Need some advice on building a new office system.

[jyates]

Hi all,

The guy who runs our accounting software is asking me about buidling our company a new computer and I'm not up to date on what's what now a days to even give a suggestion to him.

We are running Server 2000 on the current system and it's a low end P4 and is running great but he thinks he needs a new one for some reason.

Question is, is there any reason to go dual processor if a lowly P4 is more than
enough for our needs? Actually only 2 other computers are tied to it via a network
connection.

Basically the only program they are running is an older DOS based accounting
type program.

Any ideas? What would be the minimum you guys would suggest?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[jpeyton]

If it's running great, what's the point in building a new one? Maybe the old one could use some sprucing up (more memory, software optimization), but if you're running older DOS-based programs on a network with only two other computers, you don't need to upgrade to a new system.

 

[mechBgon]

It sounds like a job for a 300MHz Celeron 😉

What I would focus on is getting as much bulletproof-ness as possible for the dollar. A tape-backup drive, tapes, software and offsite safe-deposit-box rental, so you can rotate three Friday tapes to keep a couple off-site at all times. A high-quality UPS with voltage regulation. RAID1, SCSI if you can swing it just for the longevity. Good antivirus software. Excellent hard-drive cooling and a high-quality power supply.

/ 2¢ worth

 

[jyates]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
If it's running great, what's the point in building a new one? Maybe the old one could use some sprucing up (more memory, software optimization), but if you're running older DOS-based programs on a network with only two other computers, you don't need to upgrade to a new system.

I agree but he's got it stuck in his head that he needs to spend some money
for a newer and faster computer so I'll just put together what ever he wants
instead of trying to talk him out of it. It's his money and he can waste it if
he wants to. 🙂


mechBgon,

I agree. We burn a cd every evening of our updated DOS accounting program (the whole program) and it's only like 250mb when it's full of data by the end of Dec each year and I've told him an extra hard drive in the computer with a ghost image done every now and then wouldn't hurt anything either!