New computer for imaging - suggestions please

[Dealy]

My lovely wife wants to buy me a new pc for the observatory for Christmas :)

At this stage it'll be used for guiding with phd2, capturing with backyard EOS, stacking with DSS, and processing with startools.

These will change in the future if I take the plunge into CCD imaging.

I am thinking:
Solid state hard drive for op system
2nd HHD for storage, say 2TB
Reasonably fast processor (don't know which one)
RAM (don't know what or how much)
HDMI port
4 x USB3 ports
Can a desktop get wifi to connect to network from the obs like the laptop? (Or should I keep it off the grid to protect it from viruses and other rubbish?)
Reasonable quality monitor.

The budget is not huge. Doesn't have to be a top end unit, just want it to be a lot quicker than my frustrating, hair pulling, scream into the pillow, bash the head against the wall, slow laptop that I'm currently struggling with :mad2:.

My local PC repairer says building one for my requirements would be cheaper than an off the shelf unit.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I don't know a lot about computers so please dumb down your answers so I can understand :confused2:

Thanks, Kev

[lazjen]

You can make a saving building your own machine, but if you've got to pay someone else to do it, it might not be worth it. You might be better off sticking with a name brand pre-built machine.

Note that USB3 can be finicky with some devices. However if this proves so, it's generally easy enough to get a powered USB 2.0 hub to plug between them and the laptop.

RAM - I would get as much as you can afford, mostly for the image processing side of things. Probably 8Gb minimum, try for 16G+ if you can.

[Somnium]

For $800 I picked up a 6 month old Alienware desktop with 16g ram, 4th gen i7 processor and a 1tb hard drive. It stacks images in dss unbelievably quickly. So shop around, the second hand market for computers is really good.

[Dealy]

Thanks Chris & Aidan.

I've been checking out the 2nd hand market. There are lots out there.

I think I'll go for 2nd hand pc and buy a decent new IPS monitor. I've got my eye on an i5 with 4GB ram for a very good price. An extra stick of RAM and a graphics card should bring it up to scratch.

I'm thinking of this monitor. https://www.pccasegear.com/products/31511
Seems to tick the boxes and price is affordable.

That may be the best way for me to stay close to budget.

Kev

[Bassnut]

Are you going to process images on the Obs PC, in the Obs, really?.

The Obs PC can be any old rubbish for mount control/pic taking, not critical.

The take the scope pics indoors to process on the PC you probably already have and spend money on that , if its lacking.

[Somnium]

i do a lot of preprocessing on my observatory computer, that way i only need to transfer a few images over drop box, but if your obs is in the backyard then yeah, no real need for the power.

[Dealy]

Yep, good point, but the laptop is dying (not only slow but has other problems) so I need something else in the obs. The 2nd hand pc I'm looking at will be ok. In my 1st post I guess I was thinking along the lines of trying to future proof my pc purchase (at least for several years).

The new and better monitor is needed in either the obs or house, so where I process will be where I put the new monitor. The obs is quite comfortable so no problem processing there if that's what I decide.

I've also decided to keep the obs pc off the net to keep it away from harm, so no network or wifi card required.

Kev

[Dealy]

:thumbsup: Great advice Aidan. I just picked up a 9mth old 8 core 3.5GHz gaming computer with 12Gb ram and good graphics card for $350.

No more watching a movie while waiting for DSS to do its stuff.

[bugeater]

Check this site out:
http://www.dell.com/learn/au/en/audhs1/campaigns/dell-outlet-au

All Dells of course, but seems you can pick up a good deal and many of them are new and unused, not just refurbs.

[johnnyt123]

Get yourself an intel NUC.
i would suggest the i5 or i7 versions.
they are portable and have 4x usb 3.0 can have upto 16gb DDR3 RAM
also support msata SSD as well as an additional internal SATA 3 hardrive.
All in a crazy small form factor.

Here is a great buy:
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/blackburn/desktops/intel-nuc-d54250wykh/1099260718

regards

John