Re: which PC for software development?
- From: gswork@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: 9 Jan 2006 01:46:37 -0800
cmills28@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
> I'm looking into getting a new computer to use for software development
> -- Java, J2EE, tomcat server, php/mysql servers, apache, C++. What
> type of PC is good for these things? I've been looking at the cheaper
> PCs (at least to get started), maybe a Compaq Presario.
>
> In general, I'm thinking a computer with: 2.5Ghz processor, 512Mb Ram
> expandable to 2G, 80G HD, CD/DVD RW combo drive, Windows XP Pro. What
> else in hardware should I be concerned with? Are integrated sound &
> video good to have? What about integrated ethernet? Or is it better
> using separate cards for these rather than integrated?
integrated sound is very common and of adequate quality unless you plan
on being a musician. Integrated graphics these days will even cope
with top 3D games of a few years ago let alone the very much 2D world
of development. Some of the onboard cards 'share' the system RAM
though which can be a factor.
Other than that the spec above is a calculating monster. Generally
for PC software development the RAM is more important than the CPU
speed (though dual core/mp set ups are considered appropriate for multi
threaded dev), so if cheap enough get about 1gb RAM. Hard discs tend
to be massive anyway, but be mindful of setting up in some a way as to
be able to quickly get back to a base system should things get messed
up (use ghost or similar), do partition or even have more than one HDD
for seperating data from OS and apps and back up regularly. USB is so
very handy for those memory sticks, printers and all those modern cheap
hardware accessories so get plenty or buy a hub or two. Network
connectivity is good, and mostly standard now. I think Windows XP
Pro allows you to play with IIS too, as an extra install from the CD.
IIS plays second fiddle to Apache in web servers but it's big enough to
warrant attention if you have an eclectic mix of customers.
Having said all that i still have occasion to develop 32bit native apps
on a P1 and even do a little Java and .NET on an older P3 - frequently
the development tools you use need the power and ram a lot more than
the app you develop. Testing your development on a low spec PC can
also reveal inefficiency (or conversely - demonstrate just how powerful
CPU's have been for the last 10+ years!). I quite like coaxing old
PC's into useful roles anyway and would advise keeping some around for
testing. A moderate web server & db setup can provide a great deal of
flexibility on a surprisingly modest hardware, for instance.
.
- References:
- which PC for software development?
- From: cmills28
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