new work computer, advise appreciated

cpeters · 07-11-2009, 03:02 PM

I need a new computer for work. I'd appreciate a little feedback since i haven't ever built a system like this before.

It will be used in a retail store. I will be running WinXP. It will be running two 46" LCD TV's and possibly a monitor in the back room. One of the TV's will have video playing constantly and another will be used for displaying images, etc.

I'll probably go with an abit motherboard and an amd processor. One question i have is what would you put in it. This is a fairly low budget build but i don't want it to get bogged down at all. They have quads for about $100 now if i need that much processor power.

The only thing i have never used before is the multiple screens. From what i have gathered i would need a pci-express video card. Any recommendations?

Also, is there any nice software to control all of the displays and have things set to certain screens automatically. I would rather not have to spend time setting everything back when the pc gets rebooted.

Thanks

P.S. I have done 4 or 5 builds before so i'm not new to that. i don't need anyone to spoon-feed me everything. I just would like to know how much processor power would be adequate to run what i'm asking.

**wrench97** · 07-11-2009, 03:36 PM

Abit is out of the motherboard business so I would chose Asus or Gigabyte,
For 3 different screens you'll need 2 video cards or a high end workstation card> http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/re...l_74hy114yy4_e

A standard Video card will output 2 separate displays so it would in fact be cheaper to run 2 lower end cards on a Xfire motherboard using the AMD Phenom core x2 CPU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103680
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128387
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102845 2 of these unlinked will run 4 monitors
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139004

If you intend to use power point or a similar program to run the images just set it up to start on boot it will go to the last monitor displayed on automatically, for the video set WMP or VLC media player up with a continuous loop play list set to run on boot.

cpeters · 07-11-2009, 05:06 PM

Thanks for the feedback.

If i were to get two of the SAPPHIRE Radeon HD video cards: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102845

How do people normally connect their tv's? I am looking at some cables to go from dvi to hdmi. Most of the TV's out there have a HDMI inputs and what looks like an analog vga. Would it work if i were to use one of these dvi-HDMI cables? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...nnorswebguidec

**wrench97** · 07-11-2009, 05:38 PM

That card has a Svideo output, A DVI to HDMI adapter would also work.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812186026
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814999009

07-11-2009, 03:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
cpeters Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 50 OS: Linux and Win XP	new work computer, advise appreciated I need a new computer for work. I'd appreciate a little feedback since i haven't ever built a system like this before. It will be used in a retail store. I will be running WinXP. It will be running two 46" LCD TV's and possibly a monitor in the back room. One of the TV's will have video playing constantly and another will be used for displaying images, etc. I'll probably go with an abit motherboard and an amd processor. One question i have is what would you put in it. This is a fairly low budget build but i don't want it to get bogged down at all. They have quads for about $100 now if i need that much processor power. The only thing i have never used before is the multiple screens. From what i have gathered i would need a pci-express video card. Any recommendations? Also, is there any nice software to control all of the displays and have things set to certain screens automatically. I would rather not have to spend time setting everything back when the pc gets rebooted. Thanks P.S. I have done 4 or 5 builds before so i'm not new to that. i don't need anyone to spoon-feed me everything. I just would like to know how much processor power would be adequate to run what i'm asking.

07-11-2009, 03:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,579 OS: Win7	Re: new work computer, advise appreciated Abit is out of the motherboard business so I would chose Asus or Gigabyte, For 3 different screens you'll need 2 video cards or a high end workstation card> http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/re...l_74hy114yy4_e A standard Video card will output 2 separate displays so it would in fact be cheaper to run 2 lower end cards on a Xfire motherboard using the AMD Phenom core x2 CPU. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103680 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128387 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102845 2 of these unlinked will run 4 monitors http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139004 If you intend to use power point or a similar program to run the images just set it up to start on boot it will go to the last monitor displayed on automatically, for the video set WMP or VLC media player up with a continuous loop play list set to run on boot. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

07-11-2009, 05:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
cpeters Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 50 OS: Linux and Win XP	Re: new work computer, advise appreciated Thanks for the feedback. If i were to get two of the SAPPHIRE Radeon HD video cards: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102845 How do people normally connect their tv's? I am looking at some cables to go from dvi to hdmi. Most of the TV's out there have a HDMI inputs and what looks like an analog vga. Would it work if i were to use one of these dvi-HDMI cables? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...nnorswebguidec

07-11-2009, 05:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,579 OS: Win7	Re: new work computer, advise appreciated That card has a Svideo output, A DVI to HDMI adapter would also work. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812186026 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814999009 __________________ Power Supply and Selection