Need Hardware for PC -- Office Machine / 5 yr life

[Corey0808]

1 ASUS M2NPV-VM Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6150 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $84.99
1 COOLER MASTER Centurion 541 RC-541-SKN1 Black Aluminumm bezel, SECC chassis MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case - Retail $45.99
1 Microsoft Office Basic 2003 SP2 Single Pack - OEM $164.99
1 Link Depot DVI-D Male to DVI-D Male Cable, 15ft, Black Model DVI-15-DD - Retail $12.99
1 NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A - OEM $29.25
1 NEC Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive - OEM $5.79
2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $159.98
1 Logitech Internet Pro Desktop 967457-0403 Black PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard Mouse Included - OEM $16.99
1 mushkin Enhanced Performance 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) System Memory Model 991381 - Retail $115.99
1 SAMSUNG 730B Black 17" 8ms LCD Monitor - Retail $179.99
1 Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM $87.99
1 FSP Group (Fortron Source) FSP300-60GLS-R Micro ATX12V 300W Power Supply - Retail $41.99
1 AMD Sempron 64 3400+ Manila 1.8GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model SDA3400CNBOX - Retail $76.00
Total: 1022.93

Which for a fully working system that includes mouse, monitor, keyboard, OS and Office software.

I personally don't think that's a bad deal for some quality components, a RAID array for redundancy, a microATX formfactor. To be that would be better than getting an equivalently priced DELL system just because I know what's in the system. The RAM seems a little pricey, but the other Mushkin stuff I was looking at is out of stock. I won't be putting the system together for another couple weeks so it might come back and save about $30.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Corey0808
1 Microsoft Office Basic 2003 SP2 Single Pack - OEM $164.99

OpenOffice = FREE
I just saved you $164.99...
Next! :laugh:

Spend the savings on XP Pro. Or go Linux and save another $87.99

 

[Corey0808]

This customer doesn't want to use OpenOffice or Linux. I love both but it's not an option. At least you didn't give any bad comments on the build Also I don't think this user really needs XP Pro either. It's a very small office.

Now I'm looking to see what I can do for the same hardware / better price on Dells website.

 

[Blain]

You could always load OpenOffice on their current system and let them try it out.
People don't believe it until they see it. MS propaganda is some of the best.

 

[Corey0808]

I did before they got a license with their other system. Still likes MS stuff.. Not much I can do about that. It's not my money.

 

[Mark R]

Originally posted by: Corey0808
1 ASUS M2NPV-VM Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6150 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $84.99
1 COOLER MASTER Centurion 541 RC-541-SKN1 Black Aluminumm bezel, SECC chassis MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case - Retail $45.99
1 Microsoft Office Basic 2003 SP2 Single Pack - OEM $164.99
1 Link Depot DVI-D Male to DVI-D Male Cable, 15ft, Black Model DVI-15-DD - Retail $12.99
1 NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A - OEM $29.25
1 NEC Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive - OEM $5.79
2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $159.98
1 Logitech Internet Pro Desktop 967457-0403 Black PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard Mouse Included - OEM $16.99
1 mushkin Enhanced Performance 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) System Memory Model 991381 - Retail $115.99
1 SAMSUNG 730B Black 17" 8ms LCD Monitor - Retail $179.99
1 Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM $87.99
1 FSP Group (Fortron Source) FSP300-60GLS-R Micro ATX12V 300W Power Supply - Retail $41.99
1 AMD Sempron 64 3400+ Manila 1.8GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model SDA3400CNBOX - Retail $76.00
Total: 1022.93

That's a pretty nice system.

But...

I don't see a backup system. Yes, techincally a CD-RW/DVD-RW drive is a backup system, but the RW discs aren't particularly reliable, they're desperately slow, and fiddly to use. Having set these systems up for friends and family, they simply don't get used for routine backups, at least not with any degree of regularity. And yes, people have lost data because they didn't use the backup system that I provided, because it was too hard to use. An external drive, preferrably with 'one-touch' backup is a really good bet.

Another point - you see he has a database of 3000 customers. Is this in Access? I don't think office Basic comes with access - I think you need office Pro or Premium.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Corey0808
1 ASUS M2NPV-VM Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6150 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $84.99
1 COOLER MASTER Centurion 541 RC-541-SKN1 Black Aluminumm bezel, SECC chassis MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case - Retail $45.99
1 Microsoft Office Basic 2003 SP2 Single Pack - OEM $164.99
1 Link Depot DVI-D Male to DVI-D Male Cable, 15ft, Black Model DVI-15-DD - Retail $12.99
1 NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A - OEM $29.25
1 NEC Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive - OEM $5.79
2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $159.98
1 Logitech Internet Pro Desktop 967457-0403 Black PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard Mouse Included - OEM $16.99
1 mushkin Enhanced Performance 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) System Memory Model 991381 - Retail $115.99
1 SAMSUNG 730B Black 17" 8ms LCD Monitor - Retail $179.99
1 Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM $87.99
1 FSP Group (Fortron Source) FSP300-60GLS-R Micro ATX12V 300W Power Supply - Retail $41.99
1 AMD Sempron 64 3400+ Manila 1.8GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model SDA3400CNBOX - Retail $76.00
Total: 1022.93

Which for a fully working system that includes mouse, monitor, keyboard, OS and Office software.

I personally don't think that's a bad deal for some quality components, a RAID array for redundancy, a microATX formfactor. To be that would be better than getting an equivalently priced DELL system just because I know what's in the system. The RAM seems a little pricey, but the other Mushkin stuff I was looking at is out of stock. I won't be putting the system together for another couple weeks so it might come back and save about $30.

That looks very solid. The only thing I would add on would be a better, quieter HS/F for the CPU and quieter fans for the case.

 

[Corey0808]

Originally posted by: Mark R
That's a pretty nice system.

But...

I don't see a backup system. Yes, techincally a CD-RW/DVD-RW drive is a backup system, but the RW discs aren't particularly reliable, they're desperately slow, and fiddly to use. Having set these systems up for friends and family, they simply don't get used for routine backups, at least not with any degree of regularity. And yes, people have lost data because they didn't use the backup system that I provided, because it was too hard to use. An external drive, preferrably with 'one-touch' backup is a really good bet.

Another point - you see he has a database of 3000 customers. Is this in Access? I don't think office Basic comes with access - I think you need office Pro or Premium.

Well I checked out that 1 touch backup system and it seemed really expensive. I'm not sure whether my client will consider it worth it to be honest. All I can do is ask and I'll do that.

As far as the database that is not in Access so Office Basic will do fine and I've already confirmed that with my client.

Hey this could all be a waste and he might want to go pre-built (i.e. Dell) but at least I can show this to my client and tell them they are getting a better quality system for a similar price.

 

[Crassus]

Originally posted by: goku

Originally posted by: sniperruff
get him a dell and clean it out every year. it'll last him 15 years.

Fixed.

If people weren't so stupid and go so easily caugh up in the hype of product launches, I'd be still seeing PII/PIII systems in offices today. C'mon guys, how intense is a spread sheet, writing a memo, or creating a database of 200 employees? Sure the last one may seem a bit intensive, but they did all of these things on computer from 15 years ago with out issue. If people didn't litter their systems with so much spyware, and other useless crap, they wouldn't feel the need to upgrade their systems in the first place....

Unless the employee is doing autocad, gaming (which he shouldn't), Video production, or HUGE DATABASE manipulation (over 100K people or items or what ever) then I don't see the need for a "Core twoo duo!!".. Anything from the last 5 years should do, only thing I'd worry about is the HDD failing in one of those systems. Pickup an old system from anywhere, change out the HDD and tell him it's new, I bet he wouldn't notice a difference. ;P

You beat me to it. I was about to suggest a nice PIII (around 800 MHz or so). My one ran for about 5 years already, and I don't foresee the next 5 years to be a major problem. A new HDD would be a plus, though.
Seriously, it really depends on what kind of office work is being done. With badly programmed proprietary software plus manipulation lager pics plus digging through huge .pdfs a current system helps quite nicely.
My .02c.

 

[imported_2x]

For a custom build for the office, if I ever go that route (rare when you have dell), I always go Seagate 7200's for HD's, Intel retail CPU (stock HSF is fine for office setup with no overclock I assume), Intel board (stability is unmatched IMO), a Lite On optical drive, any floppy, Crucial memory, onboard video, onboard audio and onboard LAN. Case is usually a Antec with powersupply. I have never had problems with that setup.