Please help me with specs..

[Ice_Black]

My mate wanted me to build 15 computers at the community centre for kids to do their homework, internet, etc. Not much of gaming though. No more than £350 each (with monitor). Windows Vista will be installed on the systems.

What specs do you recommend? Please list them.


Many thanks

[nickaal]

I would go for an Intel Celeron 420 (LN18883 @ £23.49) for the CPU.
A Gigabyte GA-G31MX-S2 (LN19748 @ £46.87) for the motherboard.
1Gb (2X512Mb) Corsair Value Select, DDR2 PC5400 (667) (LN10405 @ £20.61) for the RAM.
A 160GB Samsung HD161HJ (LN9709 @ £32.54) for the hard drive.
A Jou-Jye Nu-1290 Black (LN10531 @ £41.00) for the case/PSU.
A Samsung SH-S203/BEBN (LN19006 @ £18.79) for the DVD burner (includes Nero Express).
A Sony Black Floppy (LN5291 @ £4.45).
A Microsoft B2L-00045 Comfort Curve 2000 Wired Keyboard/Optical Mouse (LN13500 @ £14.09).
A 17" Hyundai IT B70D LCD (LN14701 @ £117.49) for the monitor/speakers.

Total is £319.33. I don't know if you need Vista or already have it. Otherwise add another £61.50 for Vista Home Premium.
Obsiously some parts like the case, hard drive and motherboard could be modified to reduce the price but I think it will last a while as it is. If you already have vista I would put £40 more and put an Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2140 (LN18818 @ £42.17) and 2*1GB Micron, DDR2 PC2-6400 (LN17135 @ £19.96*2=39.92) which would put the total price at £357.32.
The two options should be quite fast, silent and small while consuming a minimum of electricity.
I would definitly go for something similar and to conclude I don't think you can reach that level of performance for that price with an AMD system.
Hope that helps and anyone, comments? suggestions?

[markbrown83]

[offtopic-ish]
The price of a computer has gone down so much since I was a little lad.

I remember getting a Packard Bell computer and it cost £2000 - PIII 350 (thats all I remember).

And, yes, I know Packard Bell are pants...

Crazy
[/offtopic-ish]

[rabbid]

I would have thought buying lower end 'off the shelf' ready made units would be the way to go as bundled windows is far cheaper than buying it (unless u already have it ofc) and for low end kit is a high proportion of the cost per seat.

Regarding specs, bottom of the range dual core either AMD4000 or C2D e2140, 1gb ram (no more for these), dvd rom even (would u need to put writers in this environment?). Boards low-mid cost integrated VGA mATX. Get sturdy cases and input devices and screens with hard coatings. Look at kensington type security too to stop things wandering.
I dont know your proposed desk width proportions, whether desktop cases are better and stack the monitor on top, raising eye level or else you have to put mini towers.
I dont know how u propose to manage file storage and people using usb drives etc, and what other SW might be on each PC. 80GB HDD should be more than enough as people wont want to leave their files on a workstation anyway (or shouldnt even). No FDD needed these days, maybe a card reader depends what u want people to be able to do.

I havent listed specific item details etc, I am sure ur able to choose from the many available, just throwing up some things to consider. If ur able to list more detailed info about the environment and requirements we can assist further.

[TMD]

Have you looked at the dell website...if you are looking at getting that many computers...im sure you could get a decent spec for that sort of money...and maybe a discount cos you would be buying 15 of them!

[not_my_ip]

I work in school and this year I 've bought 30 ready made PCs. You really don't need powerful PC, but I would not go for less than 1GB RAM. And Monitors, try to get ones with "Hard Glass" - will prevent from damaging monitor and it is much easier to clean it. The cheapest keyboards (around £5) and mice would do the job and are cheap to replace - kids have very different approach to PCs than adults. Lots of ideas and they love to change any settings they can, for i.e. I had problem with screen rotation based on Intel GPU, pupil just hit ALT gr and arrow up and here you go screen is up side down.
Tru you can get better deal on ready made PC and it saves you time. Good luck mate !

[staffsMike]

This is how i would spend if i was going to build.

All quality components. and it's even dual core

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=622461 - £45
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=126737 - £20
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/produ...oductID=679839 - £45
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=567853 - £30
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=468725 - £25
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=446040 - £27
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=614076 - £20
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=215574 - £10
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=543186 - £120 (hard glass as recommended)

Just under budget and a great pc.