Low Profile machine

[MadClown]

A friend of mine asked me to build a pc for him to be used for work. I just have to ask a few questions:

1.) Would micro ATX be sufficient seeing as there will be no gaming being done on the pc?
2.) 32-bit or 64-bit?
3.) Try and use onboard video if available, or get a low profile video card?
4.) Whats a good, reliable wireless card?

Thanks an advance.

Feel free to suggest builds if you feel so Inclined.

 

[troyrae360]

1) yes Micro ATX will be perfect
2) 64 bit, its better allround and the way of the future, more stable etc.
3) if he isn't playing games then onboard will be perfect.
4) Dlink

 

[MadClown]

I was gonna go with 64-bit anyways, just tossing around the idea because idk if the programs he wants to use will work with 64-bit or not, either way a virtual machine can be run I suppose, if the need arises.

 

[Fourstaff]

Wouldn't recommend 64but with as much enthusiasm. If it is only used for work and nothing else, the compatibility of 32 bit is a very nice thing to have, whereas 64bit brings a next to negligible benefit.

 

[newtekie1]

1.) Yes.
2.) 64-bit
3.) Onboard is fine
4.) Any from a well known manufacturer(Linksys, Dlink, Netgear, etc.)

Wouldn't recommend 64but with as much enthusiasm. If it is only used for work and nothing else, the compatibility of 32 bit is a very nice thing to have, whereas 64bit brings a next to negligible benefit.

As stated, a virtual machine would eliminate most of the compatibility issues he would likely have. Though I would try 64-bit first, and if they found more than one or two things that didn't work I'd just throw 32-bit on the machine.

 

[TIGR]

1.) Micro ATX is fine. You can build powerful Micro ATX systems if you want to, so Micro ATX office computers are definitely no prob.
2.) There's really no reason not to go 64bit. 64 is technically faster and more secure (maybe not in a huge way, but it is), and then you're not so RAM-limited, giving the system a brighter upgrade future. Compatibility is a non-issue in 99% of cases, and I've never had a problem getting around the other 1%.
3.) No need for a video card from the sound of it.
4.) EDIMAX EW-7128G. I've used it in dozens of systems and compared the signal to all the other popular models I know of. Price to performance ratio can't be beat.

 

[Fourstaff]

^ I had a fair share of troubles in 64bit (printer drivers etc.), perhaps I am just unlucky.

 

[TIGR]

Maybe. I don't mean to threadjack from you MadClown, but Fourstaff: was this recently, and what drivers/printers gave you trouble?

 

[caoder]

also depends on how old the equipment attached to the system is.. xp and older printers / scanners/ other such peripherals all had major compat with win vista / 64bit because xp had close to none 64bit support...

and matx is fine but what kind of work is to be done? anything graphics intensive (cad, editing, photos etc) u'll still want a dedicated card. 64 is generally perfered because most systems have 4gbs of ram nowadays. IMO best wireless cards are ones that have a wired antennae that can be placed wherever.