look at this new computer as thou you are about to get onto the interstate hauling route with her for the next 7 years at about 1300 to 2000 hours per year which would be 9100 to 14000 hours of computing bliss. Will the Metro make it that far? How many plastic pretty things are going to break off of the Cadillac and not be used? It will probably be nice to have electric windows in the Chevy truck.
Happy Hunting,
Wes
The "Geo Metro" computer you linked is a Celeron and therefore will not run CAD. I get your point, nonetheless.
> The "Geo Metro" computer you linked is a Celeron and therefore will not run CAD. I get your point, nonetheless.
I had not realized that when I linked it, Thanks for the clarification. It really brings out my point even more in saying that the the Metro will not get the job done.
