How to sort out multiple CHEAP computers for mental health charity?

Level1Techs INBOX.deb
1

Hi guys,

Been lurking here a while but never posting anything, just soaking all the knowledge up.

A bit of background - I've been involved (working for and helping out with) a mental health charity here in London, UK for a while now. We run a day center where members, generally with 'severe and enduring mental health issues', can come 7 days a week to access a number of different services, everything from yoga and day trips to counselling and legal advice. However due to general cuts and specifically changes to the way that we actually access centrally regulated money (a scheme called personal budgets), money is extremely tight.

Since I joined the organisation, as a member of the PC gaming master race and general nerd, i've been depressed with how crap the computers are at the center. One of the key services we provide is access to computers as many of our members have no other way to access computers and particularly the internet. Indeed many of our members have barely used computers in their life, often being in and out of institutions for years or decades. This summer I have vowed to sort out the computer issue at the center, in part so that I can begin doing computer skills workshops with a proper set of PCs.

With that out of the way, the main question/statement. I need to get a hold of between 5-10 desktop PCs (as the only other option is to try my best to make the most of the 10+ year old pre-builts we have already. Although i have built and screwed about with loads of different computers of many forms over the years, the one thing I have never delved into is the super cheap side of things. Literally all it needs to do is be able to run windows and browse the internet and word process. However with this said they need to reliable and tough enough (in every way possible) to deal with the kind of abuse they will get being free-use by members, every day. So the question(s) is(are):

-Can I build/scratch together my own for cheaper than a package deal?

-If so ideas for components?

-If not then ideas for making 10 y/o pieces of junk run better that I may not have of?

-If none of the above then ideas for getting a hold of PCs for free?

Criteria:

-Runs windows 

-Basic functionality and decent speed

-CHEAP: If I cannot find people/organisations to donate parts/pcs I will be working with a budget of NOTHING £0 $0, so I will need to fundraise every penny therefore every. pound. matters.

Thanks in advance for the ideas!

 

Sven E-W,

London

2

Is it absolutely essential that the machines run Windows, or are linux or chromeos options?

3

I suppose that if neither are options that Windows 8.1 w/ Bing could be used to cut down on costs.

4

As much as I would love to use alternate operating systems, unfortunately the members have very little experience with computers, and all the experience they do have is using windows. Many of the members are also quite averse to change so getting them to use anything other than windows would be a nightmare. I think the OS shouldnt be an issue however as we should have a organisational licence which we get concessions on because we are a charity, I just need to double check with the director who is away at the moment. Thats one of the reasons I was considering building the units in the first place as the cost of it coming with an OS is factored into bundles.

 

Thanks for the replies!

5

This is the cheapest build that I can conceive of. Buying refurbs is also an option you should consider.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3yvNi

6

The problem is that he is in London, so the cheapest build would be similar to this:

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/william123098/saved/4u9i

7

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3yxwQ

base your builds off this.  reuse the cases as they should be atx. Same goes for psu's maybe even hdd's if they use sata. Get new apu's like above  and new mobo but if you can buy used ram as it will be cheaper. You should get away with under 100 per system. dont go with the e-350 as from experience my pentium 4 rigs are faster.

 

that being said a pentium 4 system with upgrade to 4gb ram and an ssd will be quite a boost. Would easily run windows 7. 

also here is the free ware version of ms office 2013

http://www.downloadcrew.com/article/26083-microsoft_office_starter

completely free and legal also I rely on it. It has a ad which can be blocked with this:

http://www.kluug.net/office-starter-ad-remover.php

you could get all the windows copies free If you or someone you know attends a university! 

hope this helps!!

 

8

Prince Vultan makes great points here. Reuse as much as you can of your current machines. I recommend getting parts from this build as you need them: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3ySoW. I chose the SSD and mini-ITX case as you mentioned machine abuse. The cases should be easier to secure in a safer place like under the counter. I picked one stick of RAM instead of two as the Athlon/Sempron APUs have only single-channel memory and it leaves room for more upgrades in years to come as other people send their old machines to thrift stores and the like.

Software: Office suite - LibreOffice https://www.libreoffice.org/download/libreoffice-fresh/. This will cover everything you need to do as well as avoid the somewhat shady practice of software ad-removal.

OS: For basic office and web work, Windows, Mac, and Linux will look almost exactly the same. I assume you are using Windows 7 (if it is XP, switch to another version) and it will look about the same as Kubuntu. Most users /do not care/ about what is actually running on a computer. They care if it looks and works how they expect it to. Also, you will find it easier and faster to install, update, and fix (mostly through not having to fix) Kubuntu than Windows.

If you want to look at total cost of ownership, the time of experienced computer assistance appears to be in the most need so reducing strain on those resources will lead to a more functional computer center.

9

actually all it does is block a small  maybe 1.5 by 1.5 in ad that you can close yourself. It is a simple automated script that many oems use too. Its not shady.