<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">If you choose to build a system for Win 11, almost anything current should suffice, with a few caveats:<div><br></div><div>- quad core or better</div><div>- 16 Gigs RAM</div><div>- SSD for boot device (NVMe for the win, but SATA SSD fine)</div><div><br></div><div>I run integrated graphics, either AMD or Intel, I'm not a gamer/CAD user, you're on your own there.</div><div><br></div><div>Parallel ports will be rough - PCI card may be needed, but maybe USB to parallel will work:</div><div><br></div><div> <a href="https://www.microcenter.com/product/417095/vantec-1-port-parallel-pcie-host-card">https://www.microcenter.com/product/417095/vantec-1-port-parallel-pcie-host-card</a></div><div><br></div><div> <a href="https://www.microcenter.com/product/384854/manhattan-usb-11-(type-a)-male-to-db-25-parallel-female-printer-converter-cable-6-ft-black">https://www.microcenter.com/product/384854/manhattan-usb-11-(type-a)-male-to-db-25-parallel-female-printer-converter-cable-6-ft-black</a></div><div><br></div><div>I agree with Joshua, a refurb mini/micro form system may present the best value, IF you can get the I/O ports you need.</div><div><br></div><div>Good luck.</div><div><br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Ken</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Dec 18, 2024, at 13:40, john ferguson via rescue <rescue@sunhelp.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><span>I don't know where to turn but will try here.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Despite still running my Sparc 10, Sunos 4.1.4 and Linux almost everywhere else, I'm forced by a couple of applications to stay with Windows. One is Creo - current name for Pro-Engineer, and there are others including some Windows Office apps which I need to use to avoid incompatibility problems which though seldom tend to be vexing when they happen.</span><br><span></span><br><span>And then there's MSFS2020 where I can run a Beech 18 on gauges from Champaign to MDW when I can't sleep.</span><br><span></span><br><span>I'm presently running Windows 10, Ubuntu 22.04, and Debian on two HP Elite 8300s, with Nvidia GTX 1070s, one at home and one at the shop. I have synology DS216's in each location eachwith 8TB plus removable USB drives to back them up monthly and store them disconnected.</span><br><span></span><br><span>They have been fast enough for what I do and I would not change them unless I'm forced to - ie the end of Windows 10.</span><br><span></span><br><span>I should add that we've been running an Asus notebook for years on XP without a problem, but then it doesn't do much.</span><br><span></span><br><span>It looks like I'm going to have buy a a new motherboard, and since the HP's are not quite hardware compatible, now boxes, the new type of solid state drives, new RAM, etc. I'd keep the Nvidias, and a couple of the bigger disks now in the HP's.</span><br><span></span><br><span>I haven't shopped this kind of stuff in years, and don't know where to start. I'd thought of looking at what Microsoft thinks is an adequate system - not the greatest and start there. I do need parallel ports on the shop machine to run the CNC equipment, but I suppose I can find a board with two ports if I can't get one on the MB.</span><br><span></span><br><span>I can't tell if all of this makes any sense. If it doesn't, ask away and I'll try to clarify.</span><br><span></span><br><span>regards,</span><br><span></span><br><span>John Ferguson</span><br><span></span><br><span>St Petersburg -- the warm one.</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>rescue list - http://sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue_sunhelp.org</span><br></div></blockquote></div></div></body></html>