Reccommend me a workstation?

[pete]

My aging (work) desktop has been getting flakier of late, so I can finally justify replacing it. My budget is roughly £600 ex VAT for the base unit.

I need:
A reasonably powerful desktop able to run a couple of vmware sessions at the same time (sims test server vm and a windows workstation vm).
The base OS will be Linux, with windows stuff done in a vm.
A dual-head graphic card, but doesn't need to be anything special.
Space for additional hard disks (vm collection).
2GB Ram (yes, I can add this later).

I'd like:
Something 64bit (but not sure if I'd be shooting myself in the foot here wrt msi packaging).
Something prebuilt (but not a deal-breaker, time more than anything).

I've looked at a few HP Dual Core workstations that are within my budget range, but they're a bit pikey in the ram slots dept.

Has anyone bought anything suitable recently?

[StewartKnight]

why not build one?

[mac_shinobi]

17" imac :

http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObje...84taJ9XiI0KOd1

£680 ex vat

max of 3gb RAM and Im not sure about a 2nd display but saying that I had a dvi output no my power book so may be worth while calling apple and asking about that side of things.

Depensd if you want to go with apple or not obviously

[pete]

why not build one?

I'm not adverse to building something for me, but the "component research phase" usually chews up a fair amount of hours. Given I'm single-handed at the moment I can't really spend that much time checking out hardware for one workstation.

[saundersmatt]

why not build one?

I'm not adverse to building something for me, but the "component research phase" usually chews up a fair amount of hours. Given I'm single-handed at the moment I can't really spend that much time checking out hardware for one workstation.

Product Name Quantity Item Price
DabsValue NVIDIA GeForce 7100 GS 512/128MB Turbo Cache DDR1 PCI-E dual head
quicklinx:4B2YWS | Mfr#:I-7100GS-F3E3
1 £25.52 £25.52
Asustek ATX Mid Tower 360W - Black
quicklinx:3MSKWS | Mfr#:TA250
1 £35.58 £35.58
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB S300
quicklinx:44FRWS | Mfr#:ST3250620AS
2 £46.10 £92.20
Crucial CT2KIT12864AA667 2x1GB PC2-5300 NonECC CL5
quicklinx:3R5LWS | Mfr#:CT2KIT12864AA66
1 £149.99 £149.99
Gigabyte AM2 nForce 430 ATX DDR2 Audio Lan Graphics
quicklinx:49D7WS | Mfr#:GA-M61PM-S2
1 £50.22 £50.22
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200 Socket AM2 2.2GHz 1MB 1000FSB
quicklinx:435KWS | Mfr#:ADA4200CUBOX
1 £105.09 £105.09


Total £458.60

Component research phase done for you, just to see what you could get for your money. Personally i think the above is a pretty stonking workstation for a work machine.

Matt

[StewartKnight]

for my money, you've got to go for a Core2Duo, I know their expensive, but they are well worth the money

[Ric_]

You could also consider second user - 1st Technologies (see http://www.edugeek.net/edugeekad/dis...rgid=8&adid=18 ) can often get whatever you desire for a much reduced price.

[Norphy]

Check out EuroPC, they have a very good line of refurbished Dell Precision workstations starting at about £500. They generally come with 3 year warranties too.

[pete]

Follow-up.

I very nearly bought a precision workstation from Europc, but I've rolled my own in the end (new bloke started a month earlier than expected).

Currently putting it together. And yes, it is a Core 2 Duo.

[j17sparky]

Good choice. imho there are very very few companies who will put quality components in a pre-built. You always get some nasty intel board with 2 rams slots and one pci slot.