Superfast PC!

[stickyb]

Saw a PC built by a friend last week - he has bought a special cooler unit that sits under the PC and connects directly to the CPU chip, not sure what the coolant is but it goes very quickly down to -50C. He has overclocked a twin core CPU tp 5.4Ghz - goes like the proverbial off a shovel when doing intense caluclations like 3D graphics rendering in CAD, and the temp rises to -35C He has also tapped into the office aircon system to blow cool air straight into the case.

[batninth]

Good heavens Stickyb, as an old man in the computer industry I see folks using technology at home that 20 years ago was the stuff of the scientists.

Looks like your pal is well on the way to having something like the old Control Data supercomputer that used to be cooled by having the processor core immersed in a liquified inert gas (Freon ??). As the liquid cooled the processor logic it boiled off and was collected at the top for refrigeration and the whole processor core was all kept in a sealed system.

Check next time you see the system - any bottles of gas around it or intense bubbling noises :)

[Tosh McCaber]

As a matter of interest, what would be the component specs to be incorporated in a reasonably "state of the art" system at present (ie processor, motherboard, memory, etc.) to provide a good, fast PC, without resorting to esoteric features such as dual processors, watercooling, overlocking, etc?

I'm looking to upgrade, but don't want to spend a fortune.

[ormus55]

you can upgrade now for about 100 quid. thatll get you a 3 gig cpu and a mobo for it.
spend another 200 on a very decent graphics card. and youll have a pretty quick machine.

of course you can spend a lot more, but unless youve got a special application to run, i wouldnt bother.
ie a dual core 3 gig cpu will cost you about 600 quid. a big difference for a domestic user.

generally, HW these days is way in front of the SW.

there is no point in overclocking these days, the price of fast cpu,s is just so cheap.

[Spitoon]

600 quid?????!!!!!!

This looks like a pretty good performer (http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/102620)