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Need help finding suitable PC for task specific job.

Joined
Oct 1, 2011
Messages
59
My school is currently working on building a photo booth for events they hold, and are now looking for the last piece: The computer. I have been asked to find a computer capable of handling the software and hardware required for said project. The main piece of software is called SparkBooth, found here. This software requires a minimum of:
Windows 7/8
i5 Dual Core at 2.5 gHz
4GB ram
The rest of the software/hardware fits into those above requirements. Another specification is the computer needs to be small. Preferably the size of a mini box/tower (1' x 1' x 6") or smaller. Doesn't matter if it is a laptop, desktop, or tablet so long as it has at least one USB port, a VGA port (Or a display output port of some sort that can be converted to VGA), and the ability to connect to internet via Wifi or Ethernet.
And now for the biggest bottleneck of the whole setup, price. This unit cannot exceed $400, as stated by the school. Though, if it ends out to be $430 or something, i may be able to talk them into it.
If anymore information is required, i posted in the wrong category, or something else, let me know.
Thanks!
 
Last edited:
If this is for school then the cost of Windows is greatly reduced. It shouldn't cost $100 for a W7 license.

With that being said, they have an i3 version of the NUC that's like $100 cheaper than the i5 version that should meet your requirements.

You also typed your requirements way wrong. After looking at the web site it appears that you are NOT using the DSLR version of the software, thus you'll only need a Core 2 Duo processor that's 2.5Ghz or greater. This means that not only is an i5 not require, nor an i3 but a Sandy Bridge or Haswell variant of the Pentium or Celeron will run the software. A Core 2 Duo has been EOL for a few generations now.

Edit:
$280 - Intel NUC BOXD34010WYKH1 2 x 204Pin SO-DIMM Intel HD Graphics 4400 Integrated by CPU Mini / Booksize Barebone System

RAM, 2.5" HDD and OS License with the remaining $120 budget.

edit2:
$40 - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600

Total so far:
$363.26 shipped.

Now to just find a operating system license for $40 with an academic discount. I know for a while students could buy a W7 license for $30. I have no clue where to look however.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
If this is for school then the cost of Windows is greatly reduced. It shouldn't cost $100 for a W7 license.

With that being said, they have an i3 version of the NUC that's like $100 cheaper than the i5 version that should meet your requirements.

You also typed your requirements way wrong. After looking at the web site it appears that you are NOT using the DSLR version of the software, thus you'll only need a Core 2 Duo processor that's 2.5Ghz or greater. This means that not only is an i5 not require, nor an i3 but a Sandy Bridge or Haswell variant of the Pentium or Celeron will run the software. A Core 2 Duo has been EOL for a few generations now.

Edit:
$280 - Intel NUC BOXD34010WYKH1 2 x 204Pin SO-DIMM Intel HD Graphics 4400 Integrated by CPU Mini / Booksize Barebone System

RAM, 2.5" HDD and OS License with the remaining $120 budget.

edit2:
$40 - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600

Total so far:
$363.26 shipped.

Now to just find a operating system license for $40 with an academic discount. I know for a while students could buy a W7 license for $30. I have no clue where to look however.

Ah. Alright then, that fixes a few things. My school is a smaller school (RIII) and so we unfortunately don't get discounts, plus i don't know if Microsoft still offers that for Windows 7, as they are trying to push it out of service. Nevertheless, that greatly helps knowing i don't need an i5 (Should have paid more attention while looking at the web page :p ) I actually have a few spare sticks of DDR3 that works for said device, so that also takes off a bit of the cost. Windows 7 runs for 99$ on Amazon, so that should work.Will look into it again tomorrow, compile a price list, and see if the school will go for it. Thanks guys!
 
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