DoC Computing Support Group


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= Computer purchase and support =
== Desktop computers ==
CSG currently support the following PC-compatible desktop computers, installations of which can be found throughout the department:
 * Dell Optiplex [[javascript:void(0);/*1284976434365*/|780]] and [[javascript:void(0);/*1284976591878*/|980]] (CMT configuration).
 * HP Compaq [[javascript:void(0);/*1284975745287*/|7900]] and [[javascript:void(0);/*1284975692415*/|8000]] series
= CSG-Supported PCs to buy =
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Older model computers (Shuttles and earlier Dell/HP Compaq desktops) may also be found in the department but the currently-available models are the Optiplex 980 and HP Compaq 8000 range.
If you wish to purchase a Dell Optiplex 980, CSG has a limited stock of these models 'in-house'. The Dell Optiplex 980 Mini-Tower (MT) with an Intel Core i5-650
processor (3.2Mhz dual-core with hyper-threading) with 8GB of DDR3 RAM, a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce[[javascript:void(0);/*1284976986048*/|GT330]]and a 250GB hard-drive. This costs 668.47 + VAT and includes a twenty-three inch Dell[[javascript:void(0);/*1284976832238*/|P2311H]]adjustable flat-panel display. These are covered by a three-year, on-site, next business day warranty. You can purchase one of these computers through a journal transfer: please e-mail[[javascript:void(0);/*1284984377653*/|help@doc.ic.ac.uk]]for further inquiries.[[javascript:void(0);/*1284978133659*/]][[javascript:void(0);/*1284978133659*/]]
If you wish to purchase an HP Compaq 8000 series computer, you can do so by visiting the[[javascript:void(0);/*1284978345109*/|ICT purchasing page]](college log-in required). The 'Products' link on the left-hand side of that page allows one to choose specifications on HP desktops and other related hardware. Prices are listed on the web-site. You can purchase these computers via[[javascript:void(0);/*1284978602792*/|I-Procurement]]: please contact the departmental finance team ([[javascript:void(0);/*1284984357547*/|Teresa Ng]]and[[javascript:void(0);/*1284984469966*/|Chandy Edirisinghe]]).
CSG support the departmental versions of Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Ubuntu Linux 8.04, 9.04 and 10.04 on the Optiplex 780, 980 and HP Compaq 7900 and 8000 series computers. In principle, any modern PC-compatible should work with the DoC OS installs but please note that we can only provide support for the computers listed above. It would not be realistic for us to either test or support arbitrary PC models. We strongly recommend, therefore, that you purchase conventional desktop PCs through use or ICT for that reason.
== Notebook computers ==
The DoC OS installs are primarily for desktop computers. If you wish to purchase a notebook computer, you should In terms of choosing your own PC, you can:
- Choose/spec a desktop from the ICT HP web-portal:
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/spectrum/ict/hp/hp.asp
computer (including one using the newer Intel Core processor),
get a quote and ask Teresa Ng (tng), say, to order that computer for you.
- Find a computer on the web-page of a college-approved supplier -
e.g.[[http://www.btbusinessdirect.co.uk/|http://www.btbusinessdirect.co.uk]],[[http://www.scan.co.uk/|http://www.scan.co.uk]],
[[http://www.misco.co.uk/|http://www.misco.co.uk]]
[It is not straight-forward to obtain a list of college-approved
suppliers of computers]
- Do a wider search for a Desktop computer supplier then be prepared to
justify why you would make a purchase from a non-approved supplier.
e.g.[[http://www.dell.co.uk/|http://www.dell.co.uk]].
We would encourage you to get a Dell Optiplex 980 with dual-core Intel Core i5
processor from us (please see below).
> Is there CSG software support for non-CSG machines?
Any modern PC-compatible should work with the DoC Ubuntu install but CSG can
only provide software support for hardware configurations that we have tested
ourselves, naturally. Similarly (indeed, moreso) for Windows.
We cannot provide hardware support for such machines: you would have to depend on
whatever warranty arrangements you make at the time of purchase.
> - Ho do we maintain user profiles when buying new machines (with Windows
> pre-installed)?
If the standard DoC Windows and Linux OS images can be successfully installed on
the machines, then you should find that them to behave exactly as other, current
DoC machines do in terms of user profiles.
If they do not work but networking does, then you can either use Samba under
Windows to mount a home directory ('\\fs-vol.doc.ic.ac.uk\wl', for example)
of ssh/sftp to access files under Linux ('sftp wl@s[[ftp://ftp.doc.ic.ac.uk/|ftp://ftp.doc.ic.ac.uk]]', for
example).
> - Can CSG provide software installations (standard installation of lab
> software) for our new machines?
As stated above, we can attempt to do such an install but cannot guarantee that it
will work.
CSG can offer the Dell Optiplex 980 Mini-Tower (MT) with an Intel Core i5-650
processor (3.2Mhz dual-core with hyper-threading) with 8GB of DDR3 RAM and a 250GB
hard-drive. This costs 668.47 + VAT and includes a Twenty-three inch adjustable
flat-panel display. These are covered by a three-year, on-site, next business day
warranty.
[[http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/enterprise/Desktops/optiplex-980/pd.aspx?refid=optiplex-980&cs=RC1050265&s=pad|http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/enterprise/Desktops/optiplex-980/pd.aspx?re[..]]]
[[http://accessories.euro.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=uk&l=en&s=pad&cs=RC1050265&sku=425502|http://accessories.euro.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=uk&l=en&s=pad&cs=[..]]]
Please let us know how you wish to proceed.
Please see

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/computing/csg/guides/computerpurchase-desktops/
 
 

guides/computerpurchase (last edited 2017-04-03 14:01:04 by dcw)