Time to build my next PC.

[GlyndwrBartlett]

Hi SpywareDr, Train, jmtjet & Doc,

Yes, I have been mulling dual boot vs VM and I will go with your advice. Or maybe a mixture. Dual boot for when I am doing my video work and try VM, for convenience sake, for low powered Windows applications that I can not find Linux alternatives for (should not be many now).

A dedicated rig is not an alternative at this time due to space, money and household bliss (you need how many PC's!!).

The GeForce GTX 280 graphics card look sweet. However, at ~$900 a bit too pricy for me as I am not doing gaming. I have decided on the Palit 9600 GSO Sonic 768MB @ $185 (as well as the best recomended by Doc). Unless anyone has a good argument why I need something more powerful (below $450 please).

Ubuntu, and its many variants (i.e., Kubuntu), have certainly come a long way and we are certainly that much closer to completly replacing Windows. If I could just get a video editing and DVD burning package as good (easy to use, feature rich and reliable) as Pinnacle Studio I would be there now.

If I had the time and money I would also be building a HTPC using Ubuntu and MythTV. However, this would need a separate box until it was up, running and stable as having the HTPC down for more than a reboot is a cataclismic event resulting in my hide being nailed to a barn door. However, I do not have the time and money to invest in this at this time.

Anyway, I am sourcing suppliers and getting quotes for the hardware. So I should start building in the next few weeks. I will keep you posted.

Regards,

Glyn

[Train]

Dual boot will give you less hassel that tne VM ware.

I just go into the BIOS and select which hdd to boot to. Just the option I prefer since I got tired of boot managers goofing up.

[GlyndwrBartlett]

Thanks Train,

That's an interesting way to dual boot.

Regards,

Glyn

[Train]

You're Welcome!

[jmtjet]

I use a Trois hard drive selector switch to change between hard drives. Unfortunately, they are no longer made. The switch give me the option of booting to any of my three hard drives. HD #1=Windows 2000 pro., HD #2=Ubuntu 8.04, and HD #3=Linux Mint. An alternative to dual booting from the same drive would be a hard drive caddy system, were you would shutdown, remove one drive and replace it with another, reboot. The reason I went to the Trois HD selector was to get away from the problems of having a bootloader.

http://www.technoyard.com/hardware/m...os/page_1.html
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...addy&x=19&y=34

[jdc2000]

currently available hard drive selector switches - pricey though:

http://www.industechnologies.com/tec...nformation.asp

[GlyndwrBartlett]

Thanks jmtjet and jdc2000,

This is realy good stuff. Definately going into my swag of tricks. However, as I am going for a RAID 5 this would not be appropriate for me.

Many thanks,

Glyn

[GlyndwrBartlett]

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the tardiness in replying. I have finally built the new machine with the specs below. I had some initial trouble with it recognising my WiFi card. However, all is AOK now and I am very happy with it. I am now re-installing all the software. Once this is done I will install Linux and start video editing once more.

All the best and thanks for everyones advice.

Regards,

Glyn

[Train]

Transfering video files from one computer to another is why I went to a wired gigabet lan.

Takes time to get everything needed, sometimes, to build a computer.

Thanks for the update!