Internet Cafe needs new computers. Can anyone recommend a setup?

[ashman]

I'm an avid reader of this forum and know someone can help me

I run an internet cafe in the south of england, and have reached a situation.

The PC's in the web cafe are crap. old compag deskpro's with pentium III's running xp home sp2, old crt monitors and just really slow.

I need smallish PC's with at least 3 usb2 ports. enough power for viewing web videos, running office, burning dvd's, basic internet cafe stuff.

have looked into the Intel D201GLY2 mini itx boards with celeron 220's but they look slow already and i want the cafe to be at least fast for a couple of years and not have to upgrade soon.

much obliged geezers.

the help would be great

 

[guanyu210379]

Question :
Will this be only an Internet Cafe or will it be also an online gaming quarter?

 

[ashman]

no, noo, noooo. not gaming. in an internet cafe?

not quite that much money in it to be honest. although in future im looking to create another shop with gaming facilities.

nice to see people reading and wanting to help, thanx.

 

[Nik_I]

i see two options for you: go intel and get a dual core celeron, or go amd and build a simple athlon x2 system.

 

[guanyu210379]

OK
Everything onboard with the lowest power consumption as posiible..
Is that what you want?

 

[ashman]

anyone know anyone who owns a internet cafe?

i suppose if anyone has made or has looked into making low priced, but mid range performance, has tested and knows that the components chosen are compatible/stable then would be much obliged.

thanx

 

[Nik_I]

i'm thinking that you should build some amd systems and use the 45W athlon x2's. they're easy on power consupmtion and they're not even expensive. they perform decently too!

 

[ashman]

low power, heat, cost. stable, reliable, mid range performance (meaning, if browsing web or transferring files it doesn't run like a dog) and will last a couple of years, plus i guess, a small system.


was looking at the latest review on mini itx by intel, but looks pants, also looked at other itx setups with vesa mount cases to go behind lcd monitors. just too expensive, unless anyone else knows of an itx solution?

 

[vmardegan]

It may be a little pricey, but I just saw these new Inspiron Desktops and in my opinion they look really sweet.

They should work fine for your purpose and they would also look great aesthetically-wise...

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/desktop-studio-hybrid?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~tab=designtab

Here is my 2 cents...

 

[ashman]

( http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/CPUs+%2F+Processors/AMD/Athlon+64+X2+Socket+AM2/?x=12&p_order=price_asc&p=cF9zdHlsZT1saXN0JnBfcHJvZHVjdHNQZXJQYWdlPSY= )

the prices of am2 amd x2's is still holding up. i swear the prices dropped not long ago. whats that about? theyre still like 40 squids

 

[vmardegan]

It may be a little pricey, but I just saw these new Inspiron Desktops and in my opinion they look really sweet.

They should work fine for your purpose and they would also look great aesthetically-wise...

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/desktop-studio-hybrid?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~tab=designtab

Here is my 2 cents...

My bad, it's not inspiron, it's Studio...

 

[Nik_I]

It may be a little pricey, but I just saw these new Inspiron Desktops and in my opinion they look really sweet.

They should work fine for your purpose and they would also look great aesthetically-wise...

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/desktop-studio-hybrid?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~tab=designtab

Here is my 2 cents...

My bad, it's not inspiron, it's Studio...

a pre-built small form factor pc might be the way to go. the OP has to factor in buying a windows license key for each computer. at this price point, pre-built may end up being cheaper.

 

[ashman]

saw the product spec, i agree, but US price
450 dollars. UK price from £399!? just not an option. not affordable as times it by 7. i have 7 pc's to replace

 

[guanyu210379]

+1 for pre-built small form pc.

 

[zenmaster]

What Price Are you Looking At?
Do you need Keyboards and Mice?
Do you need an OS?
Do you need New Monitors?

 

[ashman]

if the price is right with all those things on top then i'll be interested.

although i do already have the 7 xp home licences

 

[ashman]

will check back on here laterz guys, thanks for the info so far, but i gotta shut the shop now.

i close at 7pm, lol.

 

[San Pedro]

Definitely just go out and try to find a computer with what you need from something like dell or hp, and maybe a mac if you have customers who are in to that sort of thing. The pre-builts will save you money and time.

 

[sarwar_r87]

get a celeron.or sempron...no need for a dual core.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819104005
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116039

cheapp via mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138038
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135068

1gb ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144209

dvd rw
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135148

keyboard+mouse
monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009093

casing
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811190003

HD 80gb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136195

os
winXP

intel is cheaper but amd will bi far better performanc

 

[sorce7200]

Excuse my ignorance, but....

Whats wrong with a decent server and log-on smart terminals? Many low
cost alternatives are available in this area and it would increase your
security by centralization and decrease your theft ratio per station.
There have been studies done that show a viable cost reduction in
the use of centralization and smart terminal applications versus
ease of consumer use and profitability. Software abounds for these
applications, they (software and hardware) are easily set-up and
maintained.
The security issues are well known...
Centralization login
user logs in secure area for authority applications
user illegaility prevention by centralization
etc....

It seems to me that the cost factor of several full function computers
networked would be considerably higher than server-terminal costs.
Most Metropolitan utility companies, police, fire and administrative offices
are server-terminal based and are done so at low-bid cost versus
standalone full service computer costs...as well as the implied control
of the facility administrator over private usage of standalone computers
when used as stations.

just my 2 cents....

 

[ashman]

but the fact being there is only 7 pc's on the network for customers and one acting currently as printer server on a network linked to 2 networked service ports so can load drivers and software from the server pc. when servicing and repairing pc's, oh yeah i repair pc's too, i need to connect to the server to install antivirus programs and such.

i suppose im trying to say, can i build mini itx pc's low cost instead of fully blown mini atx? and save money not for a vast loss in performance for funtions common with internet cafe's

 

[spunks]

This is easy guys come on! He needs (modern) machines that beep for gods sake! the only thin making this expensive is its x 7.

web surfing (even with video) only requires a modren SINGLE core processor. Though would I get a dual for longevity? not sure.

I cant quote UK prices.

look at 780g amd boards (has video acceleration in case thats ever needed) I like this one cause its all solid state caps

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131324

cheapest dual core processor (well, spend a little more for a low voltage one)
1 gig of ddr2 ram

keep hard drives from old machine (they just need to hold the os and browser right?)

If the compaq cases are ATX style, keep em

I dont know of a good solid low power powersupply, but I am sure people can give you recomendations


around $250 US sound bout right?



Spunks

 

[MrManO1]

I agree with Spunks completely

Keep what you can

cheap AMD dual cores (aren't they all), or power efficient depending on your needs

780G motherboard to avoid buying dedicated video cards (for the next few years)

XP should have 1 GB RAM, Vista should have 2 GB (reuse the XP licenses hopefully)

Keep the hard drives, CD/DVD drives, keyboards, rodents...
Buy new Cases, PSUs, and LCD monitors

 

[z999]

if you do go on a prebuilt like the one offered, the optical drive is important. tourists come to internet cafes to burn images from the camera, I suggest that spending the 100$ (for all of them) on good 20X ones is a good idea.
except that I second spunks and Mr Man.

 

[guanyu210379]

Hmmmm....
That is a little bit different from my experience.
An optical drive on every computers in an internet cafe is a big source of problem, and they tend to be broken very fast.
If your costumer wants to burn any datas, just let them come to you asking for it.