RAM, Monitor(s) and Hardrive

Hi there

I've done a search and found all kinds of advice given to others on this forum. Some of this advice was a tad confusing regarding my own situation in relation to my own plight to have a PC setup that will optimise 'my' recording.

I intend to go about a much needed PC upgrade in a week or so and have a few nagging doubts about some stuff before I purchase it. I was wondering if I could get advice from some of you?


RAM
I intend on upgrading to 2GB of DDR2 RAM (2x1GB) in order to replace the two 512MB PC2-4200 DIMMs already there. According to this webpage which gives info on my exact motherboard model, my motherboard can support DDR2 PC2-4200, 5300, 6400 and 8500. Does it matter which of these I go for? I'm assuming that the 8500 is faster. Is this so?

I remember some of the posts I read advising people to ensure that their RAM did not exceed their CPU clock speed or CSA? Should I be concerned about this? If so, how do I stop this from occuring? My CPU is a P4 3.06GHz. Here are two pics of my RAM specs. Pic1 and Pic2.

I don't why but the info in the above pics in which the CPU-Z program gathered states that my RAM is PC2-4300 (266MHz). However, I have physically taken my DIMMs out and looked at them and they deifinitely have PC2-4200 written on them. God knows what's going on there. Anyway, I was thinking of getting something along the lines of 2 of these. Is there better that I should be aiming for?


Hard Drive
I already have a 250GB Hard Drive in my PC but know I need another to write to and store my audio data on. I was was thinking of getting something like this which is a 250 GB, 3.5, SATA-300, 7200 rpm with a buffer: 16 MB. Is this the kind of thing I should be looking for? Or should I be aiming higher? I'm afraid I'm not clued up on hard drives at all.


Monitor(s)
I am brand new to Sonar and the concept of PC Recording and have spent several years on hardware recording. Lately, having cut my forefinger finger-tip terribly at work leaving me unable to play any intruments or record anything just now, I'm not too sure about my monitor number needs just yet. I am aware of lots of people using 2 monitors in most of the recording packages out there which exist. If I was opting to use 2 monitors somewhere down the line, would I need a graphics card with 2 VGA outputs? Or, would I get by using the one VGA output in which my current graphics card has along with the use of a VGA Splitter?

Do many folks out there get by okay using 1 monitor?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated


Kindest Regards

ZippsInc

Thanks for that Losguy

I've ordered the 250GB 7200rpm hard drive. I'm kinda thinking I should have gone for the 500MB one but hey that's showbiz...lol

Edited to add: A friend visiting is about to buy a 250GB hard drive so he's gonna take the one I've ordered. I'm now going to go for the Seagate Baracuda SATA, 500GB, 7200rpm, 32MB buffer one.

As for monitors, my graphics card which is an nVIDIA GeForce 7300LE 256MB - pictured here, has 1xVGA output and 1XDVI output. I think with this set up, I'm gonna be limited to dual VGAs via the use of a DVI/VGA adapter in my DVI output? Aren't I?

However, according to Wikipedia's DVI explanation, there are several DVI connections out there. As far as I can make out, my DVI output connection (referring back to my picture above), is the DVI-I (dual link) type which is Integrated, Digital & Analog. Does this mean I can run 2 LCDs of this one DVI output?

Or am I better sticking with my other theory and buy a DVI/VGA adapter and go with 2 VGAs? Is this dooable?

Or better still, go with Losguy's advice and buy a new graphics card with two DVI outputs? This would require digging deep for the finances though.


As for my RAM question in the original post, I'm gonna go with the best of the bunch. I figure that if my motherboard supports it then it won't hurt the smooth running of my PC.

Kindest Regards

ZippsInc

Thanks Losguy

You're a true gent. I reckon I'll go for 2 LCDs now.


Regards

ZippsInc

Thanks for the info foxwolfen

Errrrr, I think I get it.

What kinds of inputs do most LCD monitors come with? Do most come with both VGA and DVI?

The monitors I've looked at are a tad confusing. For instance, do some come with DVI-d inputs whereas others come with DVI-i? It's just that places like amazon do not specify which. Also, if an LCD monitor like this one says that it has an analogue input signal, does this mean that it uses a VGA input exclusively.

The info I've been looking at regarding the GeForce 8600 doesn't seem to specify a type of DVI either.

Off the top of my head right now, I might be looking at two LCD monitors using the VGA with one and the DVI with the other. However, the differences in connection compatibility with monitors is a little confusing....lol

I'll keep researching


Thanks again foxwolfen. You're info is much appreciated.

ZippsInc

Thanks foxwolfen

I'm coming round to your way of thinking. lol

I'll just have to make sure that the monitor(s) I buy are DVI-D compatible. I'll be sure to check out the Samsung stuff.

Thanks again for clearing up my patchy knowledge of stuff. Thanks also to Losguy.


Regards

ZippsInc