I'm going Quad - but which one...??!!

[Vimeous]

Q6600 is superb value because it's in the process of being replaced.
Q6700 is good value and a better choice than the Q6600 if you're not planning to OC.
Q9300 I see no point in unless the q6's became unobtainable.
Q9450 is currently the cheapest entry into the 12Mb cache 45nm CPU's.

The closest to future proof you'll get is a PCI-E 2 mboard with DDR3 RAM, eSATA, etc.
Of course these things always cost a packet. Especially the RAM which doesn't appear to be used to its greatest potential yet.

I usually buy two CPU's to every mboard to maximise the life of the system. However last time around the short supply of the second CPU and high prices mean this time it'll be only 1 CPU and I'll put up with it being 'slow' later in its life.

Because of this I will be going for the Q9450 rather than the better value Q6600. I want the lower power use, faster basic CPU and extra cache. I may in future OC it and to achieve the same overall performance I suspect it'll be easier (and quieter) on air than a Q6600 (clearly only my suspicion).

DDR3. It's terrible value now but should be more attainable and cheaper then DDR2 in 5yrs. So it's either 2Gb DDR3 now and add more later or loads of DDR2 now knowing your system may not make the best use of the amount until the next release of Windows.

My next mboard is likely to be a ASUS P5-E variant. I also considered Abit but it didn't have the perculiar feature set I wanted.

[Nickg]

Q6600 + DFI DK P35 mobo?

who uses wireless on a desktop? LAN cables al the way for stable connection!

[mooreslaw]

I would use LAN if I could but my telephone line is downstairs and PC is upstairs...even if I had a cable long enough I'd probably kill myself by buggering over it!

[Rosaline]

That's what cable tacks or duct tape are for

[mooreslaw]

There's no way my female housemates would let me get away with tacking a good 25 metres of cable to the wall!

It's wireless or homeless...!

[Nickg]

id go homeless everytime lol.

in my first house i got telephone cable from the frnt room under the carpets into the back room (rearranged all furniture carpets etc) was my mam and dads house.

in my 2nd house, 3 -4 storey high, all of us sharing ADSL comms = CAT cable up and down all the walls/stairs.

in my current house, drilled holes through walls and ran some lan cable up the front porch into bedroom#1, then drilled hole into bedroom #2 so that both hav cabled access

just because they are female, why should that stop you from tidy cabling along the wall? besides, are their opinions stronger than yours?! are you weak man?! Lol JK.

[aidanjt]

There's no way my female housemates would let me get away with tacking a good 25 metres of cable to the wall!

It's wireless or homeless...!

Then it's time to get the plasterboard saw out and get to work backdropping some cat6 and installing platrises. If they ask, just say you're installing telephone lines

[Bugbait]

It's wireless or homeless...!

Checkout Homeplugs...

[mooreslaw]

These homeplugs look pretty good - does anybody have any experience with them?

[aidanjt]

Yes, they're slow, they suck, and some of them are a serious security hazard.

[Link97]

Yes, they're slow, they suck, and some of them are a serious security hazard.

Well, that's the end of that suggestion, then.

[mooreslaw]

They support encryption so how can they be a security hazard?!

Plus you can buy 200Mb versions - should be quick enough to support Internet and file-transferring right? Or wrong...?!

[aidanjt]

They support encryption so how can they be a security hazard?!

That highly depends on the encryption methods employed, assuming the Homeplug product you purchase has any at all, to make a point, WEP on wireless can be cracked in a matter of seconds, WPA-PSK can also be cracked, it takes longer, but it only takes a more determined attacker.

Plus you can buy 200Mb versions - should be quick enough to support Internet and file-transferring right? Or wrong...?!

Assuming your power is clean enough to get a consistant 200mbps, it'll do for internet and light network filesharing, yes.

But the security issue is more than enough to put me off. Unlike wireless, the attacker doesn't need to stay in a short range to get to work breaching the homeplug, they need only be on the same power grid as you. There's also the issue with shared bandwidth, the theoretical peak 200mbps is applicable to *all* computers on the homeplug network, which makes it useless for regular filesharing between machines.

Finally, the cost, is frankly far higher than getting 100m of cat6, and a few platrises.

[Bugbait]

That highly depends on the encryption methods employed, assuming the Homeplug product you purchase has any at all, to make a point, WEP on wireless can be cracked in a matter of seconds, WPA-PSK can also be cracked, it takes longer, but it only takes a more determined attacker.

That applies to WiFi as well. Sure, neither is as secure as a direct or isolated cable link but that's not always an option.

Assuming your power is clean enough to get a consistant 200mbps, it'll do for internet and light network filesharing, yes.

If you live in close proximity to your neighbours (ie. Flats) and they also have WiFi then a Homeplug network will likely be more stable as there is less interference. When I use to use WiFi this was a constant issue if channels overlapped.

But the security issue is more than enough to put me off. Unlike wireless, the attacker doesn't need to stay in a short range to get to work breaching the homeplug, they need only be on the same power grid as you.

If you're referring to the home power grid then you are correct. If you're referring to the national power grid then no. The manual and material on the web all state it stops at your local junction box in your house. Feel free to correct me on this with references if I'm mistaken.

PC help: Power security - 26 Dec 2007 - IT Week

First, the electricity meter acts as block on the signals that are transmitted across the network, so there is no chance of them leaking out on to the public wiring and your neighbours picking them up.

One would hope that you would be aware of unauthorised physical access in your own home. Unless the electrician crossed wires or is sharing through the wall (has happened) or there is an unsecured exterior outlet then it's not really an issue. We could sit around making up scenarios all day. With minimal care it really shouldn't be an issue.

Further reference: HomePlug FAQ - AVForums

Is HomePlug secure?
Yes it is preset with its own 56bit encryption system to protect your data. HomePlug AV adopts a 128bit encryption system.

Don’t forget to check the security options on any wireless devices in the house. If an outsider can access the wireless network, they also gain access to the homeplug-connected computers, and the homeplug security is useless.

Can my neighbour steal my internet connection if he has a HomePlug?
No, the electricity meter acts as block on the signals that are transmitted across the network, so there is no chance of them leaking out on to the public wiring and your neighbours picking them up.

EDIT: Posted before I was finished...

There's also the issue with shared bandwidth, the theoretical peak 200mbps is applicable to *all* computers on the homeplug network, which makes it useless for regular filesharing between machines.

Partially agree, but that's a limitation with hubs and far less so switches. Sure, they can run at gigabit bandwidth with full duplex compared to the half-duplex of the Homeplug but again, a CAT6 network isn't always an option. If you're renting then your landlord may object to you ripping apart their property. As a landlord I most certainly would!

Finally, the cost, is frankly far higher than getting 100m of cat6, and a few platrises.

Again, not always an option...

[Bugbait]

Yes, they're slow, they suck, and some of them are a serious security hazard.

Ruling out CAT6 cabling what other options are there? My property has a lot of metal studs and solid walls so even with N WiFi I barely manage a 80-100Mbps connection and the rooms aren't that far apart. Hoemplugs have proven to be far more stable.

[aidanjt]

That applies to WiFi as well.

I think I just said that..

If you live in close proximity to your neighbours (ie. Flats) and they also have WiFi then a Homeplug network will likely be more stable as there is less interference. When I use to use WiFi this was a constant issue if channels overlapped.

No argument there.

If you're referring to the home power grid then you are correct. If you're referring to the national power grid then no. The manual and material on the web all state it stops at your local junction box in your house. Feel free to correct me on this with references if I'm mistaken.

No, the local area power grid, the signal would be completely mangled by the time it reaches the national grid. Analog meters provide *no* signal filtration what so ever. Even many 'digital' meters don't either. Power grids were only designed to carry one thing, power, and that only needs rudimentary surge filtration via fuses and much improved circuit breakers. Also, HomePlug BPL is specifically designed for 'last mile' transmission of the radio signal for internet use. In fact, I've yet to read a technical document asserting that meter's in any way effect PLC.

Partially agree, but that's a limitation with hubs and far less so switches.

I'd smack anyone around that considered buying a hub these days, switches are so cheap it'd be braindead to not use it over hubs.

Sure, they can run at gigabit bandwidth with full duplex compared to the half-duplex of the Homeplug but again, a CAT6 network isn't always an option. If you're renting then your landlord may object to you ripping apart their property. As a landlord I most certainly would!

Who said anything about ripping it apart?... If anything, a proper ethernet infrastructure would add value to any property, and should be already present in rental property to save you having to do it.