New build, need some advice - nVidia card

[wallsfd949]

It is always better to read the stickies before posting:
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. General desktop. Lots of terminal windows. Linux + Compiz-Fusion
2. What YOUR budget is. $600 - $800
3. What country : US
4. brand preference. Intel CPU, AMD or Nvidia - so long as well supported in Linux. Drive 2 x 1920x1200
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Possibly reusing the Antec NeoHE 500 from server, DVD drives from the Dell. *possibly* using 2 x 320 GB disks from the server if I can safely get rid of stuff
6. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds. No OC necessary
7. WHEN do you plan to build it? PDQ

Here is the original thread before I read the sticky. Sorry


Hi guys and gals, it's been a while since I've visited the Anandtech forums, but I can see this is *still* the place to ask about new builds. Sorry for the long post but I thought it best to be specific with my request.

I'm a Linux and Solaris admin for a major shipping company / airline in TN and have been working with high end servers for the past few years. The bad thing is, I haven't kept up with what the desktop / home market is doing and it's really time to re-think my home setup.

I'm not a gamer so overclocking is not extremely important to me. I spend a lot of time in a terminal window hence the dual 1920x1200 24" displays (already have one - going to purchase a second). The current boxes it is replacing are on 24 hours a day (56 days up currently) so lower power consumption is important. My current setup (2 boxes at end of post) seem to raise the temp 4 - 6 deg. over the rest of the house so hopefully I can reduce power consumption and end up with less heat too.

The goal is quiet, low power, fewer spinning disks.

Here is what I'd like:

1.) Quiet (not silent, but pretty close would be nice without breaking the bank)
2.) Average speed - I don't need a rocket ship or major OC'ing
3.) Decent but not top of the line video card - want to run Dual head 1920 x 1200
I've had very good luck with AMD cards and drivers in Linux.

I spent some time at newegg.com and here are some things I've picked out. These are *not* necessarily what I am dead set on getting, but they have some features I like and I'll explain why.

* Case : Antec 300
-120MM fans so it should be fairly quiet right?
-Front USB at the top of the case
Is there a better quieter case for the $

* MOBO : Intel DP35DPM LGA 775 Intel P35

- 8+ channel sound
- Intel RAID supposed to work well with Linux
- Firewire headers and rear port
- 4 DDR2 slots
- 3Gb/sec SATA ports

* Power : Reuse the Antec Neo HE 500 from my server (good idea?!?!)

* CPU : Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 Wolfdale 2.53GHz 3MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core
- Nothing special just seemed to be a good price

* Fan : Rosewill RCX-Z4 120mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
- Part of combo w/CPU (only $23 extra as combo)
- Decent?!?

* RAM : Transcend 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
- Found on another post, thought it looked decent w/good reviews

* Hard disks (2) : Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3500630AS 500GB 7200 RPM 3.0Gb/s
- I've had good luck with Seagate disks and the 5 yr wty is nice
- Quiet ?!?

GPU : ?? recommendations ??
- Nvidia. I'm not a gamer but I do run compiz-fusion
- Dual head DVI

Above

Current setup - what this will replace:

Server (loud and in my office) :
Tyan S3950 MOBO (really nice for what it is)
3GB (2x512 2x1G) ECC 240 Pin DDR2 533 Unbuffered
AMD Opteron 1210 HE 1.8 AM2 socket
LSI 150-4 SATA hardware raid card
3 x 320 GB SATA Seagate 7200.10
Antec Neo HE 500 (http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=PS-NEOHE50)

Desktop :
Dell Dimension 9100
P4 3.0 Ghz
1.5 GB ram
80 GB + 250 GB SATA
ATI Radeon x600 256MB
Stock Power Supply



All suggestions welcome, thanks to all in advance for input.

 

[modoheo]

Pick a different mobo - that one's not bad, but the 965 chipset is on it's way out and is outperformed by the p35 and p45 chipsets. Look in the "attention system builders" thread stickied in this forum for specific recommendations.

While you're there, look at the CPU cooler recommendations too - you're better off with the Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7 than that Rosewill you listed.

I'm not sure about Linux drivers, but if you want to go ATI and you don't play games, then something like the ATI 3650 should be plenty for you.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814131084

Not sure how anti-LED you might be, but this case is very quiet (if it's not too flashy for you):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811146035

 

[wallsfd949]

Originally posted by: modoheo
Pick a different mobo - that one's not bad, but the 965 chipset is on it's way out and is outperformed by the p35 and p45 chipsets.

Not for the same reason, but I just edited and swapped with an Intel board using the p35 chipset.
Thanks modoheo :beer:

Any one else have some good recommendations for video cards or anything else in the mix.

 

[wallsfd949]

I searched newegg.com for ATI 3650 and found quite a few cards. Is there a big difference in manufacturers?

One reason I ask is this Asus card seems to have similar / same specs to the card you linked but is "silent" using passive cooling instead. The reviews don't look so good - so obviously I should check the reviews, but will any 3950 card and good reviews have roughly the same results?

 

[modoheo]

I have a feeling it's the cooling solution on that Asus card that's the problem. The card probably overheats and that leads to the freezing and pixel problems people are reporting.

 

[wallsfd949]

Bump ->

I'd like to get a recommendation for an nVidia card. I'd like to spend between $50 and $80 on the card. I had ASUS EN8600GTTOP/HTDP/256 GeForce 8600 GT in my cart which is currently $55 after rebate. Good card or should I make a change there?

I'd like to pull the trigger before this weekend.