If you had one GC-MS what would you get?

[jryter]

We are shopping for a new GC-MS for our university. It would be used for as many things as possible but would have to be a "basic" one as we are a public school. Typically we would use it for teaching labs in chemistry but also research in organic chemistry and research projects in chemistry and biology. This would include environmental samples, foods analysis, biological samples, SPME hopefully, and about anything you could imagine testing with a GC-MS.

Suggestions for reliability, easy maintenance, reasonable cost, sensitivity, ease of upgrade (ie headspace analyzer add on) etc.

Thanks for your input,
Jarral Ryter

[rb6banjo]

This is a common thread. If you search a little, you'll be able to find a litany of answers. You'll also find that everyone has good things to say about nearly all manufacturers. It comes down to personal preferences. For instance, I'm an Agilent guy and I would not consider anything else. I have a fairly new 7890/5977 system (purchased July 2015). It's a great instrument. I bought their version of the PAL sampler with it. I might not do that again if I had to do it over again but it's working and it gives good precision. I mostly don't like how the software interacts with the PAL.

Good luck.

[James_Ball]

I am fond of Agilent also. If you are going the used route, a 5975 or 5973 would probably suit your needs well. We recently purchased the 7000C and honestly if you want the most all around capable instrument that would be it. It is a triple quad instrument so you get the option of running as a simple single quad instrument or you can do collision cell MS/MS work also. You could probably even find a used 7000B for a little less expense. Since so many things are moving to MS/MS it would be good for the research side of your work also.

[jryter]

I am fond of Agilent also. If you are going the used route, a 5975 or 5973 would probably suit your needs well. We recently purchased the 7000C and honestly if you want the most all around capable instrument that would be it. It is a triple quad instrument so you get the option of running as a simple single quad instrument or you can do collision cell MS/MS work also. You could probably even find a used 7000B for a little less expense. Since so many things are moving to MS/MS it would be good for the research side of your work also.

One issue with looking at this thread is the instruments are replaced with new versions constantly. But Agilent/HP was the first GC-MS I used way back and it was the one we have used here forever.
We are leaning heavily toward Agilent. The triple quad I think will be too much $ but the 5977B MS looks to be a good option. Yes the triple would be my choice if I could with our funding right now.
Jarral

[Consumer Products Guy]

I've also only used Agilent GCMS, starting with 5971 (for which I had to learn how to use a computer and mouse for its Windows 386).

See this greatly awful commercial for Windows 386, complete with Mission Impossible music, cankles, bad acting, bad hair.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noEHHB6rnMI

[James_Ball]

I've also only used Agilent GCMS, starting with 5971 (for which I had to learn how to use a computer and mouse for its Windows 386).

See this greatly awful commercial for Windows 386, complete with Mission Impossible music, cankles, bad acting, bad hair.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noEHHB6rnMI

Be glad you didn't have to start with the 5995 or 5970 like I did, when running on RTE-A Chemstation. I was so glad when we got the 5971, but I had to learn how to use it because no one else in the lab wanted to learn Windows lol. Was good I was working alone on second shift, I became a Windows expert quickly.

[GOM]

Consumer Products Guy wrote:


See this greatly awful commercial for Windows 386, complete with Mission Impossible music, cankles, bad acting, bad hair.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noEHHB6rnMI

Wonderful!

I had forgotten about Lotus 123 that was mentioned

Regards

Ralph