What do you think about this cheap machine design?
I am thinking about making an extremely cheap system, but one that doesn't sacrifice too much. I want to fold with this, as best I can without it being to money wasteful. The stuff I am interested in is below:
CPU: 1.8ghz duron approx $40 oem (how many watts? 57? and is this unlockable?)
unknown heatsink, but must be silent or fanless (probably just above $30?)
Motherboard: just a cheap ecs or something from newegg approx $40 micro atx
memory: 256mb ddr2700 from local store $20
Aspire X Q case approx. $100 (may be used for future system, maybe) (any small factor recommendations?)
So, about $100 for the essential parts, plus an unknown amount for the heatsink and probably $100 for the case.
Besides this I have a psu, hard drive, cd drive, keyboard, mouse, (lack speakers though, just incase I ever use them, low priority). I may want to purchase a fanless psu though, and possibly a video card, but I am set on those items already, kind of.
Am I wasting my time on this stuff?
CPU: 1.8ghz duron approx $40 oem (how many watts? 57? and is this unlockable?)
unknown heatsink, but must be silent or fanless (probably just above $30?)
Motherboard: just a cheap ecs or something from newegg approx $40 micro atx
memory: 256mb ddr2700 from local store $20
Aspire X Q case approx. $100 (may be used for future system, maybe) (any small factor recommendations?)
So, about $100 for the essential parts, plus an unknown amount for the heatsink and probably $100 for the case.
Besides this I have a psu, hard drive, cd drive, keyboard, mouse, (lack speakers though, just incase I ever use them, low priority). I may want to purchase a fanless psu though, and possibly a video card, but I am set on those items already, kind of.
Am I wasting my time on this stuff?
0
Comments
You won't be able to unlock the duron - but you may just be able to run it at the next highest fsb (133->166 or 166->200) without any mods.
If you're only planning on using 256mb of ram, you'll make sure you use an OS with a small memory footprint so that you can devote as much memory as possible to folding.
Keep your eyes open in the newegg refurb section as well.
http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/CategoryList.asp?Type=Refurbished
Like get this insted its only a bit more and alot faster
AMD Sempron 2400+ Thoroughbred 333MHz FSB 256KB L2 Cache Socket A Processor - OEM $64.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104203
I'm not sure how dependant F@H is on L2 cache - The 1.8 duron is 0.133333333333333333 GHz faster than that sempron. If F@H doesn't care between 256k and 64k of cache, then the duron is a better deal.
When AMD starting using the XX00+ rating system and lowered the mhz were they initially optimized to be faster than the faster clocked chips still not on the new rating system? That 2400+ seems weird to be slower than the 1.8 duron if it's supposed to act 600 mhz faster.
Alot means the cheapest possible system, that still will be a descent folder. I need onboard lan yes, onboard video is not neccessary, but it is okay. I would not have to buy a video card at all. Operating System is not an issue. The reason why I would consider that case is I like the compactness, but it would be best if I could see it in person to tell if I'd like to buy it. I also think I might put a future mATX in it, like a 64 bit, maybe that is what I should do from the start? If I did that though I would almost want to have better parts though and use it as a computer and not just a folding machine.
Tex