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01-19-2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

"We should get a new computer. We've had these for a couple of years. We should get a really nice one."

This is the conversation that goes on in my mind every few months:

"I should get a new computer. I've had this one for six years. Oh, wait a second, that would mean reinstalling and trying to transfer hundreds of applications, losing settings, dealing with Microsoft, making tech support calls. Forget it!"

01-19-2006, 04:25 PM

My ViewSonic 19" LCD takes 56 watts in use, and 1.5 watts in power-save mode.

Note that the label states 180 watts.

cute fuzzy bunny · 01-19-2006, 05:26 PM

Moving to a new machine is always a couple of days of 'adventures'.

Unfortunately after looking at stuff all day long I cant find anything 'better enough' than my old stuff to warrant the price. I usually buy PC equipment near the high end...you can find so-called 'sweet spots' where you get the most bang for your buck, but its a little sweeter if you can stand using the machine for an extra year or more.

Still the only thing that ever has me tapping my feet is 2 hours to 'save a movie' from windows movie maker and another 2 hours to transcode it to a dvd...

01-19-2006, 09:36 PM

A faster DVD drive might be a cheaper solution.

cute fuzzy bunny · 01-20-2006, 03:09 PM

This is pure CPU stuff before the thing even writes to disk. That takes ten minutes.

Plenty of memory, plenty of disk bandwidth. CPU pegged to 100%.

I'm running a slightly overclocked rig based on a 2.4GHz pentium 4 and an Albatron motherboard. Giving me about 2.8GHz cool and safe while i'm doing this stuff. I run at box-stock 2.4 otherwise.

Even if I blew $500-600 on a really fast p4 or athlon and new mobo/ram I'd cut the four hours down to two. And I'd still have to reinstall windows xp.

And for a few bucks more, I could get a whole new machine with the same horsepower, a new dual sided dvd drive, etc.

Main problem is my camera records raw AVI. When I try to transcode that directly to mpeg2 I get a stupid error message regarding the avisplitter codec that causes the dvd transcoder to die. If I replace the avisplitter with one that works with the dvd transcoder, windows movie maker vomits when I try to save an edited movie. I'm sure theres a solution that suits both, but it probably involves buying and learning a new movie editor or buying and learning a new dvd mastering program. :P

travelover · 11-28-2007, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnP

My Kill-a-Watt is coming from Ebay - woohoo -

JohnP

I dragged up this old thread because I just got a Kill-o-Watt meter. At $21 from Amazon, I may give some as Christmas gifts this year. Neat gizmo.

dumpster56 · 11-28-2007, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelover

I dragged up this old thread because I just got a Kill-o-Watt meter. At $21 from Amazon, I may give some as Christmas gifts this year. Neat gizmo.

Nah, Just move near a nuclear power plant, we are paying 8.045 cents a KWH. Heck 2700 sq foot house 50 bucks a month, even with two central AC units in the Hot summer never over 180 a month!