Hello,
I'm looking for advice on building a very specific system.
First of all, I'll be running Ubuntu Linux as the main operating system. I'll also be running various operating systems including Windows in virtual machines using VirtualBox. The tasks I'll be doing include software development, 3D video and sound editing, watching movies, and general e-mail and browsing. I may also use the system as a media server on my home network. I won't be playing the latest games, so I don't require a late generation graphics card. However, I will be running a dual monitor setup.
The specific features/qualities of the system I'm looking in this build:
The hardware must be completely compatible with Linux.
I need an ultra-stable system as opposed to the fastest system. The system I use right now still crashes and/or freezes once every couple of weeks or so, which is not a huge problem; however, I'd prefer an uptime measured in months if possible.
I'd like an as small and quiet a system as reasonably possible. Aesthetically, I'm looking for a fairly stylish looking system (see case comments below).
Price is not a huge factor, since I'm specifically not looking for the fastest CPU or graphics card. I realize that I'll be spending a bit more on the motherboard and RAM because of my requirements as set out below.
The hardware should be reasonably available in Canada. I do my shopping online mostly at NCIX, Newegg and Tigerdirect are fine as well.
My timeline for getting this sytem is not very pressing. I'm willing to wait a few months for more mature hardware recommendations.
As for the specific components, my requirements and thoughts are as follows:
Case
The case I'm most interested in is the Lian-Li PC-Q11 Mini-ITX case. I realize that this is probably going to be a limiting feature in choosing many of the components given the small form factor. If the other features cannot be fulfilled given this case, I'm open to other suggestions, though I'd still like a case that's somewhat smaller and more stylish than your regular tower case.
Power Supply
I expect to be running a fairly low power system, so I think a 400-500W power supply should be more than sufficient for my needs. The main qualities I'm looking for here are stability and near-silence.
Motherboard
Given the case size, there's not a lot of choice in terms of motherboards. It's even more limited given that I want a motherboard that supports ECC RAM. Based on my research, most ECC RAM motherboards are server motherboards. I also require a motherboard with a fairly configurable BIOS. I plan to underclock the processor to run it at a lower temperature and hence a lower (quieter) fan speed. I'm open to either an Intel or AMD-based system.
RAM
As I stated above, I'm looking at building a system using ECC RAM. Since I'll be running several virtual machines at the same time, and given that RAM prices are cheaper than they've ever been, I'm looking at somewhere between 12-24 GB of RAM.
Processor
I'm not attached to either Intel or AMD. I'd like a recommendation on a low power version of a middle of the road processor from either manufacturer.
Processor Cooler
I'd like to get an ultra-quiet aftermarket CPU cooler. I understand that there are sort of liquid-cooling (fanless or low speed fan?) systems available.
Video Card
I'll be running a dual 24-inch monitor setup at at least 1920x1200 resolution each screen. Though I won't be doing gaming, I will be running a 3d desktop (Compiz Fusion). The video card chipset must be one that's well supported in Linux. I've had much better luck in the past with Nvidia graphics cards, and from my research there are other developments (e.g. VDPAU) which would make it more appropriate for my system. By the way, the system I'm using right now runs two monitors beautifully using a fairly old graphics card (GeForce 8800). The tricky part is I want a passively-cooled (fanless) dual output video card. I'm more partial to Displayport or HDMI as the output, but DVI is fine if that's the only option.
Hard Drives
I'm planning on getting a small (40-80 GB) solid-state drive to use as a boot drive, and a regular hard drive for storage (1.5 TB+). I probably don't need any specific recommendations here but any are welcome.
Can't think of anything else at the moment, but if I do I'll add some more to this thread. Thanks for any and all suggestions!
I'm looking for advice on building a very specific system.
First of all, I'll be running Ubuntu Linux as the main operating system. I'll also be running various operating systems including Windows in virtual machines using VirtualBox. The tasks I'll be doing include software development, 3D video and sound editing, watching movies, and general e-mail and browsing. I may also use the system as a media server on my home network. I won't be playing the latest games, so I don't require a late generation graphics card. However, I will be running a dual monitor setup.
The specific features/qualities of the system I'm looking in this build:
The hardware must be completely compatible with Linux.
I need an ultra-stable system as opposed to the fastest system. The system I use right now still crashes and/or freezes once every couple of weeks or so, which is not a huge problem; however, I'd prefer an uptime measured in months if possible.
I'd like an as small and quiet a system as reasonably possible. Aesthetically, I'm looking for a fairly stylish looking system (see case comments below).
Price is not a huge factor, since I'm specifically not looking for the fastest CPU or graphics card. I realize that I'll be spending a bit more on the motherboard and RAM because of my requirements as set out below.
The hardware should be reasonably available in Canada. I do my shopping online mostly at NCIX, Newegg and Tigerdirect are fine as well.
My timeline for getting this sytem is not very pressing. I'm willing to wait a few months for more mature hardware recommendations.
As for the specific components, my requirements and thoughts are as follows:
Case
The case I'm most interested in is the Lian-Li PC-Q11 Mini-ITX case. I realize that this is probably going to be a limiting feature in choosing many of the components given the small form factor. If the other features cannot be fulfilled given this case, I'm open to other suggestions, though I'd still like a case that's somewhat smaller and more stylish than your regular tower case.
Power Supply
I expect to be running a fairly low power system, so I think a 400-500W power supply should be more than sufficient for my needs. The main qualities I'm looking for here are stability and near-silence.
Motherboard
Given the case size, there's not a lot of choice in terms of motherboards. It's even more limited given that I want a motherboard that supports ECC RAM. Based on my research, most ECC RAM motherboards are server motherboards. I also require a motherboard with a fairly configurable BIOS. I plan to underclock the processor to run it at a lower temperature and hence a lower (quieter) fan speed. I'm open to either an Intel or AMD-based system.
RAM
As I stated above, I'm looking at building a system using ECC RAM. Since I'll be running several virtual machines at the same time, and given that RAM prices are cheaper than they've ever been, I'm looking at somewhere between 12-24 GB of RAM.
Processor
I'm not attached to either Intel or AMD. I'd like a recommendation on a low power version of a middle of the road processor from either manufacturer.
Processor Cooler
I'd like to get an ultra-quiet aftermarket CPU cooler. I understand that there are sort of liquid-cooling (fanless or low speed fan?) systems available.
Video Card
I'll be running a dual 24-inch monitor setup at at least 1920x1200 resolution each screen. Though I won't be doing gaming, I will be running a 3d desktop (Compiz Fusion). The video card chipset must be one that's well supported in Linux. I've had much better luck in the past with Nvidia graphics cards, and from my research there are other developments (e.g. VDPAU) which would make it more appropriate for my system. By the way, the system I'm using right now runs two monitors beautifully using a fairly old graphics card (GeForce 8800). The tricky part is I want a passively-cooled (fanless) dual output video card. I'm more partial to Displayport or HDMI as the output, but DVI is fine if that's the only option.
Hard Drives
I'm planning on getting a small (40-80 GB) solid-state drive to use as a boot drive, and a regular hard drive for storage (1.5 TB+). I probably don't need any specific recommendations here but any are welcome.
Can't think of anything else at the moment, but if I do I'll add some more to this thread. Thanks for any and all suggestions!
