Re: Advice for Upgrading Windows Computer
All very good suggestions. One thing comes into mind though. I have a very good experience with Dual Processor PC. Comes in handy when PDF-ing large documents. It will only clog one processor, so you have the other free for doing other stuff in the meantime. Also: Two screens are almost a necessity. They will soon enough save a lot of time. Especially when using Structured FM. My gear is: Dell Precision 450 with a CD-reader and a CD/DVD-writer, and 2 HDs, dual screen graphics card. Epson Perfection 3170 Photo scanner DELL Trinitron 21 screen DELL 17 LCD screen. All at least 2 years old but working perfectly. So anything on this level and better is good. HTH Bodvar On 3/9/06, Art Campbell [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'd go for as fast a processor as fits in the budget, 1M RAM minimum, 2+ recommended (I can't run FM and PS reliably and simultaneously without it). Also, two hard drives, one for the OS and applications and the second for data and the PS scratch disk (per Adobe's recommendation). Most all the video cards on the market will provide more than enough processing power for anything you'd do; my only requirement there would be dual monitor support (and, naturally, dual monitors). Art On 3/9/06, Rita Lewis [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I haven't been keeping up with the list lately, so forgive me if this topic has been discussed recently. (I know it has been discussed periodically in the past, but I assume that standards have changed some since then.) I work as a contractor at a government site, and we've been asked to submit a wish list for upgrading our computers. Does anyone have any advice on the current minimum standards in DTP for RAM, disk space, graphics card, video card, processor, etc.? I have Windows XP and, in addition to FrameMaker and various plugins, the major programs I use are Windows Office 2003 (XP?), SnagIt, WordPerfect Office 11 (for legacy documents), and Acrobat 7. We currently have Photoshop and some other graphics programs on a common machine, but I could be adding some of these to my machine in the future. I'm working at home today, and so I don't recall all my the specs on my computer at work, but I know I'm pathetically low on RAM (384MB--have been begging for more for 2+ years). Fortunately, I've gotten by with that because most of our documents have been small. However, I'm currently converting a huge document (1200+ pages) from WordPerfect to FrameMaker and adding color photos and graphics, and I know I'm going to need more computer power. Any advice would be appreciated. -- Art Campbell [EMAIL PROTECTED] ... In my opinion, there's nothing in this world beats a '52 Vincent and a redheaded girl. -- Richard Thompson No disclaimers apply. DoD 358 ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/bodvar%40gmail.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
Re: Advice for Upgrading Windows Computer
On 9 Mar 2006, at 16:43, Rita Lewis wrote: I work as a contractor at a government site, and we've been asked to submit a wish list for upgrading our computers. Does anyone have any advice on the current minimum standards in DTP for RAM, disk space, My new Mac arrived this week: I went for a Power Mac G5 with dual-core 2.3 GHz CPU, 4 GB of memory, 500 GB SATA hard disk, 16x DVD (double layer), GeForce 6600 (256MB), and 30-inch Cinema Display. USB 2.0, Firewire 400 and 800, and Gigabit Ethernet come as standard. The display is a real beauty. With 2560 x 1600, I can open several FM docs at a very readable size and still have room for all the palettes. Speed-wise it's a major jump from my 1 GHz PowerBook, and I can run FrameMaker, Illustrator CS2, Photoshop CS2, InDesign CS2, Dreamweaver 8, Mail, Safari, and a whole bunch of other apps simultaneously and Mac OS X doesn't even bat an eyelid, and there's still over 1 GB of memory free. CPU usage hovers around 5% with all that lot open. That's the power of UNIX I guess. I recently built a couple of Windows PC for the kids to play their games on. (I enjoy building PCs in my spare time but don't enjoy using them. Built my first in 1990. In another life I was an electronics engineer.) I went for a Shuttle barebones box. Dropped in a 3 GHz Pentium 4, 2 GB of memory, 300 GB SATA hard disk, Shuttle DVD drive (matching silver fascia), GeForce 9600 Pro. Installed Win XP SP2 and had to spend some time configuring all the kids games to run in Windows 2000 Compatibility mode, but the kids are chuffed to bits. We're not yet at the age where frame rate matters and the GeForce 9600 is perfect for Reader Rabbit and the like. I don't like computer noise pollution so replaced the main fan and two in the PSU with quiet models, swapped the Northbridge fan for a nice big Zalman heatsink, and suspended the hard disk. It's now deafeningly quiet, so much so that you wouldn't even think there was a computer in the room. Now if only I could do something about the fans in my Power Mac G5... Paul ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
RE: Advice for Upgrading Windows Computer
I don't know that minimum standards exist anywhere. My recommendation is not to forget RAM. I have 1Mb of RAM on my work computer, which I consider insufficient. Anything less than 1GB of RAM with Windows XP is *insufficient*. Any other speed improvements you make to your computer are worthless unless you have enough RAM. I personally think 2GB is the minimum. Most everything else on a computer you'd buy today will be sufficient. You don't need a fancy graphics card; the standard out there even for laptops is more than sufficient. I currently have a graphics card that supports 1600x1200 at 32-bit color and 120dpi. Tt produces amazingly clear graphics but most of its power is wasted. The $400-600 graphics cards you may see out there (and there are plenty) are for gaming, where the key need is *speed*. You don't need speed unless you plan to be playing games on your work computer. By the way, a graphics card and video card are the same thing. Go with flat screen. They use less energy, last longer, work better, and take up less space. Nowadays they're roughly the same price as a tube monitor. Hard disk space is ridiculously cheap at this point. I would go with a 100GB Serial ATA drive. Serial ATA is the successor to IDE, and supports higher transfer speeds. IDE is on its way out. Do get a drive with a very short seek time (= 8ms) and a large buffer (8-16MB), both of which improve the apparent speed of your drive. Don't forget a DVD writer. I use my DVD writer at work to do nightly backups from Retrospect onto DVD. You may also want to consider having a second hard drive onto which you make backups. I do that at home, and then transfer the backup images to DVD. Retrospect is roughly $100 and a bit complicated but it has features no other backup program can offer. The standard CPU these days runs at roughly 2Ghz. That's all you really need. My work computer is an Intel Pentium 4 at 3 Ghz, and trust me we don't spend lots of money on computers! Make sure your computer comes with USB 2.0. Get yourself a 1GB USB flash drive, which are now less than $100. Use it to transfer files. Even CDs are obsolete with flash drives, and of course floppy drives are way passe. Joe Malin Technical Writer (408)625-1623 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.tuvox.com The views expressed in this document are those of the sender, and do not necessarily reflect those of TuVox, Inc. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rita Lewis Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 8:44 AM To: framers@lists.frameusers.com Subject: Advice for Upgrading Windows Computer I haven't been keeping up with the list lately, so forgive me if this topic has been discussed recently. (I know it has been discussed periodically in the past, but I assume that standards have changed some since then.) I work as a contractor at a government site, and we've been asked to submit a wish list for upgrading our computers. Does anyone have any advice on the current minimum standards in DTP for RAM, disk space, graphics card, video card, processor, etc.? I have Windows XP and, in addition to FrameMaker and various plugins, the major programs I use are Windows Office 2003 (XP?), SnagIt, WordPerfect Office 11 (for legacy documents), and Acrobat 7. We currently have Photoshop and some other graphics programs on a common machine, but I could be adding some of these to my machine in the future. I'm working at home today, and so I don't recall all my the specs on my computer at work, but I know I'm pathetically low on RAM (384MB--have been begging for more for 2+ years). Fortunately, I've gotten by with that because most of our documents have been small. However, I'm currently converting a huge document (1200+ pages) from WordPerfect to FrameMaker and adding color photos and graphics, and I know I'm going to need more computer power. Any advice would be appreciated. In addition to replying to the list, I'd appreciate a cc to my individual account to expedite receipt of any messages. Thanks! Rita (Cross-posted to FreeFramers and FrameUsers) ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/jmalin%40tuvox.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
Re: Advice for Upgrading Windows Computer
I'd go for as fast a processor as fits in the budget, 1M RAM minimum, 2+ recommended (I can't run FM and PS reliably and simultaneously without it). Also, two hard drives, one for the OS and applications and the second for data and the PS scratch disk (per Adobe's recommendation). Most all the video cards on the market will provide more than enough processing power for anything you'd do; my only requirement there would be dual monitor support (and, naturally, dual monitors). Art On 3/9/06, Rita Lewis [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I haven't been keeping up with the list lately, so forgive me if this topic has been discussed recently. (I know it has been discussed periodically in the past, but I assume that standards have changed some since then.) I work as a contractor at a government site, and we've been asked to submit a wish list for upgrading our computers. Does anyone have any advice on the current minimum standards in DTP for RAM, disk space, graphics card, video card, processor, etc.? I have Windows XP and, in addition to FrameMaker and various plugins, the major programs I use are Windows Office 2003 (XP?), SnagIt, WordPerfect Office 11 (for legacy documents), and Acrobat 7. We currently have Photoshop and some other graphics programs on a common machine, but I could be adding some of these to my machine in the future. I'm working at home today, and so I don't recall all my the specs on my computer at work, but I know I'm pathetically low on RAM (384MB--have been begging for more for 2+ years). Fortunately, I've gotten by with that because most of our documents have been small. However, I'm currently converting a huge document (1200+ pages) from WordPerfect to FrameMaker and adding color photos and graphics, and I know I'm going to need more computer power. Any advice would be appreciated. -- Art Campbell [EMAIL PROTECTED] ... In my opinion, there's nothing in this world beats a '52 Vincent and a redheaded girl. -- Richard Thompson No disclaimers apply. DoD 358 ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
