[Scgeeks] Re: Can a celeron processor do what I want?

[Joe Gill]

"Miss Betsy" <devnull at spamcop.net> wrote in message 
news:g7aqrk$qo8$1 at news.spamcop.net...
> The application is a streaming video program.  I got a quote on a celeron 
> processor.  However, a bright, young college geek says that it will slow 
> everything down after a while.  There will also be a QuickBooks Pro 
> program on the same computer which I know takes a lot of resources also.
>
> I read that the celeron is like a compact compared to a luxury sedan. 
> Young college kid may just be always looking for the best, but I don't 
> know enough about the applications to know if they need a better 
> processor.
>
> Another major factor to me is that even if the kid can find a whole 
> package cheaper than my quote, the quote came with set up and training in 
> the streaming video application.  The quote was for about $1200 (I don't 
> have any of the figures with me) for new computer including webcam.  Is 
> that ridiculous?  (there is more to this story than I am telling).  How 
> much more could I expect to pay for the Intel Pentium?  I know there are 
> different levels, but what I want to know is if I could make a case that 
> the original quote is reasonable and would work, or how much more a more 
> solid Pentium would cost if that's an issue?
>
> These are the original system specs that resulted in the quote on the 
> celeron
> Pentium II 450 MHz or higher processor, Windows 98, Me, 2000 or XP (home 
> or professional), 96 MB of RAM, 128 MB for Windows 2000/XP. (128 MB 
> recommended).
>
> Miss Betsy
Some random thoughts...

One idea to consider.. Do you just want to spec out a PC for the here/now, 
or for the future too.
It seems, at least to me, that more and more 'function' is being pushed down 
to the client PC. As more function is pushed down, more processor power is 
needed.

Don't short the PC on RAM.. 3G is max Vista can use now.. The next 
generation can probably exploit 4G.

In addition, if applications are data intensive, you don't want the 
processor waiting on data before it can process!
So you want some sufficient amount of cache.

You say you have a webcam. In my experience, video, especially if you plan 
to do video editing can be resource intensive.

It all comes down to, are you spec'ing out a PC as a disposable PC, or one 
that you will use for years and years.....