[S-99]

I also have a Windows XP Pro license to go along with it.

NOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo.....
I know what you plan to do with xp, but unless you were planning on setting up a network domain, then you should have gone with xp home. On second thought xp pro does actually let you modify user account permissions. But, in retrospect, i doubt you'll use both of these features. It was free, sounds like you could have gotten xp home edition for free instead for all the features most people brag about having professional edition for all of the features they don't use, and wouldn't notice a difference if you sit them down with xp home.

My rant is off.

[Bob-san]

The rest of it should arrive today.

I also have a Windows XP Pro license to go along with it.

NOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo.....
I know what you plan to do with xp, but unless you were planning on setting up a network domain, then you should have gone with xp home. On second thought xp pro does actually let you modify user account permissions. But, in retrospect, i doubt you'll use both of these features. It was free, sounds like you could have gotten xp home edition for free instead for all the features most people brag about having professional edition for all of the features they don't use, and wouldn't notice a difference if you sit them down with xp home.

My rant is off.

Which is why enthusiasts prefer Professional to Home versions of Windows. I have a copy of XP Home and I now have a copy of XP Pro. I have a copy of Vista HP64 and a retail copy of (retail) Se7en Pro64. I also have a copy of Server 03 R2 and Server 08 and Server 08 R2. I'm not left wanting for OS copies. The XP Pro license was free--I was considering Server 03 R2 instead of XP Pro but I determined that Server 03 R2 is simply too much for me. XP Pro is more of a blend of function and power (I'm the only one using this setup) and it's easier to setup, too! On a side-note, I'm using Se7en Pro's XP Mode fairly regularly--which is why I went with Pro instead of Home Premium. Well, the fact that it was the same price as Home Premium was a bonus, too.

That Pentium D 805 isn't going to be my daily driver. 2GB DDR-400 is too expensive and 512MB is fine for XP Pro & file serving, even when crunching--most projects take up <100MB/ea in RAM so I'll have plenty. It's going to be built, setup in my (open) closet, and left alone. If it doesn't work, I'll dismantle it and setup the E2140 as my "server".

[chief1983]

Windows Pro versions need at least a 600W PSU.



That was a joke btw, for the strangers to sarcasm.

[Liberator]

That's the first time I've ever seen anyone recommend XP Home for  .

[S-99]

Most computer enthusiasts install xp pro on some nice hardware, get a spiffy background for their desktop, run as administrator 24/7, play games, and surf the internet. A lot of computer enthusiasts install xp pro back in the day, and they use it just like home edition. So what ended up happening is many of these computer enthusiasts spent twice the money on an OS for the features they aren't going to use, but in fact don't even know that they only own xp pro for the cool factor of "it's xp pro bro!".

I think this way about a lot of things...which is the most cost effective and best route for a person to make a purchase based on what they will never be doing and what they will be doing with something. This is the thought process i use when helping anyone buy or suggest anything for computers based on a users needs and wants. Many times i end up telling people not to upgrade or buy anything because what they have currently suits there needs fine (and even sometimes what some people are trying to achieve is just unrealistic).

If someone has a p3 with 512mb ram and xp, i'm not going to tell them to upgrade if all they do is surf the net, write up documents, listen to music, burn cd's, play solitaire, and watch the occasional dvd movie. A p4, or something dual core isn't going to help this person's situation at all and would be pointless. I would however help them get a new hard drive since p3 systems are sort of old.

Anyway, you have two reasons for xp pro. The biggie was that it was free, the second was that you'll actually sort of use it. So that's cool.

[chief1983]

I needed advanced file sharing support.  Pretty sure Home didn't have that.  So I'm in that small percentage that did need Pro.

[Bob-san]

Up & running.

[Bob-san]

Third and, for now, final desktop PC is finally working. Got a Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 v1.00, an E2140, and 2x512mb DDR2-400. Naturally will be significantly overclocked. The Asus P5B Deluxe/WiFi-AP didn't work with any of my CPU's--the Smithfield (PD 805), Allendale (E2140), and Wolfdale (E6300) all failed. I might try that board again later, but for now it's, ehem, laid to rest. The E2140 & slow RAM run on a 200MHz bus so, in keeping with a 1:1 fsb:ram ratio, I will need to raise the overclock and significantly loosen timings to get FSB400 (3.2GHz core, DD2@800). I'm sort of worried about that RAM overclock.

Anyways, pictures of the other computers will be available when I find my digital camera. It's around here somewhere.

[Admiral LSD]

I hate those braided cable sheaths on PSUs. They're almost impossible to route precisely where you want them.

I know it's a bit late, but all 3 new PCs I've built in the last 12-18 months have had Gigabyte 780G boards in them and all 3 are still going fine. The chipset isn't great (nothing for the AMD platform really is or ever has been), but aside from Intel, nothing is and it gets the job done.