500GB External Harddisk

To minimise the likelihood of data loss, I purchased a Transcend USB 500GB external harddisk, even though I burn my photos and datafiles onto DVD. After connecting this device to the PC, you can press a button on it that initiates file synchronisation or backup. It so simple to use!

My New PC - Dell XPS 730 H2C

• I had planned to buy a new PC for almost two years, ever since the quad-core CPUs were available. My aging computer crawled when trying to edit and process large RAW photos taken with my Nikon D200 DSLR, or when rendering a complex 3D animation scene.
  
• I wanted a Dell, as I liked their reliable products and good service. However, their PCs were quite proprietary, making upgrades using off-the-shelf components difficult, and performing esoteric things like overclocking short of impossible.
  
• So, I decided to build my own PC. Researching on the subject, I narrowed down on a specification based on the X48 chipset, Q9450 CPU, DDR2 SDRAMs, Nvidia 9600GT, etc. all with the intention that it could be overclocked, and wishing to run it on 64-bit Vista.
  
• The plan was going fine, until by chance, I happened to surf the Dell website and spotted a new model they just introduced – the XPS 730 H2C. Almost immediately I fell in love with it (as it looked damn cool, hehe) and after reading about its technology and checking out some online reviews, I was convinced this was the PC I was waiting for!
  
• So, without hesitation, (and I don’t normally react so impulsively, well, not always anyway…) I paid for the new XPS online, and within two weeks, got it delivered to my door-step! Yup, this is my very first overclockable, liquid-cooled, quad-core Dell!
  
• I remembered I had owned another Dell XPS model, almost ten years ago, which only had a Pentium II CPU, yet that system cost me almost the same as the new XPS 730 I purchased!
  
• Below, for comparison fun, are the computers I’ve owned:-

• Below is a table listing key differences between my older Dell machine and the new speed demon:-

• You can read some online reviews of both computers from the following links:-
  Dell XPS R450 - http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/1378/dell-dimension-xps-r450.html
  Dell XPS 730 - http://hothardware.com/Articles/Dell_XPS_730_H2C_Performance_Gaming_System/
  
• Have a look at more photos of my new PC.....