Built to Spec: What to Consider When Building Your Computer

            If you are currently in the planning stages of your computer building project, then you’ve got plenty of work on your hands. Luckily, the planning stage is the best time to make all of your necessary customizations and modifications, as nothing is set in stone. Charting out the course of your build is the best way to optimize your system for your individually specific demands. If you’re not sure what to look for in terms of computer hardware, but have an idea of what your system will be used for, then I hope to help you get a better idea of the components you’ll be looking at. Check out a guide below for three general classes of potential computer builds: business, casual, and performance.

The Business Type Builds

If you’re looking at setting up your home office or business with a desktop, you’ll be looking at something which is affordable yet capable of handling a variety of business applications. The great thing about business applications like emailing, word processing, data sorting etc. is that most of these are not particularly intensive nor demanding of the system. Thus, a machine intended for these uses can be built with a relatively minimal configuration. You’ll be looking at a small form machine for space and power saving utility, so start with a small form factor motherboard. Look for interface options including VGA/DVI, Audio, USB, and Ethernet. You’ll be able to scoot by with a single, low capacity hard drive (80-100gb). Onboard graphics is a must. Dual core processors work just fine. Two to six gigabytes of RAM is sufficient.

The Casual Type Builds

If you’re not looking for a business build, but instead want something which is optimized for a variety of uses including entertainment, then a casual build will do you well. Casual builds are a bit more powerful than business builds, as they are expected to cope with a larger degree of multitasking and more intensive applications. Look for a standard ATX motherboard which allows for Ethernet, VGA (HDMI is a big plus, especially if you ever like streaming from your PC to your TV!), plenty of USB inputs, and a CD/DVD/BlueRay optical drive. Dual core processors are acceptable. BlueRay is, of course, optional! Onboard graphics are acceptable, though you might find it advantageous to opt for an extended video card. Memory should fall in the four to eight gigabyte range.

The Performance Type Builds

You’re not messing around, huh? Whether you’re looking for the best performance in gaming or processor intensive work applications, a performance machine can handle rendering, multitasking, etc. like a champ. Look for a motherboard with no onboard graphics but plenty of expansion slots. A quad, hex, or even octacore processor is always advantageous. Look for plenty of memory, in the eight to sixteen gigabyte range. High speed drives like SSD are the best bet. Consider these three build types and see which you fit into best. Start with your motherboard as the foundation and build from there; for my business computer I started with a refurbished 41Y4255 system board and built around it. Best of luck to you!

The Three Best Class-Oriented Servers

                Whether you’re a small business owner or the head of a large corporate IT team, finding the right server for your specific business needs is an essential part of keeping your business running at optimum levels. There are a huge variety of servers on the market today, with varying levels of capacities and performance benchmarks, and literally hundreds of thousands of possible configurations. The vast amount of options available to you may seem overwhelming, but this doesn’t mean that settling on one server is an impossible task. Whether you’re undecided on a good server or have no clue which direction to proceed in, here are three servers arranged by their class. These three will provide you a good idea of what an optimized server will look like.

The HP ProLiant N40L

This micro server is ideal for small businesses/home offices with minimal server needs. The ProLiant N40L is one of the most affordable servers on the market, coming in at an average of $350. The N40L has a 1.5 GHz processor, more than enough for its basic data hosting applications. The Microserver has two gigabytes of DDR3 RAM, so don’t expect any memory intensive multi-tasking from this server. With four USB 2.0 ports and 250 gigabytes of high-speed SATA memory, the N40L is perfect for storing and transferring all of your essential business data. The N40L is a great server to consider if you’re taking your first steps into the server market.

The HP ProLiant BL460c

The HP ProLiant BL460c is a great server for midrange businesses which have opted for blade enclosures over rack-mounting and tower server solutions. The BL460c is a generation eight model, making it one of the more recent models in ProLiant’s blade line. The entry level version allows for two CPUs, but comes stocked with only one four-core Xeon 2.5 GHz processor and sixteen gigabytes of RAM. Midrange server applications usually demand a bit more, which is why many people opt for a second processor and a partial expansion into some of the BL460c’s memory potential of 512 gigabytes.

The Dell PowerEdge 1750

 

The PowerEdge 1750 is a seventh generation PowerEdge server and is a popular choice for business/corporate class servers. The 1750 is a one unit rack-optimized server coming in on today’s markets at an average of $5,000. The 1750 has a great configuration, and beyond multiprocessing and a huge memory availability, the 1750 also allows for redundant power supplies without taking an additional PCI slot. The 1750 offers a great degree of manageability, and the OpenManage Array Manager allows for quick and easy virtualization. Consequently, the PowerEdge 1750 is among the most popular choice for business professionals looking to upgrade their server array without breaking the bank. Refurbished options are a popular choice for seventh generation servers, offering additional incentives to go with the 1750.

MicroReview: Portable Edition

Are you looking to take your business on the go? Though you may be tempted to pack up your desktop and lug it around in a suitcase, people would no doubt look at you weirdly were you too deploy your desktop in an airport terminal or a hotel lobby. Laptops are a necessary business implement for the traveling professional, and if you’re looking for a new business laptop, there is certainly a plethora of options out there. But you’re not looking for just any laptop, correct? Rather, you should focus your search on those computers which were designed with the business professional in mind. Portable business workstations are among the most popular business implements out there today. Not sure where to start in your search for portable workstations? Check out the micro reviews below for a good idea of what great business laptops should be.

The HP EliteBook 8530w Mobile Workstation

The HP Elitebook 8530w is a great solution for portable computing, mixing a great configuration and a relatively low price among its class. The Positives? The 8530w has a comfortable build, sits nicely on the lap and doesn’t run too hot. This laptop also comes stocked with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor or a quad-core mobile option, supporting up to a full eight gigabytes of memory. The Negatives? The 8530w has been known to have battery issues, which is why you should be certain to get a good battery warranty if you’re considering a purchase. Additionally, the security features (fingerprint scanner) of the 8530w have been known to have problems when it comes to operating system upgrades.

The Dell Latitude E6220

The Dell Latitude E6220 is a very portable business pc. The E6220 comes stocked with a 128 gigabyte solid-state drive. The solid state drive is an excellent addition, making for the fastest possible data writes and reads without any of the volatility of traditional moving-component hard drives. The E6220 is also an excellent choice, owing to its support of the Intel i7 processor. The E6220 supports eight gigabyte of memory, making for easy multitasking. The downside? The E6220 costs over $2,000, quite the pricetag for a portable business computer which you may only use when you can’t access your desktop computer. The E6220 also doesn’t support USB 3.0, something which many would think standard for a laptop with that price tag.

Final Thoughts

Finding a reliable business laptop doesn’t necessarily mean you need the newest or fastest computers on the market. The two laptops above illustrate two ends of the spectrum. The affordable Elitebook 8530w is a great choice if you’re on a budget and are looking for a computer just for the road. The E6220 is a great choice if you’re looking to replace your desktop computer all together. Just remember that the right laptop is optimized for your needs. That includes cost, application, and configuration. Best of luck in your hunt!