Should your keyboard reflect your comp?

[db_Iodine]

Best single component in my computer

[theferenc]

Elef, I think you hit the nail on the head there. Laptops are especially the problem, especially if you're a developer with a large project.

Compiling large software projects absolutely destroys performance on an SSD. Think hundreds of thousands to millions of small files, created, used once, then deleted. Rinse and repeat a few times per week (or more, depending).

This is actually the reason I still use a platter drive in my laptop. And I just haven't found a price compelling enough for a desktop drive to make the hassle of transferring the boot drive of my workstation over. Especially since I would have to ensure that compilation occured on the data drives, rather than the boot drive, which would also put them at risk of failure, and require that I make use of my backups sooner rather than later.

In the end, it depends entirely on how you use your computer. SSDs are really great for most use cases. But if you're one of those people (like me) that generates massive amounts of temporary files, on an almost constant basis, it just doesn't make much sense. I'd be maintaining it more than using it, and that's just more time investment than I would choose to commit to something as simple as a hard drive.

But if you fall into their use cases, it really is like night and day. It makes the storage subsystem finally feel as fast as the rest of the computer.

[cbf123]

And I just haven't found a price compelling enough for a desktop drive to make the hassle of transferring the boot drive of my workstation over. Especially since I would have to ensure that compilation occured on the data drives, rather than the boot drive, which would also put them at risk of failure, and require that I make use of my backups sooner rather than later.

What OS are you running?  On a *nix I'd put /home and /var/log and /swap on a platter and the rest on an SSD.  Currently my root filesystem is under 8GB, which wouldn't take much of an SSD to handle.

I'm expecting to get a new work machine fairly shortly...I'm tempted to try an SSD on it in the above configuration.

[theferenc]

I run windows and os x primarily. And you're right, running Linux would potentially solve this problem for a workstation, but still not for a laptop.

[elef]

Well, the new generation of drives paired with Win7 should solve most of that problem. TRIM is now supported by almost all drives, and some have their own secret sauce at the firmware level to help maintain performance and increase the drive's lifespan. E.g. The OCZ Apex compresses all written data to gain more free space so that it can write less and move data around on the drive easier - i.e. it doesn't make the extra space gained by compression available to the OS, it uses it to handle the problems you mention.

Basically, a Sandforce controller and Win7 should in principle make that a non-issue for anything but the most insane use case, but of course I don't have experimental data on that, only what I read on Anandtech.

[theferenc]

How insane is compiling the entire MPICH2 source code 5-10 times per day? That's what I do currently.

I've talked to some folks at national labs, and they have burned through sandforce  and OCZ drives in a matter of months, with similar use cases. The drives just started tossing errors at them.

Like I said, it's all about use case. You fall into one it's optimized for, and an SSD is probably the single best upgrade you can toss in your computer. If you don't, it's just money wasted.

Also, many of the benefits listed, such as opening programs instantly and booting the OS much faster -- not really an issue when you never reboot, and tend to live in the same program for weeks at a time. I think the last time I launched a new program was when I booted the computer, about 2 months ago. I just let everything run all the time. But when you have 16GB of RAM, you can do that.

[Apocrypha]

I'd agree that you aren't the use case theferenc, but everyone else is. I am never building a computer without one anymore.

Basically every standard user's 0.5-3 seconds wait becomes 0. On a successfully crappified machine things like Firefox and Explorer take a second or so to open. On an SSD that doesn't happen. It's what computing should be. My only regret is buying one that isn't large enough to have more than one game on it at a time.


As for the rest of my hardware, CPU/GPU are always the top priority. Best bang for your buck for performance there. An extra $100 on a mobo won't do nearly as much.

And I think I'm the only person who went with a 120hz monitor? I've used IPS monitors where I used to work and as a FPS gamer I'd say I notice 120hz more than the extra colours. Currently running an Alienware 2310 and BenQ V2400W.

The Alienware does have a ton of backlight bleed though, I use the BenQ for movies and such.

[elef]

How insane is compiling the entire MPICH2 source code 5-10 times per day? That's what I do currently.

I've talked to some folks at national labs, and they have burned through sandforce  and OCZ drives in a matter of months, with similar use cases. The drives just started tossing errors at them.

I don't know how much I/O that compiling involves, but I'm guessing it's a lot Probably qualifies as insane.

To be honest, my own OCZ Vertex died on me as well in normal desktop use, so not every failure is necessarily due to extreme use. They were still learning how to build an SSD at that time, hopefully reliability has improved now. I got a SandForce-powered Apex with better performance in warranty exchange, plus I got some of my cash back, so I'm not too disappointed about the failure.

[db_Iodine]

And I think I'm the only person who went with a 120hz monitor? I've used IPS monitors where I used to work and as a FPS gamer I'd say I notice 120hz more than the extra colours. Currently running an Alienware 2310 and BenQ V2400W.

The Alienware does have a ton of backlight bleed though, I use the BenQ for movies and such.

Ever used any good calibrated IPS-monitors? I have to agree in some ways tho. It doesn't matter if the colors on your monitors are 100% accurate when gaming, but in general internet browsing and other use, I really prefer accurate colors.

[Apocrypha]

Ever used any good calibrated IPS-monitors? I have to agree in some ways tho. It doesn't matter if the colors on your monitors are 100% accurate when gaming, but in general internet browsing and other use, I really prefer accurate colors.

Oh, I notice the difference for sure, esp. with web browsing. I just find it of lesser importance, and since there are no IPS 120hz panels (or weren't when I bought it) I had to make a choice.

[firestorm]

I've never had a cheap keyboard, generally have a moderate mouse, and I have often splurged on displays.  For the PC, I generally aimed for adequate, much more so in the last 10 years, since I haven't be into gaming at all in that time.

I have a brown Filco now, which I love.  For 15 years before that, I had a Microsoft Natural that my parents bought for me (mom suffers from carpel tunnel syndrome.)  The key action may not be all that great, but the ergonomics made up for it IMO.

I've never had a display that I would call cheap.  I currently have an NEC e-IPS display (EA231WMi) that is pretty fair, given that it was just $300.  It's accurate and fast enough for my needs.

FWIW, IPS has been around for a couple decades now.  PVA is very comparable, just with different trade offs.  There are many pro PVA based displays with wider color gamut that many IPS displays, but they do tend to be a little slow.

[kidchunks]

I've spent more on keyboards than I have on any of my builds (pretty sad I guess). I think the keyboard/mouse stand out the most. Also I use them to their full potential. Many times I would build rigs and end up not using it for anything other than light gaming. So input devices is where I splurge!

Although them SSD's been looking good since the price drops.

[killy]

I have been looking at the Dell U2311H. I want to see what the IPS glory is all about.

[ajx]

i must say for a decent gamer, you spent much more money then casual people who can stand with crap keyboard and mice

[Sheepy]

I say the Filco fits me perfectly, clean and simply quality, not fuss or mucking around. Fanciest thing I have is a Logitech G5 lol

[mrsone]

I don't generally care about aesthetics when it comes to my computer system. My current rig is an HP desktop computer (black) with a Dell ST2010 20" monitor (black front with white rear), a 22" Hannspree HF225 (black), Logitech speakers (silver and black), and I have a Razer Deathadder for a mouse and I am using my black Unicomp Spacesaver.

As far as the quality of my components, I am usually limited by my budget. I figure out what I want and then I get what I can to come close to it. I recently discovered mechanical keyboards and I am very sorry I did not know about them sooner. My mother has watched me sink over $600 this year in mechs and she thinks I am crazy. I intend on letting her try out mechanical keyboards soon so she can see why I find them essential. It is safe for me to say I will never go back to dome keyboards again, unless its a vintage Keytronic to add to my collection.

[Tony]

Our colleagues at my office are surprised when I pay 15 USD for an old Compaq mx brown keyboard. They don't care about the input devices at all. To them Mitsumi is the only keyboard production in the market.

I suppose the reason is that I am the only typist in my office.

[taswyn]

In the end, it depends entirely on how you use your computer. SSDs are really great for most use cases. But if you're one of those people (like me) that generates massive amounts of temporary files, on an almost constant basis, it just doesn't make much sense. I'd be maintaining it more than using it, and that's just more time investment than I would choose to commit to something as simple as a hard drive.
 

How insane is compiling the entire MPICH2 source code 5-10 times per day? That's what I do currently.

I've talked to some folks at national labs, and they have burned through sandforce and OCZ drives in a matter of months, with similar use cases. The drives just started tossing errors at them.

but... why wouldn't you SSH in for file intensive compiling like that? Surely you have time on a mainframe/server cluster if you're doing research work at a Uni? For that matter, why is it even throwing so many temp files to disk? Oh well, there must be a good reason. Is it so large that you can't use a ram disk for temp scratch?

[keyb_gr]

I've never had a cheap keyboard, generally have a moderate mouse, and I have often splurged on displays.  For the PC, I generally aimed for adequate, much more so in the last 10 years, since I haven't be into gaming at all in that time.

Similar here. Except that haven't invested much into hardware at all in the last 5 years, save for some RAM and, of course, keyboards.

My keyboards do reflect my comp - old but quality.

When building a new machine, I'd look for quality components starting with the case and mo/bo. Doesn't need to be the latest and greatest, just solid stuff. (Rattly, cheap cases with lousy handling aren't worth the hassle they cause over years.) And of course, the whole affair should allow for quiet operation. I tend to keep an eye on mass storage performance though. So ultimately, I'd expect an above average budget for case and harddrives (plus I/O devices if needed), with expenses below average in terms of graphics and processor.