help! Build or buy my next Office PC?

[Steven P. Administrators]

OK guys, I have to admit I'm a bit out of the loop having not tinkered with my PC setup like I did in the 90's and 2000's one thing though, I have always built my own PC's.

 

Looking around online (locally) it looks like I will need to spend around ?750 for a ready built PC that will last as long as my current one has :p I'd prefer to build it myself to keep costs down, playing around online I have had figures between 500 and 700 euros, but I'm also open to suggestions on ready built PC's, it would need to run Windows 8.1 I'm not looking to get a Mac or Linux setup ;)

 

Right now I have:

 

ASUS P5K-E Wifi (I said it was old) :p which I use the onboard 5.1 Digital sound card for as well

Intel Core 2 Duo (E8500 @ 3.16GHz)

8GB DDR2 (Corsair) memory (2x4GB)

DVD re/writer (Sata 2)

1TB Sata III Seagate HDD (7200rpm)

120GB SSD (Kingston)

GeForce GTX 560 (dual DVI ports because I use two screens)

 

In green is what I could keep from this setup. I don't do gaming anymore so I'm not looking for a gaming rig, just one that'll keep me going for a few years, onboard WiFi is also a plus, since I have that as well.

 

Any suggestions? I'm also prepared to go from scratch and leave the old PC intact, so that would mean I need a case and drives. I'm also partial to Intel CPU's. 

 

USB 3 ports on the front of the case would be nice too.

 

Thanks!

[riahc3]

Buy. A office PC isn't ment to be built.

BTW, is there a reason you are looking for a new PC? For a "office PC", I see that still having years of life in it.

Also, why cant your DVD burner go into the new build/buy?

[tsupersonic]

Buy. A office PC isn't ment to be built.

BTW, is there a reason you are looking for a new PC? For a "office PC", I see that still having years of life in it.

Also, why cant your DVD burner go into the new build/buy?

Disagree. It looks like that PC is custom built, and how long has that lasted him? I would agree with you if it was a non-technical person. I would say build it yourself, keep the costs down and you sure are capable of supporting the system yourself.

[riahc3]

Disagree. It looks like that PC is custom built, and how long has that lasted him? I would agree with you if it was a non-technical person. I would say build it yourself, keep the costs down and you sure are capable of supporting the system yourself.

His current PC is indeed custom built....AFAIK, no OEM (Dell, HP, etc.) sells a PC with those pieces.

Well, seeing as he has a ASUS P5K-E, Id say his PC has around 6-8 years.

What difference does it make if he is a technical or non-technical person? If he wants to do office work on this PC, why would he waste his time building a PC when he could have a prebuilt one and get to work right away?

BTW, at the price range he is looking at (low, as Im imaging its only for office), he would build one more expensive than a premade one.

If this was a gaming rig, virtualization rig, etc...then yes, building one would make sense but at the end of the day, if for office work, he is gonna be spending more money than needed.

[Mindovermaster Moderator]

What difference does it make if he is a technical or non-technical person? If he wants to do office work on this PC, why would he waste his time building a PC when he could have a prebuilt one and get to work right away?

 

Because he doesn't want to buy a crap system? Bheing that he as parts that can be ported, you don't want to run a 300W PSU with that GFX card.

[+Warwagon MVC]

Personally If I had to buy an office PC I would HIGHLY concider the Intel NUC i5.

 

Intel Next Unit of Computing BOXDC53427HYE Desktop (Black)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Computing-BOXDC53427HYE-Desktop-Black/dp/B00C5K8FRI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1398178666&sr=8-4&keywords=Intel+nuc+i5

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856102035

 

Intel i5

Up to 16 GB of Memory.

 

You have to add your own memory / msata hard drive and OS but it's the best of both worlds of buying and building your own PC. It also has 3 USB 3.0

 

 

 

 

This is the celeron version ... not the i5 version in this photo, but it just gives you a size comparison

 

[riahc3]

Because he doesn't want to buy a crap system? Bheing that he as parts that can be ported, you don't want to run a 300W PSU with that GFX card.

And since when are OEMs "crap systems"? If they were crap, they would have gone out of business a long time ago!

I mean, yeah, he can go ahead and build a awesome system for whatever price he wants, but if he isn't going to use even half of the power...

That GFX card has a requirement of 450W. Just opened a office PC we ordered and it has 400W. And this PC was made just for Office! I imagine any system he ordered will problably come with a larger PSU.

Also, he can use his current PSU Im sure....if not, Seasonic has some PSU with a 30-40? price range.

Personally If I had to buy an office PC I would HIGHLY concider the Intel NUC i5.

 

Intel Next Unit of Computing BOXDC53427HYE Desktop (Black)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Computing-BOXDC53427HYE-Desktop-Black/dp/B00C5K8FRI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1398178666&sr=8-4&keywords=Intel+nuc+i5

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856102035

 

Intel i5

Up to 16 GB of Memory.

 

You have to add your own memory / msata hard drive and OS but it's the best of both worlds of buying and building your own PC. It also has 3 USB 3.0

Yeah because he can put a 1TB Sata III Seagate HDD (7200rpm), a 120GB SSD (Kingston) and a GeForce GTX 560 in there....

Steven, could you gives us more some more information on what you want or you are going to do exactly with the PC?

[+Warwagon MVC]

Yeah because he can put a 1TB Sata III Seagate HDD (7200rpm), a 120GB SSD (Kingston) and a GeForce GTX 560 in there....

 

oops.... all I read was I don't do gaming anymore so I'm not looking for a gaming rig,

 

The only reason he wants to keep his graphics card is because he wants dual screens which the Intel nuc will do. In fact The NUC will crap out 3 screens.

As far as the 1 TB drive. That might be an issue, and one he would have to put in a USB 3.0 HD enclosure and just put on his desk. Hell he could set this thing on top of it.

As for the 128 SSD if he wanted to keep that he would have to go with the larger NUC

 

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-DisplayPort-Graphics-i5-4250U-BOXD54250WYKH1/dp/B00HZDLNWO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1398179454&sr=8-2&keywords=Intel+nuc+i5

 

[Mindovermaster Moderator]

And since when are OEMs "crap systems"? If they were crap, they would have gone out of business a long time ago!

 

For office use and low income, they are great. For enthusiasts like us, no. We can get a better system for less money than the OEM's.

[riahc3]

For office use and low income, they are great. For enthusiasts like us, no. We can get a better system for less money than the OEM's.

OK guys, I have to admit I'm a bit out of the loop having not tinkered with my PC setup like I did in the 90's and 2000's one thing though, I have always built my own PC's.

Looking around online (locally) it looks like I will need to spend around ?750 for a ready built PC that will last as long as my current one has :p I'd prefer to build it myself to keep costs down, playing around online I have had figures between 500 and 700 euros, but I'm also open to suggestions on ready built PC's, it would need to run Windows 8.1 I'm not looking to get a Mac or Linux setup ;)

Right now I have:

ASUS P5K-E Wifi (I said it was old) :p which I use the onboard 5.1 Digital sound card for as well

Intel Core 2 Duo (E8500 @ 3.16GHz)

8GB DDR2 (Corsair) memory (2x4GB)

DVD re/writer (Sata 2)

1TB Sata III Seagate HDD (7200rpm)

120GB SSD (Kingston)

GeForce GTX 560 (dual DVI ports because I use two screens)

In green is what I could keep from this setup. I don't do gaming anymore so I'm not looking for a gaming rig, just one that'll keep me going for a few years, onboard WiFi is also a plus, since I have that as well.

Any suggestions? I'm also prepared to go from scratch and leave the old PC intact, so that would mean I need a case and drives. I'm also partial to Intel CPU's.

USB 3 ports on the front of the case would be nice too.

Thanks!

I bolded out important parts. Enthusiasts build PCs for a specific purpose. He says this PC is for office. No more details.

You are gonna make him spend more than he really needs. I would like him to comment on any other needs, uses, etc. he is gonna do with this PC. Maybe he isn't a gamer but wants to play Crysis 4 at max resolution with all his monitors. That would change everything.

[Mindovermaster Moderator]

I bolded out important parts. Enthusiasts build PCs for a specific purpose. He says this PC is for office. No more details.

You are gonna make him spend more than he really needs. I would like him to comment on any other needs, uses, etc. he is gonna do with this PC. Maybe he isn't a gamer but wants to play Crysis 4 at max resolution with all his monitors. That would change everything.

 

Find me a "office" desktop computer, and show me the cheapest (but still good) computer parts you can build yourself. Unless the company buys in bulk, it's worthless.

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

I am in full agreement with warwagon here. I think for an Office PC that is not going to do any real gaming (and from what I read the integrated graphics chip can actually handle light end gaming very well), and Neobond did say he is willing to go from scratch if necessary. He can leave his current build intact as is, and build one of those Intel NUC's and have a machine absolutely capable of meeting his office needs while keeping an incredibly small footprint.

 

Hell I will even go one step further and recommend he looks into also setting up some kind of NAS device for more storage and backup since it is an office environment as well.

[riahc3]

Find me a "office" desktop computer, and show me the cheapest (but still good) computer parts you can build yourself. Unless the company buys in bulk, it's worthless.

I actually did that but I couldn't find the dutch version of a random OEM.

4th Generation Intel? Core? i5-4440 Processor (6M Cache, 3.1 GHz)

Windows 8.1 (64Bit) English

1 Year Basic Support + 90 days Premium Phone Support

8GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz (4GBx2)

1TB 7200 rpm SATA 6Gb/s Hard Drive

Tray load DVD Drive (Reads and Writes to DVD/CD)

Keyboard

Mouse

802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0

This is for $550 (it would be 400? for him but problably higher)

These things off the shelf:

Intel? Core? i5-4440 Processor $189.99

Windows 8.1 64 bits $124.95

CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 $84.99

Seagate Desktop HDD 1 TB Internal hard drive Serial ATA-600 3.5" 7200 rpm ST1000DM003 $55

$454.93. Yup. I guess it comes out cheaper...

You can cut corners with white label products but trust in that before a OEM? I don't know...

[riahc3]

I am in full agreement with warwagon here. I think for an Office PC that is not going to do any real gaming (and from what I read the integrated graphics chip can actually handle light end gaming very well), and Neobond did say he is willing to go from scratch if necessary. He can leave his current build intact as is, and build one of those Intel NUC's and have a machine absolutely capable of meeting his office needs while keeping an incredibly small footprint.

 

Hell I will even go one step further and recommend he looks into also setting up some kind of NAS device for more storage and backup since it is an office environment as well.

Quoting myself:

Yeah because he can put a 1TB Sata III Seagate HDD (7200rpm), a 120GB SSD (Kingston) and a GeForce GTX 560 in there....

warwagon is right in saying he can go external with some of those but....He needs to give us more information at this point as maybe we are arguing over nothing :p

[Mindovermaster Moderator]

I actually did that but I couldn't find the dutch version of a random OEM.

-snip-

You can cut corners with white label products but trust in that before a OEM? I don't know...

 

OEM's usually use no-name PSU's, unknown RAM, cut down boards. They rarely let you expand. If you change out certain hardware, they call that voiding warranty. Plus bloatware OS's.

 

Just... stop.

[episode]

You can cut corners with white label products but trust in that before a OEM? I don't know...

 

Trust an OEM? You can't be serious...

[riahc3]

OEM's usually use no-name PSU's, unknown RAM, cut down boards. They rarely let you expand. If you change out certain hardware, they call that voiding warranty. Plus bloatware OS's.

 

Just... stop.

This isn't 1999 anymore. OEMs parts are tested and put in 1000s of machines.

If you have bought several OEM machines for your company/client/etc., you'll see one or none fail.

Rarely expand? Like I said, a office PC I bought for my company here has 3 PCI-E slots. 3! I mean, what more do you want?

"If you change out certain hardware, they call that voiding warranty" :laugh: Either you haven't bought PCs from OEMs in a LOOOOOONG time or the ones you are buying from are horrible with their warranty.

I had a problem with a OEM PC I bought for my company. I cloned the HDD to a SSD (obviously opening the case, touching the board, etc.). I ran MemTest on it, told them that I changed the internal config around, etc. THEY DIDNT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT. They replaced the machine and period. As a matter of fact, the machine that is broken IS STILL HERE. Im sure you cant get that buying parts off the shelf.

There is actually software now that REMOVES the bloatware. http://www.decrap.org/ Run that and that's it.

"Just... stop." I was waiting for a actual configuration from you......not "Just... stop."

Mindovermaster, there are times to build your PC and there are times where it isn't worth the time, effort, or money. And this is one of those cases UNTIL Steven gives us more detail. Maybe Steven gives us more insite and then Ill tell you that you are 100% correct and he should build his own machine with parts. But until then, I cannot tell him to build his own PC.

BTW, if you feel a build is for him, then post what I was waiting for: A actual configuration with a low price that meets his office needs. Im sure he will come to the thread and consider a prebuilt and the build you post :)

[riahc3]

Trust an OEM? You can't be serious...

So you trust white label products before a OEM?

Ive bought several machines for my company and my family memebers. I have NEVER had a problem with either support and/or the machines itself.

For example, I know US technical support is horrible but when Ive called here (more or less :p ) they solve my problems and get replacement/onsite support/etc.

Like I said, if OEMs were THAT horrible, businesses would not buy them and they would go bankrupt.

But, please: If someone has a build that is cheap for office use, post! :) I would love to see it and compare to see if there is anything else outthere :)

[episode]

So you trust white label products before a OEM?

Ive bought several machines for my company and my family memebers. I have NEVER had a problem with either support and/or the machines itself.

For example, I know US technical support is horrible but when Ive called here (more or less :p ) they solve my problems and get replacement/onsite support/etc.

Like I said, if OEMs were THAT horrible, businesses would not buy them and they would go bankrupt.

But, please: If someone has a build that is cheap for office use, post! :) I would love to see it and compare to see if there is anything else outthere :)

 

 

Your sample size is 'several' machines?

 

My sample size is THOUSANDS. Dell, HP, whatever. They're all crap. If you're getting a laptop, sure, you have to choose one, but I'd recommend and Acer or Asus over any 'well known' brand. I can relate stories to you all day long of Dell computers having issues within the first 30-90 days and Dell telling the owners to basically pound sand. 

 

There's a reason Lenovo/IBM is out, and Dell and HP want to get out of the consumer market and go corporate only. 

Just because a company exists doesn't mean its a GOOD company. Dell has been living for 10 years on what it did in 2000-2004. People know the name, so they buy it. Doesn't make it good.

[riahc3]

Your sample size is 'several' machines?

 

My sample size is THOUSANDS. Dell, HP, whatever. They're all crap. If you're getting a laptop, sure, you have to choose one, but I'd recommend and Acer or Asus over any 'well known' brand. I can relate stories to you all day long of Dell computers having issues within the first 30-90 days and Dell telling the owners to basically pound sand. 

 

There's a reason Lenovo/IBM is out, and Dell and HP want to get out of the consumer market and go corporate only. 

Just because a company exists doesn't mean its a GOOD company. Dell has been living for 10 years on what it did in 2000-2004. People know the name, so they buy it. Doesn't make it good.

Larger sample size = Larger failure rate.

So you are saying that out of THOUSANDS of machines, you would say that 500 of them failed?

Dell, HP, since you talk about them, have never given me any problems with support. Like I said, Ive read US support is horrible so it may be a regional thing. Same thing for Asus.

[Mindovermaster Moderator]

This isn't 1999 anymore. OEMs parts are tested and put in 1000s of machines.

If you have bought several OEM machines for your company/client/etc., you'll see one or none fail.

 

1999? I worked with a lot of ~2003 era computers. They come with the bare minimum. Does it work? Yes. Expanding anything like GFX, you are lucked out.

 

 

 

Rarely expand? Like I said, a office PC I bought for my company here has 3 PCI-E slots. 3! I mean, what more do you want?

"If you change out certain hardware, they call that voiding warranty"  :laugh: Either you haven't bought PCs from OEMs in a LOOOOOONG time or the ones you are buying from are horrible with their warranty.

I had a problem with a OEM PC I bought for my company. I cloned the HDD to a SSD (obviously opening the case, touching the board, etc.). I ran MemTest on it, told them that I changed the internal config around, etc. THEY DIDNT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT. They replaced the machine and period. As a matter of fact, the machine that is broken IS STILL HERE. Im sure you cant get that buying parts off the shelf.

 

3 PCI-e ports? Good luck running Xfire or SLI on that.

 

I haven't bought OEM hardware. Since ~2000, I built all my systems. Yet I have worked on friend's OEM systems. So I know about them.

 

 

 

There is actually software now that REMOVES the bloatware. http://www.decrap.org/ Run that and that's it.

 

Yes, I know of said software. It's just another step you have to take.

 

 

 

"Just... stop." I was waiting for a actual configuration from you......not "Just... stop."

 

You never asked me to an "actual configuration"

 

 

 

Mindovermaster, there are times to build your PC and there are times were it isn't worth the time, effort, or money. And this is one of those cases UNTIL Steven gives us more detail. Maybe Steven gives us more insite and then Ill tell you that you are 100% correct and he should build his own machine with parts. But until then, I cannot tell him to build his own PC.

BTW, if you feel a build is for him, then post what I was waiting for: A actual configuration with a low price that meets his office needs. Im sure he will come to the thread and consider a prebuilt and the build you post  :)

 

Yes, Steve needs to clarify what he wants before we can go any further. We are not fighting against his logic.

[Steven P. Administrators]

Larger sample size = Larger failure rate.

So you are saying that out of THOUSANDS of machines, you would say that 500 of them failed?

Dell, HP, since you talk about them, have never given me any problems with support. Like I said, Ive read US support is horrible so it may be a regional thing. Same thing for Asus.

Please stop.. jeez why do you feel the need to turn most threads into an argument? Let others answer my question.

[episode]

Larger sample size = Larger failure rate.

So you are saying that out of THOUSANDS of machines, you would say that 500 of them failed?

Dell, HP, since you talk about them, have never given me any problems with support. Like I said, Ive read US support is horrible so it may be a regional thing. Same thing for Asus.

 

Right. And because of that larger sample size, its a MORE ACCURATE REPRESENTATION.

[riahc3]

Good luck running Xfire or SLI on that.

But see....there is the issue. He asked for a Office PC and you are looking into Xfire or SLI! He needs no need into that because he said he didn't need any gaming.

 

Yes, Steve needs to clarify what he wants before we can go any further. We are not fighting against his logic.

Yup, we've made this into 2 pages of nothing :laugh:

 

 

Please stop.. jeez why do you feel the need to turn most threads into an argument? Let others answer my question.

Not only did I explain why a office PC is better bought than built, I gave a premade OEM build that is perfect for office use, and ON TOP OF THAT, I was actually making a list of a potential build just in case you wanted one which NOONE is the thread has yet to produce and all you reply is "Please stop"?

:no:

[Mindovermaster Moderator]

But see....there is the issue. He asked for a Office PC and you are looking into Xfire or SLI! He needs no need into that because he said he didn't need any gaming.

 

Yup, we've made this into 2 pages of nothing :laugh:

 

Not only did I explain why a office PC is better bought than built, I gave a premade OEM build that is perfect for office use, and ON TOP OF THAT, I was actually making a list of a potential build just in case you wanted one which NOONE is the thread has yet to produce and all you reply is "Please stop"?

:no:

 

He may not need SLI NOW, but like all people, we often change our minds down the road.

 

If an admin says "please stop", you better shut up.