Desktop Guidelines

Technology Guidelines

Desktop Computers
Version: 4.0
Status: Proposed: 03/27/07
Contact: James E. Davis

PURPOSE

The following establishes general guidelines and a minimum set of expectations to follow when purchasing new desktop personal computers.

SCOPE

This guideline covers the desktop hardware components, base operating software, warranty, support, and service requirements for 3 levels of desktop computer configurations.

APPLICABILITY

This guideline is applicable to desktop computers only and does not cover servers or systems required for support services or applications requiring unique or special configurations.

GUIDELINE

The guidelines outlined in this document define hardware specifications for procuring desktop computers for faculty, students and staff. These guidelines can and should be applied to all functional units/offices in order to provide a standard platform across the college. It is recommended these configurations be used to govern the purchase of all desktop computers.

The guidelines allow colleges to migrate to systems that are current-technology and that can also assist in reducing support costs associated with warranty and deployment. They adopt versions of chipsets and processors that will serve to maximize anticipated hardware life cycles.

Colleges should always follow this document, where possible, when making new desktop purchases since all VCCS system wide desktop product and application decisions will be based solely upon the specifications included in these guidelines. All exceptions should be clearly documented and submitted when requesting purchasing approval.

CONFIGURATION BY CATEGORY
User Level	Entry User Level One	Mainstream User Level Two	Power User Level Three
Processor	Core Duo E6300	Core Duo E6400 or E6600	Core Duo E6700
Memory	1-2 GB DDR2	2 GB DDR2	2-4 GB DDR2
Chipset	Intel Q963 or Q965	Intel Q965	Intel Q965
Hard Drive	80GB-120GB SATA	80GB+ SATA	120+GB SATA
Optical Drive	DVD/CD-ROM (optional)	DVD/CD-ROM	DVD/CD-ROM with burner
Graphics	Integrated (*)	PCI Express 128MB	PCI Express 256MB
Display Size	17-inch viewable	17-19-inch viewable	19-inch viewable
Display Type	CRT or FPD	CRT or FPD	FPD
Floppy	Optional	Optional	Optional
USB Ports	Four rear, two front	Four rear, two front	Four rear, two front
NIC	Integrated 10/100/1000	Integrated 10/100/1000	Integrated 10/100/1000
Serial Ports	1 (optional)	1	1
Parallel Ports	1	1	1
Warranty	Four years	Four years	Four years

PROCESSOR NUMBER FEATURE TABLE
PROCESSOR NAME	CACHE	CLOCK SPEED	FRONT SIDE BUS (MHz)	DUAL-CORE	VT±	EIST	EM64T	XD
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300	2 MB L2	1.86 GHz	1066 MHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400	2 MB L2	2.13 GHz	1066 MHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600	4 MB L2	2.40 GHz	1066 MHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Intel Core 2 Duo E6700	4 MB L2	2.66 GHz	1066 MHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

NOTE:

The System Office provides contracts for procuring Dell and Hewlett Packard equipment. These contacts were designed so VCCS could maximize its savings on specific models and configurations. The VCCS contract information can be found at the following link:

http://www.vccs.edu/admin/Controller_Office/Purchasing/InformationTechnologyContracts.htm

There are five statewide PC contracts established by VITA. In addition to these standard configurations, however, note that many other vendor desktops can be purchased off of these contracts. In the latter case, you will need to refer to the state contract tables titled "Off-Spec Discounts."

http://www.vita.virginia.gov/procurement/pcPricing.cfm

In the latter part of 2006, Intel introduced dual-core systems to mainstream desktops. Dual-core microprocessors offer more processing capacity, consume less power and generate less heat than legacy Pentium D products. Core 2 Duo also brings focus on overall system performance, rather than traditional clock speed, as the primary differentiator in microprocessor performance. The Core 2 Duo has clock speeds ranging anywhere between 1.8GHz and 2.66GHz, compared with Pentiums that range from 2.8GHz to 3.6GHz. Despite this clock speed differential, the Core 2 Duo typically outperforms Pentium Ds by 30% to 40%.

All the configurations listed in the chart above should be capable of supporting the Microsoft Vista OS. Colleges that anticipate eventual migration to Vista should strongly consider 2GB of RAM as the minimal threshold (Entry User level) — the additional memory will offer better performance and increase the potential longevity of the PC.

GUIDELINE-QUALIFIED STATE CONTRACT DESKTOP PCs
VENDOR	Entry	Mainstream	Power	VCCS	Link: (*)
Dell OptiPlex 745		ü	ü	contract link	State contract link
Dell OptiPlex GX620	ü¹			contract link	State contract link
Gateway E-6610D	ü²	ü²	ü²	n/a	State contract link
Gateway E-4610D	ü	ü	ü	n/a	State contract link
HP Compaq dc7700	ü	ü	ü	contract link	State contract link
HP Compaq dc5700	ü	ü³	ü³	contract link	State contract link
Lenovo ThinkCentre M55	ü	ü		n/a	State contract link
NCS CM3-I315	ü	ü	ü	n/a	pending

(*) May require valid vendor

user account

Guideline deviations

(viable if meets specific user need):

^{1 945G Chipset
² 975X Chipset}

³ Q963 Chipset

Warranty, Support, and Service:

Warranty:

Minimum four years parts warranty · Minimum four years labor warranty

Minimum four years Next Business Day parts delivery

Encloses documentation that fully explains the length, terms and conditions of the warranty and support services.

Support:

Technical Support, 24-hr, 7-day, Toll-Free

Internet e-mail and File access

World Wide Web support/access containing current product information, technical support documents, etc.

The vendor must supply the following phone numbers and Internet addresses where appropriate:

Technical Support #
E-mail Address
World Wide Web Address
Other (List)

Please Note:

Upon request, the vendor must be able to supply reference accounts where 200 or more such systems are installed in a networked environment.

All replacement components supplied by the vendor must be new and equivalent to those originally installed in the system.

The vendor must supply all requested documentation to aid in verifying and evaluating the proposed workstation, including, but not limited to, all questions raised in this document.

Upon request, the vendor must provide a test unit for a 30-day evaluation. Prospective vendor is responsible for all shipping charges.

The system units must be fully compatible with major manufacturer's network interface cards and network operating systems.

Miscellaneous:

Energy/Environmental:

System must be EPA Energy Star compliant.

System must be FCC class B approved.

Operating System:

Microsoft Windows XP Professional.

OS must be installed on the hard disk.

Must include the OS on CD-ROM, one per system.

Design/System Considerations:

Must provide all original hardware documentation and support software on the hard drive or CD-ROM.

System must be fully Plug-n-Play ready/compliant.

Entire system must be fully compatible with major network operating systems.

All computers purchased must be built with identical components.

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