opening up a computer gaming store, need advice

[imported_CyberWire]

I had a client approach me about opening up a computer gaming store and he asked me for a quote for all the computers. I spent some quick research time and came up with the list below. I'm looking to get an idea of what the community thinks of these machines. Also what other games would be good to have in a place like this? questions/comments/warnings/anything? Also what kind of software would be good for locking down the machines so users can only click on certain icons?


STATION HARDWARE
Qty Description Unit Price TOTAL
10 DFI Lanparty UT NF3 250GB $ 129.00 $ 1,290.00
10 MGE Viper Black/Blue ATX Mid tower w/ 500W PS $ 88.88 $ 888.80
20 Crucial Ballistix 512 DDR PC-3200 $ 149.00 $ 2,980.00
10 AMD Athlon 64 3200+ retail box $ 204.00 $ 2,040.00
10 Lite-on 52x CD-rom $ 19.00 $ 190.00
10 Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000RPM SATA HD, model wd740gd $ 182.00 $ 1,820.00
10 logitech black optical desktop keybd/mouse combo $ 19.00 $ 190.00
1 linksys 16port workgroup switch model ezxs16w $ 63.99 $ 63.99
1 linksys 4port firewall router model befsx41 $ 62.99 $ 62.99
10 ag neoco f-419 19" LCD flat panel monitor $ 514.00 $ 5,140.00
5 belkin 7 outlet surgemaster power strip f9h710-12 $ 12.99 $ 64.95
1 hp psc 2510 multi function printer, network ready $ 327.00 $ 327.00
10 labtec elite-835 stereo headphones $ 15.00 $ 150.00
10 evga nvidia geforce 6800 GT 256MB w/ FREE DOOM3 $ 420.00 $ 4,200.00
12 arrow micro 25ft. Cat 5e network cable (grey) $ 2.99 $ 35.88

SubTotal $ 19,443.61
Shipping ??????????????
Tax Rate(s) 7.75% $ 1,506.88
TOTAL $ 20,950.49

SOFTWARE:
Qty Description Unit Price TOTAL
4 windows xp pro (3-pack) = 12 copies $ 439.00 $ 1,756.00
10 unreal tournament 2004 $ 29.99 $ 299.90
10 warcraft 3 battlechest(includes frozen throne expansion) $ 29.99 $ 299.90
10 farcry(free with processor/motherboard purchase) $ - $ -
10 doom3(free with video card purchase) $ - $ -
10 half life 2 $ 47.99 $ 479.90
10 battlefield vietnam $ 31.99 $ 319.90
10 tribes: vengeance $ 44.99 $ 449.90
1 mircosoft small business server 2003 w/ 5CAL $ 499.00 $ 499.00

SubTotal $ 4,104.50
Shipping ??????????????
Tax Rate(s) 7.75% $ 318.10
TOTAL $ 4,422.60

SERVER HARDWARE:
Qty Description Unit Price TOTAL
1 supermicro "SUPER X5DPA-TGM+" E7501 CHIPSET for dual 604 xeon $ 232.00 $ 232.00
2 Kingston ValueRam 184pin 1gb ecc registered ddr333 pc-2700 $ 265.00 $ 530.00
2 intel xeon 2.4a GHz 533FSB 1MB L3 Cache, Hyperthreading $ 275.00 $ 550.00
2 western digital raptor 74gb 10,000rpm SATA, model wd740gd $ 182.00 $ 364.00
1 ASPIRE X-SuperAlien aluminum server case 500W PS(atxa6sw/500) $ 139.00 $ 139.00
1 logitech black optical desktop keybd/mouse combo $ 19.00 $ 19.00
1 ag neoco f-419 19" LCD flat panel monitor $ 514.00 $ 514.00
1 belkin universal series 1200VA UPS model F6C120-UNV $ 129.99 $ 129.99

SubTotal $ 2,477.99
Shipping ??????????????
Tax Rate(s) 7.75% $ 192.04
TOTAL $ 2,670.03



OVERALL TOTAL: $28,043.12 + shipping

 

[warcrow]

What kind of markup are you doing for the total price? 20%? 30%? It looks like you did a good job picking out parts, but if I were you, I would have posted this on the general hardware forum as well.

There are some software packages out there that will allow remote management from a single management server. A buddy of mine is interested in opening his own cyber-cafe and just 2 days ago was telling about this.

Its interesting b/c I didnt even know it was out there, but apparently he said there are several packages. If I see or talk to him again sometime soon I ask and reposd here.

 

[imported_CyberWire]

these prices are straight from newegg...
this is posted in general hardware also .. was posted there first actually
but since i need software and hardware advice i posted it in both.. any recommendations on multiplayer games to have here?

 

[Drakkon]

the only thing i see missing is your going to need more CAL's to be able to run that network legally. You DONT need SBS just get the regular edition, SBS has a markup for a ton of function this guy will NEVER use.
You can configure windows XP through server so that only certain programs have acess and only certain items will appear on the desktop. I think you can even remove the start bar.

GAmes i have no idea but i would've preferred starcraft battlechest to WC3

 

[imported_CyberWire]

i was thinking maybe setting up an active desktop and just making a nice little "environment" and removing the start menu, etc... anybody have any links to help me with this?

 

[imported_CyberWire]

updated some things:

SERVER
Qty Description Unit Price TOTAL
1 supermicro "SUPER X5DPA-TGM+" E7501 CHIPSET for dual 604 xeon $ 232.00 $ 232.00
2 Kingston ValueRam 184pin 1gb ecc registered ddr333 pc-2700 $ 265.00 $ 530.00
2 intel xeon 2.4a GHz 533FSB 1MB L3 Cache, Hyperthreading $ 275.00 $ 550.00
2 western digital raptor 74gb 10,000rpm SATA, model wd740gd $ 182.00 $ 364.00
1 ASPIRE X-SuperAlien aluminum server case 500W PS(atxa6sw/500) $ 139.00 $ 139.00
1 logitech black optical desktop keybd/mouse combo $ 19.00 $ 19.00
1 samsung syncmaster 997DF 19" flat(screen) CRT monitor $ 219.00 $ 219.00
1 belkin universal series 1200VA UPS model F6C120-UNV $ 129.99 $ 129.99
SubTotal $ 2,182.99
Shipping ??????????????
Tax Rate(s) 7.75% $ 169.18
TOTAL $ 2,352.17

SOFTWARE
Qty Description Unit Price TOTAL
4 windows xp pro (3-pack) = 12 copies $ 439.00 $ 1,756.00
10 unreal tournament 2004 $ 29.99 $ 299.90
10 warcraft 3 battlechest(includes frozen throne expansion) $ 29.99 $ 299.90
10 farcry(free with processor/motherboard purchase) $ - $ -
10 doom3(free with video card purchase) $ - $ -
10 half life platinum edition 2 $ 19.99 $ 199.90
10 battlefield vietnam $ 31.99 $ 319.90
10 tribes: vengeance $ 44.99 $ 449.90
1 mircosoft small business server 2003 w/ 5CAL $ 499.00 $ 499.00
SubTotal $ 3,824.50
Shipping ??????????????
Tax Rate(s) 7.75% $ 296.40
TOTAL $ 4,120.90

STATIONS
Qty Description Unit Price TOTAL
10 DFI Lanparty UT NF3 250GB $ 129.00 $ 1,290.00
10 ANTEC Life Style Series Black Case With 380W PS, Model "SONATA" $ 98.00 $ 980.00
10 Corsair (Dual Pack) 184 Pin 512MBx2 DDR PC-3200 - OEM $ 163.00 $ 1,630.00
10 AMD Athlon 64 3200+ retail box $ 204.00 $ 2,040.00
10 SONY 16X DVD-ROM Drive, Model DDU1613, OEM $ 23.99 $ 239.90
10 Seagate 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model ST380013AS-RK, Retail $ 98.00 $ 980.00
10 logitech black optical desktop keybd/mouse combo $ 19.00 $ 190.00
1 linksys 16port workgroup switch model ezxs16w $ 63.99 $ 63.99
1 linksys 4port firewall router model befsx41 $ 62.99 $ 62.99
10 samsung syncmaster 997DF 19" flat(screen) CRT monitor $ 219.00 $ 2,190.00
5 belkin 7 outlet surgemaster power strip f9h710-12 $ 12.99 $ 64.95
1 hp psc 2510 multi function printer, network ready $ 327.00 $ 327.00
10 labtec elite-835 stereo headphones $ 15.00 $ 150.00
10 evga nvidia geforce 6800 GT 256MB w/ FREE DOOM3 $ 420.00 $ 4,200.00
12 arrow micro 25ft. Cat 5e network cable (grey) $ 2.99 $ 35.88
SubTotal $ 14,444.71
Shipping ??????????????
Tax Rate(s) 7.75% $ 1,119.47
TOTAL $ 15,564.18

OVERALL TOTAL: $22,037.25

 

[DrVos]

You are going to have to rework the the quotes for the valve and blizzard games. They have specific licensing programs that "cybercafe's" must abide by. EA games is much more flexible with their licensing and, as far as I know, will let you just pay the retail price for the game.

A good resource for all of that kinda stuff is igames.org, though you have have to be a paying member to view the forums, they have invaluable information.

 

[imported_CyberWire]

interesting.. i'll have to look into that.. thanks!

 

[DrVos]

Oh, and you might want to look into an all in one solution that secures the desktops, provides a management interface, tracks time, etc. I'm pretty fond of smartlaunch.

 

[imported_CyberWire]

do you have experience with this type of store?

 

[DrVos]

We just opened about 2 weeks ago. Still working out the bugs. 24 computers in a cybercafe/coffeshop establishment. I'd highly suggest that you and your client check out igames, its a site dedicated to people in this type of business. Building the computers is the easy part, there are tons of other things that'll slow you down unless you have good research.

 

[MBony]

Is he going to have the customers pay in time alotments? 30min., 1hr., etc.? If so, how do you plan on managing that so users don't go over their paid time?

 

[imported_CyberWire]

drvos just covered that with that awesome looking software package..


off to research some more....

 

[MBony]

Originally posted by: CyberWire
drvos just covered that with that awesome looking software package..


off to research some more....

doh! left the computer for a while and he posted while i was away...

 

[LiLithTecH]

16 port Linksys router would not be my first choice (or 2nd, or 3rd...)
for a gaming network.

 

[imported_CyberWire]

lilith, what would you recommend... I've talked to the client some more and hes looking to maybe go a little larger from the start now.. total of 24 stations.....

 

[LiLithTecH]

Avante and USR (3Com) have a good selection of similairly priced switches,
with a little better control and throughtput.

Or, depending on you level of expertise, look for a used CISCO 2950.
It will cost twice as much used then the Avante or USR, but you get
what you pay for in this instance.