New Desktop/Tower Suppliers

[mdrabble]

Breaking away from buying Refurbs this year as need to look at hardware to run Windows 11 in preparation for 2025 and which will give me another another couple of years afterwards.

 

The Spec I am looking at (an open to change)

 

• Intel Core i5-11400 CPU
  
• 8 GB RAM
  
• 256 GB SSD
  
• Windows 10/11
  

 

Who do people use for new hardware?

 

I've sent feelers our to

 

VeryPC

Misco

Stone

 

Anyone else I should be looking at?

 

Cheers

[robyholmes]

VeryPC here and they always seem to give a good price and supply what you want, rather than what they have to hand.

[DalekSec]

We’re looking at Dell this yea, really good prices

[Andycat]

Use a framework. Crescent etc. Just done it for All in Ones and the cheapest quotes are from suppliers I've never used.

[Jawloms]

Something to watch out for which caught me out on our last purchase - the physical size of the case. We used a Framework, got a good spec for a good price (from PC Specialist), but when they arrived they are absolutely huge! Seriously, I've installed a smaller server than these!

[Norphy]

Something to watch out for which caught me out on our last purchase - the physical size of the case. We used a Framework, got a good spec for a good price (from PC Specialist), but when they arrived they are absolutely huge! Seriously, I've installed a smaller server than these!

 

Make that part of the spec then, the physical size of the case.

[Jawloms]

Make that part of the spec then, the physical size of the case.

 

I do now, but it's not something I've had to specify before. They've always just been a sensible size or smaller.

[mdrabble]

Looks like I'm going to have to do some reading on how to use Crescent......

[Andycat]

Looks like I'm going to have to do some reading on how to use Crescent......

 

Oh it's really simple, even I can do it! Used it a lot recently, takes the pain out of tenders!!

[mdrabble]

Ok.... for those who have used Cresent to get quotes....... it mentions

users choose to specify brands we would suggest that you add the words 'or equivalent' to be more inclusive and reduce the possibility of challenge.

 

Would this be the best way of putting details of the spec I am after?

• Tower Configuration (dimensions)
  
• Intel Core i5-11400 CPU (or equivalent CPU)
  
• 8 GB RAM (minimum capacity)
  
• 256 GB SSD or NVMe Drive (minimum capacity)
  
• Wired Keyboard & Mouse
  
• Windows 10/11 Pro/Education
  
• 5 year On-site Warranty
  

 

Cheers

[Cat_Jam148]

I highly recommend CBC Computers based in Sheffield - great service and very good prices

 

However, I've just recently placed an order with VeryPC for our new classroom machines and have spec'd the following:

 

Intel i5 11th Gen

16GB RAM

480GB SSD

Micro Form Factor

 

I know some of you will look at 16GB RAM and think "Why has he spec'd that much for a classroom? 8GB is surely enough" - yes 8GB RAM is currently enough. However, i'm regularly seeing our current 8GB machines at around 85% usage.

While I've got the budget now, I'd rather 'future proof' the machines instead of diving down the back of the server cab looking for pennies in a few years. My two cents

[mdrabble]

I highly recommend CBC Computers based in Sheffield - great service and very good prices

 

However, I've just recently placed an order with VeryPC for our new classroom machines and have spec'd the following:

 

Intel i5 11th Gen

16GB RAM

480GB SSD

Micro Form Factor

 

I know some of you will look at 16GB RAM and think "Why has he spec'd that much for a classroom? 8GB is surely enough" - yes 8GB RAM is currently enough. However, i'm regularly seeing our current 8GB machines at around 85% usage.

While I've got the budget now, I'd rather 'future proof' the machines instead of diving down the back of the server cab looking for pennies in a few years. My two cents

 

16Gb isnt a bad shout to be fair - expecially when they are going to be using the machines for Visual Studio and Unity etc....

[Andycat]

Ok.... for those who have used Cresent to get quotes....... it mentions

 

Would this be the best way of putting details of the spec I am after?

• Tower Configuration (dimensions)
  
• Intel Core i5-11400 CPU (or equivalent CPU)
  
• 8 GB RAM (minimum capacity)
  
• 256 GB SSD or NVMe Drive (minimum capacity)
  
• Wired Keyboard & Mouse
  
• Windows 10/11 Pro/Education
  
• 5 year On-site Warranty
  

 

Cheers

 

Yes, even specify minimum for processor, we said minimum 10th gen, as there are all sorts of supply issues at the mo, so unless you can wait months, be a little more generic!

[robyholmes]

I'd state a TPM as well, maybe even number of USBs and display output (Digital ones and VGA if you need it). Also state you need PXE bootable BOIS. I've purchased HP laptops before and they didn't support it, HP said it was only supported on 'X' product line which was £150 more for the same spec.

[mdrabble]

So after taking on board what people has mentioned.

 

• Tower Configuration - Maximum Dimension - 180 x 408 x 355 mm (WxDxH)
  
• Intel Core i5-11400 CPU (or equivalent CPU)
  
• 8 GB RAM (minimum capacity)
  
• 256 GB SSD or NVMe Drive (minimum capacity)
  
• TPM 2.0
  
• PXE bootable Network Adapter
  
• 4 x USB 2.0 (Type A Connector)
  
• 4 x USB 3.1 Type A (2 front, 2 rear)
  
• 1 x VGA, DVI-D and HDMI Display outputs
  
• No optical drive
  
• Wired Keyboard & Mouse
  
• Windows 10/11 Pro/Education
  
• 5 Year Next Business Day Warranty
  

 

How does this sound?

 

Very hard to be generic, yet specifying what what I'm looking for.

 

Cheers

[Andycat]

You just can't specify Manufacturers really, that's all.