I'm one of those guys who spent 1700 on an i7 with like 25gigs of ram. And now the computer is going kaput. I don't have the time build or upgrade a PC. But I also don't need to go crazy. I use Bloomberg, several instances of excel and one instance of SQL Server 2010. What would be a good reliable PC for that? I used to be more involved in the PC specs, but I've lost touch over the years.
You would probably be very happy with a Dell T5400 with CPU's like dual Xeon x5482 CPUs (quad-core @ 3.2ghz WITHOUT Hyperthreadding). You can buy cheap 4GB sticks of RAM and get an 8-core, 32GB RAM machine for maybe $500 shipped on the right day. Put a 128 or 256gb SSD in the thing and a 3TB hybrid HDD in there and you'll love it. It'll feel just as nice/fast as your fancy new i7 box that's crapping out on you. $700-$800 all-in and you are good to go. EDIT: The NVS 420 is a great, cheap quad video card.
Suppose money wasn't my concern but time was (I got two demanding jobs and a baby). What would be a good configuration for what I do? I can't seem to get a good answer on the i7 vs Xeon chips. As scat or you said, the processor is less relevant and you had once said that the workstations have better motherboards and other components. I don't want to spend over 2k but it has to come built out of the box.
2-monitors, no problem. Tons of choices, if you're going high-res on the monitors (>1920x1200), then you'll need to be a bit more careful on video card choice to match up. Here's a link. I helped my architect neighbor purchase this exact machine about 2 1/2 years ago from Dell Outlet for $1325... it would have been $3100, retail. The X5650 is a strong CPU... Passmark about 7700. $600 with shipping included seems a reasonable price.... 80% off of original retail. Seller has 100% reputation and 30-day warranty. If it's going to fail, will almost certainly do so within your first 30 days. This model is not that old. Possible there is still some Dell warranty left... check the Service Tag. Sometimes original buyer also purchased extended warranty and there might even be a couple of years of Dell warranty on it. (I've purchased on eBay before where the seller did not know the warranty status... only to find out there was warranty remaining.... which can be transferred to new owner.) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Precis...1189922407?pt=Desktop_PCs&hash=item35d3fe4267 Here's another which seems worth of checking out. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Precis...005&prg=9209&rk=1&rkt=6&sd=231189922407&rt=nc
Both great choices. If you want something even crazier try this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Precis...1174907590?pt=Desktop_PCs&hash=item35d31926c6 But you don't need it and it's overkill. The two that Scat posted would be great all day long for 2-3 years easy.
Or this.... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Precis...005&prg=9536&rk=2&rkt=6&sd=231189922407&rt=nc CPU model not mentioned, but it looks like Xeon X5680. Manufacturer refurbished Faster CPU, less storage space than above. Auction still ongoing... $510 bid.
Thanks for the advice and the link to that company. I thought my computer was going kaput because it kept turning off. Turns out that some reason it's become very sensitive to movement and my baby has been using it as a prop to stand up. She moves the computer slightly and it shuts off. But now my palate has been wet with the idea of buying a new PC (even if the urgency to do so isn't there). I think I will be buying something from that site in the next few weeks.