I got the OK to configure a new desk top PC for the company to buy for me, and right now it looks like the Dell Precision T3400 is going to get replaced by a Dell Precision T3600 Let me know if these are decent specs (Please as I have no earthly clue)
* * * I have an option of selection SATA Hard drives or SAS - I have no clue which ones I want to spec in... so - um... HELP!
Hard Drive(s) 2x Samsung HD256GM 256GB 10K-RPM SAS HDDs in RAID 0
Optical Drive(s) HL-DT-ST Slimline DVD-RAM
Power Supply Dell Custom 80 Plus Gold
Networking Intel 82579LM Gigabit Ethernet
Audio Realtek ALC269
Speaker and mic/line-in jacks
Front Side Optical drive 3x USB 2.0 1x USB 3.0 Headphone and mic jacks BIOS indicator lights
Back Side Speaker and mic/line-in jacks Serial port 5x USB 2.0 1x USB 3.0 Ethernet jack PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports DVI-D (Quadro) 2x DisplayPort (Quadro)
Operating System Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1
So here is my strict opinion. Of course this is from a Gamers perspective, knowing the corporate IT world. I have some idea about your use, but honestly not too much.
This spec is a low to mid end server / Higher end workstation.
This will likely be just fine for games, but honestly you could do better cheaper if you had any say in the matter.
SAS vs SATA. - SAS is a drive that is made for servers. They can greatly improve performance (speed) while not taking a hit to reliability (crashes). They tend to be vastly more expensive than SATA. If you were running any server software (that others are accessing) off your machine this is critical. If not, I don't know you will see a performance gain. I don't suspect you will see a downside besides the size to cost ratio is significant in comparison to SATA.
Your Proc is in essence an I5, In fact last I knew the Xeon were the same processor with some differences in on board cache (that is old information, I don't know if its still true, but I would be comfortable saying you won't see a difference between this and an I5)
Video Card: again this is a use question. I would say if you are doing any high end graphic stuff, this is the way to go. CAD/GIS/Photoshop, this is the way to go, this card is the high end workhorse. (Note: some of these packages however are moving towards using gaming cards and away from workstation cards). I think of it almost like engines. If you want reliable you go with a 4 stroke. It'll be better in every aspect, except the immediate balls to the wall speed. A consumer/gamer grade card is that balls to the wall instant speed like a 2 stroke, but it may burn itself up in a long sprint. I really wouldn't worry too much about the workstation card, except the driver issues you had. Like I said the gamer grade/consumer grade cards are becoming more prevalent in the places where workstation cards used to be the ONLY solution. When I ordered my new highend machine for GIS this year I had this debate. I could get ALOT more card for the same price going with a gaming card, Since my software package is making the jump to offload a lot of the processing from the CPU to the VPU (videocard), it made sense for me to go with the gaming card.
Finally, everthing else is what it is. You might ask to get the highest wattage PSU that dell offers in their range. Dell and other OEMs do a good job at keeping costs low by nearly matching the PSU with the expected power of the original machine. This means future additions often push over the wattage of the stock PSU. In many cases Dell offer two PSUs one is a lower wattage and one is a higher wattage. Sometimes there isn't even a price difference. (assuming it's a decent the PSU is certified effecient (that is the Bronze rating), it shouldn't even affect your power bill to have the larger PSU in there).
If you thought you could get away with it. Assuming you aren't doing any mid to high level CAD/GIS/Graphics or Server hosting, you might ask for a high end consumer/gaming PC rather than this workstation. i.e. not the Dell Precision line, but the Vostro or Dimension line. I often buy our GIS machines from the XPS (gaming line).
This machine is very nice, but they are buying you a lot of high-end you may not be using.
my $.02 maybe $.03, with the understanding you may not have any control over the matter. and of course, these are all my opinion, with no current research, just what is in my head from years and years of this and the dozen or so recent builds/specs I have done.
We stick with Dell for the instant support of mailing me replacement parts wint in 24 hours as I'm some 3,000 miles away from out IT department (which in truth is a VERY GOOD THING) So the system will be a full Dell.
You remember they problems I've had in the LAST 4 years with the video card. It is the one thing I can set my watch to - usually in the early winter months it dies - 4 years - 4 cards - another reason we get the replacement option ... as the card I have NOW is about 3x better than the 600 in the new one.
nvidia Quadro FX 5800 now.
Work wise I do not need a server HD so that settles that. The horse power is needed as I run 4, 5, 6, software packages and 2, 3, 4 'hard ware" simulation software packages all at one time simulating the hard ware the customer (john) has and his software he is trying to get to work with all the pits and pieces. So I need the guts and cores to run them concurrently.
As far as choice, the boss says - find one, email me the link with specs and I'll buy it for you. So I do have 100% say in my tech support PC - just not sure how a "gaming PC" would fly - but I can always look in to it and present my case... if not I know the Precision line works as long as it has a life line to Dell for parts.
Also remember the issue with the PS - I still have the PC power and Cooling one in this box which will get passed on to the new one. As I too had power issues way back when it was new.
This T3400 us out of warranty and dieing faster and faster.
Thanks for the reply Bubba (you too Beaver boy) Going to submit the request some time next week
Just submit for an Dell XPS, it'll have the high end hardware you need and be cheaper. I have known companies who stuck with the precision, because back in the day they didn't have a sound card included (i.e. you couldn't use it for fun stuff).
If the question the Dell XPS, just say it's the Dell that offer enough beef to run the virtual machines, without having more less-standard (Workstation type video cards), i.e. it is more likely to work with all softwares than the precision.
We stick with Dells at my office, for much the same reason. I can't support as easily and replace as quickly broken things.