building office/work boxes.. specs?

AndrewM3 · May 27, 2007

hey guys, the boxes at work are in need of replacement. Only basic apps are used (quickbooks, firefox, etc). I need a spec list (AMD or intel) that will be reliable, and able to carry load without running out of ram. I figure an Intel based setup, with 2GB ram and SATA HD. I'd like to spend $500 or so, but the less the better.

i'll be ordering three of these tonight. thanks.

AndrewM3 · May 29, 2007

any suggestions? bump!

Bios24 · May 30, 2007

Vista or XP? 2GB of ram sounds like overkill for just 'basic apps' XP should be fine with 512-1gb for XP, 1-2GB for Vista. Either a low-end Core2 or X2 cpu should work just fine. I'd base my decision on price. Just be sure to get a decent motherboard/psu.

inkfx · May 30, 2007

I'd look at an E4300/Biostar or an X2 3600+/Biostar combo. 2GB of some value ram is probably cheap these days. You could probably get away with something like 7200GS cards since these are just office boxes. (unless yall have huge displays)

hUMANbEATbOX · May 30, 2007

^^agree.

also, you should look at the e2140. core 2 duo, 1mb of cache, 1.6ghz, ~$80.

AndrewM3 · May 30, 2007

thanks for the suggestions so far guys. I figure Intel is the way to go as far as longevity and reliability is concerned, any two cents would be appreciated. thanks.

ChillPhatCat · Jun 1, 2007

It's probably too late, but any new processor will be overkill in the frequency department, I'd definitely go with a 3600+/mobo combo to save a good $50-$60 in that area. The whole "intel is more reliable" thing is bunk. The secret to reliable machines is in the Motherboard, RAM and Hard Drive. Stick with the less radical Mobo manufacturers like Intel, Gigabyte, Abit, AOpen, Biostar, name brand value RAM from the likes of Kingston, Crucial, Geil etc. and WD or Seagate Hard drives. $500 is a pretty easy target if you don't have to buy software. That said, I build this office computer I'm using right now on an intel/intel CPU/Mobo combo solely because my boss doesn't know the name "AMD" and he wanted to see specs just like the Dell on the other desk... we probably wasted $100 to meet those requirements.

Charr · Jun 9, 2007

Get a motherboard witg intergrated graphics, no need for fancy stuff on an office machine.

AndrewM3 · Jun 14, 2007

I just put this box together, and to say the least, it came out cheaper then I had originally planned. Space isn't of any essence, but definitely a plus. as far as apps are concerned, it'll mostly used for quick books, ie, etc (nothing load intensive, but the boxes are left up for weeks at a time). i'd appreciate any input as the boxes are for a personal friend, and looking to get 2-3 years out of em.

thanks in advance guys!

pioneer 18x dvd burner - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827129007

apevia x-qpack2 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811144140

wd sata 80gb 8mb - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822135106

wireless PCI - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16833156165

2GB DDR2 675 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145015

AMD X2 3600+ - http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103046

ECS MICRO ATX - http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813135039

EmAn · Jun 14, 2007

you forgot the video card unless your using the onboard

Thund3rball · Jun 14, 2007

AndrewM3 said:
I just put this box together, and to say the least, it came out cheaper then I had originally planned. Space isn't of any essence, but definitely a plus. as far as apps are concerned, it'll mostly used for quick books, ie, etc (nothing load intensive, but the boxes are left up for weeks at a time). i'd appreciate any input as the boxes are for a personal friend, and looking to get 2-3 years out of em.

thanks in advance guys!

pioneer 18x dvd burner - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827129007

apevia x-qpack2 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811144140

wd sata 80gb 8mb - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822135106

wireless PCI - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16833156165

2GB DDR2 675 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145015

AMD X2 3600+ - http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103046

ECS MICRO ATX - http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813135039

Wow, pretty fancy ram for an office box. But what a deal! :santa:

Mr.Guvernment · Jun 14, 2007

AndrewM3 said:
thanks for the suggestions so far guys. I figure Intel is the way to go as far as longevity and reliability is concerned, any two cents would be appreciated. thanks.

why do you think this, both AMD and Intel would be equal good for longevity and reliability, if you want reliability, get an intel based mobo / intel chipset not a VIA or SIS, or get an nforce based chipset / mobo.

apevia x-qpack2

i have heard bad things about the included power supplies not holding out very well or long, so personally i would choose something else.

For office boxes you would be fine with some cheap value ram, these apps arent intensive that even old P III 1ghz could handle daily with 512 of ram

Also you shoudlnt put DVD burners in work computers if you are at all concerned with security.

Charr · Jun 17, 2007

I would scratch the 6 series intergrated Geforce, and get something with a DVI port on the motherboard, it will work better for newer monitors. AMD 690G - $66.

Also, you don't need 2GB of RAM for office work. Get 2x 512MB DDR 800 instead. DDR2 800 performs better on an AM2 system. 1GB DDR2 800.

The motherboard I linked has a RAID controller on it, if you want some more security consider RAID 1/5.

Also, Apevia makes nothing but crap. Try this Cooler Master instead, and a nice PSU.

funnyperson1 · Jun 17, 2007

I would get the Biostar TA690g or Asus M2A-VM which are great, stable boards with decent performing integrated graphics both have a DVI and VGA connection for whatever monitors you will be using. They also consume less power than their Nvidia counterparts.

Along with this I would get an X2 3600+ Brisbane for a cheap box that still performs well.

I built such a system for my parents home machine, and its great, machine cost about $400 in total and all components are quality.

I would scratch using the Apevia PSU and get an Antec Earthwatt EA380 psu, its more than enough for these systems and is 80+ % efficient, it will save you much more money in the long run than cheaping out with the Apevia crap now does.

Longetivity and reliability is just as good with an AMD system as it is with an Intel system assuming the other components are quality.

nerd4life · Jun 21, 2007

Just my tidbit when you put these computers together. I'm sure you'd do this though.

Make sure you install the motherboard drivers. =)

I just worked on a computer at a business last week, and the company who built it didn't bother to install the MB drivers.

I probably wouldn't have noticed it except Windows saw no display driver, and the video was horrendous. (How they sold it like this I'll never know.)

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