build for ubuntu + xbmc

[sathyan]

All of my previous attempts at working with Linux have been on nearly end-of-life systems and hampered by hardware issues or in a VM, so I would like assistance in choosing hardware for a dedicated Ubuntu build. I also want to run XMBC on top of this system. Data/media will be on my NAS rather than this system so storage only needs to cover OS + Apps. I would like to go with a SSD. Some specs I would like for the motherboard are:

micro ATX
at least 4 USB ports
LAN (gigabit would be nice but not essential)
Toslink out
? HDMI out (or a PCIe slot for a GPU)

I don't want to have to fight Ubuntu over drivers. My goal is to use Linux so I want an easy install. In the past I've had the most issues with getting audio (esp. digital) to work with Linux

thanks for your assistance

PLEASE when you POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Learning Linux + gpl software. Would like to run XBMC on Linux. Media will be stored on NAS. No gaming.


2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

$300 or so (for CPU, motherboard, RAM, GPU, SSD). Can go up if needed. I think even 64GB SSD would be big enough and those go for around $80; 8GB (2 x 4GB) of RAM for $40

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

N/A

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

case, Thermaltake 430W PSU, Logitech keyboard, Logitech mouse, IR remote (from windows 7 media center), display, AVR/speakers, optical drives, case fans

*

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

No overclocking

8. What resolution will you be using?
HD (1080p)

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Note that it is usually not cost or time effective to choose your build more than a month before you actually plan to be using it.

next few weeks

*

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?

not for purchase but intend to run Ubuntu and XBMC. No DVD/BluRay (use separate player)

 

[Ken g6]

Here's a basic build:

GPU: Onboard
Mobo: ASRock H61M-GE, $63 (Amazon link) (see also Ubuntu sound fix)
RAM: 8GB PNY $39 (Amazon link)
SSD: M4 64GB, $77 (Amazon link)
CPU: G620, $64 (Amazon link)

Total: $243

Now, you can upgrade from there to a better SSD, a higher-end G8xx or i3 processor, or whatever else. Personally, I recommend the bigger SSD.

 

[mfenn]

Here's a basic build:

GPU: Onboard
Mobo: ASRock H61M-GE, $63 (Amazon link) (see also Ubuntu sound fix)
RAM: 8GB PNY $39 (Amazon link)
SSD: M4 64GB, $77 (Amazon link)
CPU: G620, $64 (Amazon link)

Total: $243

Now, you can upgrade from there to a better SSD, a higher-end G8xx or i3 processor, or whatever else. Personally, I recommend the bigger SSD.

:thumbsup: to this.

As far as getting the digital out to work, it's mostly a matter of playing with the switches in the mixer, all of them. The digital out is sometimes labeled something completely non-intuitive or just downright nonsensical.

 

[zardthebuilder]

how does one know whether a component is compatible with linux or not? does it matter which distribution? i too have only used ubuntu with end of life machines and didn't really cared if it worked or not. i'm thinking about a new build for my wife with zorin. she already uses firefox, open office, and pidgin.

 

[mfenn]

how does one know whether a component is compatible with linux or not? does it matter which distribution? i too have only used ubuntu with end of life machines and didn't really cared if it worked or not. i'm thinking about a new build for my wife with zorin. she already uses firefox, open office, and pidgin.

Mainly just experience, choosing very common components, and googling for people who had problems with a particular chipset.

The most important software component in terms of supporting new hardware is the kernel version. The newer the kernel your particular distribution uses, the more likely that it's going to support everything you use. The current stable version of Zorin OS (5.2) looks to be using kernel 2.6.38, which is about 15 months old at this point. Their 6.0-rc release uses kernel 3.2, which is about 6 months old. The Sandy Bridge gear that Ken recommended will probably work fine with 5.2 and will almost certainly work perfectly with 6.

 

[sathyan]

Here's a basic build:

GPU: Onboard
Mobo: ASRock H61M-GE, $63 (Amazon link) (see also Ubuntu sound fix)
RAM: 8GB PNY $39 (Amazon link)
SSD: M4 64GB, $77 (Amazon link)
CPU: G620, $64 (Amazon link)

Total: $243

Now, you can upgrade from there to a better SSD, a higher-end G8xx or i3 processor, or whatever else. Personally, I recommend the bigger SSD.

For anyone searching on a similar question:

I built the machine with these parts Ken suggested (substituting a 128GB SSD). With Ubuntu 12.04 everything worked out-of-the box, including optical audio.

Whether it is due to UEFI BIOS, the SSD or Ubuntu itself, I was amazed at how quickly the login appears on bootup - in mere seconds/

thanks for your help.

 

[mfenn]

For anyone searching on a similar question:

I built the machine with these parts Ken suggested (substituting a 128GB SSD). With Ubuntu 12.04 everything worked out-of-the box, including optical audio.

Whether it is due to UEFI BIOS, the SSD or Ubuntu itself, I was amazed at how quickly the login appears on bootup - in mere seconds/

thanks for your help.

:thumbsup::thumbsup: The SSD definitely helps boot times, but so does Ubuntu's parallel init process. Anyway, glad you like it!

 

[Zap]

For anyone searching on a similar question:

I built the machine with these parts Ken suggested (substituting a 128GB SSD). With Ubuntu 12.04 everything worked out-of-the box, including optical audio.

Whether it is due to UEFI BIOS, the SSD or Ubuntu itself, I was amazed at how quickly the login appears on bootup - in mere seconds/

thanks for your help.

:thumbsup:

I always love it when people update their threads with results.