I'm Customizing Computers to Buy for Work

[Aztech]

What's up gentlemen (and lady or two),

It's getting close to my turn to upgrade/replace systems for my project at work. As stated, money will be no object.

I want your recommendations on the latest and greatest hardware products, manufacturers, system builders, technologies, etc... What's here and what should I wait for that's coming out soon and the like. I'm starting my search at Monarchcomputer because of their resellerratings score and recommendations here on AT. Stability and fault-tolerance are primary concerns. Don't need the latest video cards as our applications are not super video intensive. So, I don't think I'm interested in this new SLI stuff.

One main thing I need to know first, is what processor to choose, since that'll narrow the motherboard search.

Processors: Intel vs. AMD and furthermore, Desktop vs. Server chips (i.e. should I look at AMD FX or Opteron or Intel's P4 or Xeon, and also contemplating dual chips)

So, anyone feel like sharing the knowledge? Thanks.

 

[bunker]

How mission critical are these machines going to be. I hate to say it, but for business class support, stay the heck away from Monarch, Newegg, etc.... and go with Dell or HP (compaq)

EDIT: I should mention, just got my first shipment of 28 Dell workstations. Dual 3.2 Xeons and 2gb of ram .

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: bunker
How mission critical are these machines going to be. I hate to say it, but for business class support, stay the heck away from Monarch, Newegg, etc.... and go with Dell or HP (compaq)

Yup. I would not go the custom built route for a corporate deployment. You do not want to be responsible for hardware troubleshooting and support.

 

[Aztech]

Wow, surprised me with those responses. I appreciate the concern, but while these are for work, they're not going to be your typical desktops on users' desks. These will be field systems that we support ourselves. I'm probably not going to piece one together myself (though I am capable and have done it in the past), but I wanna know the best components to get someone like Monarch to build for us. I think I can trust their work, judging by their reviews.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

Another vote for Dell or HP. Look at the rackmounted servers and a large RAID array.

 

[Aztech]

Originally posted by: bunker
How mission critical are these machines going to be. I hate to say it, but for business class support, stay the heck away from Monarch, Newegg, etc.... and go with Dell or HP (compaq)

EDIT: I should mention, just got my first shipment of 28 Dell workstations. Dual 3.2 Xeons and 2gb of ram .

I don't know how mission critical. I just know I want solid components. I look at Seagate for hard drives because they back them with five year warranties.

What sort of things will change with the mission critaclness of the systems?

And, what will your Dell Dual Xeons be doing? Why did you go with that choice? Thanks.

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: Aztech
I don't know how mission critical. I just know I want solid components. I look at Seagate for hard drives because they back them with five year warranties.

What sort of things will change with the mission critaclness of the systems?

And, what will your Dell Dual Xeons be doing? Why did you go with that choice? Thanks.

The dells will be doing enterprise GIS (geographic information systems).

By mission critical, I mean can you go a few days without a machine while you wait for Monarch to RMA you a part? With the Dell's, I have same day service. A part breaks, they ship a new one (or a whole new machine) that day, overnight.

How many machines you looking to buy?

 

[mwmorph]

dual opterons.
http://voodoopc.com/system/quoteKitchen.aspx?productID=1050&productTechID=1
voodoo pc-dual opteron system-0 total fans in entire system
http://voodoopc.com/system/quoteKitchen.aspx?productID=1037&productTechID=1
Voodoo pc-dual opterons-fan cooled

premier system builders(best of the best) if price is no subject.(charges VERY hefty premium)

use dual opterons(im saying it agaimn cause it's important)

full loaded falcons can cost more than a freaking toyota camry loaded though(around 23.5k for the dual opteron)

some of the best service in the industry.

 

[Aztech]

Originally posted by: bunker

Originally posted by: Aztech
I don't know how mission critical. I just know I want solid components. I look at Seagate for hard drives because they back them with five year warranties.

What sort of things will change with the mission critaclness of the systems?

And, what will your Dell Dual Xeons be doing? Why did you go with that choice? Thanks.

The dells will be doing enterprise GIS (geographic information systems).

By mission critical, I mean can you go a few days without a machine while you wait for Monarch to RMA you a part? With the Dell's, I have same day service. A part breaks, they ship a new one (or a whole new machine) that day, overnight.

How many machines you looking to buy?

Well, we usually just stock replacement parts. That works as long as we can isolate the faulty component . We also bring entire spare computers for when we don't know what went down, or if it was a major component like the motherboard.

I'll be buying about 10 machines (6 for the field, and 4 will be engineering desktop equivalents for the four engineers on the project )

 

[Gunbuster]

you need to tell us what the boxes are for! Servers? Desktops? Laptops? Usage?

 

[Aztech]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
dual opterons.
http://voodoopc.com/system/quoteKitchen.aspx?productID=1050&productTechID=1
voodoo pc-dual opteron system-0 total fans in entire system


premier system builders(best of the best) if price is no subject.

use dual opterons(im saying it agaimn cause it's important)

full loaded falcons can cost more than a freaking toyota camry loaded though(around 23.5k for the dual opteron)

Thanks, I will look at these two "extreme" manufacturers. However, I guess they make me rephrase the "money is no object" statement. I've got big money available, but I still have to be smart with it. So, I'll take ideas from those sites, but I won't go with either of them.

 

[Aztech]

Originally posted by: Gunbuster
you need to tell us what the boxes are for! Servers? Desktops? Laptops? Usage?

Ok, they're gonna be high performance data acquisition and processing systems. The six field ones will be rackmounted in portable racks. The 4 engineering ones will be on desks.

 

[jackschmittusa]

You don't provide enough info to make recomendations. Going to use multi-threaded apps? Going to use huge database or spreadsheet files? Local or NAS storage? Going to use engineering apps? Are power and air conditioning a factor in the enviornment to be considered? A good system needs to be designed around what you need it to do, not just default to bleeding edge tech.

 

[mwmorph]

go monarch then. they do have quality servic and they use what you tell them to use.(no watered down hardware).

 

[Aztech]

Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
You don't provide enough info to make recomendations. Going to use multi-threaded apps? Going to use huge database or spreadsheet files? Local or NAS storage? Going to use engineering apps? Are power and air conditioning a factor in the enviornment to be considered? A good system needs to be designed around what you need it to do, not just default to bleeding edge tech.

I know that, but I'm just asking about the guts of the machine from Anandtech, 'cause that's what you guys are famous for. But to answer some of your questions:
Storage will be local
Engineering apps...hmm, yes a homemade program that will be crunching mad numbers. I don't know the details of it, I didn't write it.

 

[Aztech]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
go monarch then. they do have quality servic and they use what you tell them to use.(no watered down hardware).

Yeah! That's one of the main reasons I'll use them. I can specify each component to a name brand and look up its specs.

Well, thanks everyone. I'm rethinking this. I need to just do more research on my own first. So, maybe recommend me Internet resources instead.
I'll go to Storage Review for drive info...

 

[Ike0069]

No way I'd go with Monarch here. Quality service? Not IMO.
You'd be much better off building it yourself and getting a dual Opteron on a Tyan Thunder K8WE.
If that's not an option, go with HP.

 

[MrControversial]

Well damn, dude you seem content on getting custom built stuff no matter what the advice is. As a System/Network Admin, I would NEVER recommend custom built CPUs in any large number. Dell and HP have factories that are better suited for mass-produced computers. You don't know if you get a bad batch of components and you're screwed, not mentioning the 15% restocking fee that RMAs require.

IMHO, go to Dells website and pick the best system and get some 21" LCD's. If something goes wrong, it's not your problem it's Dell's.

 

[imported_2x]

Originally posted by: MrControversial
Well damn, dude you seem content on getting custom built stuff no matter what the advice is. As a System/Network Admin, I would NEVER recommend custom built CPUs in any large number. Dell and HP have factories that are better suited for mass-produced computers. You don't know if you get a bad batch of components and you're screwed, not mentioning the 15% restocking fee that RMAs require.

IMHO, go to Dells website and pick the best system and get some 21" LCD's. If something goes wrong, it's not your problem it's Dell's.

Ditto.

 

[Cheesetogo]

I would get HP, as dell does not use opterons (and hell will freeze over before they do)

 

[beatle]

As others have said, support is where you should spend your money, not necessarily parts, ESPECIALLY if these are field sites without a tech standing by to fix them if something goes wrong.

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
I would get HP, as dell does not use opterons (and hell will freeze over before they do)

 

[ShadowBlade]

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
I would get HP, as dell does not use opterons (and hell will freeze over before they do)

according to dante's inferno, the lowest pits of hell are in fact frozen over

i hate dell all the same for myself, okay for mass buying

 

[gsellis]

Having just moved on from supporting this for 13 years, don't. Call Dell or HP and get an account rep and a quote. You job moves to integration, customization, and vendor contact. With business contracts, you can get 4 hr repair on machines in the middle of the night on Sunday morning.