I'm building PCs for 5 clients, what hardware would you suggest?

[Arkitech]

I have'nt built a PC from scratch in almost 2 years but just recently I've had about 5 people who wanted me to put together a PC for them. I'm confident that I can do it but I'm trying to figure out what I should purchase in hardware.

My clients are:

3 older couples
2 co-workers about my age (late 20's early 30's)

I want to buy the hardware in bulk but it has to be generic enough for everyone to take advantage of it. Each one of my clients has stated they want to use the internet so I'll definitely need to buy modems and/or nic cards. But I need to figure out how big of a hard drive I should purchase and what type of video cards to go with. I don't want to go overkill on some parts, but I also don't want to build an underpowered machine they are'nt happy with.

Any suggestions (by the way I have a fairly good idea of what I should get but I'm just curious what some of you guys who do this all the time would purchase)

 

[Lucky]

I would not recommend building the systems for the "older couples". Tell them to buy a dell, seriously, unless they are really comfortable with computers. The last thing you want to be doing is endless support for three older clients who cant figure out how to start AOL. I know thats stereotyping a bit but I've found it to generally hold true.

 

[MikeMike]

I'd go with 5 nforce 420's since they have integrated gpu, sound, and nic's They arent all that exspensive. Then for the 2 co-workers if they game lightly they can use the system as it will perform ok wit todays games. Or if the 2 co-workers game a lot get them a ti4200 for under 200. The savings on the 5 boards should be good
Then get 5 1800+.
5 32x lite-on cd-rw's The older couples may like it if you show them how tyo use it and d/l mp3's.
5 dvd-drives (lite-on).
5 fdd.
5 modems.
5 wireless mouse and keyboards.
5 antec sx 840b? or any case of your choice, antec is my choice
7 sticks crucial pc2100 256mb. 1 stick per older couple and 2 per co-worker



Do they need monitors?
If so 955df 19"or 755df 17" samsung only diff is size and price difference

 

[HokieESM]

I, too, took a long hiatus from building PCs (about three years for me)... you'll be happy to hear that its actually FAR easier than it used to be. But, there are FAR more choices... which can make life difficult.

If I were you (and keep in mind that I'm just a 24 year old grad student), I would go simple and stable. If these people aren't hardcore gamers, then I'd do the following:

-Buy FIVE Intel motherboards (or Intel chipset) that support the 478 pin P4 and PC2100 DDR. Nice and simple. Onboard LAN and sound might be a good idea too. This allows for a good bit of flexibility.... and stability.
-RAM: Get name-brand (Corsair, Kingston) PC2100 and slide it in. 256 MB for the older couples, 512 MB for the younger (they're more likely to tax the system)
-CPU: if the older couples are just browsing the web, pick up a P4 1.8A (the "A" is important)... nice price right now. The younger couple (depending on their budget constraints) might prefer a 2.0A or a 2.2 (or a 2.26B... maybe)... but, in all honesty, for general productivity, a 1.8A is plenty. DON'T overclock (stability suffers... as do warranties <grin>).
-HDD: 40GB is plenty.... unless you want to shell out and get a NICE 80GB WD800JB. And also reasonably easy to add a second one later, if they so desire
-CD-RW: they're cheap, reasonably fast, and can compensate for a LOT of storage space issues.
-Video Card: unless they're playing games, go get a nice, cheap GF4 MX440 (or a ATI 8500, if you can find one cheap).
-Monitor: a nice 17 or 19" could be good... but they're pricey. Base this on your price specs... cheap, maybe a Samsung 955, expensive.. maybe a Sony G420S.
-OS: I would go for Win2K for stability.... but if you don't think they're going to like to "log on" every time, go get XP Home.

If price is a SERIOUS issue, you could try AMD (but look around for a STABLE board)... but the rest of recommendations should apply.

Sorry for such a long post.... and keep in mind "Its just my opinion, and I could be wrong". Best of luck.

 

[jose]

Honestly, I'd tell them to buy a Dell/Gateway.. Your about to find out how much grief you get when dealing w/ friends/co workers.

The amount of money you make will no way cover all the support that you'll have to provide to your customers.

They'll load all kinds of junk/viruses etc. then ask you why the computer YOU sold them is not working.

Personally I only build servers because the customers leave these alone or their business is shot.

Good Luck
Jose

 

[HokieESM]

A very good point.... might do well to listen to this guy. Not to mention, Dell has some halfway decent prices, good warranties and nice "looking" systems (and you wouldn't believe how much this influences the non-computer-saavy).

 

[Operandi]

My clients are:

3 older couples
2 co-workers about my age (late 20's early 30's)

If you want some helpful recommendations you have to state what the machines are going to be used for, not who is going to be using them.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Recommend Dell, but then get tricky and give them MicronPC or Alienware if they want to be "hardcore." If you're building it for them to save money, then do it, but warn them that you will NOT provide tech support. Build the systems, and burn it in so you know you are not at fault. then let them run wild....Nforce is a great value board. GF2 integrated graphics will take them a long way.

 

[Howard]

I wouldn't recommend Alienware to anybody.

Falcon NW and Voodoo Computers, yes, but those are expensive.

 

[Gunbuster]

Intel brand mainboards with onboard sound, NIC, and video

The D845GRG looks like a good choice

No overclocking and few bios settings are a good thing when building boxes for other people

 

[human2k]

If you have a tight budget paying $160 for a 1.6A isnt so smart (becuz ur not gonna be overclocking are you?). What would be better is a cheap Athlon XP + nForce solution...........stability and performance with Silence:

Abit Nforce board with usb2.0/raid/lan/nForce audio - $88 from newegg
Athlon XP 1600- $67 from newegg
SVC GC68 Heatsink with 80MM Fan (very quiet HSF)-$6 from svcompucycle.com
mushkin Basic 256MB PC2100 $65 from mushkin.com free s/h
Maxtop Midtower chassis with 350W AMd approved PSU- $39 newegg
2x80MM NBM 22DBA case fans (for intake/exauhst duties, inaudible noise)-$6 svcompucycle
$10 encore 56k pci modem from newegg
Seagate 40GB barrucda 7200rpm- $76 from dell free s/h
MSI TnT 32MB AGP Video Card-$30 from newegg
52x BTC cd-rom-$22

total before tax/shipping - $409

(just grab some refurbed 17inch monitors from ur local computershow for under $100 and your set)

but then again.......your gonna have to support these systems......might as well go dell unless they paying for support.

 

[Arkitech]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.


I don't plan on offering support. I will test the machines extensively and then I'll make a ghost image of one of the PC's and copy out the image to the other machines. I'll retest the ghosted machines and then deliver them to the clients. I will offer a limited warranty on the PC and monitor but I simply don't have the time or desire to play support person.

 

[murphy55d]

Tough to beat the nForce solution here... definitely the route I would go.

For cpu I'd give em all 1 ghz Durons for 36 bucks a pop (according to pricewatch)

As if an elderly couple needs an Athlon XP 1600+