Our IT Hardware & Networking Services
IT hardware is critical to most businesses, with slow, inefficient or dated PCs, laptops or infrastructure often resulting in employee frustration, reduced productivity and an inability to deliver efficient service to customers or the rest of the business. With this in mind, choosing the right PCs, laptops or devices is critical to the day to day operation of most organisations and yet can be overwhelming in the face of so much choice and different specifications. This is where QiC can help.
As part of our IT hardware and networking service, we will identify your current and future requirements, and then match these with an IT hardware plan which meets your needs. Unlike some IT hardware and networking companies, at QiC we understand that IT equipment is not a ‘one size fits all’ purchase and different PC or laptop specifications will suit different environments, objectives and requirements. Our expert hardware and software consultants are here to help and would be pleased to carry out a free site audit and quote for you based on the requirements of your specific business. What’s more, as a registered Dell partner, we can offer you very competitive IT hardware prices.
When advising on the right IT hardware for your business, we will consider many elements, including the following:
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- Desktop vs Laptops – Desktops are designed to be set up and used in one place, whereas a laptop is portable and can be used on the move. Desktops are often cheaper than an equivalent spec laptop, but in a world where flexible working is increasingly common, many businesses value the flexibility offered by laptops over cost. If any of your team work from home or ‘hot desk’ between offices, we would generally recommend laptops.
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- Processor – Also known as the central processing unit (CPU), the processor is the computer’s main chip that does all of the hard work. There are two main factors that determine a CPU’s performance: the number of cores it has and the speed at which it runs. A dual or quad core processor is effectively two or four CPUs in one, which makes a computer more effective when running several programs at once – ideal for your accounts or marketing departments.
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- Memory – Random access memory (RAM) is where a computer stores the data it uses frequently. RAM is measured in gigabytes (GB) and for general tasks such as word processing and internet usage 4 to 8GB is often enough. However, if you are running design software or other RAM heavy programs, you are likely to need at least 16GB.
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- Hard drive – Hard drives are available in 2 formats: HDD and SSD. SSD (solid state drives) are faster and more reliable, because they have no moving parts, but are also more expensive. Hard disk capacity is measured in GB. However, as most companies tend to use server or cloud-based storage, having a huge capacity isn’t always vital.
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- Monitor – If you are using a desktop computer, you will need to have a separate monitor. It is becoming increasingly common for people to use two or more monitors at the same time to make it easier to run and refer to multiple software applications at the same time. Likewise, laptops can also be plugged into a monitor to give you dual screen functionality. Most monitors will be fine for basic spreadsheet work, but if you do a lot of graphic work, a better-quality full monitor may be necessary.
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- Printers – Printers come in all shapes and sizes with multifunction devices now a typical installation in offices, with built in features such as scanners and wifi accessibility.
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- Network Infrastructure – As well as buying your computers, it is also important to ensure that you have the right network infrastructure to run them properly. This includes elements such as cabling, switches, routers, and hubs.
Your Local IT Experts
QiC offers flexible and affordable IT solutions for businesses and organisations throughout Southampton, Winchester, Portsmouth, and across Hampshire. Our award-winning team also have years of experience supporting Microsoft-based networks and can provide managed IT support services that will adapt to meet the evolving needs of your business.
For more information or to arrange your free site audit, call us now on: 01962 711000, or contact us.