What would you pay

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Sawtooth

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Apr 16, 2005
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Hey guys I am an OEM local white box builder here in Florida. I had a huge argument with my boss about pricing as I think he is over pricing things and keep in mind margins are narrow but I value this fourm and all your input. The [H] consumer reviews have helped us improve tech support and other areas anyway I welcome any and all feedback. I am not trying to sell to you guys or market the company I work for. This more to prove my point that my prcing may be a little more accurate than my boss. Keep in mind that we don't buy parts from new egg or the like but from vendors. So here are the Specs -this is just a workgroup file server -not a 2003 server

Case: Antec P-180 Brushed Aluminium

Motherboard: MSI P965 Platinum http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=745

Memory: 4x512mb 2 gigs Crucial memory @ 667

PWS: Antec True Power 550 with true control

Video: Geforce 6200

Storage: 2x 250gig SATA II Western Digital with 16mb cache Raid 1

CPU: Core 2 Duo E6600 retail box

OS: XP Pro

Floppy

Aopen DVDRW 16x dual layer with Nero

1 year Computer Associates Antivirus

1 Year parts and labor

Thanks for your input and I welcome any suggetions as to what you guys would add, would change. I am trying to turn things around for this company but it seems impossible with my boss's attitude.
 
Please keep in mind that I don't use file servers and have never built one so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

BUT...

From the looks of that rig, it's basically a decent video card from being an upper-mid end gaming rig.

Who is your target market for stuff like that?

It just seems over the top for a file server imo.

What would I change?

e6600 - most likely way more powerful than needed
Dual layer DvD burner - why?
Nvidia 6200 - why have a gpu on a file server?
Crucial DDR2-667 RAM - probably higher end RAM than is needed in a business environment
2x250 Gig HDDs - for just a tad bid more, he could be using 2x320.
550W psu - a 350 - 400W psu would run that system easily.

Those are just my uneducated observations. I'm sure he could sell a handful of these to people just starting a business who have no clue, but no seasoned IT professional or semi computer-literate small business owner would buy that rig, as specced.

Good luck dealing with your boss. =p
 
This server was built in such a way so that if/when the customer decided to go to SBS they can. It currently hosts Quick Books 2006 Accounting editon Peach Tree as well as several other apps. that the server pushes out that require the processor and memory speed.

I also didn't want to go backwards and use a Pentium D with netburst. I wanted to use a lower watt power supply but believe it or not the vendor was out of nearly all Antec PWS telling me it would be a week or better before they have more in. I like the TPII480.

DVD burners are standard in all of our builds. Thanks for your input
 
Sawtooth said:
This server was built in such a way so that if/when the customer decided to go to SBS they can. It currently hosts Quick Books 2006 Accounting editon Peach Tree as well as several other apps. that the server pushes out that require the processor and memory speed.
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When I used to do some light accounting and bookkeeping for my old employer, the computer I used hosted Peachtree and all the associated files and databases. It used an old Celeron. I'm quite sure an E6300 would be more than enough. As far as needing -667 RAM, especially made by Crucial, I don't know enough to comment, but I'm dubious.
I wanted to use a lower watt power supply but believe it or not the vendor was out of nearly all Antec PWS telling me it would be a week or better before they have more in. I like the TPII480.
Click to expand...
You have to buy Antec?

DVD burners are standard in all of our builds.
Click to expand...
That's not really an answer. Being successful in a narrow margin business has a lot to do with saving money when you can. Putting a $33 DvD burner in a business machine is silly when you can get by with a $17 (retail cost) CD burner.

I just don't see you guys selling these to people who do any research. I guess it would help to know how your boss markets himself and who his target consumer base is.

Rich
 
We are partners with Antec (Antec has a 3 year replacement/warranty on their PWS so if something goes wrong it they are very easy to RMA other vendors not so easy in that price range..I could be worng) in the channel so we get pretty good discounts for using their stuff. Also the DVD burner at cost was $20 yes 8 bucks is 8 bucks. He wants to market to SMBs. Quickbooks is hosted on the server and users lauch QuickBooks from the server instead of their workstations so I wanted quick I/O. We also get channel discounts from Crucial from buying their memory.
Okay so lets flip this and say. What would you build for a Server either SBS or a file server. Thats the key really. Cost and narrow margins. What I need as a tech is to say okay boss here is a good $1,500 server that will do the customers justice. So I am looking to you guys for feedback because as far as I am concerned customers are getting screwed. I picked the memory and processor and I would have picked an ASUS P5B or close to it instead of the MSI.

So if your are targeting SMBs what would chage or build. Thanks for your input
 
Core 2 Duo? In a file server? Dude, a Pentium 3 or Williamette Pentium 4 is enough to host files, why on earth are you putting C2D in there?!

Anyways, I think I'd pay right at $700 for a file server.
 
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