Diskeeper
Diskeeper 2007 Server: $299
www.diskeeper.com

EACH VERSION OF WINDOWS ships with its own defragmenter, which you may or may not run for your customers on a semi-regular schedule in an attempt to speed up performance. Of course, regularly defragmenting is a great way to maintain optimal server disk throughput while extending the lives of drives, since they aren't forced to work so hard seeking fragmented files. But let's face it—rarely do resellers or their SMB customers have time to start a defrag and let it run through completely.

The problem with Microsoft's built-in defragmenter is that it doesn't include a scheduler. Vista gives you some recourse by allowing a once-a-week run, but if the machine is off, it missed its chance for the week. The Windows app doesn't defrag paging files at boot time, either. And most visibly, the performance of Microsoft's defragmenter is dismal.

Diskeeper's solution is in its 2007 Server product, which automatically defragments in the background using a proprietary technology called InvisiTasking. I-FAAST is another of the product's unique extras that monitors files used the most and optimizes for the fastest access times on those files. Because InivisiTasking runs in the background, there's no need to schedule runs. Moreover, the application can run across networks to support massive server volumes not otherwise recognized by Windows' integrated app. Complete reporting rounds out the package, allowing resellers to illustrate the benefits of defragging to customers interested in ROI.

Shuttle
SD39P2 Barebones Chassis: $549
www.shuttle.com

THERE'S USUALLY A BALANCE TO BE STRUCK BETWEEN THE size of your PC and the processing power that it's able to leverage. However, manufacturing processes are shrinking, and the latest CPUs let your customers do more work without taking up as much space. Shuttle's SD39P2 is a testament to what you can do with the latest technology and a well-engineered chassis able to keep it all running reliably.

The SD39P2 uses a proprietary Shuttle form factor capable of coping with even the most advanced Core 2 Extreme quad-core processors. There's room for one 5.25” drive and up to three 3.5” disks. Despite its plain, monochromatic styling, the SD39P2 packs more internal features than most full-tower workstations.

As its Core 2 Extreme support suggests, the SD39P2 centers on a motherboard based on Intel's 975X chipset. Most small form factor boxes are only able to accommodate a pair of memory slots, but not the SD39P2. Shuttle's flagship includes four DDR2 slots able to accommodate 8GB of capacity running at up to 800 MHz each. The board's other integrated extras are similarly reminiscent of larger platforms. Built-in HD Audio, FireWire 400, Gigabit Ethernet, and eSATA are all part of the package as well.

Shuttle builds the SD39P2 on a foundation able to support almost any hardware configuration. A 400W power supply guarantees you won't run into trouble with a quad-core CPU, high-end graphics card, and RAID storage array. And although the chassis' size only allows room for one PCI Express x16 and one PCI slot, you'll have little trouble wedging in the most advanced dual-slot graphics cards at the expense of that PCI interface. Sure, $500+ is a lot to pay for a chassis, but for a combination of chassis, motherboard, and power supply, Shuttle is right on target.

Viewsonic
VX922 19” LCD: $315
www.viewsonic.com

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOUR CUSTOMER BUYS whiteboxes or
tier-one systems from you, they'll always be on the lookout for solid displays able to deliver a solid picture and price tag that doesn't sting too much when it's multiplied by 20 or 30 machines. Viewsonic's VX922 is an ideal go-to when it comes to enabling lots of display real estate on a budget. The 19” monitor supports resolutions up to 1280x1024, which is more than I see in most of the SMB offices I service. The VX922's big picture is complemented by a slim bezel. Should you care to circumvent a desktop deployment altogether, the VX922 is VESA 100mm wall-mount compliant as well.

Viewsonic's claim to fame here is its ClearMotiv technology, responsible for cutting video response times down to 2ms. The response time rating on an LCD typically defines how long it takes for a pixel to go from black to white and back to black, with longer response times resulting in slower transitions and lower quality playback of fast-moving videos or even desktop window repositioning. Vendors are more commonly using grey to grey response times to rate their displays, with most current models hovering around the 8ms mark. Thus, Viewsonic's 2ms rating is fairly phenomenal.

The VX922 sports both analog D-sub and digital DVI-D inputs, supporting almost any display configuration. A three-year warranty guarantees the display against failure, and an attractive price tag promises plenty of value to customers dealing with headless workstations.

OCZ
DDR2 PC2-6400 Vista Upgrade 4GB Kit: $359
www.ocztechnology.com

WITH EVERY NEW OPERATING system upgrade comes a fresh list of minimum requirements. Microsoft's Vista is specific about some of the components it needs but more ambiguous when it comes to others. For example, you know a Vista Business Edition box should have at least a 1GHz processor with a DirectX 9 graphics card and 128MB of onboard memory. The same box really needs at least 1GB of memory, Microsoft says. But there's no guidance regarding speed, whether or not to use single- or dual-channel configurations, or if there's a difference between DDR and DDR2.

OCZ makes it easy to get your customers off the ground with Vista by offering memory upgrades specifically designed with the OS in mind. Its PC2-6400 Vista Upgrade kit goes way beyond even Microsoft's recommended specifications, pairing up two 2GB modules in a 4GB kit that runs at 800MHz—the fastest memory frequency supported by any of today's desktop chipsets. OCZ has tested the kits with each version of Vista to ensure compatibility. And although timings on each module are set conservatively, the extra capacity and clock speed are enough to really crank up the Vista user experience.

Like all of OCZ's other memory products, the Vista Upgrade kit is protected by a lifetime warranty and unlimited technical support. Should the 4GB kit prove a tad too pricey, there's also a 2GB version of the upgrade that'll still enable exceptional Vista performance at a much lower price.