A bit of math homework help...

[AmEv]

Basically, I need to make a poster for my math class that includes Algebra 2 level math on it.

The poster is going to be the easy part.


What I'm having problems with, is figuring out the problem itself. I've got the main idea set (which computer components to buy); I'm just trying to figure out what the actual components are (and the rest of the equation) are.

Link to my document is here: http://ubuntuone.com/1sWIudfM4iWBIG5Ma8S6UE

[Technochicken]

What is the closest to his budget, yet has the best possible performance?

A important question is this: How are you going to boil performance down to one number so that you can plot cost vs performance? Basically, should you spend more on the GPU, for gaming performance, or more on a CPU, for performance in most other tasks? Whichever route you choose, you are going to have to pick one or more benchmarks that you can find in reviews to decide on the number for each configuration's "performance."

I don't have any specific advice for hardware choices, but I would suggest picking out a base set of hardware to use in each configuration, and then only switch the variable(s) you choose to change (CPU, GPU, or both) between the performance levels

[AmEv]

Thanks for the advice! I knew that a complete system build was going to be too much effort. This should make things easier, knowing that GPU and CPU are your top 2 factors in a build.

I may adjust the budget accordingly.




No, not to $100,000

[AmEv]

OK, talked to my math teacher, who does know a bit about computers. He suggested just switching out 3 main components, his words, "motherboard, CPU, graphics card".

Let's get cracking.

Again, I'm definitely going to be adjusting the budget a little bit.

While he's not getting a $20 case (while they can be nice), he's NOT getting a Level 10, either.


Components for sure: (someone help me out with VBulletin forms here)Never mind, I can throw it into a spreadsheet.

URL
Component
Name
Cost
Shipping
Current total

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147060
Case
Rosewill CHALLENGER-U3
$59.99
$0.00
$59.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371044
PSU
Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN 650W
$74.99
$0.00
$134.98


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148765
HDD
Seagate Barracuda ST250DM000 250GB
$79.99
$6.29
$221.26

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151244
Optical drive
Samsund DVD burner
$15.99
$0.00
$237.25


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824009316
LCD
Acer S220HQLAbd Black 21.5"
$119.99
$0.00
$357.24

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823126097
Keyboard & Mouse
Logitech MK120 Black USB Wired Slim Desktop
$26.99
$0.00
$384.23


What I've seen so far:
HDD prices are definitely starting to come down. (yay!)
"Get a real PSU! If you're spending less than $60, it's heavily underpowered!"
Components add up FAST! "Oh, I'll have a $20 keyboard, a $20 flash drive, a $20 optical drive, a $50 external HDD.... Wait, I'm already up to $110?"

[BuzzKillington]

This reminds me of a math project I had to do where he had us research types of batteries and solar panels for his sailboat.
I'm not sure how you would get actual data without having actual parts to switch in and out of one rig. Pulling numbers from random sources will leave you with so many variables you may as well scribble on the graph.