• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Creating a PC for the Small Business Owner....

M

mogli

Member
Looking to build a very basic Small business office PC....here's what I have put together so far.
This computer will NOT be running any games. Computer will only be running MS office, and small business database programs.

The budget = <$400
It has to be 5-yrs future proof


AMD 64? Sempron? Duron? XP??????

512MB PC3200 Mem (about $70)

Floppy ($9.99)

NO MONITOR NEEDED
NO SPEAKERS NEEDED

56K Modem?????

Wireless keyboard and mouse??????????? (good quality)

Vid card???????? (on board video)

Motherboard????? (Needs to be able to support Wi-fi)

CD-RW drive????????

Case + PSU????????

If anyone can think of anything that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks alot!!
 
athlon 64 no DOUBT. socket 754. no modem. just look out for sales at best buy for hard drives and online for other parts. i dont really know about other parts though. i dont know much about a64 since i dont need to upgrade
 
Don't listen to Nautikal.

Sempron 2400+
512 DDR333 RAM
Abit NF7-S Rev 2
80 gig HDD (more or less, as the situation warrants)
Floppy
Cheap DVD/RW read only drive.
 
Thank you very much!!! nick1985, really appreciate it.

Out of curiousity will that CPU be future proof for 5+ years?
and
Is the Biostar reliable??

thanks again.
 
For the price get a DELL. Plus he'll get some sort of tech support and warranty on the machine. For the basic computer, the deals at dell are pretty amazing.
 
With Dell you also get a legal copy of Windows, so an angry employee can't rat him out to the BSA for piracy. That's one form of future-proofing.
 
Originally posted by: mogli
Thank you very much!!! nick1985, really appreciate it.

Out of curiousity will that CPU be future proof for 5+ years?
and
Is the Biostar reliable??

thanks again.
Click to expand...

well i dont know if ANY cpu will be "future proof" for 5 years, but that is a very good, very reliable CPU. as far as that motherboard goes, i have used it twice and love it.
 
Please keep in mind that PCs have an average useful life of three years of less. So there is no way you are going to get one for $400 that would be good for 5 years.

At work during the last five years I have purchased some 30 Dells, HPs, self built and locally assembled white boxes averaging about 700$ each. Not one Dell or HP has failed, and their onsite service is next business day should you need it even for minor stuff. To get prompt service you find local telephone numbers for Round Rock, TX and call them directly. Every local shop I have used disappeared or changed hands before year 2. In my experience, Dell and HP deliver very reliable PCs but for some reason appear to be slow. I have not been happy with their basic system 3000 series or the C compact sub-series specially the ones with integrated graphics. Lately they have been running Outrageous Deals in the Small Business segment where you can get a pretty powerful system with a 17" lcd display for about $750 shipped. 60 days credit is good too. There is no way you can put together a system, including OS, for that price. The most reliable system I have built used an 2.4P4C, Intel 865GBFLK mb, crucial RAM, Seagate HDs, Enermax PSU, Liteon CDRW, no-name case and a Viewsonic monitor - this has run 24/7 for two years without any BSODs or lockups.

At home I have 3 Athlon based systems self built and one dell. I have had two hard drive failures (Maxtor) and one mb with leaking capacitors (Epox). I particularly like the system suggested by nick1985, Biostars' are reliable/feature packed boards for a reasonable price - but for proven reliability stick with Asus (and longetivity - you will need bios updates three years down the road).
 
Dude, get them a Dell. Warranty, service (better than you doing it), price, valid copy of windows. Oh and 5 years is unreasonable.
 
I wouldn't buy a mobo that doesn't fully support ECC memory for a business. And get ECC memory to match. I can't imagine really needing a 64-bit processor for small business apps for at least 5 years - when it comes down to it, even a text-based user interface is still more than adequate for business. All this proportional spacing, GUI and WYSIWYG as often as not just gets in the way of getting the job done (appearance over substance).
. Tyan S2495AN or ANRS (discontinued but still available around the web) with 512MB of ECC memory in two 256 MB modules (so as not to be totally down while waiting for a replacement). Any pre-Barton XP processor (don't think the mobo will support Barton). Seagate or Hitachi 80GB drive (often around $50. AR) and get a second one for backing up (mount in a removable tray or USB 2 external case). ATI Radeon 7000 video card - very good 2D performance, reliable and inexpensive. A good optical drive like the Plextor PX-712A ($30. rebate thru the end of the month/year). That's a good basis, IMO. If you HAVE to run Win, then Win 2k (don't have to kiss Billy G's butt every time you turn around), otherwise Linux - Linspire (nee Lindows) can be had for $25. right now with 6 months of their software library thrown in https://shop.linspire.com/shop...fulfillment%5D=digital">Linkage</a>. Of course you can get other distros for free - but few others are so easy to use.
. And there's always the issue of support - Consider going with Dell, but getting one properly tricked out with a mobo that supports ECC and ECC memory may blow the budget... Don't forget the UPS! And get a decent line-interactive one, not the simple battery backup boxes.
. As others said, there is no way to future proof for 5 years.
.bh.

The Antec SLK3700AMB case is on sale at newegg today (in the Daily Deals - may not have long to act as the deal started yesterday) for $69. shipped. If you're dead set on DIY, get this case today.!.
. The SLK2600AMB that nick mentioned is a good case too, but it lacks the HD isolators and other features of the 3700. The 3700 is well worth the extra $9.
 
Don't forget you'll need an OS also. I have priced out building systems for several clients I do web development for. The price of the sytem isnt bad but you add that darn Windows OS on there and the price jumps. Too bad most "normal" users wouldn't be capable of using/understanding linux based systems.
 
you should be asking what stuff will be future proof for six months. get them a dell. save yourself the hassle from advice from people that have been in your shoes. you can't beat dell and their tech support is excellent.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top