Computers for Law School 2011 Forum

[presidentk1]

Here are the specs on my current rig:

Lenovo W520
2760qm i7 quadcore 2.4ghz
180gb force GT SSD async
16gb 1333 ram
1920x1080 fullHD display
Nvidia 1000m 2gb
blu-ray reader/burner
3x3 intel ultimate 6300n wifi

total cost: $1200

[TJISMYHERO]

$280 Toshiba upgraded to 16 gigs of ram hooked up to a matrox dual head to go outboard graphics processor putting two 23inch LCDs at 3840 X 1080. $1000 bucks total - not bad as far as utility goes. I can't study without my screens anymore.

[laxbrah420]

Here's what I have, after doing as much research as I was able to:

1) Hard Drive: I could buy a 500 GB, 7200 RPM hard drive, or keep what I already have ("WDC WD1600AAJS-75M0A0" [150 GB]).

2) Memory: I could buy a 8 GB, DDR3, or keep what I already have (2.99 GHz, 3.00 GB).

3) Power Supply: I’ll keep what I already have (700w Raidmax RX-700).

4) Video Card: I can buy a GTX 460 or keep what I already have (NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX+).

5) CPU: i5-2500 or i3 2100-2120? I can’t salvage mine.

6) Motherboard: ASUS M5A97? Evo? I can’t salvage mine.

I have a keyboard/mouse/speakers/monitor already, of course. I'm not sure whether I need to buy a new case.

Does anyone have any suggestions, based off of the above?

Yea, you need to upgrade everything except the PSU

[albanach]

Yea, you need to upgrade everything except the PSU

The fan in the PSU is old and may well wear out, causing a PSU failure and possible other nastieness. You should probably replace the PSU.

[NYC2014]

Here's what I have, after doing as much research as I was able to:

1) Hard Drive: I could buy a 500 GB, 7200 RPM hard drive, or keep what I already have ("WDC WD1600AAJS-75M0A0" [150 GB]).

2) Memory: I could buy a 8 GB, DDR3, or keep what I already have (2.99 GHz, 3.00 GB).

3) Power Supply: I’ll keep what I already have (700w Raidmax RX-700).

4) Video Card: I can buy a GTX 460 or keep what I already have (NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX+).

5) CPU: i5-2500 or i3 2100-2120? I can’t salvage mine.

6) Motherboard: ASUS M5A97? Evo? I can’t salvage mine.

I have a keyboard/mouse/speakers/monitor already, of course. I'm not sure whether I need to buy a new case.

Does anyone have any suggestions, based off of the above?

Yea, you need to upgrade everything except the PSU

Why can't I keep the hard drive or video card?

[turbotong]

Here's what I have, after doing as much research as I was able to:

1) Hard Drive: I could buy a 500 GB, 7200 RPM hard drive, or keep what I already have ("WDC WD1600AAJS-75M0A0" [150 GB]).

2) Memory: I could buy a 8 GB, DDR3, or keep what I already have (2.99 GHz, 3.00 GB).

3) Power Supply: I’ll keep what I already have (700w Raidmax RX-700).

4) Video Card: I can buy a GTX 460 or keep what I already have (NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX+).

5) CPU: i5-2500 or i3 2100-2120? I can’t salvage mine.

6) Motherboard: ASUS M5A97? Evo? I can’t salvage mine.

I have a keyboard/mouse/speakers/monitor already, of course. I'm not sure whether I need to buy a new case.

Does anyone have any suggestions, based off of the above?

Yea, you need to upgrade everything except the PSU

Why can't I keep the hard drive or video card?

You can definitely keep the hard drive. I would use it to store all your important files. I suggest buying the new hard drive to run your OS. Using a second hard drive that is accessed only to open/save important files will keep its lifespan long and reduce the risk of failure. Or, you can use it along with some backup software to backup specific folders.

You can keep your video card. If you do upgrade the PSU and your motherboard supports it, you can likely get a used 9800 of ebay for under $50 and SLI it.

[jediknight2424]

so im planning on using skydrive/dropbox for backing up files. any reason i should invest in a external harddrive/software for backup? any recommendations?

[roaringeagle]

http://content.dell.com/us/en/dfh/d/cam ... id=4323181

dell outlet is having a mad good sale for memorial day. XPS computers are heavily discounted.

[jarak01]

so im planning on using skydrive/dropbox for backing up files. any reason i should invest in a external harddrive/software for backup? any recommendations?

skydrive is all that I used and it worked great

[anjmissy]

asus announced the newest ultrabook to its lineup which seems amazing..its the zenbook ux31a, amazing screen display, great battery life, and just an all around great laptop..i was first set on the lenovo u300s but this new asus is now my number 1 =)

it is especially great for those, like me, who want to remain around the 1k mark for a cpu

http://www.pcworld.com/article/255921/h ... ux31a.html

[howell]

so im planning on using skydrive/dropbox for backing up files. any reason i should invest in a external harddrive/software for backup? any recommendations?

Skydrive (and formerly Mesh) and Dropbox work great for law school. Law school should not normally produce enough data to come close to pushing either one for space. The only need for more space would be for personal endeavors.

I guess it's possible that one of these services could start actively eating its own files, but there are things that can be done to prevent that being a problem (have it run on a laptop that's only up a couple of times a week, do a copy-only sync to another folder on your computer, etc.).

There is no (realistic) excuse for losing files due to a hardware failure in law school.

[z0rk]

Here's what I have, after doing as much research as I was able to:

1) Hard Drive: I could buy a 500 GB, 7200 RPM hard drive, or keep what I already have ("WDC WD1600AAJS-75M0A0" [150 GB]).

2) Memory: I could buy a 8 GB, DDR3, or keep what I already have (2.99 GHz, 3.00 GB).

3) Power Supply: I’ll keep what I already have (700w Raidmax RX-700).

4) Video Card: I can buy a GTX 460 or keep what I already have (NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX+).

5) CPU: i5-2500 or i3 2100-2120? I can’t salvage mine.

6) Motherboard: ASUS M5A97? Evo? I can’t salvage mine.

I have a keyboard/mouse/speakers/monitor already, of course. I'm not sure whether I need to buy a new case.

Does anyone have any suggestions, based off of the above?

Yea, you need to upgrade everything except the PSU

Why can't I keep the hard drive or video card?

You can definitely keep the hard drive. I would use it to store all your important files. I suggest buying the new hard drive to run your OS. Using a second hard drive that is accessed only to open/save important files will keep its lifespan long and reduce the risk of failure. Or, you can use it along with some backup software to backup specific folders.

You can keep your video card. If you do upgrade the PSU and your motherboard supports it, you can likely get a used 9800 of ebay for under $50 and SLI it.

If you are in the market for a new PSU, you might want to look into the enthusiast line of Corsair. They are not modular, so you save money forgoing that "convenience" (I never really had an issue with a non-modular PSU, so there are some extra cables to tie down. Big deal).

As per the suggestion above about getting a new hard drive, I strongly urge you to consider a SSD. I just bought myself a brand new build this morning, and I am going to install the OS on the SSD and utilitize the non SSD for certain other programs and storage of files. An SSD can give your computer an added boost.

Also, AMD came out with some nice 6 and 8 core CPUs. I haven't looked at intel, but I bet they have the same as well. You may want to consider investing in an upgraded CPU and an upgraded mobo for a faster FSB. You can probably get by with the graphics card you have if you dont have the money right now for the upgrade, and instead pour funds into a new CPU, Mobo, and an SSD. With time you can begin selectively getting a PSU and GPU, etc.

Feel free to PM your rig specs. I would love to talk over upgrade options.

[moneybagsphd]

Thinking about getting the new Thinkpad X1. That or a macbook air. Thoughts?

[LAWYER2]

I'll be using my trusty ole ThinkPad T60 again this semester. I just ordered a solid state drive for it. I plan on using it till I graduate!

[noleknight16]

Thinking about getting the new Thinkpad X1. That or a macbook air. Thoughts?

That's sick. I want that.

[fatduck]

Thinking about getting the new Thinkpad X1. That or a macbook air. Thoughts?

That's sick. I want that.

my god that thing is beautiful

[moneybagsphd]

Thinking about getting the new Thinkpad X1. That or a macbook air. Thoughts?

That's sick. I want that.

my god that thing is beautiful

I know, right? I currently use a 2009 MBP. I should be able to squeeze a few more years out of it, but I'd rather have a dedicated computer to do my law school work on.

[chem]

Uber noob question

If I get an ultra book that doesnt have an optical drive, can I use a USB optical drive or something?

[kalvano]

Uber noob question

If I get an ultra book that doesnt have an optical drive, can I use a USB optical drive or something?

Yes.

[laxbrah420]

Uber noob question

If I get an ultra book that doesnt have an optical drive, can I use a USB optical drive or something?

Yes.

Also, http://kb.wisc.edu/13067
If you know anybody with a computer that has a disc drive, and you're on the same network, you're straight

[chem]

Uber noob question

If I get an ultra book that doesnt have an optical drive, can I use a USB optical drive or something?

Yes.

Also, http://kb.wisc.edu/13067
If you know anybody with a computer that has a disc drive, and you're on the same network, you're straight

Thanks! Another slightly noobish question. I am going to get the new sony vaio series S laptop, and can save a lot of money if I buy and install a SSD myself. I have never fiddled with a laptops innards before. Is this relatively easy/ straightforward for a neophyte? Is it worth it to void the warranty?

[kalvano]

Why Sony? Just wondering, but in my experience they make awful computers that are outrageously overpriced.

[chem]

Why Sony? Just wondering, but in my experience they make awful computers that are outrageously overpriced.

Thats just the place that the people at notebookreview.com sent me. I was looking for a 15" that was light and could still game

http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores ... 1644768015

I was going to upgrade the video card to the 1 gb version, and try to upgrade the ram and hard drive myself. Maybe go up to an i7. Got about 1500 to play with. Thoughts?

[laxbrah420]

wut? Answer to your ultrabook question was "yes" and then you're immediately not getting one?

[chem]

wut? Answer to your ultrabook question was "yes" and then you're immediately not getting one?

Oh, fiance wanted an ultrabook, but was concerned that she wouldnt be able to use disks