Yeeet another out-of-touch help-me-choose post
Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:31 am
*** Update: continued at Yeeet another here's-my-new-rig post. ***
Hi.
My current workstation is a 2nd-hand Fujitsu-Siemens P4 desktop that is almost quiet enough but has zero opportunity for further quieting ... plus it takes almost two seconds just to start up KEdit. I also have an Antec Aria/Via M10k system that I guess never really lived up to my expectations.
I have come to the conclusion that silence is more important than size, and I do want speed as well. I've decided that it's time that I get myself a state-of-the-art computer. Someone I know recently built a system that he had a hard time slowing down; it rebuilds its kernel in just over a minute -- quite enticing. But is that kind of power to be had silently?
Now, I'm pretty much out of touch in respect to what cpus are called today, to say nothing of what parts can go together and how to estimate a system's power needs to find an appropriate psu. Heck, I have never even touched a SATA drive. I have no idea whether to go for a dual or quad cpu, or if it even matters for my planned usage (see below). I also have no idea if the difference between Kingston and Mushkin is substance or just style.
Therefore, I'll outline what I do know, and hope some gentle soul will enlighten and guide me.
My needs and wants are:
Workstation: No fancy rig, no beige box either. Something that will be inconspicuous on the outside and really nice to work with on the inside.
Reasonable silence (or "why I'm posting here in the first place): I hope to have a system that can sit on the hard floor next to my desk and make so little noise that it will be barely audible when I'm quietly working at three in the morning. That Zalman TNN monster is over the top for me, though.
Number-crunching performance: I plan to run BSD; I want a snappy system. That is to say, quick kernel compiles, a responsive word processor, and a fast browser. I also want to use the same system as a file and streaming music server (slimserver), and I just might want to eventually run a web/mail server off of it, too, rather than having yet another box for that (considering the Wife Acceptance Factor ).
Storage: Apart from a system drive, I want to have a storage setup consisting of two software-mirrored disks, obviously anti-vibration suspended and as quiet and fast as possible.
Graphics: I will want to be able to run dual-screen. However, this system will never run Windows, so 3D would be nice but relatively unimportant. All I ever play is BZFlag. I'm not at all on top of the situation with NVidia and ATI on the open source scene, so deciding on a graphics card, or a motherboard with onboard graphics, is basically impossible for me.
As for the actual hardware:
(I may update this section of this post based on your responses.)
Case: Antec P182 (I am drawn to it, plus the motherboard below is ATX size)
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R
CPU: Intel E8500 (low-heat dual core, I can upgrade later)
CPU cooler: Thermalright HR-01 (with bolt-through kit)
Fans: 3x Nexus 120mm Real Silent D12SL-12 should be sufficient to run with positive pressure to avoid dust build-up (Note to self)
Graphics: a passively cooled Asus EN8400GS
Memory: 2x2Gb Kingston DDR2 (800MHz)
Storage - system: WD Scorpio WD3200BEVT 320 GB
Storage - data: 2x WD Caviar Green WD7500AACS 750 GB, to be software-mirrorred.
PSU: Enermax PRO82+ EPR425AWT
DVD: Pioneer DVR 215DBK
Other stuff: Anything else I need that I've missed? I don't expect to reuse anything except my screen, mouse, and keyboard.
...
Wow, that's a lot of asking and not a lot of having earned your time. Even so, this seems to be an extremely friendly place so I greatly look forward to reading your responses.
Thanks!
[Edit 2008-09-14: First time green across the board! Took a while, but I'm happy with these components. Parts are in the mail...]
Hi.
My current workstation is a 2nd-hand Fujitsu-Siemens P4 desktop that is almost quiet enough but has zero opportunity for further quieting ... plus it takes almost two seconds just to start up KEdit. I also have an Antec Aria/Via M10k system that I guess never really lived up to my expectations.
I have come to the conclusion that silence is more important than size, and I do want speed as well. I've decided that it's time that I get myself a state-of-the-art computer. Someone I know recently built a system that he had a hard time slowing down; it rebuilds its kernel in just over a minute -- quite enticing. But is that kind of power to be had silently?
Now, I'm pretty much out of touch in respect to what cpus are called today, to say nothing of what parts can go together and how to estimate a system's power needs to find an appropriate psu. Heck, I have never even touched a SATA drive. I have no idea whether to go for a dual or quad cpu, or if it even matters for my planned usage (see below). I also have no idea if the difference between Kingston and Mushkin is substance or just style.
Therefore, I'll outline what I do know, and hope some gentle soul will enlighten and guide me.
My needs and wants are:
Workstation: No fancy rig, no beige box either. Something that will be inconspicuous on the outside and really nice to work with on the inside.
Reasonable silence (or "why I'm posting here in the first place): I hope to have a system that can sit on the hard floor next to my desk and make so little noise that it will be barely audible when I'm quietly working at three in the morning. That Zalman TNN monster is over the top for me, though.
Number-crunching performance: I plan to run BSD; I want a snappy system. That is to say, quick kernel compiles, a responsive word processor, and a fast browser. I also want to use the same system as a file and streaming music server (slimserver), and I just might want to eventually run a web/mail server off of it, too, rather than having yet another box for that (considering the Wife Acceptance Factor ).
Storage: Apart from a system drive, I want to have a storage setup consisting of two software-mirrored disks, obviously anti-vibration suspended and as quiet and fast as possible.
Graphics: I will want to be able to run dual-screen. However, this system will never run Windows, so 3D would be nice but relatively unimportant. All I ever play is BZFlag. I'm not at all on top of the situation with NVidia and ATI on the open source scene, so deciding on a graphics card, or a motherboard with onboard graphics, is basically impossible for me.
As for the actual hardware:
(I may update this section of this post based on your responses.)
Case: Antec P182 (I am drawn to it, plus the motherboard below is ATX size)
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R
CPU: Intel E8500 (low-heat dual core, I can upgrade later)
CPU cooler: Thermalright HR-01 (with bolt-through kit)
Fans: 3x Nexus 120mm Real Silent D12SL-12 should be sufficient to run with positive pressure to avoid dust build-up (Note to self)
Graphics: a passively cooled Asus EN8400GS
Memory: 2x2Gb Kingston DDR2 (800MHz)
Storage - system: WD Scorpio WD3200BEVT 320 GB
Storage - data: 2x WD Caviar Green WD7500AACS 750 GB, to be software-mirrorred.
PSU: Enermax PRO82+ EPR425AWT
DVD: Pioneer DVR 215DBK
Other stuff: Anything else I need that I've missed? I don't expect to reuse anything except my screen, mouse, and keyboard.
...
Wow, that's a lot of asking and not a lot of having earned your time. Even so, this seems to be an extremely friendly place so I greatly look forward to reading your responses.
Thanks!
[Edit 2008-09-14: First time green across the board! Took a while, but I'm happy with these components. Parts are in the mail...]