quote:

ORIGINAL: wdolson

Dual cores run hotter than single cores and quad cores run very hot.  They are also very expensive.  The weather is getting colder in the Northern Hemisphere at the moment, so you might not be too worried about it now, but next srping you might find it impossible to keep your room cool enough to sit at the computer without passing out from heat stroke.

More seriously for the electronics, have lots of cooling fans in the case and one of those dual or quad cores might still run too hot.  The dual core I built for my father is used for Photoshop.  A few weeks after he got it, the computer started seizing up when running Photoshop.  Turned out he was still a little shy on cooling, even with the fans I put in there.  Hooking up one more fan appears to have made the difference. 

Real time games will probably tax the system more than Photoshop does.

The newer computers do put out a lot of heat though.  I have my everyday computer underclocked because the office was getting too hot.  It still isn't great in the summer, but tolerable with extra air conditioning in the office along with the central air in the house.

Bill

quote:

ORIGINAL: marky

64 bit?

u dont mean...

DUN DUN DUUUNNN!!!

VISTA?!?!?

[:D]

or am i thinking of sumthing else and about to feel like a total schmuck? [:D]

hmm yah im only going with high quality parts, western digital and raptor i think are the best right?

as for the mobo i have not a clue thats where im weakest in

much to learn i still have hmm yes!! [:D]

quote:

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso
Is "underclocking" your processors an easy task?

quote:

ORIGINAL: wdolson

quote:

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso
Is "underclocking" your processors an easy task?

It's a simple setting in the BIOS. When you boot your machine, there is usually a message that pops up saying "hit XX key for setup". On a lot of systems, it's the DEL key, but it varies depending on the manufacturer.

Once in the setup screens, there is usually a section for processor settings. Overclockers use these settings to crank their systems, but you can also set the processor slower than it's rating. I bumped mine down from 2 Ghz to around 1.5 Ghz and it made a big difference in the heat output. I was also able to safely slow down the processor fan so the thing runs a lot quieter (I installed a large heat sink with a fan speed control). The computer produces a very soft whirring sound that is only noticable when the room is completely quiet.

Some systems may not have these settings. All Asus mother boards allow you to control the processor speed.

Bill

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dili

I think it is sleeping [:D]

quote:

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

AW1Steve, as long as the "milwaukee pc" guys do not talk with the angry sergeant (a.k.a. "mom") Marky is safe [8D]

-Where are the 2 PC's, Marky?
-Oh... in good hands, don't worry... in a place called 'Beijing PC'.

EDITED:
same here: good luck with that new PC [:)]