NCs vs. PCs - Cost comparisons1

A comparison of the costs of purchasing and maintaining 50 PCs , versus 50 NCs and a server, over a 5 year period.To make a PC last 5 years, it is necessary to buy a midrange PC and upgrade disk and memory at least once. The server memory is also upgraded, and disk space on the server is leased at current ACN rates.

PRICES FOR UNIX RECENTLY UPDATED; PC PRICES NEED UPDATING.
 
PC 1 unit x50 Unix/X11 1unit #units total
IBM 365 Pentium Pro, PP200, 32Mb RAM 3270 NCD Explora terminal, 

17" monitor16Mb RAM
2241
50
 112050
15" monitor 

Ethernet 
655
54
 Ultrasparc 5, 64-bit CPU, (CDROM,  8G disk, SCSI cable) 2780
1
2780
96Mb upgrade
675
 RAM upgrade, 512 Mb
6885
4
1850
Disk upgrade
300
 Disk leasing, 100Mb/person/yr. x 5 years
365
50
18250
Replace keyboard
100
 Replace keyboard
100
50
5000
total 5054 $252700
$139930

Alternative PC models

Model II: buy cheap PC every 3yr. x50 Model III: Buy midrange PC every 3 yr. x50
Perf. Design Pentium 166Mhz, 

32Mb RAM

 1680 IBM 365 PentiumPro,PP200, 

32MB RAM

 3270
15" monitor 

Ethernet

 655 

54

 15" monitor 

Ethernet

 655 

54
one time cost 2389 3979
five year cost2 $3981 $199050 $6632 $331583

1 PC prices are based on U. of M. Bookstore prices with educational discount; Server and X-terminal prices are from quotations that include the educational discount available through the Bookstore.

2Five year cost - assumes you purchase every 3 years 

five year cost = (one time cost) x 5 years
                    3 years
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