Opinion on these Specs

Platinum

Platinum

New Member
Hey I have to build a computer for this guy who will be using it in his deli to run 4 monitors. Basically each monitor would be running a powerpoint presentation to show different menus. This machine doesn't need too much, just looking for something cheap, but capable of supporting 4 monitors... so here are the specs I put together, let me know what you think...

Barebone - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3749693&CatId=31
Ultra nForce 680i LT SLI Socket 775 Barebone Kit - Pre-Assembled, Ultra Black Defender ATX Mid-Tower Case, 400 Watt XVS Modular Power Supply
$169.99
CPU - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3594545&CatId=3587
Intel Celeron Dual Core E1200 Processor HH80557PG025D - 1.60GHz, 512KB Cache, 800MHz FSB, Allendale, Dual-Core, OEM, Socket 775, Processor
$39.99
HDD - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3749875&CatId=8
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 40GB Hard Drive - 7200, 2MB, SATA-300, OEM
$29.99
RAM - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3402808&CatId=1554
Crucial 1024MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory
$24.99
Video (x2) - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3041056&CatId=1558
PNY GeForce 8500 GT / 512MB DDR2 / SLI Ready / PCI Express / Dual Link DVI / VGA / HDTV / Video Card
$64.99 x 2 = $129.98
CD Rom - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3205935&CatId=4
Lite-On PLDS DVD-ROM/CD-RW Retail Combo Drive - 52x32x CD-R/RW, 16x DVD-ROM, Black
$24.99

Current Total: $419.93


I didn't really look elsewhere besides tigerdirect. I mean, most of the parts are pretty cheap here, so saving 3 dollars on a hard drive, or cd rom isn't going to be much of a difference. The big things are the barebone kit and 2 vid cards.

What do you guys think tho? Unless you can find something substantially cheaper, do you think these parts are good?
 
You def wont be able to run 4 monitors with that setup. You need more everything. The ram, hdd processor, and vid cards are all crap! Sorry to bust your bubble but thats the truth!
 
OK, well I was told I dont need a powerful system for it. Instead of just bashing the specs why dont you tell me what you think I need... why would I need more than a gig of ram? why do I need more than a 40gb hdd? the vid cards have a vga and dvi output... why are they not good enough? and since when is crucial memory crap?

The only thing it will mainly be running is powerpoint and a program to run the monitors... I was thinking ultramon. Both programs don't require a lot to run...

Suggestions, instead of just calling that system crap?
 
Ok here's my minimum recomendations!!

1. 2-3gb ram
2. (2) 8600gt's or (1) 8800gt
3. HDD space doesnt matter but, you will want one with alot more cache than 2mb. LOL You will want atleast a 16mb cache if not 32mb!
4. Most Important!! Dump that processor. Get one with way more cache and faster! 512kb cache will not do anything!!
 
Why do I need 2-3gb of ram to run powerpoint and a program to run the multiple monitors?
As far as the video card. how am I supposed to run 4 monitors off a video card that only has 2 DVI sources?
 
Platinum said:
Why do I need 2-3gb of ram to run powerpoint and a program to run the multiple monitors?
As far as the video card. how am I supposed to run 4 monitors off a video card that only has 2 DVI sources?
Click to expand...

What OS you gonna run?
First of all nvidia and windows wont even recognize 4 monitors w/o using some kinda software. How do you want the monitors configured? Do you want it to be a stretched picture or to all show the same thing?
 
g25racer said:
What OS you gonna run?
First of all nvidia and windows wont even recognize 4 monitors w/o using some kinda software. How do you want the monitors configured? Do you want it to be a stretched picture or to all show the same thing?
Click to expand...

yes, windows will run four monitors, and the original setup is plenty to run four powerpoint presentations
 
to me a $500 pc doesnt seem feasible even if its just for office use
id save up a bit more and get 2DX9 cards a bigger HD and a slightly better proc
 
g25racer said:
You def wont be able to run 4 monitors with that setup. You need more everything. The ram, hdd processor, and vid cards are all crap! Sorry to bust your bubble but thats the truth!
Click to expand...

Um, what?

This is incorrect, it doesn't take any extra power to run multiple displays other than a video card that can handle multiple displays.

I would check out Matrox cards, as they are some of the best with multiple displays. You can get a cheap one that will output to 4 monitors no problem.

You can accomplish what you want with 1 matrox card, and save money.

http://matrox.com/graphics/en/corpo/products/home.php

Any video card Nvidia makes will only benefit you in gaming (geforce series) or rendering (quadro) and multiple displays does not take any kind of special powers, it just takes the right product.
 
Dude, I wouldn't get two 8600's, or 8500's. For the same price, I'm sure you could get a single 8800GT, or even an ATI HD3870.

SLI, at the moment, aint that great. Especially with the 8600's.

Just my input!
 
Kornowski said:
Dude, I wouldn't get two 8600's, or 8500's. For the same price, I'm sure you could get a single 8800GT, or even an ATI HD3870.

SLI, at the moment, aint that great. Especially with the 8600's.

Just my input!
Click to expand...

This rig is not for gaming, it is for multiple monitors, he would not be running SLI either.

Read the thread!
 
g25racer said:
Why dx9 when the 8600gt's are dx10???
Click to expand...

Yeah hes not using it for gaming...everytime someone posts up a build list for general use like internet and stuff like that people go and recomend a c2d,8800 card and about 4 gigs of ram.

lol its just not needed for what some people do with their rigs
 
Thank you all for your input. Finally people who make some sense here. I knew those parts could handle what I wanted.

tlarkin said:
Um, what?

This is incorrect, it doesn't take any extra power to run multiple displays other than a video card that can handle multiple displays.

I would check out Matrox cards, as they are some of the best with multiple displays. You can get a cheap one that will output to 4 monitors no problem.

You can accomplish what you want with 1 matrox card, and save money.

http://matrox.com/graphics/en/corpo/products/home.php

Any video card Nvidia makes will only benefit you in gaming (geforce series) or rendering (quadro) and multiple displays does not take any kind of special powers, it just takes the right product.
Click to expand...

Alright I'll look into those vid cards. Thanks man.

g25racer said:
What OS you gonna run?
First of all nvidia and windows wont even recognize 4 monitors w/o using some kinda software. How do you want the monitors configured? Do you want it to be a stretched picture or to all show the same thing?
Click to expand...

You're an idiot. If you had read what I originally wrote I was going to be using software like Ultramon. I said, the only 2 programs I'd really be running on this rig is powerpoint and ultramon. I also said I was gunna have the monitors showing the menus... why would I want each monitor showing the same thing... that would be pointless.


Thank you everyone else who actually read the thread and put some thought into what you wrote without assuming this was for gaming.

Another setup I was looking into is this:

captureif9.jpg


But now that I see I can use the matrox video card to accomplish what I want, ignore those video cards...
 
I am actually old enough to remember the beginning of video cards....

In the beginning there were three major video card companies and then almost immediately after there was a 4th. Those were ATI, STB, Matrox and the late fourth comer was Voodoo (or 3dFX). STB got bought out and Voodoo ran ATi and Matrox for their money. Nvidia came into play with more competition and then Nvidia basically crushed Voodoo around the Voodoo 3 series, Voodoo 5s came out but just could not compete, Nvidia bought them out.

All the while Matrox shifted their market into multiple display video cards. They are pretty much the best in the market when wanting to use and control multiple monitors and they are not that expensive either. While they avoided the video card wars by migrating more into a niche market, they also at the same time cornered that niche market.

Sorry for the history lesson, you whipper snappers, now get off my lawn!
 
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