Computer Business

[Grant]

This small computer service business has been going on about a year or so,  Anyways here is our wbesite, check it out and let me know what you think. any suggestions?

http://www.techpolice.org/vias/index.htm

I can also get good prices on computer components, so if any of you guys need anything, please let me know, thanks.

[240meowth]

hey grant, can you find me an AT mother board that supports cpu's @ around 1ghz? or maybe a lil lower, that'll be fine.

[SaintlyCharBoy]

ok, my dad owns an architectural business, adn is doing, primarily cad work, he uses datacad if you care....
i am looking to build him a cad box
Ideas:
dual P3/ athalon up to 1.2 gig ea.
512 meg-gig of ram
64 mb graphics card
(maybe eventually a video card, but he doesn't do any renderings...)
no sound... business only
cannibalizing drives

my big question is really what do you think i s realistic for this (ie price?), or is it even a good application?

what (windows based, sorry linux guys i can't deal with your cad programs) os would you suggest?

would i be better off to just buy a grand dell special?

thanks
Sean

[Grant]

240meowth, as far as AT motherboards???! um, I'll give it a shot, but chances are about 1%. better off just getting a new ATX power supply and case for about $30-70..  
SaintCharBoy, first off, my opinion, is dont use Athlons. Compatibility issues and such are a biatch. I use an Athlon 800 which I traded with my aunt (she has my PIII) and I've had several problems with some appilications here and there.
Here would be a decent setup:
Dual P-4 1.5Ghz
512gig Rambus (PC800)
Nividia GeForceII MX400 (64mb) for the time being
My friend suggests using the new Seagate Barracuda IV series, he says that integrates their Barracuda technology into the IDE drives (much better design compared to the old shitty drives they used to have, and pretty low failure rate.)
I'm not really into cad, but i dont know, does AutoCAD still exist?

Anyways, its up to you to buy a Dell or a Custom Built one. I prefer to build my own simply because I can choose every part I want, and I and my decisions are not altered by incentives that big companies such as Dell/Compaq has.
If you are really interested, or would like a price, let me know.

[alchemist]

if he is doing 2d work,  the matrox line is unbelieveable at high res quality...if your dad is a pro, he might do better with a specialty graphics card, not a gaming card.

[Grant]

GeForce 2 is something I'd suggest as temporary, but yea, alchemist is right, Matrox is a good way to go, but quite pricey.

[IceTekGuy]

if you do happen to open up a store, i will do you signs for a good deal also... better than anyone, i guarantee it...



(Edited by IceTekGuy at 11:32 pm on Feb. 7, 2002)

[nismo270r]

Hey Grant...I was gonna see if you could check a couple prices for me...

-New Plextor CDRW 24x/10x/40x
-Pioneer (forgot the model #) Slot fed DVD ROM

Just shoot me an email with the prices if you could...thanks.

[Grant]

no problem I'll get back to you tomorrow or monday at the lastest on that.