What if?

[Beemer]

Ok, call me a dreamer, but what if you offered up a component resource guide- in a DB format- that could be queried by users looking to build a new system or upgrade a current one? Each componet would have it's own table with fields unique to that component.

For example:

-Processor-
Brand | Model | Cores | L1 Cahe | L2 Cache | L3 Cache | Buss Speed | Chipset | Mutiplier | Core Frequency | 64bit/32bit ....etc

-GPU-
Brand | Model | Memory Ammount | Memory Type | Memory frequency | Clock Speed | Interface ...etc

Then have a user and admin rating fields and comments that would be in their own respective tables linked back to the PK for the device.

You could also provide a field for a link to a review and whether it is ocia approved.

What this would allow is not only the ability to look up componets but also to compare two components side by side based on the information in the DB. You could even link components so that if you are looking at a particular motherboard you could query a list of compatible processors. You could even make it so that you could build a system as you go by comparing motherboards, then compatible processors, memory, etc....

I think it would be a big hit and something that could be touted to vendors. Ex... 1k ppl use our comparison system every month to compare products and build systems. A review at Ocia.net will include your product in our system so that those 1k users will be able to build their dream system with your component.....

You may even be able to allow users to submit new devices and their review of the device (subject to admin approval) to build a bigger more comprehensive database. Users could also have the ability to report a problem with a component... ex -it broke two days after I got it- and anyone who queries the system could see that x number of users had a problem with the device and link to their description.

Shoot, based on ratings and componet compatibility you could essentially recommend the most perferred/ highest rated components and offer up a complete build based on a few questions with optional perameters:

Build system based on: (Select one)
Motherboard
Processor

Then say you select processor, you ask some optional questions like:

What brand?
AMD
Intel
Either

Model?

# of cores?
1
2
4

Chipset

The above questions would be optional and would be in place to refine the search. So if you provided no additional information the system selects the highest rated processor overall. If you specify Intel you will get the highest rated Intel CPU. If you add that you want quad core then you get the highest rated Intel Quad Core.

Based on your selections, the system could auto populate supported components and allow you to specify optional information about them as well. All components not supported by the options you specify would be excluded. So..lets say that your motherboard is PCIe, then the options for video card interface would not list AGP...





SO...I think it would be a cool idea, and it can start simple. The building guide could be added later, the important thing would be to start compiling data in the database to have something to run queries against later. It's a huge undertaking...but I am just dreaming here...


Sorry for the book :D

[FunkZ]

Wow, that's a pretty tall order! :)

Actually we already write System Building Guides, there's a link in the main Nav bar called SBG. The trouble is, stuff changes so frequently that it's hard to stay on top of it. As you can see, the last time those were updated was back in Sep.

[silenze]

Just thinking about structuring that database and all the logic involved with php scripting and queries gives me a headache..

[Beemer]

Oh believe me, the logic would be crazy...but it would essentially give you a means to have a system build guide that is always current. If you did a good job with it, it could really make ocia a primere review site... Forget the build guide portion in the begining, just start by housing in-depth product info and create a comparison tool...then add more functionality to system over time.

[Joco]

Wow! am intrigued! This is an awesome idea Beemer. I would really like to work with a project like this. :D Count me in XD

[ociaadmin]

mmmm php :P

-Justin

[Methious]

I'd like to see one done and updated, but wouldn't want to be the one doing it.

Stuff changes so much, so fast it'd be a monumental undertaking to just get the existing hardware into it.

[Beemer]

3-4 years is about the maximum relevance for technology anyway. I think you could start building the DB and a php based input page. Once that is finished, start populating the DB and work on the tools for queries/comparison. By the time the tools are done you could have a substancial amount of content...