Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.

AMD Athlon64 3400+
GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
1GB PC3200
300GB/16MB cache HD
nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
DVDRW
XP Home
No monitor
3 Year Warranty

"Johannes"  wrote in message
news:43107A5F.6D13E764@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...

> Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
>
> AMD Athlon64 3400+
> GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
> 1GB PC3200
> 300GB/16MB cache HD
> nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
> DVDRW
> XP Home
> No monitor
> 3 Year Warranty


Where did you obtain this information from?

"Interesting Ian"  wrote in message 
news:DE1Qe.890$B4.170@newsfe7-win.ntli.net...

>
> "Johannes"  wrote in message
> news:43107A5F.6D13E764@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...
>> Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
>>
>> AMD Athlon64 3400+
>> GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
>> 1GB PC3200
>> 300GB/16MB cache HD
>> nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
>> DVDRW
>> XP Home
>> No monitor
>> 3 Year Warranty
>
> Where did you obtain this information from?
>

Lidl?

me wrote:

> 
> "Interesting Ian"  wrote in message
> news:DE1Qe.890$B4.170@newsfe7-win.ntli.net...
> >
> > "Johannes"  wrote in message
> > news:43107A5F.6D13E764@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...
> >> Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
> >>
> >> AMD Athlon64 3400+
> >> GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
> >> 1GB PC3200
> >> 300GB/16MB cache HD
> >> nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
> >> DVDRW
> >> XP Home
> >> No monitor
> >> 3 Year Warranty
> >
> > Where did you obtain this information from?
> >
> Lidl?


Yes, I went there today and picked up their weekly catalogue.
The PC is called Targa Visionary PCX 3400+

"me"  wrote in message
news:502Qe.447$n4.115@newsfe2-win.ntli.net...

>
> "Interesting Ian"  wrote in message
> news:DE1Qe.890$B4.170@newsfe7-win.ntli.net...
> >
> > "Johannes"  wrote in message
> > news:43107A5F.6D13E764@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...
> >> Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
> >>
> >> AMD Athlon64 3400+
> >> GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
> >> 1GB PC3200
> >> 300GB/16MB cache HD
> >> nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
> >> DVDRW
> >> XP Home
> >> No monitor
> >> 3 Year Warranty
> >
> > Where did you obtain this information from?
> >
> Lidl?


3rd of September is a Saturday!! Do they usually have specials on a
Saturday?

When I was in their store the other week they had a laptop and a desktop in
their magazine, on special on the 1st of September. However it hasn't made
it on to their website.

Steven.

"Johannes"  wrote in message
news:4310BAD7.46D8A7A2@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...

>
>
> me wrote:
> >
> > "Interesting Ian"  wrote in message
> > news:DE1Qe.890$B4.170@newsfe7-win.ntli.net...
> > >
> > > "Johannes"  wrote in message
> > > news:43107A5F.6D13E764@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...
> > >> Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
> > >>
> > >> AMD Athlon64 3400+
> > >> GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
> > >> 1GB PC3200
> > >> 300GB/16MB cache HD
> > >> nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
> > >> DVDRW
> > >> XP Home
> > >> No monitor
> > >> 3 Year Warranty
> > >
> > > Where did you obtain this information from?
> > >
> > Lidl?
>
> Yes, I went there today and picked up their weekly catalogue.
> The PC is called Targa Visionary PCX 3400+


OK, I couldn't see anything on their webpage.

Steven Campbell wrote:

> 
> "me"  wrote in message
> news:502Qe.447$n4.115@newsfe2-win.ntli.net...
> >
> > "Interesting Ian"  wrote in message
> > news:DE1Qe.890$B4.170@newsfe7-win.ntli.net...
> > >
> > > "Johannes"  wrote in message
> > > news:43107A5F.6D13E764@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...
> > >> Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
> > >>
> > >> AMD Athlon64 3400+
> > >> GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
> > >> 1GB PC3200
> > >> 300GB/16MB cache HD
> > >> nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
> > >> DVDRW
> > >> XP Home
> > >> No monitor
> > >> 3 Year Warranty
> > >
> > > Where did you obtain this information from?
> > >
> > Lidl?
> 
> 3rd of September is a Saturday!! Do they usually have specials on a
> Saturday?


Yes, it says clearly in the catalogue: "From Saturday 3 Sep". The rest of
the catalogue is available from Monday 29. I suppose it's due to logistics,
and I expect that not all Lidl will have the PC in store.

"Johannes"  wrote in message
news:43107A5F.6D13E764@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...

> Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
>
> AMD Athlon64 3400+
> GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
> 1GB PC3200
> 300GB/16MB cache HD
> nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
> DVDRW
> XP Home
> No monitor
> 3 Year Warranty


Does anyone have any information on this nvidia 6645 graphics card?

Interesting Ian wrote:

> 
> "Johannes"  wrote in message
> news:43107A5F.6D13E764@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...
> > Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
> >
> > AMD Athlon64 3400+
> > GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
> > 1GB PC3200
> > 300GB/16MB cache HD
> > nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
> > DVDRW
> > XP Home
> > No monitor
> > 3 Year Warranty
> 
> Does anyone have any information on this nvidia 6645 graphics card?


There is some info at Targa's own web site. The PC on this site looks very
similar. Lidl's brochure also describes the build-in analog/digital radio/TV
tuner with remote control included. 

http://www.targa.co.uk/cms/targa_2_459.php?produkt_id=385

Johannes wrote:

> Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
>
> AMD Athlon64 3400+
> GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
> 1GB PC3200
> 300GB/16MB cache HD
> nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
> DVDRW
> XP Home
> No monitor
> 3 Year Warranty

Targa pc from lidl's are brilliant,I bought one last a lot dearer then and 
bought husband his one half the price this year though no tv tuner in his,he 
doesnt use it as much as me and there after sales is good too when my remote 
wouldn't work no hassle lidl arranged for another very quick and 3 year 
warranty comes in with the price where other shops try to sell you extra 
time on your warranty at a price.They usually take in about 5 and you have 
to be quick.
--

Vi wrote:

> 
> Johannes wrote:
> > Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
> >
> > AMD Athlon64 3400+
> > GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
> > 1GB PC3200
> > 300GB/16MB cache HD
> > nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
> > DVDRW
> > XP Home
> > No monitor
> > 3 Year Warranty
> Targa pc from lidl's are brilliant,I bought one last a lot dearer then and
> bought husband his one half the price this year though no tv tuner in his,he
> doesnt use it as much as me and there after sales is good too when my remote
> wouldn't work no hassle lidl arranged for another very quick and 3 year
> warranty comes in with the price where other shops try to sell you extra
> time on your warranty at a price.They usually take in about 5 and you have
> to be quick.


It looks like Targa is using customised versions of the GIGABYTE board and 
nVidia graphics card. The card is probably a variant of nVidia 6600. Hard
disk is a Siemens, an excellent brand name.

"Johannes"  wrote in message 
news:43107A5F.6D13E764@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...

> Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
>
> AMD Athlon64 3400+
> GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
> 1GB PC3200
> 300GB/16MB cache HD
> nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
> DVDRW
> XP Home
> No monitor
> 3 Year Warranty


Is it worth paying 600 for a non dual core machine these days?  Give it 
till christams and you'll get the same with an AMD Dual core processor in 
it.

Reg McCoy wrote:

> 
> "Johannes"  wrote in message
> news:43107A5F.6D13E764@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...
> > Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
> >
> > AMD Athlon64 3400+
> > GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
> > 1GB PC3200
> > 300GB/16MB cache HD
> > nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
> > DVDRW
> > XP Home
> > No monitor
> > 3 Year Warranty
> 
> Is it worth paying 600 for a non dual core machine these days?  Give it
> till christams and you'll get the same with an AMD Dual core processor in
> it.


Dual core machines doesn't run twice as fast as single core. Each core is
slower that the equivalent single core machine and then there is bus
contention to deal with. But it does help for a server running many tasks.
But then there is always something new around the corner. E.g. the 64 bit
feature of the chip is still unused awaiting final release of 64 bits XP.
It may also be possible to upgrade to dual core.

Johannes wrote:

> Reg McCoy wrote:
> > Johannes wrote:
> > > Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
> > > AMD Athlon64 3400+....<snip>
> > Is it worth paying 600 for a non dual core machine these days?...
> Dual core machines doesn't run twice as fast as single core. Each core
> is slower that the equivalent single core machine and then there is bus
> contention to deal with. But it does help for a server running many
> tasks...




Dual core processors help tremendously in, for example, large housekeeping
tasks running simultaneously in home computing, not just "help for a server
running many tasks".

A) Time
Conceptually, in processor A,                 task X completes in 1 h;
in (dual core) processor A x2,              task X completes in 1 h;
then for 4 of tasks X, in processor A,                   total time is 4 h;
4 running concurrently in processor A x2, total time is *still* 1 h.

B) Angst
Taking randomly just two examples, each and everyday, I run redundant
file removal and malware scanning programmes all at once (to save
waiting by the computer for starting individual ones at intervals).  One
or more of these will be at a crawling speed or apparently be standing
still, and will not budge until another programme has finished running.
When AVG anti-virus is doing its scan (a daily schedule), all other
tasks carried out inside that period are jerky in response and frustratingly
slow.  On one's clicking a link, not only the green blob progress meter
is hesitant and moves at a snail pace, but the programme may fail to find
the server altogether and abort.  All of these crucifying moments would
have been eliminated at a stroke if they were running in a dual processor.

For me, duel core processing is the way forward, not higher clock
speeds.  Alas....
AMD Athlon 64 x2 family:
1) Manchester x2 (512kB L2 cache) 4200+  2.2GHz  399
                                                         4600+  2.4GHz  605
2) Toledo x2 (1MB L2 cache)          4400+  2.2GHz   435
                                                         4800+  2.4GHz  750

-- 
Lin Chung
[Replace "the Water Margin" with "ntlworld" for e-mail].

Lin Chung wrote:

> 
> Johannes wrote:
> > Reg McCoy wrote:
> > > Johannes wrote:
> > > > Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
> > > > AMD Athlon64 3400+....<snip>
> > > Is it worth paying 600 for a non dual core machine these days?...
> > Dual core machines doesn't run twice as fast as single core. Each core
> > is slower that the equivalent single core machine and then there is bus
> > contention to deal with. But it does help for a server running many
> > tasks...
> 
> Dual core processors help tremendously in, for example, large housekeeping
> tasks running simultaneously in home computing, not just "help for a server
> running many tasks".
> 
> A) Time
> Conceptually, in processor A,                 task X completes in 1 h;
> in (dual core) processor A x2,              task X completes in 1 h;
> then for 4 of tasks X, in processor A,                   total time is 4 h;
> 4 running concurrently in processor A x2, total time is *still* 1 h.


? I don't get you. The most you will get from dual core is double speed,
but this is rarely the case since it would require perfect load balancing,
which is never the case. Plus the OS overhead and bus contention.    
           
 > B) Angst

> Taking randomly just two examples, each and everyday, I run redundant
> file removal and malware scanning programmes all at once (to save
> waiting by the computer for starting individual ones at intervals).  One
> or more of these will be at a crawling speed or apparently be standing
> still, and will not budge until another programme has finished running.
> When AVG anti-virus is doing its scan (a daily schedule), all other
> tasks carried out inside that period are jerky in response and frustratingly
> slow.  On one's clicking a link, not only the green blob progress meter
> is hesitant and moves at a snail pace, but the programme may fail to find
> the server altogether and abort.  All of these crucifying moments would
> have been eliminated at a stroke if they were running in a dual processor.


This is a software problem more than anything else. Properly written
programs will (should) have been written as multi-threaded, such that any
foreground task will have your immediate attention and the background will
wait or slow (or run if x2 is present). This is not difficult, but there
is a lot of bad software out there.  

 

> For me, duel core processing is the way forward, not higher clock
> speeds.  Alas....
> AMD Athlon 64 x2 family:
> 1) Manchester x2 (512kB L2 cache) 4200+  2.2GHz  399
>                                                          4600+  2.4GHz  605
> 2) Toledo x2 (1MB L2 cache)          4400+  2.2GHz   435
>                                                          4800+  2.4GHz  750
> 
> --
> Lin Chung
> [Replace "the Water Margin" with "ntlworld" for e-mail].



I agree with all that (more or less). Whatever you write on usenet, there is
always someone who disagrees with you. Many of those extra processes you see
in Windows are mainly sitting idle in memory. E.g. a heavy gamer will not
benefit much from dual core at the moment, but this might change when
appropriate dual core software comes along.

2) I've seen some test in PCPlus of an Evesham x2 machine, it wasn't
encouraging because the PC lacked enough memory to benefit from dual core.
It was also noisy since the dual core (even the AMD) CPU required more
cooling.

3) In the end, it's also a question of how much you want to pay. Clearly, the
599 Tagan appeals to the budget market, yet provides lots of punch.

In article <gZcQe.1920$h4.996@newsfe4-win.ntli.net>, 
lin.chung@the.Water.Margin.com says...
<snip>

> Dual core processors help tremendously in, for example, large housekeeping
> tasks running simultaneously in home computing, not just "help for a server
> running many tasks".
> 
> A) Time
> Conceptually, in processor A,                 task X completes in 1 h;
> in (dual core) processor A x2,              task X completes in 1? h;
> then for 4 of tasks X, in processor A,                   total time is 4 h;
> 4 running concurrently in processor A x2, total time is *still* 1? h.


Sorry, that makes no sense to me.

> 
> B) Angst
> Taking randomly just two examples, each and everyday, I run redundant
> file removal and malware scanning programmes all at once (to save
> waiting by the computer for starting individual ones at intervals).  One
> or more of these will be at a crawling speed or apparently be standing
> still, and will not budge until another programme has finished running.
> When AVG anti-virus is doing its scan (a daily schedule), all other
> tasks carried out inside that period are jerky in response and frustratingly
> slow.  On one's clicking a link, not only the green blob progress meter
> is hesitant and moves at a snail pace, but the programme may fail to find
> the server altogether and abort.  All of these crucifying moments would
> have been eliminated at a stroke if they were running in a dual processor> 

In the cases that you quote disk acccess, not processor speed, is the 
bottleneck.

"Johannes"  wrote in message 
news:43107A5F.6D13E764@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...

> Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
>
> AMD Athlon64 3400+
> GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
> 1GB PC3200
> 300GB/16MB cache HD
> nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
> DVDRW
> XP Home
> No monitor
> 3 Year Warranty



I've been doing some digging but am unable to find out whether the graphics 
card is AGP or PCI Express - anyone know?

Epix wrote:

> 
> "Johannes"  wrote in message
> news:43107A5F.6D13E764@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...
> > Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
> >
> > AMD Athlon64 3400+
> > GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
> > 1GB PC3200
> > 300GB/16MB cache HD
> > nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
> > DVDRW
> > XP Home
> > No monitor
> > 3 Year Warranty
> 
> I've been doing some digging but am unable to find out whether the graphics
> card is AGP or PCI Express - anyone know?


It's PCI Express. The computer listed here is similar, but not necessarily
identical. The graphics card could be customised version for Targa.
http://www.targa.co.uk/cms/targa_2_459.php?produkt_id=385

"Johannes"  wrote in message 
news:4311B2A9.908E8185@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...

>
>
> Epix wrote:
>>
>> "Johannes"  wrote in message
>> news:43107A5F.6D13E764@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...
>> > Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
>> >
>> > AMD Athlon64 3400+
>> > GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
>> > 1GB PC3200
>> > 300GB/16MB cache HD
>> > nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
>> > DVDRW
>> > XP Home
>> > No monitor
>> > 3 Year Warranty
>>
>> I've been doing some digging but am unable to find out whether the 
>> graphics
>> card is AGP or PCI Express - anyone know?
>
> It's PCI Express. The computer listed here is similar, but not necessarily
> identical. The graphics card could be customised version for Targa.
> http://www.targa.co.uk/cms/targa_2_459.php?produkt_id=385<<



Thanks very much for that - I was hoping that it would be AGP, I've got a 
dual monitor card that I'd want to use in place of the original.

Epix wrote:

> 
> "Johannes"  wrote in message
> news:4311B2A9.908E8185@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...
> >
> >
> > Epix wrote:
> >>
> >> "Johannes"  wrote in message
> >> news:43107A5F.6D13E764@spam-gets-snuffed-sizefitter.com...
> >> > Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
> >> >
> >> > AMD Athlon64 3400+
> >> > GIGABYTE GA-K8NF-9 TA with nVidia NForce4
> >> > 1GB PC3200
> >> > 300GB/16MB cache HD
> >> > nVidia 6645 128MB graphics card with TV tuner
> >> > DVDRW
> >> > XP Home
> >> > No monitor
> >> > 3 Year Warranty
> >>
> >> I've been doing some digging but am unable to find out whether the
> >> graphics
> >> card is AGP or PCI Express - anyone know?
> >
> > It's PCI Express. The computer listed here is similar, but not necessarily
> > identical. The graphics card could be customised version for Targa.
> > http://www.targa.co.uk/cms/targa_2_459.php?produkt_id=385<<
> 
> Thanks very much for that - I was hoping that it would be AGP, I've got a
> dual monitor card that I'd want to use in place of the original.


The Catalogue from Lidl describes the graphics card as: "For games, multimedia
and professional multi-monitor operation" .

However, you will have to check out the exact meaning of this. Does it mean
that it can take two monitors as you want, or does it mean that it can plug
in different type of monitors - one at a time? I have no idea.

"Lin Chung"  wrote in message
news:gZcQe.1920$h4.996@newsfe4-win.ntli.net...

> Johannes wrote:
> > Reg McCoy wrote:
> > > Johannes wrote:
> > > > Looks like a well equipped compo, on sale from 3 Sep for 599.
> > > > AMD Athlon64 3400+....<snip>
> > > Is it worth paying 600 for a non dual core machine these days?...
> > Dual core machines doesn't run twice as fast as single core. Each core
> > is slower that the equivalent single core machine and then there is bus
> > contention to deal with. But it does help for a server running many
> > tasks...
>
>
>
> Dual core processors help tremendously in, for example, large housekeeping
> tasks running simultaneously in home computing, not just "help for a
server
> running many tasks".
>
> A) Time
> Conceptually, in processor A,                 task X completes in 1 h;
> in (dual core) processor A x2,              task X completes in 1 h;
> then for 4 of tasks X, in processor A,                   total time is 4
h;
> 4 running concurrently in processor A x2, total time is *still* 1 h.
>
> B) Angst
> Taking randomly just two examples, each and everyday, I run redundant
> file removal and malware scanning programmes all at once (to save
> waiting by the computer for starting individual ones at intervals).  One
> or more of these will be at a crawling speed or apparently be standing
> still, and will not budge until another programme has finished running.
> When AVG anti-virus is doing its scan (a daily schedule), all other
> tasks carried out inside that period are jerky in response and
frustratingly
> slow.  On one's clicking a link, not only the green blob progress meter
> is hesitant and moves at a snail pace, but the programme may fail to find
> the server altogether and abort.  All of these crucifying moments would
> have been eliminated at a stroke if they were running in a dual processor.
>
> For me, duel core processing is the way forward, not higher clock
> speeds.  Alas....
> AMD Athlon 64 x2 family:
> 1) Manchester x2 (512kB L2 cache) 4200+  2.2GHz  399
>                                                          4600+  2.4GHz
605
> 2) Toledo x2 (1MB L2 cache)          4400+  2.2GHz   435
>                                                          4800+  2.4GHz
750
>
> --
> Lin Chung
> [Replace "the Water Margin" with "ntlworld" for e-mail].
>

Wow!  If you're right then I need a dual core processor.  I'm sick to death
of waiting for the whole of eternity for my computer to do things.  I won't
bother buying this Lidl pc.  I'll wait a year.