New Dells for the office should I do P4 w 256MB ram or P3 with 512MB?

[mcveigh]

The boss wants new PC's I'm looking at Dell Dimension 8200's
P4 1.8Ghz
256MB RDRAM

about $1100
or a P3 1.1Ghz , 512 MB SDRAM

no i'm not getting a P4 with SDRAM. This is for an accountants office, they mostly run MS office and accounting software.
Windows XP Pro and Office XP on them.

What do you think will be the most bang for the buck?

 

[TripleJ]

The most bang for the buck is AMD of course. But we'll leave it there shall we?

As long as you get the socket 478 version, I'd go the P4. You'll be able to pop in a Northwood later on.

 

[ChipNOW]

Of the two I'd go the P4 without any hesitation

 

[steelthorn]

Triple J he didn't ask for a smart alec remark. Please don't make this another AMD versus
Pentium war thread!
As for the original question I would go with the Pentium 4 for sure.

 

[RSMemphis]

I've just finished my 150+ page thesis, and I can sing you a song about the difference between 128, 256, and 512 MB...

I am a RAM addict, what can I say?
However, the Pentium III 667 MHz handled it fine once the RAM was up...

I can see the appeal of a Pentium IV, but many open programs in an office environment w/o image processing almost screams for more RAM?

Just my opinion.

 

[TripleJ]

<<Triple J he didn't ask for a smart alec remark. Please don't make this another AMD versus
Pentium war thread!>>

Well he did ask for most bang for the buck. If you want to get your nickers in a twist about something small, it aint my problem.

 

[DN]

<< <<Triple J he didn't ask for a smart alec remark. Please don't make this another AMD versus
Pentium war thread!>>

Well he did ask for most bang for the buck. If you want to get your nickers in a twist about something small, it aint my problem. >>



Most bang for the buck in a BUSINESS environment -- AMD crash just won't crash cut it..

 

[Woody419]

Go with the P4. The newer motherboard should increase the computers longevity. Performance would not be #1 in this office, look for stability and upgradeability. The newer mobo/chip combo should have a better chance of working with products in the future like network cards and USB support. Also the resale value would be higher with a P4 system, if a P3 chip goes bad in a year good luck finding a replacement at any price.

 

[DN]

mcveigh,

No doubt about it, go for the P4 setup (preferably 478-pin P4 as someone mentioned, if you have that choice even)..

 

[mcveigh]

Thanks for the input people. There won't be any upgrades probably though this is an office enviornment.He'll keep them 3 years and depreciate them.
Guess I'm going to go with a P4 and 256MB RDRAM





<< The most bang for the buck is AMD of course. But we'll leave it there shall we? >>


look at my system rig...Epox8KHA+, 1600XP Athlon, 256Mb DDR

Thanks!

 

[Diable]

A P4 with SDRAM would perform just as good as a P4 with RDRAM in office apps and it would be a lot cheaper.

 

[novice]

I concur with Diable. I just ordered a Dimension 4300 for my office. We use it primarily for small Access data bases, excel spread sheets and internet apps. With the P4 1.6 gig processor and 256 MB of SDRAM, it seems to perform great for what we use it for. Very stable. The only "customization" I did was to order the additional 128 MB stick of ram from Dell for $14.57 delivered compared to the $80 Dell wanted to install it themselves. For basic office apps the P4/SDRAM combo seems just great to me. (But then it replaced a K6 233, so I guess all things are relative...)
Chuck

 

[mcveigh]

I'm lucky, he wants the office to be a showcase of technology for clients,
LCD screens also

 

[Silver222]

I'm going to agree with RSMemphis, I'd take the P3 with the extra ram. Hell, in three years, the machines aren't going to be worth spit anyways. For accountant's applications, the extra ram will help you more than the extra processing speed. Try to convince him to let you build them. I work in a small mortgage firm, and I get to do all the building. It kicks ass