Hi Guys. I used to spend most of my time back on maxpc's forums and would ask there if I needed help putting together a build but the last few times I've posted there I've gotten very little useful feedback, so I figured I would try here.
My lab group on campus (I'm a grad student in EE) is moving into a new lab space and we have been in desperate need of new computers for a long time now. Most of what we have now is P4 based....
Now, here's the bad part. Normally what would happen is these computers would be purchased by the university on contract. However, no one thought to write in the computers into the contract and they have to be written in for us to buy computers. BUT, we can buy computer parts to 'upgrade' what we have, so I've recommended that we upgrade our current p4 machines into i5/i7 machines
.
All said and done we are looking at building 5-9 machines over the next 4 months or so. 1 file server, 3 workstations, and 3-5 test boxes. Descriptions of each machine are below, and I've added in hardware that our IT guy has recommended for ya'lls review where I have it. Hardware lists are at the end of the post. I don't need keyboard/mice/monitors/OSes to be included, we have those taken care of already.
Last but not least, we are required to order through GovConnection. The site is very clunky to use and makes it difficult to find certain things, but their prices are pretty close to Newegg and Amazon. Please note that these prices drop significantly once we log in with our contract credentials. What I've been doing is searching Newegg for parts and when I find something I like, plugging the part number into GovConnection's search feature. It's worked pretty well so far.
File Server: x1
(depending on cost: x2, or some other way to keep a redundant copy of these files in a separate location. )
Description: Supports and mirrors/backs up all important data, code,
etc. Will run any network license servers for our software. Must be
reliable. CPU speed not as important. Sufficient RAM to keep most
commonly accessed files in RAM. (min 2GB).
Hardware Raid: Mirrored/stripped, 2-2 (4x 2tb drives)
Separate system drive (80GB min)
Gigabit NIC
Linux compatible hardware
Maybe rack mount?
USB 3.0
UPS battery backup
Most likely will run linux
Workstation: x1 (simulation, coding, compiling, etc)
Quadcore or better
12gb+ (Max out the Mobo)
CUDA compatible video card
2x 24" panels
Gigabit NIC
USB 3.0 would be nice.
Win7
minimum 500GB hard drive (or SSD?)
CD/DVD Drive
UPS battery backup
Workstation: x2 (general use)
Description: Sufficient boxes to run our software if someone else is
using the good box.
Dualcore or better
6Gb
Win7
Gigabit NIC
2x 24" panels
minimum 200GB hard drives (or SSD?)
CD/DVD Drive
Testbox: x3-5
Description: Cheap boxes that will run Visual Studio and have minimum
80GB hard drives. Must be reliable and contain a full size PCI card
slot. Must all be the same, would prefer to be able to image the drives as we change software.
Micro/Mini ATM Mobo
PCI on Mobo
Onboard video
2GB ram
Smallest/cheapest case possible that still fits a full size PCI card
Gigabit NIC
DVD Burners
1x 19" panel
UPS battery backup
Gigabit switch with enough room for all of these machines (7-9) and a
few more ports for expansion, so a 16port should be good.
Hardware list below:
_________________________________________________________________
Workstation Main
ASUS Rampage IV Formula
i7-3930k
ZOTAC GTX 670
8gb Kingston DDR3 x2 (16gb total)
Plextor 24x
Antec Nine Hundred
CoolerMaster GX 750W
WD Velociraptor 500g
~$2500
Workstation Secondary x2
ASUS Rampage IV Formula
i7-3930k
eVGA GT 520
8gb Kingston DDR3
CoolerMaster GX 750W
Plextor 24x
Cooler Master Gladiator 600
1tb WD Caviar Black
~$2000ea
Test boxes: ?
File server: ?
My lab group on campus (I'm a grad student in EE) is moving into a new lab space and we have been in desperate need of new computers for a long time now. Most of what we have now is P4 based....
Now, here's the bad part. Normally what would happen is these computers would be purchased by the university on contract. However, no one thought to write in the computers into the contract and they have to be written in for us to buy computers. BUT, we can buy computer parts to 'upgrade' what we have, so I've recommended that we upgrade our current p4 machines into i5/i7 machines
.All said and done we are looking at building 5-9 machines over the next 4 months or so. 1 file server, 3 workstations, and 3-5 test boxes. Descriptions of each machine are below, and I've added in hardware that our IT guy has recommended for ya'lls review where I have it. Hardware lists are at the end of the post. I don't need keyboard/mice/monitors/OSes to be included, we have those taken care of already.
Last but not least, we are required to order through GovConnection. The site is very clunky to use and makes it difficult to find certain things, but their prices are pretty close to Newegg and Amazon. Please note that these prices drop significantly once we log in with our contract credentials. What I've been doing is searching Newegg for parts and when I find something I like, plugging the part number into GovConnection's search feature. It's worked pretty well so far.
File Server: x1
(depending on cost: x2, or some other way to keep a redundant copy of these files in a separate location. )
Description: Supports and mirrors/backs up all important data, code,
etc. Will run any network license servers for our software. Must be
reliable. CPU speed not as important. Sufficient RAM to keep most
commonly accessed files in RAM. (min 2GB).
Hardware Raid: Mirrored/stripped, 2-2 (4x 2tb drives)
Separate system drive (80GB min)
Gigabit NIC
Linux compatible hardware
Maybe rack mount?
USB 3.0
UPS battery backup
Most likely will run linux
Workstation: x1 (simulation, coding, compiling, etc)
Quadcore or better
12gb+ (Max out the Mobo)
CUDA compatible video card
2x 24" panels
Gigabit NIC
USB 3.0 would be nice.
Win7
minimum 500GB hard drive (or SSD?)
CD/DVD Drive
UPS battery backup
Workstation: x2 (general use)
Description: Sufficient boxes to run our software if someone else is
using the good box.
Dualcore or better
6Gb
Win7
Gigabit NIC
2x 24" panels
minimum 200GB hard drives (or SSD?)
CD/DVD Drive
Testbox: x3-5
Description: Cheap boxes that will run Visual Studio and have minimum
80GB hard drives. Must be reliable and contain a full size PCI card
slot. Must all be the same, would prefer to be able to image the drives as we change software.
Micro/Mini ATM Mobo
PCI on Mobo
Onboard video
2GB ram
Smallest/cheapest case possible that still fits a full size PCI card
Gigabit NIC
DVD Burners
1x 19" panel
UPS battery backup
Gigabit switch with enough room for all of these machines (7-9) and a
few more ports for expansion, so a 16port should be good.
Hardware list below:
_________________________________________________________________
Workstation Main
ASUS Rampage IV Formula
i7-3930k
ZOTAC GTX 670
8gb Kingston DDR3 x2 (16gb total)
Plextor 24x
Antec Nine Hundred
CoolerMaster GX 750W
WD Velociraptor 500g
~$2500
Workstation Secondary x2
ASUS Rampage IV Formula
i7-3930k
eVGA GT 520
8gb Kingston DDR3
CoolerMaster GX 750W
Plextor 24x
Cooler Master Gladiator 600
1tb WD Caviar Black
~$2000ea
Test boxes: ?
File server: ?
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