Workstation Workshop

An Insider's Guide to the Economical Purchase of
HP xw8600 Professional Workstations (FAQ):

Question: Our department currently needs to order 3 machines that are able to function as graphic design workstations but also render and serve HD video over our intranet. We have been looking at both the new Mac Pro and the HP xw8600 for the past couple of weeks and are leaning toward the HP because of its much larger onboard storage capacity. My question is whether you are only offering the models you have listed or if you will also be carrying an xw8600 with the 5460 CPU (which runs a bit faster than the 5450 you have listed in the specs for Model Three).

Answer: Well, the short answer is that we have no plans to release a model based on the X5460. The problem with the entire X-subseries of CPU’s within the new 5400 line from Intel is that they are energy hogs. The X-designated chips each consume 120 -150 watts at idle and as much as 500 watts under extreme loads (such as during intensive video rendering). They thus represent an unconscionable and unnecessary waste of resources, when alternative low-wattage CPU’s are available with approximately the same clock speed. The X5460 runs at 3.16 GHz and consumes 120-400 watts per CPU, while the E5450 that we use runs at 3.0GHz but only consumes 80-250 watts per CPU. This may not sound like a huge difference, but it adds up quickly. For example, in your case: six X5460 CPU’s at an average draw of 300 watts = 1800 watts versus six E5450 CPU’s at an average draw of 200 watts = 1200 watts. That is a 30% power consumption savings with only a 5 percent drop in clock speed. Clearly well worth it, when you also factor in the lower initial cost per E5450 machine (almost $1000 less than a comparably-equipped system built around the power guzzling X5460). Another point to keep in mind is that clockspeed is not nearly as important as it was back when people were using single-core machines. These days, the ability to execute more threads among multiple coordinated processing cores is the direction in which all software programming related to engineering, science, multimedia editing and design is headed. When Intel releases 80 watt versions of their +3.0GHz chips we will offer an xw8600 model based on those products for thousands of dollars less than HP (if customers request faster models that are nevertheless energy efficient). Tip: using 15K SAS as system drives is a better way to increase overall operating velocity.

Question: I already have a Quadro FX 3450 video display card and a Blackmagic DeckLink HD Pro capture card. Would you accept a trade-in of the 3450 and give me credit toward an FX 3500 if I decide to take one of your System Twos? I obviously will not be needing the Quadro FX 1400 card that usually comes in your middle model.

Answer: We can certainly remove the FX 1400 and give you at least $100 in credit for that towards an FX 3500. It is also possible that we can work something out on your FX 3450, so let’s discuss it further. It has become fairly routine over the years for us to have customers send us capture, controller or display cards that they have purchased separately. We install these devices for them and make sure that they are recognized by the operating system and function properly. We are also happy to obtain and install alternate video cards that people prefer.

Question: I need to buy a copy of Adobe CS3 to use on my new xw8600. Can you include that software for a good price?

Answer: Yes, we will purchase software for you at a wholesale price and then install it on your new machine.

Question: How much do you charge for shipping the workstations that you sell?

Answer: Whereas many computer and electronics vendors secretly make money by skimming from inflated shipping charges, we maintain a policy of charging you only the actual amount that we are billed. Customers with their own Fedex, UPS or DHL accounts are even encouraged to ship their new systems that way and be billed directly by their carrier.

Question: Do you sell refurbished HP products, or only new ones from the factory?

Answer: Sometimes we receive lightly used demo models, but that comes later in the product lifecycle. All of the xw8600’s we currently have in stock are brand new merchandise.

Question: What is the warranty situation on xw8600’s that I buy from you?

Answer: The same as if you purchase from HP Direct: 3 Year Parts, Labor and Service On-Site Next Business Day.

Question: Do you sell HP (or another brand of) monitors?

Answer: Yes. We are able to obtain HP and other large display monitors at excellent prices and have them shipped directly to you from wholesale distribution, matching the arrival time of your xw8600.

Question: I prefer to have two mirrored SAS as my system drives and use two internal 1000GB for file storage. Can you configure a Model Two that way for me? What size SAS drives should I get?

Answer: Yes, in fact I have my own system set up exactly the way you describe. I recommend a pair of 73GB 15K SAS drives (low seek times / high transfer rates). Unless you are a software tester, you will never fill up a 73GB drive with just the OS and your work applications. Especially since 146GB and 300GB SAS drives are exceedingly expensive (especially in pairs).

Question: Hello, I have a situation in which my local Avid reseller / system integrator is claiming that to purchase Media Composer Adrenaline HD and upgrade my computer from an HP xw8200 to the xw8600 I cannot buy the computer separately myself and have them upgrade it (do the integration). Instead, they are trying to force me to buy the xw8600 from some "AVID approved" distributor they know, and say this is the only way that AVID will warranty the installation and provide tech support under my AVID Assurance contract (which I just paid a heap of money for one year’s worth). I am interested in purchasing one of your Model Threes, especially since the price is almost $4000 less than the deal the Avid reseller is attempting to stick me with. I feel as though something very fishy is going on here, because I have had friends in the industry tell me before that they purchased their computers separately and then just installed the extra Avid hardware (Mojo) and software (MC, Liquid, Xpress Pro) themselves at a much lower cost and had no warranty problems whatever (Avid supported them fine, because their machines met spec and they had purchased and licensed their software). Am I missing something here? How can I avoid paying this extra $4000 for nothing?

Answer: I hate to say this, because I am a BIG fan of Avid’s editing and workflow management products, but that "approved hardware provider" gimmick pushed by deceptive Avid resellers on trusting clients is one of the biggest scams in the business. As long as your workstation meets the minimum current spec for the software package you want to run, Avid will support it. Period! Hence, the xw8600 that you purchase from us or that supposedly "AVID approved" distributor is PRECISELY THE SAME MACHINE!! I cannot emphasize this enough, because I have seen literally dozens of well-meaning post-house managers / editors bamboozled by this particularly egregious sales ploy, as foisted upon them by dishonest Avid resellers (who then simply pocket the extra $4000 for themselves!). Should the installation of (for example) a capture card and preloading a software suite cost the end-user thousands of extra dollars? We don’t think so, and that is why we do it for free on all of the systems we sell! We will likewise beat the prices of turnkey xw8600 and AJA, Blackmagic Design, Mace, Matrox or BlueFish bundles offered elsewhere by thousands of dollars. Thanks and Good Luck!