Future-proof hardware investment

hhh · 2006-09-21, 10:06

Dear fellows,
my professor has some money to spend this year, and if he doesn't, it's lost ( or kind of). We can use some computers, but the optimisation is a different one than usually. The systems are not going to be used for DC, but for office stuff, the most of the time, and badly written quick-shot C++-simulations, from time to time. They will run under Linux. Money is not so much an issue, I guess, but the systems need to last long.
So, what to get? Memory? GHz? 64 Bit? Flux-capacitors?
Any help is welcome.
Yours H.

paulunderwood · 2006-09-21, 11:44

Maybe systems based on via chips. These run cool meaning there is less noise, less heat during the sweltering summer months, and would save on energy costs

hhh · 2006-09-21, 11:54

These are nice, I know, but electricity comes from an other budget.

Joe O · 2006-09-21, 12:15

Get an Apple Pro or two. If there is any money left over than get some AMD X2's

Mystwalker · 2006-09-21, 13:22

You could consider either integrated or passively cooled graphics. Graphic card fans are often quite noisy. I think noise reduction is one of the most important things for office computers.
My last and my current company basically only use notebooks. In the rooms, it is absolutely quiet --> very comfortable!

Apart from that, don't put too much thoughts into the details, unless there are special requirements. In general, take AMD X2 or Intel Core2Duo as CPU (both are 64 bit), 512 MB - 2 GB RAM (depending on the actual need) and 100-300 GB HDD.
Or get some Apple PCs, that should work as well. But this isn't a field of competence for me.

TauCeti · 2006-09-25, 19:03

I would suggest an AMD-based EE (energy efficient) system. X2 or single core. Take for example the FSC Esprimo 5600. Quality system, 52 W idle, 104 W max (complete system!). Very quite and you get an optional 5 year 48h on-site service for below 100$. So longevity is ensured for at least 5 years with fixed costs, you just have to back up the data regulary...

I am still looking for a system with the AMD X2 3800 SFF (35W) from a major distributor with 5 year on-site service...

Tau

hhh · 2006-09-26, 05:46

This sounds quite interesting. You know, I'm in Germany too, can you tell me the distributor with the 5year thing, please? When I googled for it, I just got these crappy Preisvergleich things that never work correctly. Thank you, yours H.

TauCeti · 2006-09-26, 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by hhh

This sounds quite interesting. You know, I'm in Germany too, can you tell me the distributor with the 5year thing, please? When I googled for it, I just got these crappy Preisvergleich things that never work correctly. Thank you, yours H.

First: I rechecked the data and sadly i made a mistake: The 5 year/48h on-site support is about 160 EUR including VAT AND it may be that the 5-year option is only available for the non-EE Variant (3 year on-site available for the mentioned EE-system). The only low-energy system i found with 5-year on-site support is the esprimo 5615 using an X2 3800+ with 115W full load, 55W idle.

We ordered our system from ingrammicro.de. If your institution cannot order there directly, try http://fujitsu-siemens-shop.de/ to order there or to find partner-shops.
It seems to me that there are not always all warranty options available in the online-shop, so - especially if you buy more then one system for an institution - i would suggest giving FSC sales for business customers a call.

P.S.: I don't work for FSC, i am just a satisfied customer. Perhaps you should also check Dell, IBM, HP etc. and compare their offers to the FSC systems. I tried a few times over the last years but i never found energy-efficient systems with (affordable) 5 year on-site support. That does not mean that there are none now...

2006-09-21, 10:06	#1
hhh Jun 2005 373 Posts	Future-proof hardware investment Dear fellows, my professor has some money to spend this year, and if he doesn't, it's lost ( or kind of). We can use some computers, but the optimisation is a different one than usually. The systems are not going to be used for DC, but for office stuff, the most of the time, and badly written quick-shot C++-simulations, from time to time. They will run under Linux. Money is not so much an issue, I guess, but the systems need to last long. So, what to get? Memory? GHz? 64 Bit? Flux-capacitors? Any help is welcome. Yours H.

2006-09-21, 13:22	#5
Mystwalker Jul 2004 Potsdam, Germany 3·277 Posts	You could consider either integrated or passively cooled graphics. Graphic card fans are often quite noisy. I think noise reduction is one of the most important things for office computers. My last and my current company basically only use notebooks. In the rooms, it is absolutely quiet --> very comfortable! Apart from that, don't put too much thoughts into the details, unless there are special requirements. In general, take AMD X2 or Intel Core2Duo as CPU (both are 64 bit), 512 MB - 2 GB RAM (depending on the actual need) and 100-300 GB HDD. Or get some Apple PCs, that should work as well. But this isn't a field of competence for me. Last fiddled with by Mystwalker on 2006-09-21 at 13:23

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2006-09-21, 11:44	#2
paulunderwood Sep 2002 Database er0rr 3762₁₀ Posts	Maybe systems based on via chips. These run cool meaning there is less noise, less heat during the sweltering summer months, and would save on energy costs

2006-09-21, 11:54	#3
hhh Jun 2005 373 Posts	These are nice, I know, but electricity comes from an other budget.

2006-09-21, 12:15	#4
Joe O Aug 2002 3×5²×7 Posts	Get an Apple Pro or two. If there is any money left over than get some AMD X2's

2006-09-25, 19:03	#6
TauCeti Mar 2003 Braunschweig, Germany 2×113 Posts	I would suggest an AMD-based EE (energy efficient) system. X2 or single core. Take for example the FSC Esprimo 5600. Quality system, 52 W idle, 104 W max (complete system!). Very quite and you get an optional 5 year 48h on-site service for below 100$. So longevity is ensured for at least 5 years with fixed costs, you just have to back up the data regulary... I am still looking for a system with the AMD X2 3800 SFF (35W) from a major distributor with 5 year on-site service... Tau

2006-09-26, 05:46	#7
hhh Jun 2005 373 Posts	This sounds quite interesting. You know, I'm in Germany too, can you tell me the distributor with the 5year thing, please? When I googled for it, I just got these crappy Preisvergleich things that never work correctly. Thank you, yours H.