DACC trustees approve bid for computers, networking to Zhai Network Parametrix

DANVILLE – Danville Area Community College will continue to improve technology on campus this summer.

Trustees on Tuesday awarded a $78,836 bid to Zhai Network Parametrix for 70 Lenovo desktop computers, 70 monitors and 12 laptops. The equipment will be installed in four existing computer labs throughout the main campus.

Trustees also awarded an $80,474 bid to CDW-G for Cisco networking equipment. That will improve wireless Internet capabilities on campus.

The computer equipment will be purchased with Perkins grant funding, and the networking equipment will be purchased with the remainder of a 2008 technology and equipment bond.

"There were a little bit of funds that were left over," Chief Financial Officer Gail Morrison said of the $1 million bond, which DACC officials issued to make technology improvements across campus. "That will exhaust any remaining money."

The college used to rely on an annual $250,000 technology grant from the state to do that, but that money dried up several years ago. Afterward, the college replaced some items using grants, but not nearly as many or as frequently as it should.

A first round of funding was used to buy more than 200 computers, monitors and other equipment in the 2009 fiscal year, and a second was used to buy more than 250 computers, monitors and 62 laptops this current fiscal year.

"We're certainly much more up-to-date with our technology than we were," President Alice Jacobs said, adding that couldn't have been done without the bond. "We have to have computers and equipment that's as up-to-date as other institutions of higher education and the high schools to meet not only the needs of the students but the needs of the area employers, as well."

Source:

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/2010-06-23/dacc-trustees-approve-bid-computers-networking.html

Desktop PC Buying Guide

Once you've determined the type of desktop system you want a compact PC, a budget system, a mainstream all-purpose model, or a performance crackerjack--you need to know what components to look for. The processor and graphics chip you choose will determine many of your machine's capabilities, as will the system's memory and hard drive. Understanding those components will help you get the performance you need, without paying for things you don't.

You'll also want to consider details like the layout of the case, which can also make the difference between a pleasant workstation and a nightmare PC.

Graphics Cards

The GPU (graphics processing unit) is responsible for everything you see on your display, whether you play games, watch videos, or just stare at the Aero desktop baked into Windows 7.

If you aren't interested in gaming on your PC, integrated graphics built onto the motherboard--or in the CPU itself with Intel's new Core i3 and Core i5 Clarkdale chips--is the way to go. Integrated graphics help keep a system's cost low, and they deliver enough power to run simple games or high-definition Flash video. Intel's integrated graphics chips are widely used, but some PCs include an nVidia Ion graphics chip, which offers superior integrated video performance.

Processor

The CPU is one of your PC's most important components. The processor you choose is likely to determine your PC's shape and size, and will definitely determine its price. Generally, the higher the CPU clock speed, the faster the performance you may see--and the higher the price. A 3.46GHz Core i5-670 PC will trounce a 2.93GHz Core i3-530 system, but you'll pay nearly twice as much for the faster CPU. Another spec to watch is cache size: More is better, here: Core i3 and Core i5 parts have 4MB caches, while performance-geared Core i7 chips have 6MB or 8MB caches.

Desktop Case

A good case can make your everyday work easier and can simplify such tasks as upgrading and servicing components in a workplace. A well-designed case provides tool-less access to the interior, hard drives mounted on easy-to-slide-out trays, readily accessible USB ports and memory card slots, and color-coded cables for internal and external parts.

Operating System

It may be a decade old, but Windows XP remains a stalwart--even on some new systems. Nevertheless, most systems on the market today run Windows 7. Microsoft's latest operating system has received generally positive reviews, improving on many of Windows Vista's foibles.

For more information please visit: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/16/AR2010031600059.html