Suppose I make it easy for all the newbies and budget folks? - Page 4

The way I'm handling the project is exactly the same process we used to use for corporate hardware and software rollouts. We tested systems meticulously, standardized on a stable hardware platform, worked on a master software build and meticulously tested that, then created either master gold images or unatend.txt style installs. The unatended installs would be set to autologon when finished and start a first script in the startup group. It would autologon admin for the local pc and start the first script, which then installs something and then calls script after script to do silent installs of each software package and when needed re-booting between installs and carrying on. When finished it would append a text file on a server somewhere to list it as finished and you could just watch the text file grow as systems came on line.

There is the same process used today everywhere for standardizing desktops in corporate environments but now there are also tools like nlite and remote deployment and all kinds of newer goodies I'll have to catch up on.

One of the reasons for the ISO's that I wanted to include was so they could include automatic diagnostics like memtest or whatever, or automatically have windows carry out it's new memory tests. Plus like I said before it could update the bios and set all the settings to safe and proper levels. A lot of problems could be avoided I think if it just did that for people and made sure the hardware was stable and set up right before it installed anything to begin with including testing the hdd and sata controller well. No point in getting started on a system if it's not tested and set up right to begin with.

Much of the process has changed though with vista especially and many software programs don't seem to even support good old silent installs. I will have a lot of research to do in this area and help wouldn't hurt if anyone has advice on a newer better way to do things.

Honestly I do not intend to buy a blueray or hd-dvd drive now unless I have to. I may get an xbox hd-dvd for testing and then flip it on ebay when I'm done but the plan is more likely to just test with high bitrate sample and demo clips off the HDD.

I'll be damned if I'll pay $1000 for a drive that we all know will be $150 or less in a year or so. Not counting the fact I can't possibly even afford it. And of course the first models are never as good as after it's matured a bit and the bugs are worked out, but the ones coming out around xmas should be mature and stable enough to make me want one. I didn't even notice it was that much so we'll certainly scratch that off the list. The new multi format drives coming out are supposed to be around $300 or less aren't they? I think I read that somewhere.

I might be tempted to keep the xbox drive though if I buy it...

As long as the system can play samples without a hiccup that should be totally fine.

Step by step directions are a large part of the scope of this project and I know they will be much appreciated and well used by all kinds of people. The automation is just an extension of those and because I want to do it, I like to do things like that. Don't ask me why I don't even know.

I want to support the newer ATI cards but I am also leery of doing so until lots of problems are resolved I keep hearing about.

I don't even have a new card of either brand. I'm still on a 9800pro on my main system which I have been extremely happy with all along.

I don't have any kind of demo or sample clips to play so if anyone can point me to really good very high bitrate stuff that would help. Whatever you know of that is the absolute toughest of each file type. I have no rips or any of that stuff.

Troy

I don't think you're quite following along or you just skipped to the end.

I need blueray and hd-dvd encoded demo clips to test. I have loads of 1080i. The goal of the system is to play everything, regardless of me not buying a drive right away. X-mas is coming.

Plus you're off on how easy overclocking is. It all depends on which processor you use, for the right ones it is a _complete_ walk in the park. Period. I get 2.66 ghz with my e4300 on two of the absolute cheapest motherboards ever made and all it takes is raising the FSB from 200 to 266. Nothing else. One bios setting. Done.
If my current motherboards were even half decent they'd go much higher on the FSB and 3ghz plus would also be just as easy.

It makes no sense at all to not overclock or to buy a c2d that doesn't easily overclock. Where people have trouble overclocking is when the make the wrong processor decision with a multiplier that's tough to handle or they intentionally go down that path for more FSB performance on purpose. Then they have to go crazy with expensive ram and pick a motherboard that handles being pushed like mad and mess with voltages and it becomes a real effort. We won't be doing that.

Cooling is not even an issue, a stock HSF is fine.

Plus the project is aimed at gaming power and just overall system power.

The amount of ram is optional, but ram is cheap too... That's up to the builder. Vista will eat it up.

Troy

Correct.

Project may stay on hold until the Asrock 4core1333, the g35 based uATX, or another solution comes out.

I don't like what's out right now for Micro ATX and it should be a mere matter of days or even a couple weeks max.

This non-profit plan is to be all set up as long before x-mas as possible for all the people who will get geeky new toys like me.

There are all kinds of computer and Home Theater companies who want to bend you over and steal your wallet practically, then there are most that are just a bit too expensive for the average joe, but there is nothing non-profit I am aware of.

The goal is to be a completely non-biased user based organization dedicated to giving anyone at any level the best performance and experience possible and try to match things only the affluent can afford.

HOWEVER I am running into some real problems and the whole non-profit thing no matter how noble a cause it may have been may not happen.

Regardless the project will press on.

Troy

I'll check into the meedios thing, thank you.

Troy

As I planned to build it, and as my current systems are now based.

$120 cpu Core2duo e4300 (the easy overclocker) or Pentium D 805 o/c'd for even less but it's not as nice as a core2 in any way. Then there's even the celeron D if you just don't need horsepower for games and blueray/hd-dvd. All of these are dual core, it really makes no sense at all to go with a p4 socket 775 single core unless you just already have one.
$65 motherboard (I'm currently running $25 and free boards)
$100 hard drive (Can be found lower, used drives and small drives are almost nothing if you don't mind the noise and small capacity.)
$50 to whatever Ram
$120 or less video card (can be much less, just onboard free video for HTPC use only with the right new board if that works out. Current onboard video solutions are only really ok for DVD and ATSC HD.)
$25 mce remote
$30 optical dvd-rw
$50 or less case and power supply (people over do it on the power supply all the time, in reality a new 8600gt and e4300 at 3ghz doesn't take that much and on board video much less.)
$30 low end wireless logitech set
$3 fan (too funny) shipping it would cost more than buying it
Rechargeable high power batteries are a good idea for heavy users of wireless mice and keyboards, but you have to be sure to get better than typical Nimh or 1.2v stuff since they don't like those. An expense often overlooked. Built in to high end sets.
$25 or so for the Corldess Rumblepad 2 if you want wireless gaming. Mine still has it's first set of rechargeable batteries in it from several months ago when I bought it and still not dead and haven't charged them yet. Very nice power management.

Add whatever software and the OS will cost. Anyone with a child in school or college or going to school themselves (I think a certain number of credits are required) qualifies for Academic versions of Windows at great savings. Vista Ultimate is around $200 or less, I haven't checked in a while and the price goes down for lesser versions like just premium. Also there is discount software all over ebay if you know how to spot the legitimate stuff from the pirated stuff. Make sure it comes with a real certificate with real hologram and has not been used before. Software like PowerDVD etc is often unbundled from the optical drives it came with and sold seperately too and you can save a whole lot there. Also lots of folks buy and part out Dell's etc and sell the licenses off by themselves like they do the rest of the parts. Again though you have to be really careful to avoid pirated stuff and I don't know what the legal situation is on that unbundling. I think they are at least breaking some rules but perhaps not really breaking the law. Someone else will have to tell us. With activation requirements I don't think an unbundled Vista would even work. Be careful in this area.

Add maybe $30 tops misc accessories like a blank 4u rackmount cover, nice handles, and VFD to turn a cheap plastic face desktop into looking like expensive rackmount gear or others can just buy a nicer looking case to start with. (this is my current case I spent less than $10 for the case and maybe $5 for the rackmount cover and $5 for the handles and $25 for the huge VFD, and then ripped apart junk I had for cables and other little bits like a volume knob and buttons.)

Much of this is using sale prices but no mail in rebate stuff. It's also assuming you get free shipping like from newegg a lot of the time or you'll have to add that up too and if you're not careful shipping alone will add up fast.

The idea had been to have links to sales and yes maybe even get companies to compete for bundle prices.

Optical drive prices are going to dramatically drop soon, for now it could just be the xbox hd-dvd for whatever the lowest is that can be found at or just leave it out.

A good Dell or other manufacturers systems at a good sale or whatever are hard to beat, aside from having to rebuild the OS and usually they don't give you a good video card you have to add it in. Be careful sometimes their motherboards don't have a slot to even upgrade the video card. They pay next to nothing for a lot of massive bulk stuff and the OS is so cheap for them you would literally be sick. If only the consumer paid the same prices for parts and software.

Computers are pretty much becoming a necessity, especially if you have kids in the home and want them to have any sort of a decent future. Too bad there is no low income program to get windows or whatever.

The best way to build a cheap system is to pounce on the sales and try to get everything at rock bottom prices and avoid shipping, you can collect the parts cheap that way and build it when you finally have enough stuff. Sales (not mail in rebates) can cut the price of a system in half or a quarter if you manage it right.

Mail in rebates aside from taking forever or not working at all just get your name and personal info out to the junk mailers and telemarketers.

Craigslist is a good source of used parts for anyone really scraping the bottom of the barrel, like a used case or hard drive or dvd drive etc but you need to know what you're getting and understand that it doesn't make sense to spend much there when new parts on the right sales might make more sense in the bang for the buck dept, and used stuff is not as silent of course.

Also online retailers have rebate codes, and special promotions. There are sites dedicated to rebate codes and such. I noticed someone talking about a rebate code a week or two ago in this forum for Newegg that was 20% off of any purchase over $100 if you paid with Paypal and used rebate code "paypal", so I immediately went over to Newegg and had some fun shopping and decided I would buy their WD 500Gb Sata2 drive that the project will use. It was already on special for $109 with free shipping and after instant rebate code then it turned out to be $89.99. It was a toss up on whether to get a video card or a hard drive, but I needed more space more than the video card at that moment. I am pretty sure that rebate code is over.

Troy

Ok so you are the webmaster. No make that Web Master. One catch though, you need to be willing to mentor backup webmasters time permitting and if they desire to learn.

We bow to the Web Master

Thank you so much for all your work.

Well, that is I guess unless GreenIguana is still working on something to wow us too. Do you waive the white flag sir or will there be a fight to the death?

Troy