Build Advice Multi-Display Office Machine

As you might have noticed, my boss is in a spot of bother over the catastrophic performance of his rather elderly Dell Optiplex 320. He wants a 'box' that will provide fast performance whilst driving four Dell 2007FPbs, and has decided that as I wear glasses I might as well be the person to make this happen. Having been instructed first only to upgrade the Optiplex, I tried a new OS (worked but disabled old discrete graphics card), then new graphics cards (didn't work with old computer and new operating system), and have finally arrived at instructions to build a new computer altogether.

Therefore (and though I helped write this, I've never used it before);

Budget: As cheap as possible without cutting corners excessively. I'm thinking £400-500, but less if possible.

Main uses of intended build: Office tasks - running Outlook, Internet Explorer, LivePerson, Word etc simultaneously. No heavy-duty rendering, processing, transcoding, or gaming.

Parts required: Everything bar the monitors and the peripherals.

Previous build information (list details of parts): Dell Optiplex 320 - no salvegeable parts except for Microsoft Windows 7 Professional. However, I have access to a brand new ATI HD 5550, bought today for testing. Since the solution I was planning for this four-monitor endeavour was two identical graphics cards, I thought I could purchase another HD 5550 and use both. However, if you'd rather use something else, I can always take it back.

Monitor resolution: 4x 1600x1200, independantly configurable in landscape mode. They are Dell 2007FPbs, with DVI as their only digital input. Therefore, I must be able to output four DVI cables capable of >1600x1200 each.

Storage requirements: Almost none. The computers store all data server-side, and therefore only need operating systems and programs held locally. The current machine has a 40GB HDD that's half-empty.

Will you be overclocking: No

Any motherboard requirements (no. of USB, Xfire/SLI, fan headers): Plenty of USB would be useful. A few motherboard headers and corresponding PCI-USB-slots should do the trick. I'm assuming that most people's solution to the massive desktop realestate problem will be two graphics cards, so at least two or three PCIe slots will be necessary (three to provide upgrade room, maybe?). I'm going to be running two identical graphics cards, but since I'll be pushing four independent screens I don't think I need SLI/X-Fire - do I?

Extra information about desired system: This system needs to be utterly unaffected by the gargantuan amount of pixels it's pushing. I need it to be fast - not blisteringly quick, but I want it to push four screens without slowing at all.

Ideas? In my head I'm seeing a Core i3 or Phenom-II based build, with dual graphics cards outputting a DVI and a HDMI -> DVI each. I have to use a 32-bit OS (some of our proprietary software is not yet available in x64), but other than that I have no particular need for quiet or anything.

 

Actually, this is a mistake. I assume the programs are local, but his personal files are using an Active Directory setup, where it's on his computer and in sync with the server.

Small HDD = very slow HDD's.
We did this mistake were I work. Despite being Core 2 Duo's, there were VERY slow, much slower than my old computer at home dated from 2005. It's not a network issue.
Using large 7200RPM HDD's it was a massive difference in performance. And now we don't use anymore small HDD's, even if barely use their capacity. I would not hesitate for a 650GB or 1TB HDD.

And are you sure the specialized software don't run under Win7 64-bit? You know that Windows 7 DOES run 32-bit programs. His system will have 4GB of RAM no mater what, so we need to be able to address all 4GB.

Now, your choose, do you want custom built? (better for the wallet, but well someone at the IT dept of the company will need to support it - meaning discovery the problem comes form which component and call the correct company to get it RMA) Or get a Dell or Lenovo with the full warranty service, and even on-site tech support (cheaper quality, but better support, usually companies prefer this - just because the computer gets to be repaired the next day, and/or is one person to call, even for individual computers)?

 

I was thinking a F3 500GB? The money is a factor.

Spoke to the team that's writing the 64-bit version - they confirm that it will only run under 32-bit Windows. I have the retail version, anyway, so if that changes I can always just change to 64-bit.

Fortunately, the company has a service contract with an independent firm, so even though I won't be there by January there will always be someone to take the computer to to have it repaired. That means I'm free to pick my own parts, and let this support firm keep an eye on it after I've left.

After what was said in the previous thread, I'm leaning towards returning the ATI HD5550 and getting two more GTS210s. This way, when the computer that already has a GTS210 is replaced, the third GTS210 will be able to join this machine if the boss wants.

That doesn't answer the big question, though - which is: what am I basing the machine on? Will a Phenom II be a significant upgrade over a C2D? Should I opt for i3, or even i5 instead?