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Wanting new Machine for Multimedia.. Help?

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fohfoh:
The optiplex is kinda meh. True, it's a P4 3.2Ghz with HT, but in all honesty, for some odd reason, there's issues with multiple HDDs. Not sure why. You get 1 HDD max if you go with that. I have 2. Not bad for a file server, but it seems slightly lacking for playback. There also seems to be some slight issues with cooling. Bios maybe. 

Gamerzhell:
If the cpu socket on the board is 775 then you can always pull out the P4 and throw in something more efficient, which will still cost you less than a full new computer.

theprophet:

--- Quote from: fohfoh on February 25, 2010, 03:06:20 AM ---The optiplex is kinda meh. True, it's a P4 3.2Ghz with HT, but in all honesty, for some odd reason, there's issues with multiple HDDs. Not sure why. You get 1 HDD max if you go with that. I have 2. Not bad for a file server, but it seems slightly lacking for playback. There also seems to be some slight issues with cooling. Bios maybe. 

--- End quote ---

Thanks for the info on the Optiplex. I already have one, but I am using it primarily as a back up computer, and it has my MagicJack phone on it. I also use it in burning DVDs and anything I don't want to do on my laptop.

I'm just looking for a cheap way to do this for now I think. I might just upgrade the processor later down the road.. Or I can just keep on Craigslist and keep looking for cheap used computers to get for this.

fohfoh:
It's not too bad as a stand alone. But if you want to upgrade it... I dunno. I'd rather wait on that.

i3 $550
or
C2D $400

if you can get a new i3 and everything for $550, why not look into buying an "older one" for maybe 300-400 bucks that maybe uses C2D if you can find it? 100 bucks is NOT worth it for the optiplex if it's that weak.

The C2D version is 400 but with the slim factor, you're not jamming 4TB of HDDs into it. So you might as well look into a way to buy a Tower for like $50 bucks that can take on your HDDs, put it to the side and connect to the slimline as extra storage. But not that optiplex.

theprophet:
I'm looking into cheap computers at this point... I think I am just going to grab something around the 2.0+ghz processor range. I found a couple dual core computers in my price range.. I guess the real question in this thread has become.. What are the minimums I need to make this machine work properly.


What CPU speed minimum to playback of video (mostly 720 or lower.. I only have a few 1080 vids)

What RAM minimum should I use for the playback?

What Video card minimum for this? ( under 1 Gig?)


This way I know what minimums I should keep my search to. Keep in mind the only thing I am going to use this computer for is Video playback. I have backups for the Vids already. I already have the stuff Downloaded just sick of using my laptop to play on my TV, it ties up the reason I bought the laptop.

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