Business Computer

[wpeters]

One of my friends wants me to build 2 computers for his business.  What would you recommend for a core.  I would like to go intell.  What core would you recommend?

[MrRiplEy[H]]

If business means running word and excel, anything new from the shop will do the trick.

[Skuzzy]

I f I put my name on it and it is for a business.  It will be Intel based, with a Supermicro motherboard.  Not a cheap solution, but a stable and reliable one.

[wpeters]

I f I put my name on it and it is for a business.  It will be Intel based, with a Supermicro motherboard.  Not a cheap solution, but a stable and reliable one.

What is the benefit of that board

[MrRiplEy[H]]

What is the benefit of that board

Supermicro boards are high-end motherboards intended for servers or workstations. They are extremely stable and often include support for huge amounts of memory and peripherals. But they come with a price premium.

A fact is that most startup busineses do not run anything more demanding than simple word/excel applications so paying any premium for a workstation would be a serious overkill and a waste of money. A simple laptop + a NAS for storing and backing up should be enough for any small business. You have to keep in mind also that everything you do in business has to be weighed for profitability. You don't buy a fancy computer for high money unless you really, really need it.

If they do anything more demanding such as designing, then requirements will be much higher.

[Debrody]

As long as you dont tell us what those puters will be doing, its difficult enough to give any advice.

[Bino]

One of my friends wants me to build 2 computers for his business.  What would you recommend for a core.  I would like to go intell.  What core would you recommend?

Define "business" in more detail, please. 

Just as a starting point: Are these desktop personal PCs or database/web/application servers?  What programs will be run on them? 

[wpeters]

It will be used by a concrete contractor. He will be using quick books word, excell, and some programs used for quoting jobs

[MrRiplEy[H]]

It will be used by a concrete contractor. He will be using quick books word, excell, and some programs used for quoting jobs

Does he use a database software for quoting, which one?

[mbailey]

Xactimate.....great estimating program  He can do anything in it  From drawing out the pads, to placing footers, running curb. Price the stone, rebar, wire etc etc... Pricing he can manually adjust or go with the program pricing which is updated every month and based on the zipcode of his choice..the program will push him new price lists every month.....He can literally build a home from the ground up....and furnish the inside when its all done.

I run it on a HP Elitebook  i5.......

[eagl]

For cpu I'd go with a quad core i5 cpu, one or two price notches down from the top of the i5 range.
I'd go with 8GB ram, 2x4gb sticks.
Onboard graphics should be enough unless running CAD software or needing to drive an unusually large monitor or more than 2 monitors.
Windows 7 home premium or pro 64 bit OEM will be very usable unless the person using the computer needs to be in the windows 8 environment for some reason.

If space is an issue, get a micro ATX or even a mini itx size mobo and case.  Lots of reasonably attractive small cases out there for under $50.
Do NOT go cheap on the PSU. A 450w seasonic modular psu would be a good investment.  Save a few bucks by not going modular, at the expense of having to do some extra work during the installation to wrap up extra power cables and tuck them out of the way so they don't kill airflow in the case or rub up against fans.
 
When I built my wife's work computer, I put in a $25 DVD burner and a $20 20-in-1 flash memory reader in one of the 2.5" drive bays.  I didn't use a floppy drive.  Some of the 20 in 1 flash memory devices also have a floppy drive built into them, if the user needs a floppy drive.  Otherwise USB floppy drives are fairly cheap.

The stock intel heatsink is "good enough".

If network throughput will be important, get a mobo with an intel networking chip.
 

[MrRiplEy[H]]

That Xactimate seems to be a basic CAD system with a costing add-on. We use costing systems which include company specific pricings, any average pricing would be grossly inaccurate. If 10 companies all calculate with xactimate they're all going to get the same cost.

[mbailey]

That Xactimate seems to be a basic CAD system with a costing add-on. We use costing systems which include company specific pricings, any average pricing would be grossly inaccurate. If 10 companies all calculate with xactimate they're all going to get the same cost.

Nope.....price lists can either be taylored to a specific company....manually input (changed), or you can use the data base which gives you  price based on labor rates and material costs for a given geographical area....or adjust pricing due to a current disaster situation (ie the cost of roofing increases in an area due to high demand after a hurricane.....)

Having written on this program for 18yrs as a contractor and as an insurance adjuster.....your "grossly inaccurate" comment is grossly inaccurate.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Nope.....price lists can either be taylored to a specific company....manually input (changed), or you can use the data base which gives you  price based on labor rates and material costs for a given geographical area....or adjust pricing due to a current disaster situation (ie the cost of roofing increases in an area due to high demand after a hurricane.....)

Having written on this program for 18yrs as a contractor and as an insurance adjuster.....your "grossly inaccurate" comment is grossly inaccurate.

Average costs will give you an average which is grossly inaccurate for anything but insurance claim estimates. Any constructor will naturally want to use their own agreement prices and append project specific agreements. They'll also want to use agreed subcontractor costs, evaluate travel expenses, housing, tools etc. but what would I know

[mbailey]

Average costs will give you an average which is grossly inaccurate for anything but insurance claim estimates. . but what would I know

Apparantly nothing about property insurance or rebuilding homes and or running / estimating projects for a construction business in general.


Well since people can charge what they want...there is no exact data base out there  One guy could charge 1.75/sqft for paint, another 2.50.........What i can tell you is that as a General Contractor I have rebuilt homes and commercial buildings  (tornados, hurricanes, Fires etc etc) from the ground up using this software program, and its pricing structure...and made over 40% on all my trades (subs) doing the work  As a Large Loss Adjuster ($250K and up exposures) for one of the largest insurance companys in the US...I have absolutely no issue getting peoples homes rebuilt using top of the line Builders and General Contractors using this software and pricing......If ya really want to have a discussion about it...im all for it