Small business desktop

[abob_50]

I am building small desktop system for a small business. Part of the job requirement (30% of work) is editing photos and short videos (Adobe Lightroom). Video conferencing using Skype is 30% of work. The rest is Microsoft Office/QuickBooks and internet browsing. No gaming. I have a Windows XP license that I am planning to use for now and will upgrade to Windows 7 eventually.

Question: I want this setup to last for a while (~4 to 5 years). I think that USB 3.0 is pretty important for next generation of cameras/accessories. What about DisplayPort? We teleconference with other offices and may get a large (~30 inch) monitor for Skype on FIOS. I can't find AMD board in mATX factor with USB3 and DisplayPort on it.

I am deciding on MB/CPU combo.

Intel Option:
GIGABYTE GA-H55M-USB3 LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard ($110)
Intel Core i3-530 Clarkdale 2.93GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80616I3530 ($115)

AMD Option:
GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-UD2H AM3 AMD 880G SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard ($100)
AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX640WFGMBOX ($100)

Please comment and make suggestions on the above setup. Thanks in advance.

 

[jaquith]

Those set-ups are good ~ 3 years. Sub-$1000 desktop PCs are better off with AMD. I wrote a good post {impossible to find now} where you need to look at your time vs money.

Example:
$900 / 60 months = $15/month or $0.50 per day ; baseline {3-year system}
$1400 / 60 months = $23.33/month or $0.78 per day ; 30 minutes saved {5-year system}

$900 / 36 months = $25/month {3-year system}

Difference = 0.28/day ; Question is $0.28 worth at least 30 minutes of your day in Business?? Also, 'cheaper' systems tend to have 'cheaper' components with a shorter lifespan.

My current Pseudo Workstations {~ 1500 now}:
CPU: i7 930 (2.8 MHz)
MOBO: ASUS P6X58D-E
RAM: 6GB (2GBx3) DDR3/1600MHz (Corsair Dominator)
FAN: Corsair H50 Push/Pull
HDD1: 128 GB Kingston 2.5 inch SATA Gaming MLC SSD
HDD2-3: (1TBx2) RAID 1 SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 32MB Cache 7200RPM HDD
VIDEO: ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB
PSU: Corsair 750 Watts CMPSU-750TX
CASE: CoolerMaster 690 II Advanced
DVD: LG 22X DVD±/±RW + CD-R/RW Dual Layer
OS: Windows 7 Professional (64-bit)

Just 'my' thoughts.

In addition, for Business I'd lease an HP Workstation with full warranty {same day} for the term of your lease. It's what I do on my Dell servers. Dell = better servers / worst Workstations ; HP = worst servers / better Workstations.

 

[Plumble]

Have you considered a Xeon setup?

 

[jaquith]

Yep (abob_50 = 1 in the MOBO & Memory section, and 1 in Systems)

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/298237-31-small-business-micro-desktop

 

[abob_50]

jaquith: Thanks for the info. Looks like a very powerful system. I see your point about time savings vs. initial hardware cost, I need to think how to do cost/benefit analysis better.

For us photo/video editing work has the greatest amount of "waiting for the computer to finish". Teleconferencing and general admin/finance task are very interactive, "its either works or it does not" type.

I will research your idea about getting a business lease/support. Until til now, everyone in our small office (3 people) just got what works for them.

malmental: Sorry for cross posting. I already posted in the other forum before I saw this one, which I think is more appropriate.

 

[jaquith]

I spend an obscene amount on computer equipment, and it's ALL about money::time which includes "not having" troubles and not being penny wise and dollar foolish. In addition, I want my staff happy and productive.

 

[abob_50]

Best answer selected by abob_50.

 

[Maziar]

This topic has been closed by Maziar