I want to modernise my office computers

Lra-mistar on 22/03/2014 - 16:53

Hi,

I want to modernize my office computers. I need to replace 4 computers, a server (all 4 computers use data stored on the server through a wired network) and a laptop for portable access to the server so I can work away from the office.

I want to spend $500-900 each on an office computer. Ideally I'd want them to last ~5 years if possible. They will not need to be used for graphic intensive activities (games etc.) They'll be used primarily with Microsoft Access, emailing, and web browsing. I'd want the laptop to be 17" ideally but 15.6" is ok too.

The server should have ~500GB of space and will be running a Microsoft Access database (~2GB) in which all the computers will be accessing at once.

Can I get any recommendations for computers in the criteria that give the bang for buck please?

Thanks in Advance.

Computing

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 22/03/2014 - 17:03
    +1

    Dell Inspiron 3000

    i3-4130 Haswell
    4GB DDRr 1600mhz RAM
    500GB 7200RPM drive
    Win 7
    Dell 20 Monitor, 19.5 Inch VIS E2014H
    Keyboard and mice
    1 Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis

    $598 per unit, after $100 cash off discount. You can add-on 2 years of Next Business Day warranty for $119, which will bring the total to $717.

  • ra-mistar on 22/03/2014 - 17:11

    Thanks for your very quick reply and great bargain find. I've got monitors already though, all I really want replaced is the actual computers.

    • scrimshaw on 22/03/2014 - 17:20
      +3

      Probably look at the OptiPlex 3020, the specifications are the same but as it's a business model it comes with 3 years of NBD warranty.

      Or you can keep the monitors and set up dual screens for everyone?

      • [Deactivated] on 24/03/2014 - 17:00

        I couldn't do officework without dual screens. How any does is just tragic.

  • ethereal88 on 22/03/2014 - 17:20

    i5 4570 + Samsung EVO 256GB (or 500GB) + Gigabyte H87M-D3H + 8GB RAM kit + Antec Neo Eco PSU + pick a case

    Have MSY build a couple of them. If you want 5yrs, go for a quality mobo and PSU, and I'd pass on a dual core. Its 2014, if you want longevity go quad. I'd also drop the HDD and go for SSD only, way way faster, your employees will be pleasantly surprised. Laptop, varies, custom (Clevo) is the most flexible.

    • scrimshaw on 22/03/2014 - 17:21
      +2

      A business requires minimal downtime, whiteboxes are not suitable as the vendor doesn't provide NBD support. If this was a home computer, then yes, but a business needs good tech support and fast technician turnaround.

  • ra-mistar on 22/03/2014 - 17:52
    +1

    @Scrimshaw, the Dell Inspiron 3000 costs $798 with a free monitor and 3 years NBD warranty. The Optiplex costs $849 with 3 years NBD warranty and no free monitor. What's the difference?
    Is there a comparable price for other companies such as HP etc?

    • scrimshaw on 22/03/2014 - 18:02
      +1

      Optiplex is more reliable and durable and so it is geared towards business use. This basically explains why the Optiplex series are more expensive than the rest of their product lines, but basically, Optiplexes go through more rigorous testing and have better quality parts, better cooling, as well as having a much longer availability of spare parts offered by Dell (5 years, as opposed to just 3 years).

      You can also check out the Lenovo Thinkcentre series. For e.g Thinkcentre E73 model, with Core i3 4130, upgrade to 3 years on-site warranty equates to around $698 per unit.

      • WalterPPK on 22/03/2014 - 19:08
        +1

        Good advice Scrimshaw. On the topic of Dell warranties, the pro-support option is worth getting if you can get Dell to include it for a reasonable price. That way you'll be dealing with someone in Australia when you call for support. However, even their standard option is pretty decent to deal with. I've never had hassles from the hardware support.

        Ra-Mistar: Have you got backup sorted out? That's not something you want to overlook. Even if you just replicate the database to another location such as a home office, and take a snapshot each 24 hours from that … With computers it isn't so much a question of if something will go wrong as when something will go wrong.

        • ra-mistar on 23/03/2014 - 18:59

          I just had a look at the Lenovo E73. It's comparable to the Dell, only $150 cheaper. I think I'll get that.

    • [Deactivated] on 24/03/2014 - 17:02

      Dells lines are all good but expect lower quality on Inspiron because that's the tier that has to compete with the likes of Acer, etc which means price becomes a bigger factor that quality on build.

  • mrmarkau67 on 22/03/2014 - 23:29
    -1
    1. Dual monitors.
    2. SSDs.
    3. How long Windows has been installed for. (Hint: more than a year is bad)

    For office use, the rest is a rounding error.

    To modernise your PCs, upgrade to dual monitors, SSDs, and re-install Windows. If they still run badly, buy new ones. Set up your home directories and Outlook files so that almost nothing is local and you can re-install Windows painlessly each year. Have one spare laptop in case one of the PCs go down.

  • PlasticSpaceman on 23/03/2014 - 08:34
    +1

    I'd consider laptops. Cheap now, low power usage, have a built in UPS ;-)…. usually pretty reliable as they are designed to be lugged around so if they stay in an office they usually last forever….. can plug into existing monitors and external keyboards plus have added advantage people can take them home to work.

    As for the server, unless you are playing with huge files or are perhaps a retail organisation with POS kit [or a number of other reasons] I'd consider shifting to SoftLayer or Amazon or Rackspace etc and then you don't have to pay for all that power the server is using and of course anyone can access it anywhere. Cost of running it becomes an opex thing which makes accountants happy. Generally the cloud provider will also deal with ensuring your data is backed up (something many small businesses, ah, forget), although I'd also recommend backing up separately anyhow. I would have suggested something like a Qnap but don't think it supports access databases.

  • backpaqer on 23/03/2014 - 10:41

    17" monitors are pretty tiny. If desk space isn't an issue, your staff would probably appreciate something bigger. My office is running at least 19" on most desktops and I'm running dual 21" monitors at work and have dual 24" at home…I've also got 27" and that's probably a bit over the top.

    • c0balt on 23/03/2014 - 23:19

      O.P. referenced 17" for a laptop, not a desktop monitor.

  • redraoh on 24/03/2014 - 01:23
    +1

    If you're not technically inclined and/or would rather focus on your business, get a 3-5 year on-site warranty. Usually not that much extra from Dell, Lenovo, etc.

    Get in contact with a rep too. By just asking they will usually drop the price by a fair bit. Bargain even more and you should save hundreds if not over a thousand on the total price.

    Will the server just host the database? Why not use a NAS?

    Wouldn't go any less/more than 8GB RAM per computer. CPU (so long as fairly recent, as it will be if you buy from Dell etc.) and disks not as important for what computers will be used for. Maybe allow for expansion of RAM and dual monitors if possible.

  • meowbert on 24/03/2014 - 11:29

    So what have you got on your server?

    If you've got email and other applications running on there, don't forget you will need someone to put them on your new server. Sometimes if the applications are too old they won't run on your new server and will need to be upgraded too. This will cost more $$$.

    +1 for cloud services but may too too complex if you're not technically savvy or no appetite for change.
    Also +1 for the onsite warranty it'll save problems down the line.

    Cheers

  • ra-mistar on 27/03/2014 - 17:00

    I bought 4 E73 SFF with i3. I've decided on creating a private cloud server from a PC. Are there any suggestions for this?

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