So, every time we hire a new fellow and we have to get him a workstation, we ponder over whether to go for a desktop (workstation?) or a laptop (high end of course!) with extra monitor, dock etc. And we’ve ended up buying laptops all the time.
This time I wanted to get a local code server, most of the arguments for a laptop didn’t hold good in this case, so we went for a desktop. Now, the obvious thought was to check the best models from Lenovo/Dell/HP. But for some reasons we thought of assembling it. So, we went ahead and got the best possible configuration.
- Processor: AMD FX 8 Core processor.
- Corsair High Perf. 4GB RAM x 3
- Corsair High Perf. Rig with amazing ventilation and push slots.
- Corsair 600W SMPS.
- Seagate 2 TB HDD.
- High perf. Motherboard and Radeon Card.
All this cost me half the price of the modest Lenovo ThinkPad 420i. (Core i3 - 4cores, 4 GB RAM, 14” display, 500 GB HDD).
Update: the custom rig cost me around 30k ($550-$600) and the ThinkPad cost around 52k ($950-$1000)
Facepalm?
I literally was facepalmed. Wondering, what happened to our love of assembling the best rig possible for a given price. Or when we started to just cut cheques for the ‘branded’ laptops (or even desktops). Half a decade ago, the hardware vendors ruled our hearts, I used to wait for Intel/AMD to bring on their new processor, and architectures. Now, nobody talks about Cores, Corsairs or CoolMasters. I think it is because of software and design taking the front seat. Apple injecting the brand bug into everybody. While we applaud the new retina macbooks, hardly anyone around me (including me) realized we could build a rig 10 times more powerful at quarter of its price.
Please desktops, please come back to your days of glory.
Afterthought.
The configuration is meant to be a headless node. But you can get an awesome (high end) Radeon, and a 24” IPS monitor and still beat the Lenovo’s price. If you’re planning to buy a computer, consider this. And FYI, the Motherboard BIOS has UEFI so it is Windows 8 compatible.
