Point-of-Sale PC - CPU/Mobo recommendations?

[LokutusofBorg]

I'm building a couple PCs to replace some extremely old boxes that are acting as the cashier/checkout machines at a friend's store/shop.

The only thing these machines do is run their POS software, have bar scanner peripherals attached, etc. Obviously since these really old machines are running this software alright, these new builds don't need to be very powerful. But what they do need to be is reliable. They need to essentially be on nearly 24/7 and never crash.

EDIT: The machines are not proprietary, touchscreen-enabled, special POS systems, or anything of the sort. They are just regular old PCs. And the software is basically like QuickBooks... it simply interacts with a USB hand-held scanner, and talks to a server.

I want to go Haswell because of the lower power usage, and have narrowed my CPU choices to the following (Newegg compare list):

• i3-4130
• i3-4330 (this is sitting kind of at the sweet spot at $149)
• i3-4340
• i5-4430 (Newegg apparently doesn't have the S version of this one, so this one's probably out)
• i5-4440S

I haven't kept up on hardware as much as I used to, so I'm really feeling like a noob trying to pick a CPU/mobo combination. I finally found a nice article that runs down the chipsets available for Haswell (H81, B85, H87, Q87, Z87) and am leaning towards either H87 or Z87. Luckily, looking at the LGA1150 best sellers on Newegg I'm seeing boards with those chipsets down at prices that should fit my budget. One question: in that list are some MSI boards that say "Military Class". Anybody know what that really means?

So I'm leaning towards either those MSI boards (if someone can explain what "Military Class" really means) or one of the Asus or ASRock boards.

Recommendations?

The rest of my build will be utilitarian: an SSD (probably Samsung EVO) -- again for power and stability, an 80+ Bronze PSU, some good DDR-1600 RAM, a DVD-RW, and a case that allows me to add front fans. I don't really need help picking those items out, but any suggestions are welcome. Total budget is around $500.

Thanks.

 

[aigomorla]

i assume u have the software and everything?

also having a touch screen to help registered people navigate faster is the whole point in a POS machine.

Otherwise, ur better off having them write orders down, and then having some guy in the back office input it manually though excel or quickbooks.

I never did try to build a POS machine, because they have a very different function / form over the standard desktop.
I have serviced a couple of them, and they are not something i would find interesting building.


MSI "Military Class" means they use just that... its parts which are approved for military usage, which is usually ranked near medical, but slightly below on some tech stuff.
However cuz its military class does not mean military engineered. That means the parts and function were both specialized for military, which the MSI isnt.

The only thing u should take is, it uses higher class capacitors then a budget board, however it will rank below a "ROG" series ASUS and a GIGY Assasin.
ROG series (Republic of Gamers) from ASUS is the boards which bears the MAXIMUS or RAMPAGE prefix on the board... ie.. the 300 dollar boards...

 

[paul878]

Get a Dell box for business need, if it breaks they can fix it next day.

 

[aigomorla]

Get a Dell box for business need, if it breaks they can fix it next day.

i have to agree with this too..

or a POS machine from an authorized vendor who will service the machine and help with software setup.

 

[LokutusofBorg]

Get a Dell box for business need, if it breaks they can fix it next day.

Yes, I'm weighing the Dell option against this option. I need to know how much I can build a solid little box for before I go shopping at Dell or Dell Outlet.

The software they use is basically like Quickbooks. It doesn't have touchscreen capabilities, it just can interact with a hand scanner that reads bar codes, and a cash drawer. They actually have the POS software on all the computers in the office, they just have two up front that are connected to the scanners/cash drawers. Those two are old Pentium 4 boxes that are on their last legs (though notably they've lasted for years...).

So that's what I need to build: low-power, long-lasting, super stable machines that can last years. I have plenty of experience with Dells, and I have plenty of experience building computers. I have equal confidence in both. As long as I choose components that are stable above all else.

or a POS machine from an authorized vendor who will service the machine and help with software setup.

That's what they're paying me for. Like I said, the software is basically like Quickbooks. The store manager knows how to install and configure it, and he isn't a computer guy at all.

So any recommendations on at least the motherboard, that doesn't include $300 overclocking/SLI-optimized behemoths?

 

[Charlie98]

How about a nice B85 board to go with one of those i3's? I put a B75 board in my HTPC and it's been solid all the way, I'm very pleased with it... B85 would be the next logical step up.

 

[mfenn]

Get a Dell box for business need, if it breaks they can fix it next day.

Agree. A bunch of cheap Optiplex's seems like the way to go. Self-built machines will cost you way more in terms of headaches and man-hours. Just assembling them adds at least $50 to the cost of each one.

 

[Torn Mind]

The build will be prone to failure as any other typical self-built PC because the budget does not allow for more "insurance". Most builds go without a hitch, but there is enough "duds" out there to be unlucky and be subjected to a time-consuming RMA. RAM and mobos need to be RMA'd if one of them is a dud. Software RAID could be implemented to reduce the risk of downtime in case of a dead hard drive. Redundant PSUs aren't really an option on the desktop due to form factor; the cost is also high. Buying extra motherboards and RAM that won't be used is not particularly kind on the wallet.

A UPS and line conditioner would be two devices to get to mitigate risks of damage due to electrical failures.

So you might as well just allow for the small chance that the something will break and have another company get it fixed up the next day than deal with the RMA process or procuring a new replacement.