MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
For work I need something to replace an 8 year old Dell.
Sort of spec I'm looking for;
Reasonably fast processor - will be running Ms SQL, Visual Studio, Office etc.
8Gb+ of memory
240Gb SSD for the OS (I have a recent 1Tb drive I'll transfer from the old machine for data plus I have a Synology NAS for backups).
reasonable number of USB ports
LAN (and if poss wi-fi) connection.
On board graphics are fine (I don't do games), don't need a CD/DVD drive
Case size, again not too worried but would be good to have something quiet as I work alone and the constant hum from the current machine is a pain at times (although the heat is welcome on autumn days).
Budget £300 - £500.
Have a Microsoft subscription for operating systems, ms office etc.
I looked at Mesh last night and they seem to do what I want but no idea if they're any good?
Mesh
Last I heard they were OK.
Build your own? You could start with a bundle from Scan or ebuyer?
quiet
Quietpc.co.uk?
Fanless - very possible. Might be more expensive.
Fractal Designs cases are quiet, but build something with a cool-running CPU and run a couple of large and slow moving fans [the Define R3 case came with a fan controller] and you'll barely hear it.
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
As above...
TBH for a work machine i'd just get on the dell biz outlet store and look for an optiplex that fits the bill. They're all quiet, easy to repair etc. and will be nice and compact. Quick look reveals a few models in stock there that'd fit your bill. You can pay about £50 extra to get the 3 yr warranty even on the outlet models.
Sounds like you need a reasonably basic PC.
I'd look for an 4th gen i5 based SFF box from Fujistu or Lenovo - they're both cheap and well made - sorry I can't recommended a seller, we use Tech Data and they're 'trade only'.
Both with come with 4GB of RAM and a 500GB HDD - I'd upgrade the ram to 8gb for about £30 and get a Seagate 1tb SSHD for about £50.
Should come in under budget - they'll also both be shipped with Win 7 and 8.1 media - and you can get the pro versions for not much more.
Part number for the Fujistu with the pro OS is VFY:E0420P8511GB - we'll sold over 400 of these in the last 12 months without a single failure, however 1-2 have been delivery DOA and required booting via the recovery media - which isn't the end of the world as it doesn't come with the bloatware.
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/build-your-own-pc/
Well rated by everyone I know who's used them, you can build a PC to suit your requirements.
I'd also just suggest the Dell Outlet store.
I got one from Chillblast. Seemed much cheaper than Dell. It has been good for the last year or so. Fairly basic stuff, windows, office, internet is about all it get used for. Becoming more of an entertainment system but is just linked to other devices in the house via wifi.