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networkn

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#196802 13-Jun-2016 12:33

I am looking for a new Office PC. My HP doesn't seem to like Dual 1440p monitors etc.

Was thinking like:

I5 Processor

16GB Memory

I already have an SSD

Optical Drive (I do need this)

Front USB 3 x 2 at least and 2 USB 2

Mid Tower case with good quality efficient quiet PSU

Graphics Card with 2 Display Ports (I think 2GB memory would be good too).

I don't want to go overboard. I need it fast and stable but prefer to stay under $1300.

Don't need OS.

I'd like at least a 2 Year Warranty.

Dynamic

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#1571007 13-Jun-2016 13:43

Dove do some nice standard builds that they could top up for you.

I have positive memories of the Insite brand, though have not bought these in volume in 8+ years.

Am a little surprised you are having issues with the HP. I've got a 6300 Pro running 2560x1080 over DP and a 1920x1200 on VGA with no issues and I'm about to add a third monitor with no expectation of trouble.

"4 wheels move the body. 2 wheels move the soul."

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

networkn

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#1571010 13-Jun-2016 13:47

Dynamic:

Dove do some nice standard builds that they could top up for you.

I have positive memories of the Insite brand, though have not bought these in volume in 8+ years.

Am a little surprised you are having issues with the HP. I've got a 6300 Pro running 2560x1080 over DP and a 1920x1200 on VGA with no issues and I'm about to add a third monitor with no expectation of trouble.

I have never really had luck with multiple screens for some reason, with these HP Z series monitors. But I've also had machine saying it's out of resources and crashing. Tried two OS reinstalls, but it's driving me nuts. Just need to be able to work a full day without a problem.

I am not sure if it's the PSU isn't powerful enough if the video card gets busy, or there isn't enough video memory, but it's frustrating.

Dynamic

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#1571031 13-Jun-2016 14:06

I always chuckle a little when troubleshooting something on our own network and a software error message pops up referring you to your Systems Administrator or similar. What if I am the SysAdmin and I have no flamin idea?!

Are you working the display hard with design work of some kind? I see you mention 16Gb of RAM. My Win10 machine has 8Gb and is currently using only 70% of this despite having 3 MS Office apps, 2 browsers with 7 and 15 tabs open, and 8 more small applications running. I can't think of the last time I saw a machine saying it is running out of resources.

Every Z series computer we have sold (only a handful per year) has 2 or more monitors attached to the factory video card and generally running Office and AutoDesk applications. We've never sold a Z series monitor. If by chance you are daisy-chaining DisplayPort through a Z series monitor(if they do this), we have had no experience with this display configuration, though it sounds nice in theory.

Possibly try manufacturer drivers instead of HP drivers (or vice versa).

If you do go for a new build, perhaps keep the old machine around and RDP into it. Load only your bare essential apps on the new machine initially and wait a week between adding additional apps (one or two at a time) to see if this helps identify a troublesome application.

"4 wheels move the body. 2 wheels move the soul."

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

networkn

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#1571036 13-Jun-2016 14:19

Dynamic:

I always chuckle a little when troubleshooting something on our own network and a software error message pops up referring you to your Systems Administrator or similar. What if I am the SysAdmin and I have no flamin idea?!

Are you working the display hard with design work of some kind? I see you mention 16Gb of RAM. My Win10 machine has 8Gb and is currently using only 70% of this despite having 3 MS Office apps, 2 browsers with 7 and 15 tabs open, and 8 more small applications running. I can't think of the last time I saw a machine saying it is running out of resources.

Every Z series computer we have sold (only a handful per year) has 2 or more monitors attached to the factory video card and generally running Office and AutoDesk applications. We've never sold a Z series monitor. If by chance you are daisy-chaining DisplayPort through a Z series monitor(if they do this), we have had no experience with this display configuration, though it sounds nice in theory.

Possibly try manufacturer drivers instead of HP drivers (or vice versa).

If you do go for a new build, perhaps keep the old machine around and RDP into it. Load only your bare essential apps on the new machine initially and wait a week between adding additional apps (one or two at a time) to see if this helps identify a troublesome application.

Yeah, I tried a whole BUNCH of stuff, and no this is DP direct to the inbuilt MB graphics card.

Prior to upgrading graphics drivers it kept saying the driver had crashed and recovered, sometimes that worked, sometimes it didn't.

I haven't seen that error about low on system resources for quite a long time,

I typically have about 80 tabs or more open in Chrome, and possibly 30+ emails open at any given time.

At this point I feel inclined to hit it with a hammer. If I throw enough resources at it I should get through everything I need. I have a nice powerful machine at home that is :mostly: stable (used to be perfect, thanks W10 for ruining it).

These SFF HP PC's just don't seem to cope with my workload. :)

Dynamic

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#1571055 13-Jun-2016 14:33

Not intending to have a go, but 80 tabs and 30 emails? You might need to revisit your workflow. It makes me think too much is in your head and you are doing too much multi-tasking and likely killing your efficiency. (Note I make no claims about being significantly better.)

PM me if you would be interested in an occasional coffee and chat to exchange war stories and tips. I think we are of a similar size and focus and I rarely get to chinwag with another IT business owner.

"4 wheels move the body. 2 wheels move the soul."

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

pbgben

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#1571090 13-Jun-2016 15:31

Any chance you can assign more RAM to the GPU, a quick google search says 1GB per 1440p Monitor, and that's just for office use :O

$5USD 1GB RAM, 10GB SSD VPS in SYD

networkn

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#1571092 13-Jun-2016 15:35

pbgben:

Any chance you can assign more RAM to the GPU, a quick google search says 1GB per 1440p Monitor, and that's just for office use :O

Not sure how you would do that with the Intel Chipset. Reality is, the cost of a new machine vs what I can offload this HP for, means it makes more sense to get an overall more powerful machine

Poll

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#1571138 13-Jun-2016 16:37

Usually for integrated graphics there will be settings in the bios for changing the ram allocated, no clue for an oem hp box though.

We've got a few pc's with similar requirements, integrated isn't capable of driving dual monitors beyond dual 1080p from what I've seen so far.

We've got a firepro workstation card in one which has the odd issue running dual 2560x1440 (it really didn't like dual 4k), not sure if that's the video card or the older hw for the rest of the pc as it's a core 2 quad.

The others have got dual dvi port Nvidia cards driving dual 2560x1080, most recent being asus gtx 950's (had an 8600gt before the fan died which did the job perfectly too.) and they run flawlessly.

You might want to look at a lower power mid range card that doesn't require an extra gpu power connector and then just drop that into your existing pc rather than buying a whole new pc if possible.

networkn

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#1571152 13-Jun-2016 16:43

Poll:

Usually for integrated graphics there will be settings in the bios for changing the ram allocated, no clue for an oem hp box though.

We've got a few pc's with similar requirements, integrated isn't capable of driving dual monitors beyond dual 1080p from what I've seen so far.

We've got a firepro workstation card in one which has the odd issue running dual 2560x1440 (it really didn't like dual 4k), not sure if that's the video card or the older hw for the rest of the pc as it's a core 2 quad.

The others have got dual dvi port Nvidia cards driving dual 2560x1080, most recent being asus gtx 950's (had an 8600gt before the fan died which did the job perfectly too.) and they run flawlessly.

You might want to look at a lower power mid range card that doesn't require an extra gpu power connector and then just drop that into your existing pc rather than buying a whole new pc if possible.

Tried that on a prior gen machine, didn't help.

I am gonna bite the bullet and try a bigger spec machine.

I am struggling to find dual DP graphics cards for reasonable money.

There seems to be about $70 difference in price between 2GB and 4GB model. A little inclined to hit the problem with a tactical nuke.

pbgben

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#1571170 13-Jun-2016 17:22

Wow, just tried looking for some GPU's with DP and they are ridiculous. First find was $800... best have a look into places that do ExLease and get some AMD workstation cards for <$100

$5USD 1GB RAM, 10GB SSD VPS in SYD

networkn

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#1575080 16-Jun-2016 15:10

Dynamic:

Not intending to have a go, but 80 tabs and 30 emails? You might need to revisit your workflow. It makes me think too much is in your head and you are doing too much multi-tasking and likely killing your efficiency. (Note I make no claims about being significantly better.)

PM me if you would be interested in an occasional coffee and chat to exchange war stories and tips. I think we are of a similar size and focus and I rarely get to chinwag with another IT business owner.

@dynamic yeah that sounds good. Little busy for the next 2 weeks but PM me and we can catch up.

networkn

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#1575081 16-Jun-2016 15:12

Well I built up an I7 with a 4GB Video card for about $1200, and it's so much better.

I think those HP's (we sell them by the truckload) are fantastic little boxes, but I needed more video power, which means more PSU and sometimes it's just easier to make a box. The cost of a similar box in a brand was nigh 40% higher.