Bargain Hardware Thread

[nngs]

Anyone tried craigslist.com in your area?

Sometime you can get very cheap but good used computer (but not that old). I got a full celeronD346 3.066G 256kL2, 256M DDR, 60G HD systym which is slightly slower (5%) than my P4 2.4G system, for only $130.

[S485122]

Originally Posted by rx7350

What is the power consumption on the various Core2 cpus as opposed to the PD945, and what's the cpu temp expectation (all other things being equal) of the same two cpu series?

Not the most user friendly way to get the info but it is all there : http://processorfinder.intel.com/

More specifically D945 Thermal Design Power : 95 W, Thermal Specification : 63,4°C

Core 2 Duo E6300 Thermal Design Power : 65 W, Thermal Specification : 61,4°C
Core 2 Duo E6400 Thermal Design Power : 65 W, Thermal Specification : 61,4°C
Core 2 Duo E6600 Thermal Design Power : 65 W, Thermal Specification : 60,1°C
Core 2 Duo E6700 Thermal Design Power : 65 W, Thermal Specification : 60,1°C
Core 2 Duo QX6700 Thermal Design Power : 130 W, Thermal Specification : 65°C
Core 2 Duo X6800 Thermal Design Power : 75 W, Thermal Specification : 60,4°C

The QX6700 has the about the same thermal design as a D8XX processor and a bit lower maximum temperature.

[Cruelty]

The thermal specification shown is the maximum case temperature at the maximum Thermal Design Power (TDP) value for that processor. It is measured at the geometric center on the topside of the processor integrated heat spreader.

I wonder how to measure this temperature the way Intel suggests in real life... or how does it correspond to the core temperature

[S485122]

Originally Posted by Cruelty

I wonder how to measure this temperature the way Intel suggests in real life... or how does it correspond to the core temperature

There is a technical paper on the Intel site that explains how to measure the temperature of a processor. It is intended for hardware manufacturers and involves cutting a groove in the processors cover among other things... Nothing for the average DIY user.
For the Core 2 Duo E6000 series the document is to be found at http://download.intel.com/design/pro...x/31368501.pdf and for the Pentium IV at http://download.intel.com/design/Pen...s/30255304.pdf, in both cases the relevant section is appendix D.

[E_tron]

AMD64 can now be had for 39usd. It took forever to get AMD64 below 100usd.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...ductCode=80502

I wouldn't recommend it though.

[E_tron]

Originally Posted by E_tron

It's not economy... but these are some incredible overclocking parts. This solution is reported to use about 110watts at full overclocked power making it economical to operate too.

Step 1:
Asus P5B motherboard $140
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 $225
2x256MB of DDR2 533x2$35x2=70
Total: $435

Step 2:
Overclock the E6400 to about 2.8ghz on the stock cooler.

Step 3:
Enjoy two screaming instances of Prime95.

The Chip of Choice is now Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 @ $165, excellent overclocker with its higher CPU multiplier. Beware: its stock cooler is poor, so replace it with one of those fancy Zalman coolers.

[vaio]

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 pro is a good budget sink for the Allendale etc
If going the Zalman route, watch out for clearance issues with your board components

[E_tron]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103036

65usd will buy and deliver a 1.9ghz dual core Athlon 64 X2. The price cuts buy AMD are insane! That prices makes it a good competitor to core 2 during the short term. Oh, did i mention that this processor does 2.7ghz with ease (3.0ghz with more work)?

With the recent cuts in DDR2 prices and cheap, effective overclocking motherboards, AMD is the bargain choice (for now, intel has something planned).

[moo]

Originally Posted by E_tron

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103036

65usd will buy and deliver a 1.9ghz dual core Athlon 64 X2. The price cuts buy AMD are insane! That prices makes it a good competitor to core 2 during the short term. Oh, did i mention that this processor does 2.7ghz with ease (3.0ghz with more work)?

With the recent cuts in DDR2 prices and cheap, effective overclocking motherboards, AMD is the bargain choice (for now, intel has something planned).

nice find
my parents asked me to turn down my computers because the rates for power went up like 80 bucks this year.... its gonna be expensive the rates in my area went up like 60 percent this year after our power company's rates were frozen for like 10 years.

[E_tron]

maybe you should move to my town, Lafayette, Louisiana. Our utility is owned by the combined City-Parish government. Its rate is the lowest in the state. 3.4 cents per kilowatt hour!! http://www.lus.org/

They are also about to give BellSouth (a.k.a Death to LUS via endless appeals Inc.) and Cox Comm. (a.k.a. Please provide cable internet before the end of the decade Corp) a run for their money by offering a TV/Voice/Data fiber to the home system similar to Verizon ViOS.

[drake2]

3.4 cents per kilowatt hour is dirt cheap.

We are paying .10387 per kilowatt hour plus a .02666 per kilowatt hour fuel adjustment plus a $15 per month customer charge plus a .000364 per kilowatt hour regulatory charge for an effective rate between .13053 and .14 cents per kilowatt hour.