From: "Mike Dennison" <mike.dennison@ntlworld.com>
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org, rsgb_lf_group@yahoogroups.co.uk
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2017 18:46:45 +0100
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Subject: LF: Radio computer
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Status: RO

I am looking at upgrading the computer I dedicate to my radio work 
and I am looking for some advice. It is an old office Dell running at 
2.66GHz with 1Gb RAM. 

There are two reasons:

Firstly, I want to de-clutter my desk and use only one computer for 
radio and everything else (mostly web browsing, email and office 
work). But I don't want to slow down the radio signal processing 
whilst I look at BBC News, for instance.

Secondly, my existing computer already seems rather slow. I often run 
HDSDR, WSJT-X and Opera together, and it works more smoothly if I 
turn off the waterfall displays on these. It struggled when I ran 
OPDS. I would like to try EbNaut but I don't think it is man enough. 
It would be good to run SpecLab more or less permanently, too. The 
computer clock seems to drift when I use too many programs (heat 
problem?) so I need to use NTP software with frequent polling to keep 
the time accurate. By chance the computer has a dual video card and I 
found it useful to run two screens, but again it seemed to slow 
things down too much so I stopped. 

My question is: What do you think are the things to prioritise for 
your own radio computers? Processor speed - is dual processor 
essential? RAM - how much is essential? Are there reasons to have 
lots of HD space? 

I see advertisements for "ultra-fast gaming computers" - would these 
give any benefits? 

Is there a complication if I want to use two screens?

Is there something important that I have missed?

I want to get the best value for money but I am confused by the 
specifications.

Mike, G3XDV
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