Computer needed for projection??

[Dave McClung]

Linda and I have returned to the Gig Harbor Church of the Nazarene. Since we have been back, we have become aware that the computer that generates the slides for worship is out-of-date. I am inclined to donate a computer to replace it. What are the minimum requirements for a computer to run power point for a Sunday Worship Service? In addition to the minimum requirements, what else should I consider?

Dave

[Steve Reece]

As a general principle, you need lots of memory, a fast processor, and a very fast video card with lots of fast memory.

For video I prefer the Nvida GeForce cards (but the ATI Radeon are competitive). A 6x00 series (6600GT, 6800GTX, etc) is current. Getting a card with DDR3 memory is good. Based on a converstion with the developer for SongShow plus, I just purchased Nvida 6600GT, with 128MB DDR3. I could have gotton a 6600 with 256MB but was told I would see better performance with the DDR3 memory.

Dual monitors is a must.

Get no less than 512MB of memory, but I would recommend 1 or more GB. A 3.2Ghz processor would suffice and is generally affordable.

Finally the 10,000 RPM harddrives will load your images faster than a 7,200 rpm.

Of course include a DVD player in the box.

In all, a video projection machine is all about performance, much like a gammer's PC.

Order of priority:
1. Video card - place your money here.
2. Memory
3. CPU
4. Hard drive.

For example, if I was over budget the first thing I would do is drop from a 10,000 rpm drive to 7,200. Then I might look, if I could get 1GB of memory and a 2.8Ghz processor, or 512MB of memory and a 3.4Ghz processor, I would go with the 1GB of memory and the 2.8Ghz CPU.

P.S: Get Windows XP Professional, not Home. A church is a business. I have heard that sometimes there are dual monitor issues with Home, and heard there are not. I know it works with Professional. I use XP Professional for even my home use on my primary computer.

[Dave McClung]

Steve, thanks for the input. It is helpful.

OK, for a dual monitor set up, do I need two video cards or are there cards that have two monitor output sockets?

[Steve Reece]

Most high end cards support dual monitor. They will have either Dual DVI or one DVI and one VGA port.

If you get a 6600GT (midrange) 6800 (higher range) or 7800GTX (way super fast) you will be okay.

Watch the DVI there are two:

DVI-I which is the older. It is easy to get monitors for that or to get a DVI-I to VGA adapter for that port.

The newer is DVI-D. I recently purchased a video card with this port and could not find an adapter locally. Then I discovered somthing else:

Not all dual port video cards support dual monitor. The card I bought had a VGA port and a DVI-D port but you could only use one at a time. I had not run in to this before on accelerated graphics cards. It was a very, very low end card (in the 50$ price range). I ended out replacing it with a slightly less low end card that had the DVI-I and a VGA port.

DVI-I to VGA adapters are about $20. If you are buying a new monitor, it might be just as well one that plugs right into the ports your video card has. Your projector is likely VGA. Don't stress this - it is easy to get from a DVI-I to VGA.

Just make sure the card acutally offers dual monitor support. Like I said, shouldn't be a problem on the higher end cards you need for video projection.

*ahem* The short answer: you can get a good high end card that has two ports and suppots dual monter.

One last thing, not all Nvida GeForce cards are equal. It is a chip set that manufactures use to build the cards. They all take the same drivers that can be download from the Nvidia web site. I never, ever use the installation CD that comes with the video card. But I have found the MSI brand to be of execellent quality. Chaintech has done well for me also. I have heard bad things about PNY's Verto series, I'll find out, I just bought one for my home computer.

[Dave McClung]

Thanks, Steve. That is just the information I needed. I will do some shopping, then post my proposed specs for your comment before I actually buy.

Do you know a source that is better than Tiger Direct? I have had postive experience with them.

[Steve Reece]

Personally, I have my computers built to spec by a local vendor that I trust. I think the big names are fine, Dell, MPC, Tiger Direct, CDW, NewEgg.

I have a low opinion of HP/Compaq computers and would not buy one.

[Dave McClung]

I can't believe the difference in price between the 10K rpm hard drives and the 7200 rpm hard drives. The 10K drives are more than 4 times the price of the slower drives. I am thinking that the extra dollars would be better spent on monitors.

[Betty Bolerjack]

I have a low opinion of HP/Compaq computers and would not buy one.

Having just purchased two new HP Notebooks (for Mark and myself), I would be interested in your reason for rejecting HP. Our previous computers were Compaqs which I had vowed I would never buy again. However, I understand that the quality has improved greatly since being bought by HP. Actually, we are both very dependent on the 10-key pad and wanted notebooks with the 10-key built in as opposed to having to carry around a separate unit. That limited our choices greatly. We researched the options and chose the HPs as being the best value for the price. We have not regretted our decision.

Betty

[Dave McClung]

We own a couple of hp's and have not had any trouble. They were the WalMart specials. I bought one for Gig Harbor and one for ENC for Linda to use. We have had them for more than a year without any problem.

[Steve Reece]

Actually, I think HP has a pretty good notebook line and I would give them a serious look if I were buying a notebook. It is their desktop machines of which I am not a fan. They might build great desktop machines now, I stopped using them several years ago. Their PCs simply did not last as long as the custom builds I would buy. Like Compaq, their power supplies tended to be too small, and the case design prevented me from putting in larger supplies. Generally once I had a problem with an HP (or Compaq) the computer was a loss, I might be able to salvage a hard drive or something. Where as the more industry standard PCs were more easily repaired. That's just my opinion based on my past experience. Many people buy and love their HPs. I know they have a sizable customer base that is pleased with there product.

I think HP makes about the best and most dependable laser printer in the world. Yet their inkjets leave much to be desired. I don't know about HP photo printers one way or another save that they print nicely.

Dave could likely buy an HP that meets the church's need and they would all be happy with it. I would hope the quality is better today than what I perceived it to be a few years ago.

So to clarify: I have a low opinion of their desktop machines, but my experience with them is several years out of date, and because of my experience, my opinion will continue to get out of date because I will not take another chance with them since I have found acceptable alternatives. I should have kept my opinions about HP to myself because it is not worth much and distracted from the primary point of the thread - a recent review at pcmag.com would be a better source. I am glad to hear that both you and Dave have had good experiences with HP, I would be happy to see HP prosper selling good machines.

[Steve Reece]

I can't believe the difference in price between the 10K rpm hard drives and the 7200 rpm hard drives. The 10K drives are more than 4 times the price of the slower drives. I am thinking that the extra dollars would be better spent on monitors.

My bad.

I have been in the process of specing new high performance database servers, so I had been recently looking at 15,000 and 10,000 rpm UltraSCSI drives. For a desktop machine, even a multi media one, staying with the 7,200 rpm SATA or IDE is about your only reasonable choice. Do avoid 5,000 rpm drives, though.

[Bob Woolley]

I have had three Compaqs and all are still going strong! Two were desktops and the other is my laptop.

I have never had a problem with any of my Compaqs. However this new Dell is locking up on me quite often? My mouse is not working correctly...jumping here there and everywhere and I am trying to find time to just get things working properly. So I guess you can get a lemon in any brand.

Also I should mention that my Compaq laptop outperforms the Toshiba laptop at church running the video projector. I really don't know why as the Toshiba is supposed to be a better computer? Go figure....

Bob, a satisfied Compaq owner and wished I had stuck with a Compaq or HP.

[Mark Bolerjack]

I think HP makes about the best and most dependable laser printer in the world. Yet their inkjets leave much to be desired. I don't know about HP photo printers one way or another save that they print nicely.

Between Betty and I, we have had about 5 or 6 HP DeskJet printers. They have all been great printers. My only objection is how often we have to buy new ink cartridges! At this point, HP is the only printer I really would consider.

Our latest is an Office Jet 7410 all in one, which has all of the scan, copy, print, fax, etc features, as well as wireless, so any of our computers in the house can print to it without hooking up any cables.

Mark B.

[Gina Stevenson]

so, Mark, how about -- since you sounded like an "only HP" sort -- those printer that have separate ink cartridges, so one doesn't have to buy a new one with all 3 colors, when just one of the colors is empty??

tho't there was some brand that didn't sound too bad -- forgot its name now -- that has a separate cartridge for all three colors, plus one for the black.

some of what's considered "bad" printers ... do they smear ink, or just not print clearly to begin with ... or ... ???

thanks for anything you might know about them.

[Jonathan Long]

Steve,

I agree 100% with you opinion of Compaq and HP desktop with one exception.

If you purchase the consumer line... you'll be sorry! The workstations that HP/Compaq make are top of the line. Quality construction, generally overbuilt!

Jon

[Steve Reece]

Steve,

I agree 100% with you opinion of Compaq and HP desktop with one exception.

If you purchase the consumer line... you'll be sorry! The workstations that HP/Compaq make are top of the line. Quality construction, generally overbuilt!

Jon

What do you think of their multi-processor server line? I have read positive things about HP's server but do not know anyone who actually uses them. I am including them in my current search for some new web servers.

I am pricing Dell, IBM, HP, and MPC.

[Jonathan Long]

I'm a fan of the dual Xeon line.

I recommend you take a serious look.

I do a fair amount of work converting the machines to use for DV editing.

Out of the box I would think they would do well for web servers. Anytime I can add a video card to an out of the box computer and someone can start video editing.... if you know anything about video editing... that means so much!

Jon

[Mark Bolerjack]

so, Mark, how about -- since you sounded like an "only HP" sort -- those printer that have separate ink cartridges, so one doesn't have to buy a new one with all 3 colors, when just one of the colors is empty??

tho't there was some brand that didn't sound too bad -- forgot its name now -- that has a separate cartridge for all three colors, plus one for the black.


That is the only thing that I don't like about the new printer. I guess it is the concession we made to get the wireless and other features on this. I would have liked to get the separate color cartridges.

Mark B.