Dual Monitor workstation for an engineer.

montydream

For a friend, he has a brick of a computer atm, looking to build/buy a computer to last a few years.

1. What is your budget? Under 900

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? Excel, Auto Cad, Printing, Emails and having two monitors.

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? Yes Windows 7 Home Premium

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? No

5. Do you need a monitor? No

5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor (1152*862) and do you plan to upgrade in the near future? Yes maybe to 2 or 3 monitors

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? No

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? No, but if it fell into place then yes

8. How can you pay? Any

9. When are you purchasing? ASAP

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? Based in Galway would prefer PC to be pre-built before shipping

justsomebloke

what type of Autocad is it? Is it mostly 2d or 3d work? Also with that resolution monitor I would suggestion getting a new monitor as part of the build if they are using autocad

montydream

http://www.ballicom.co.uk/c2z26etabu-hp-compaq-elite-8300-allinone-pc--allinone--1-x-core-i7-3770--34-ghz--ram-4-gb--hdd-1-x-1-tb--24-gb---dvd-supermulti--hd-graphics-4000--gigabit-lan--windows-7-pro-64bit-.p849128.html

The autocad would be in 2d,

justsomebloke

montydream wrote: »

http://www.ballicom.co.uk/c2z26etabu-hp-compaq-elite-8300-allinone-pc--allinone--1-x-core-i7-3770--34-ghz--ram-4-gb--hdd-1-x-1-tb--24-gb---dvd-supermulti--hd-graphics-4000--gigabit-lan--windows-7-pro-64bit-.p849128.html

The autocad would be in 2d,

Doing Autocad I would steer clear of all in ones, even if it only for 2d work as the graphics cards generally aren't up to much and can't be changed.

This build by Bloodbath would be a much better build and a good bit cheaper.

If he wants to game he could keep the 660ti if he doesn't and is looking to get into 3d work he could look into a quadro graphics card

BloodBath

That's good, I'd just throw in an ssd for the os and programs. The op in that post already had one.

montydream

Ok the build is cool and I would need to get windows 7 from pcfritz 35 euro, and adding a ssd would be another 70 euro (min). Total Being 1000 inc vat

but if I can get that hp 8300 (i7 3770 with hd4000) for sub 400euros inc vat would I not be better off?

BloodBath

How can you get it for sub €400? It's over €1100 in the link you provided.

Doing multi monitor with integrated graphics will be a pain in the arse as well.

montydream

It has one display port. Its says it can have dual monitors

BloodBath

€400 would be a great price for that thing but you are severely limited with upgrade options and spec. It only has 4gb of ram. Can you even add more? You're down to a max of 2 monitors and no way of adding a graphics card.

The build above is probably overkill though. The price could be brought down easily. Reduce the ram down to 8gb. Drop the graphics card down to a 650ti 1gb. Drop the psu down to the super flower Amazon 450w. The board to the B75 pro 3 if hes not going to use raid. You could even drop the better cpu cooler if you don't mind it being louder and hotter with the stock cooler.

Thats up to €160 saved.

montydream

It has two dimms slot with a max of 16gb, dual monitor would suffice. As for the graphics card hmmmm

Lu Tze

montydream wrote: »

It has two dimms slot with a max of 16gb, dual monitor would suffice. As for the graphics card hmmmm

Where can you get it for €400!?