Antec cases have always been great investments, as I have owned several. They range from ...

an old Antec AT Server Tower, circa '97-98,	Antec Mid-tower
of course, the Faux Stone and Chalkboard is one,	and my Antec P180, with dual air-flow chambers

I guess it won't be a surprise when I tell you I decided to go with Antec. Their designs are terrific. And the latest one is sweet. It's called the Skeleton. Click here to see it in operation.

Here are the specifications on it:

It's build time.

Well, I went shopping, and here is what I came up with. I like to utilize local vendors whenever possible, but this system had a processor requirement that I could not find cheaply from my favorite vendor. I wanted a Quad-core processor that has Virtual Technology (VT). I also want to be able to assign programs to cores (very cool!). I did a little research and found the Intel Q8400 processor a good match. It has Quad cores, Virtual Technology, and was the cheapest I could find in-stock locally. My first stop was at Fry's Electronics, where I picked up a ...

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

I then went over to my friends at Technology Partners Inc, where I picked up the rest of the components (less the case, that's coming). Here's the list of parts:

Intel DG41RQ Motherboard	Buffalo DDR2 PC6400 Memory (2gb x 2)
Microstar NX8400GS Video Card	Western Digital 320 GB Hard Drive
Liteon 24x DVD-RW	iMicro 500 watt Power Supply

All these components have standard specifications, except for the motherboard. Considering that I am going to use a 64-bit operating system, I need to have a larger amount of memory. Using a 64-bit operating system, I am also getting past the 4 gigabyte memory limit that plaques 32-bit. The Intel DG41RQ has a maximum memory capacity of 8 GB (2 x 4GB). Since 2GB modules are relatively inexpensive, I decided to go with 4GB of memory (2 x 2GB) for right now.

Since Windows 7 is built on Windows Vista, finding drivers was simple. Intel and NVidia, both have Windows 7 32 and 64-bit drivers on their web sites.

I guess it's time to build this system. But I still need a case. I think I'll see what Antec has been up to.

Since my last post, Windows 7 RC1 has been released. I am now assembling a production system to use for the installation of RC1. I have changed my mind on how I wanted to test this new OS from Microsoft. My original idea was to use a typical system with widely available components.

I then thought back on all of the new technology that has come out since Windows XP was released. I think everyone will agree that Windows Vista was somewhat of a stepping stone. Just like Windows Millennium was to Windows 98SE.

We now have hard drives over one terabyte, Quad-core processors, and 64-bit computers. And quite a bit of these are now out in production systems, like yours. 64-bit enabled motherboards have been out for years now. If your computer’s motherboard was manufactured within the last few years, your computer is probably 64-bit compatible.

With that said, I started to look at some of the features of Windows 7 and what hardware I would need to run them. As I stated before, 64-bit enabled computers are pretty much mainstream now, and with the memory limit of 128 gigabytes, opposed to 4 gigabyte memory limit on 32-bit, I think this is the way to go.

Note:
You cannot do an in-place upgrade of a 32-bit operating system to a 64-bit operating system. To do this, you have to backup your files and settings and then restore them to the new installation.

Microsoft has had two different versions (32-bit & 64-bit) of their Windows operating systems (XP & Vista) that support x86-64 architecture since 2005. So I will use the 64-bit for this installation. I also want to use the Windows XP mode for Windows 7. This requires a processor that has Virtualization Technology (VT). The Intel E6600 processor in my system has VT. So the VT processors are out there, you have to check with the manufacturer to see if it is compatible.

So with all of that information, I will put together a production system in the next few days from standard parts from my favorite vendors. I already have a parts list, and it’s time to see how cheaply I can put this together (I have a big surprise for what I use as a monitor).

One of the software tools I use quite often client systems is SpaceMonger. SpaceMonger is a tool for keeping track of the free space on your computer. It shows graphically the size of each folder and file on your computer.

Each file or folder on a given drive is displayed in a box in the main window whose size is a relative comparison to all the other files in your system. So, for example, if the "Windows" box takes up 90% of the screen, the "C:\Windows" folder and all its sub-folders and files are taking up 90% of your "C:" drive.

SpaceMonger runs on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.

Click here to download the latest version

These free applications can add fun and functionality to the Windows Vista experience.

SyncToy v2.1
SyncToy helps you copy, move, rename, and delete files between folders and computers quickly and easily.
Click here to download

Microsoft Network Monitor 3.3
A tool to allow capturing and protocol analysis of network traffic.
Click here to download

Windows SteadyState 2.5
Whether you manage computers in a school computer lab or an Internet cafe, a library, or even in your home, Windows SteadyState helps make it easy for you to keep your computers running the way you want them to, no matter who uses them.
Click here to download

Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows Vista
WinHlp32.exe is required to display 32-bit Help files that have the ".hlp" filename extension. To view .hlp files on Windows Vista, you need to install this application.
Click here to download

Windows PowerShell 2.0 for Windows Vista
Microsoft Windows PowerShell is a command-line shell and scripting language designed for system administration and automation. Built on the .NET Framework, Windows PowerShell enables IT professionals and developers to control and automate Windows and applications' administration.

Windows NT Backup - Restore Utility
Utility for restoring backups made on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 to computers running Windows Vista and Microsoft® Windows Server® 2008.
Click here to download

Windows Easy Transfer for Windows XP
Download Windows Easy Transfer for your Windows XP-based PC so you can automatically copy your files, photos, music, e-mail, settings, and more to your new Windows Vista based PC. This software enables you to transfer data with Easy Transfer Cables or across a network, external drive, or CD/DVD.
Click here to download

Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator 1.4
Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator allows users to create or modify keyboard layouts.
Click here to download