Advice and prices?

[marine1]

Hi guys,
Need some advice.

Need a core i5 desktop with around 8 gigs ram and maybe a 500 gig HDD or 1TB.

What I do need is for it to have onboard graphics, HDMI and also WIFI.
I then need a further graphics card with at least 2 x HDMI.
This would be to hook up to 3 monitors for CCTV surveillance.

Thanks

 

[shadow_man]

Hi guys,
Need some advice.

Need a core i5 desktop with around 8 gigs ram and maybe a 500 gig HDD or 1TB.

What I do need is for it to have onboard graphics, HDMI and also WIFI.
I then need a further graphics card with at least 2 x HDMI.
This would be to hook up to 3 monitors for CCTV surveillance.

Thanks

Hi,

Why the i5 if its not actively doing any recording or editing? I assume you have a DVR doing this?

I'd instead go with an HP Proliant Microserver (+-R1500) and a GPU (+-R1000). 8GB RAM (+-R800 now i'd guess) Chuck in a USB wifi dongle (+-R200) and you're good to go.

This would most likely be your cheapest solution, however that being said I'd not do wifi and rather run cable for network.

 

[marine1]

Hi,

Why the i5 if its not actively doing any recording or editing? I assume you have a DVR doing this?

I'd instead go with an HP Proliant Microserver (+-R1500) and a GPU (+-R1000). 8GB RAM (+-R800 now i'd guess) Chuck in a USB wifi dongle (+-R200) and you're good to go.

This would most likely be your cheapest solution, however that being said I'd not do wifi and rather run cable for network.

Interesting, any reason why you recommend this over a core i5?
Yes its remote monitoring only, over the net and it has to be WIFI unfortunately

 

[shadow_man]

Interesting, any reason why you recommend this over a core i5?
Yes its remote monitoring only, over the net and it has to be WIFI unfortunately

An i5 is OVERKILL. It's like buying a shotgun when you need a bb gun.

i5 CPU is going to set you back around R2500 JUST for the CPU, whereas the above is a complete system for almost that much.

 

[marine1]

An i5 is OVERKILL. It's like buying a shotgun when you need a bb gun.

i5 CPU is going to set you back around R2500 JUST for the CPU, whereas the above is a complete system for almost that much.

Thanks appreciate the feedback, do these machines perform well?
Its not going to be doing hectic stuff. Just monitoring off site stuff.
Can you put an add on graphics card?

 

[shadow_man]

Example Build:

PC:
http://www.wootware.co.za/hp-prolia...on-ii-neo-2gb-ddr3-250gb-hdd-microserver.html
R1599.00

RAM:
The above PC comes with 2GB - I'd almost think you wouldn't need more - but just incase you feel the need.
http://www.wootware.co.za/corsair-c...ddr3-1333-cl9-1-5v-240pin-desktop-memory.html
R1020.00

GPU:
http://www.wootware.co.za/sapphire-...le-1gb-64bit-pci-e-desktop-graphics-card.html
R668.00
You wouldn't be able to do 3x HDMI though. 1x VGA 1x HDMI, 1x DVI - although you could shop around for a card with different outputs etc. This is just an example.

WIFI:
Cheap USB dongle or an internal card if preferred etc. +-R300 I guess, seems pricing went up.

Total:

+-R3500.00

I doubt you need the RAM you think you do. Additionally the HP Proliant Microservers can take another 4 hdd's pretty easily, so future space won't be an issue etc.

 

[shadow_man]

Thanks appreciate the feedback, do these machines perform well?
Its not going to be doing hectic stuff. Just monitoring off site stuff.
Can you put an add on graphics card?

A lot of users on this forum run them for media centers or network storage. For the price they are a bargain.

For your use, its more than fine - you don't need the box you suggested in post 1.

 

[marine1]

Many thanks

 

[marine1]

Just a quick one, any idea what graphics card would have 2 x hdmi that would fit in this box?
What worries me is the power supply, is it enough for a better GPU? I mean something with 2 HDMI would surely need more power?
Thanks

 

[Flidiot]

I completely agree with the posts RE the microserver.

The units are quite nippy for basic things - I have one running as a media PC in the lounge and it handles everything I have thrown it's way so far.

They also have an internal USB port so I guess you could put a small WiFi dongle inside the machine as well - frees up the USB at the back for any other expansion you may need in the future.

Also, as jsheed_sa mentioned, you would more than likely not be able to get 3x HDMI outputs unless you can find a low profile graphics card with 2x DVI and 1x HDMI, for example. Then you could get DVI to HDMI converters for the DVI ports to get 3x HDMI - obviously you wouldn't get any sound though over the converted ports.