Developer machine specs

[Harold A. Mackey]

Folks
I want to put together a developer machine for around $2500-$3000 US and I
was considering the advantage of dual processors over 2 gigs of ram and lvd
scsi. I have heard that VStudio and other programs don't benefit from cpu
power or ram above a certain amount.
Can someone make a recommendation on specs and perhaps manufacturer? We have
a mostly Dell shop here but I am not averse to switching.
Thanks
HM

[Dino Chiesa [Microsoft]]

For a dev machine I prefer more RAM to additional CPU.

-Dino
"Harold A. Mackey" <ma*******@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%2****************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...

Folks
I want to put together a developer machine for around $2500-$3000 US and I
was considering the advantage of dual processors over 2 gigs of ram and lvd scsi. I have heard that VStudio and other programs don't benefit from cpu
power or ram above a certain amount.
Can someone make a recommendation on specs and perhaps manufacturer? We have a mostly Dell shop here but I am not averse to switching.
Thanks
HM

[Randy Charles Morin]

Well, the compilers aren't multi threaded, so you don't benefit from
the dual processor unless you want to do something else while
compiling :)

Randy
http://www.kbcafe.com

"Harold A. Mackey" <ma*******@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<#k**************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl>...

Folks
I want to put together a developer machine for around $2500-$3000 US and I
was considering the advantage of dual processors over 2 gigs of ram and lvd
scsi. I have heard that VStudio and other programs don't benefit from cpu
power or ram above a certain amount.
Can someone make a recommendation on specs and perhaps manufacturer? We have
a mostly Dell shop here but I am not averse to switching.
Thanks
HM

[Eric Gunnerson [MS]]

The compilers aren't multithreaded, but the IDE is, and you can see some
benefit there.

I think the advice to favor RAM is a good point. I think 512 MB is a good
starting point. 1 Gig would be great, and 2 gig would probably be overkill,
depending on the size of your app.

--
Eric Gunnerson

Visit the C# product team at http://www.csharp.net
Eric's blog is at http://blogs.gotdotnet.com/ericgu/

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
"Randy Charles Morin" <rm****@kbcafe.com> wrote in message
news:a4**************************@posting.google.c om...

Well, the compilers aren't multi threaded, so you don't benefit from
the dual processor unless you want to do something else while
compiling :)

Randy
http://www.kbcafe.com

"Harold A. Mackey" <ma*******@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:<#k**************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl>...

Folks
I want to put together a developer machine for around $2500-$3000 US and I was considering the advantage of dual processors over 2 gigs of ram and lvd scsi. I have heard that VStudio and other programs don't benefit from cpu power or ram above a certain amount.
Can someone make a recommendation on specs and perhaps manufacturer? We have a mostly Dell shop here but I am not averse to switching.
Thanks
HM

[Charles Law]

Hi Harold

I use an 800 MHz m/c with 1 Gb RAM, and things still run quite slowly. Also,
the hard disk gets a good thrashing from time-to-time, despite the large
amount of memory. It seems to me that a good all-round spec. is what you
need. Don't over balance things in one particular department (sorry to mix
my metaphors). Something like the Dell Dimension 8300 looks good to me - in
fact, when the prices come back down that's exactly what I'll be going for.

HTH

Charles
"Harold A. Mackey" <ma*******@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%2****************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...

Folks
I want to put together a developer machine for around $2500-$3000 US and I
was considering the advantage of dual processors over 2 gigs of ram and lvd scsi. I have heard that VStudio and other programs don't benefit from cpu
power or ram above a certain amount.
Can someone make a recommendation on specs and perhaps manufacturer? We have a mostly Dell shop here but I am not averse to switching.
Thanks
HM

[WKidd]

A high resolution >= 1600x1200 monitor is essential when working with a
visual IDE. You will be looking at it for several hours a day, so make sure
it has a sharp quality display. Also, if you want to use software such as
Virtual PC to manage multiple sessions, then you will need the extra RAM and
HD space.
"Harold A. Mackey" <ma*******@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:#k**************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...

Folks
I want to put together a developer machine for around $2500-$3000 US and I
was considering the advantage of dual processors over 2 gigs of ram and lvd scsi. I have heard that VStudio and other programs don't benefit from cpu
power or ram above a certain amount.
Can someone make a recommendation on specs and perhaps manufacturer? We have a mostly Dell shop here but I am not averse to switching.
Thanks
HM

[Ron Allen]

Harold,
I'd say to use more fast RAM vs dual processors. Unless you use a dual
Athlon machine I believe that the Xeon is overpriced relative to its
performance and currently only uses relatively slow RAM. Hyperthreading is
also useful in the new Intel machines.
I'm currently using a 3GHz P4 with 1Gbyte of DDR400 RAM (CAS2) and a
standard 80 Gbyte IDE drive and everything works well. I built this machine
with a Viewsonic Vx900 LCD for under $2,600. Add a bit more and you can get
a larger display or a DVD writer (if needed).

Ron Allen
"Harold A. Mackey" <ma*******@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%2****************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...

Folks
I want to put together a developer machine for around $2500-$3000 US and I
was considering the advantage of dual processors over 2 gigs of ram and lvd scsi. I have heard that VStudio and other programs don't benefit from cpu
power or ram above a certain amount.
Can someone make a recommendation on specs and perhaps manufacturer? We have a mostly Dell shop here but I am not averse to switching.
Thanks
HM