I am an SSD Convert -- How can you manage WITHOUT one !!!

jimbo45

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Hi all

I was a bit sceptical of SSD's until I tried one.
I know that in fact for most "normal user" machines these days the bottleneck isn't actually CPU power or even RAM but SLOW DISKS.
I was sceptical of the performance improvement claims were made for SSD's - but I'd done a bit of overtime recently so had a little spare cash and consequently I bought one of the newer generation of SSD's to appear --SAMSUNG 120GB and put it in the Netbook described below.

My tiny aspire 1 netbook with a Samsung SSD (they might not be the cheapest - but aren't the most expensive but DO seem the fastest!!) and 4GB of RAM in it with W8 running - even connected to a decent large monitor seems to run slicker than a Sony Vaio 15.5 inch laptop with an I5 processor and 8 GB of memory running W7 but with a normal laptop HDD.

I suspect the Sony has a really slow 5400 RPM disk in it -- probably to conserve power as the faster spinners consume more juice.

I don't even LIKE using the better laptop now -- until I put an SSD in it and change to W8.

I'm using the bas Windows to GO system installed on the netbooks internal SSD. Works fine.

So if you haven't taken the leap to SSD IT'S WORTH IT - but make sure your PC has sufficient RAM -- I'd suggest even a tiny computer should be fitted with a minimum of 4GB -- 4GB single DDR3 modules are cheap both for PC's and desktops. Surprisingly DDR2 (the older type) is more expensive and much harder to source single 4GB modules.


Cheers
jimbo
 

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Well Jimbo, being a SSD lover myself, I fully agree with what you say;

Once used to SSD there is no turning back.

Jeff
 

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    WINDOWS 8.1 x64
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    INTEL CORE I--3770K LGA1155
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I totally agree, pc without a computer feels like heavy burden to me. Sometimes people ask me about which cpu they should get and since beginning of the year I recommend them to get a cheaper CPU and a SSD.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 X64 Consumer Preview
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    Core i5 2500K@ 4.4 Ghz
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    MSI Z77 G45
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    Corsair Vengeance 2X4GB 1866 Mhz DDR3
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    Sapphire HD 6950 1GB
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    Samsung 226BW
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    1680X1050
    Hard Drives
    OCZ Agility 3 120GB SataIII
    Internet Speed
    10 Mbit
I adopted SSD 2 years ago. 8 months ago I give a try to Intel RST ( you use a small SSD to cache a mechanical drive) I was very sceptical to RST. Well after 8 months of using 2 Systems with RST and 3 others with SSD as OS drive, I must say that I'm very impress with RST too. Boot time is the same as a SSD and others thing seems as responsive. The big advantage is that I'm not limited to the capacity of the SSD, as example, in one PC I have a 750 gb WD black for the OS cache by a small 40gb SSD. You have to be not fool by benchmark, RST is as quick as SSD in real life.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 enterprise x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
    CPU
    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
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    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
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    TT Mozart TX
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    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-15
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    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
I started my SSD carrer nearly 4 years ago with a 60GB Vertex. Was a bit rocky at first and nobody to ask for advice. Then I added 2 Intels to other systems and another 2 Vertex and a M4. I would never go back to spinners. Whenever I do things on friends PCs that have the OS on spinners, I get all frustrated.

This one would be the next one I am considering. Data looks very good.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
I started my SSD carrer nearly 4 years ago with a 60GB Vertex. .

so it was 3 years ago, the vertex was introduce in February 2009, in 2008 it was the Core, then introduce the Apex around January 2009
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 enterprise x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
    CPU
    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
    Motherboard
    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
    Case
    TT Mozart TX
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-15
    Other Info
    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
I first installed an Intel 510 Sata III SSD last year when I built my first computer listed in my system specs and was amazed at the increase of speed & performance compared to a spinner. Even with tons of programs installed and a 16 GB paging file I still have 50 GB of free space.

I was so impressed with the speed and performance increase of an SSD when an Intel 320 Sata II SSD was on sale during the Black Friday sale in November my older HP Pavilion Elite m9458f Desktop PC with a slower Q6600 processor received an immediate upgrade to an SSD and seems just as fast as my new system.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x 2
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    PC/Desktop
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    My own abomination, I call it the Money Pit
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    Intel i7 2600K @ 3.40 GHz
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    ASUS Sabertooth P67
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    Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR3 1600MHz CL8 Dual Channel Kit
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    EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 XC3 ULTRA GAMING 10GB GDDR6X
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    Onboard Realtek or Nvidia High Definition Audio (HDMI)
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    Samsung JS7000 50" SUHD TV or Samsung 27" FHD 60Hz 8ms GTG VA LED Smart Monitor
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    1 x Samsung 870 EVO 250 GB SSD (Windows 10 Pro), 1 x Samsung 850 EVO 250 GB SSD (Windows 10 Pro)
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    Corsair AX860 - 860W Modular Power Supply
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    Phanteks Enthoo Luxe Full Tower Case - Black
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    CORSAIR Hydro Series H150i PRO RGB 360mm Liquid CPU Cooler
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    Logitech K830 Illuminated Living-Room Keyboard
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    Logitech MX Anywhere 2S Wireless Mouse
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    10/100/1000 Mbps capable
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    (Primary) Latest Firefox version & Microsoft Edge
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    ESET Internet Security
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    LG Super Multi Blue Internal Blu-ray Disk Rewriter - BH10LS30
    6x2 HDMI Switcher (6 inputs, 2 outputs) so I can send the output of my Cable Box, Roku, or any my 4 computers to either my TV or Monitor separately or simultaneously.
I started my SSD carrer nearly 4 years ago with a 60GB Vertex. .

so it was 3 years ago, the vertex was introduce in February 2009, in 2008 it was the Core, then introduce the Apex around January 2009
You are probably right. All I remember is that the thing was very expensive - appr. $260 I think. The very first one I had to RMA to Newegg. There was somthing wrong with it. The second one I sent to OCZ to upgrade the firmware. It was very backlevel and the FW upgrade was a real dog in several steps. I did not feel like having to do that. OCZ was very helpful. They even paid the shipping cost both ways. I am still using that one on my desktop in Germany.

The two 80GB Intels I got next are Gen1. But they work real well. One I have in a HP laptop that the wife uses and the other one is in HP desktop. Never had any problems with any of them (except for the very first OCZ one that I RMAd).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Storage is WAY more important than speed to me, so I will be sticking with my twin 750GB SATAs for the foreseeable future.

As the $/GB comes down, we'll see......but I can't justify the purchase of one ATM.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit (7 Ult, Vista & XP in V-Box)
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire Ethos AS8951G 'Super-Laptop'.
    CPU
    Intel Sandy-Bridge i7-2670QM quad-core
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    8GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 3000HD / Ge-Force GT555M 2 gigs
    Sound Card
    Realtek/5.1 Dolby built-in including speakers.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18.4" full-HD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1024
    Hard Drives
    2x750GB Toshiba internal, 1x500GB Seagate external, 1x2TB Seagate external, 1x640GB Toshiba pocket-drive, 1x640GB Samsung pocket drive.
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    Air-cooled
    Mouse
    I/R cordless.
    Internet Speed
    Borderline pathetic.
Storage is WAY more important than speed to me, so I will be sticking with my twin 750GB SATAs for the foreseeable future..

this is why Intel RST is great. look at my setup, I use a WD 750 black and a 2 TB black, the 750 is accelerate with a $ 99 Intel 40GB SSD, of course you need a motherboard capable of it.

rst.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 enterprise x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
    CPU
    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
    Motherboard
    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
    Case
    TT Mozart TX
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-15
    Other Info
    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
Storage is WAY more important than speed to me, so I will be sticking with my twin 750GB SATAs for the foreseeable future.

As the $/GB comes down, we'll see......but I can't justify the purchase of one ATM.
That is not the point (for a desktop). The SSD is only for the OS. And a 60GB model will suffice. In addition you can still have the spinners for storage.

And you can get a super SSD with 60GB for $80. Newegg.com - Mushkin Enhanced Chronos MKNSSDCR60GB 2.5" 60GB SATA III Asynchronous MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Storage is WAY more important than speed to me, so I will be sticking with my twin 750GB SATAs for the foreseeable future.

As the $/GB comes down, we'll see......but I can't justify the purchase of one ATM.

You can have both, best of both worlds, small OS SSD, and all the storage you want ;)

A Guy
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 10 Home x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
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    INTEL Core i5-750
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    ASUS P7P55D
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    KINGSTON HyperX Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 1866Mhz
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    EVGA GTX750
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    LG 27MP33HQ 32" IPS LED
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 Evo 120 GB, 2 x SEAGATE 500GB Barracuda® 7200.12, SATA 3 Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 16MB cache
    PSU
    ANTEC TruePower New TP-550, 80 PLUS®, 550W
    Case
    ANTEC Three Hundred Illusion
    Cooling
    COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus, 3 x 120mm 1 x 140mm Case
    Internet Speed
    20 + Mbps
    Browser
    Vivaldi
    Antivirus
    Avast
I don't think I can go back to booting from a spinner.

However, I'm trying out Win8 fron my HDD and it's pretty quick. once I put it on my SSD, going back to a spinner will definitely be impossible.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Tansformer Book Flip TP500LN
    CPU
    Intel i5-4210U
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 840M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    1TB Hybrid
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000
Sorry, but I can't see the point.

Boot-up times are irrelevant, AFAIC, so long as it DOES boot.

Storage-space IS.

I suspect that a bit of elitism is creeping in here....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit (7 Ult, Vista & XP in V-Box)
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire Ethos AS8951G 'Super-Laptop'.
    CPU
    Intel Sandy-Bridge i7-2670QM quad-core
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    8GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 3000HD / Ge-Force GT555M 2 gigs
    Sound Card
    Realtek/5.1 Dolby built-in including speakers.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18.4" full-HD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1024
    Hard Drives
    2x750GB Toshiba internal, 1x500GB Seagate external, 1x2TB Seagate external, 1x640GB Toshiba pocket-drive, 1x640GB Samsung pocket drive.
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    Air-cooled
    Mouse
    I/R cordless.
    Internet Speed
    Borderline pathetic.
heh heh Kat, it's not only about boot times. It also means anything you run will start up instantly or almost instantly.

I kinda wish I had one. For instance, it takes my machine about 5 seconds to load Firefox and all of my plugins. With an SSD, it would probably be closer to a second or two. I would imagine that it would really be good for gaming or loading large programs like Photoshop or Audio DAWs.

They're not being elitist. :)
 

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  • OS
    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
    CPU
    P4 3.4 GHz HT
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    MSI-7211
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    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
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    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
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    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
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    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
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    300W generic
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    Cybertron
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    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
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    Logitech M510
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    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up
It's the difference between a suv and a small sports car.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Tansformer Book Flip TP500LN
    CPU
    Intel i5-4210U
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 840M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    1TB Hybrid
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000
heh heh Kat, it's not only about boot times. It also means anything you run will start up instantly or almost instantly.

I kinda wish I had one. For instance, it takes my machine about 5 seconds to load Firefox and all of my plugins. With an SSD, it would probably be closer to a second or two. I would imagine that it would really be good for gaming or loading large programs like Photoshop or Audio DAWs.

They're not being elitist. :)


OK, that's fine.

But, for what I do at the moment, I'm good to go with my twin 750GB Toshiba SATAs.

Surely that's OK, too?

Horses for courses, and all....

And I DID say that I'd consider one in the future......
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit (7 Ult, Vista & XP in V-Box)
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire Ethos AS8951G 'Super-Laptop'.
    CPU
    Intel Sandy-Bridge i7-2670QM quad-core
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    8GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 3000HD / Ge-Force GT555M 2 gigs
    Sound Card
    Realtek/5.1 Dolby built-in including speakers.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18.4" full-HD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1024
    Hard Drives
    2x750GB Toshiba internal, 1x500GB Seagate external, 1x2TB Seagate external, 1x640GB Toshiba pocket-drive, 1x640GB Samsung pocket drive.
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    Air-cooled
    Mouse
    I/R cordless.
    Internet Speed
    Borderline pathetic.
All I remember is that the thing was very expensive - appr. $260 I think.
Off topic but it is funny how we view "expensive." My first hard drive was 20 MB for $400, then I bought a 360 MB drive for $365. I thought that both of those were reasonable in price. Now I look at $100 for 1 TB and think, "That's too much, I'll wait for the price to drop." The first hard drive that I was involved with was for a TRS-80, 8.4 MB and cost $4,500.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7
All I remember is that the thing was very expensive - appr. $260 I think.
Off topic but it is funny how we view "expensive." My first hard drive was 20 MB for $400, then I bought a 360 MB drive for $365. I thought that both of those were reasonable in price. Now I look at $100 for 1 TB and think, "That's too much, I'll wait for the price to drop." The first hard drive that I was involved with was for a TRS-80, 8.4 MB and cost $4,500.

Those were the days...

My first HDD (in a 386SX16/4MB) was an 80Mb 5.25" the size of a shoe-box.

Around the same time I had an XT/AT with a 20MB HDD.....DOS 3 and a green screen......

One thing about small hard drives, though, is that they do encourage good disk-housekeeping...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit (7 Ult, Vista & XP in V-Box)
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire Ethos AS8951G 'Super-Laptop'.
    CPU
    Intel Sandy-Bridge i7-2670QM quad-core
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    8GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 3000HD / Ge-Force GT555M 2 gigs
    Sound Card
    Realtek/5.1 Dolby built-in including speakers.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18.4" full-HD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1024
    Hard Drives
    2x750GB Toshiba internal, 1x500GB Seagate external, 1x2TB Seagate external, 1x640GB Toshiba pocket-drive, 1x640GB Samsung pocket drive.
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    Air-cooled
    Mouse
    I/R cordless.
    Internet Speed
    Borderline pathetic.
The first hard drive that I was involved with was for a TRS-80, 8.4 MB and cost $4,500.

You just couldn't handle how cool it was to load software and actually hear it like I did with cassette tapes and TI-99/4a. :eek::roflmao:

lol can you believe that I used to try to edit programs by cutting and splicing tape? lol I was a little kid and never was successful at all but I had to be on some space s*** to have tried that lmao!!!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
    CPU
    P4 3.4 GHz HT
    Motherboard
    MSI-7211
    Memory
    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
    PSU
    300W generic
    Case
    Cybertron
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up
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