What am i gettin my self into??

[WesM63]

Lee, Tom and Mike,

I need some help. I aquired a job today and don't know if i'am shure what i'am getting myself into. The story goes like this:

At work today (school) one of my fellow employes wanted to know if i could help his g/f's parents get some new machines for work. I said i'd see what i could do. So i get there and it a machine company. They want me to replace 4 machines and move one. This may sound easy to you, but i just don't know for shure what i'am gettin myself into. 2 of the machines are old 200Mhz compaqs and the other 2 are custom built pII so there prob around 400Mhz. Building the machines for them is'nt a problem..but settin them up how they want it with the programs they want is what is bothering me. The have a really nice server dual PIII 1Ghz processors. I got a quote on a machine which is as follows:

1Ghz Celeron processor
256Mb ram
Aopen motherboard
52x Cd-rom
40Gig wd harddrives.
The local computer store wants $383 for these parts.. I'am prob missing something here and there but it's all in the $383. Next question is can i build an simialr amd system for this much?

The cases and NIC are not need as i am gonna use them from the previous machines.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[NorthernYankee]

Well even though I wasn't asked I'll throw my 2 cents in;)

But you are right getting the SW in and running is the big thing. And if they have some SW problems down the road are you responsible to come back and fix it? You need to weigh that out.

As for the HW you could definately get a AMD system cheaper. on pricewatch a 1ghz Celly is 62$ for $55 you could get a 1.3 Duron which will stomp a celly or for $68 and $69 you could get a 1500+ or 1600+ XP respectively. As for Mobo's you could easily get one for the same price range as that Aopen. So all in all go with the AMD.

Hope I helped:D

--NY

[WesM63]

sorry NY.. i just know that those guys do if for a living.

Yah i kinda figured i could get amd cheaper.. she wan'ts a quote.

As for me begin responsable about the SW i don't know for shure.. she did'nt really say.. i don't even know who set everything up in the first place.

[NorthernYankee]

No problem m8, I was just bustin your stones. Actually though I am in the undustry to. I was a Network Admin in the Navy and now I am an Independent Consultant on the side while the Navy pays me to go back to school.

Good luck with this endevor.

--NY

[mdzcpa]

Hey Wes,

I think NY is spot on regarding the real concern being the software installation and support. That'll be up to you and your contact at the job site. Be careful with this issue, it can be the deal maker or breaker.

As far as hardware is concerned, you certainly can do AMD cheaper. But it does boil down to customer comfort level, if it applies in this case. If they could'nt care less about brand, go AMD and save some $$.

You also need a good idea of the types of Apps they will be running. Memory intensive, CPU intensive, etc. Will you need new graphics cards?...do they do any cad/cam? Do you need a mobo with AGP Pro slots if you are re using AGP Pro cards?

Make sure you have a good idea of intended use of the machines and post back. I'l be able to recommend more specifics then:)

[dicki]

<hijack> so what are you studying yankee? </hijack>

[WesM63]

mike,
I allready asked them that. They said mostly word processing and an application that they use in the packing department.. prob more memeroy extensive.. all there machines only have 64mb ram and one has 128. A graphics card would be good, but i don't think that there graphics is a major concern. What would you suggest system wise? I was thinking about just transfering all there data that's stored onto there hdd to either one of the harddrives on the server or to another harddrive then replace it back onto there new harddrive.

Thanks

[NorthernYankee]

Originally posted by dicki
<hijack> so what are you studying yankee? </hijack>

I am studying Network Management. should have my Bach. in about 1 1/2 yr then I will decide if I wanna look into some sort of masters program. Its killing me now I am taking a class on Proxy right now and then I have 2 more classes starting the 18th then I get a week off before fall classes start. But its all on Uncle Sams Dime.

--NY

[MrP]

Wes,

i would really consider the support bit very carefully.

everytime something goes wrong, they will be ringing out, weather you in, or out of work.

this is the reason i dont do any forigners like this. ilike my spare timethe way it is, spare!!!!

toodles :xsofa:

[WesM63]

got some prices on an amd system from newegg.com

1Ghz Duron $46.00
Processor fan $10.00 or less
ddr Shuttle Motherboard $42.04
256MB ddr sdram $45.00
40gig Westren digital hdd $70.00
52x Cd-rom $24.00

total= $282.04


If needed
Vid card $35.00
Cd-Rw $48.00
Case $ 35.00

A little bit cheaper than the intel systems(ok $100 cheaper)...and a heck of alot better. The big cost factor is the harddrives.

[mdzcpa]

Those basic congfigs look good:)

Keep us updated on how the project goes. I'm interested to hear how it all works out.

[WesM63]

Thanks mike... My friend and i are making a contract about the hole thing.. I figured out how to keep there same system configuration... I can use ghost.. ghost the hdd then ghost the image back to there new harddrive.

[mdzcpa]

Wes63,

Using ghost will likely work out okay. But this assumes that you want those new machines to run the same operating system...in it's current state. If the OS was installed a long time ago, it is likely bloated and polluted with plenty of extraneous garbage over the years. In addition, you're counting on the OS to properly recognize the all new hardware and make the appropriate changes. If this was Win XP, you'd a have a good chance of doing that. But if it's an older Win 98 or Win2k...you may struggle.

I know it is a lot more work, but your idea of locating and moving any data files on the workstations to the server may be a better idea. This will allow for a fresh install of the OS of choice. A procedure that makes any machine run much better.

Just a thought:)

[NorthernYankee]

Gotta agree with Mike, hardware detection will be very hard.

--NY

[WesM63]

Yah i kinda figured that hardware detection would be a problem.. but if everything we buy comes with drives..this should'nt be a problem.... we have them talked into xp also...which is a plus. I think storing there data on the server is my best bet...i'll know more monday thou... thanks for the help guys.