Need Help building First Linux box

[Goldenlight]

I am ready to move to linux. I don't like windows vista or Windows 7.
I will have to do a ton of research, but I am ready for the challange.

I plan on using Mid Range System Leaderboard build with a few exceptions.

I will definately be using the Ubuntu distro 64 bit for os

Should I buy 2 HD's and configure it in Raid mode for faster performance, or am I ok with 1TB drive?

Things I care about most.. Video, Ram, and Audio

I would like to substitute the Sound Card for Asus Xonar D2X Sound Card

Updated

Here is MY rough build!!

Will begin Construction in Febuary.

ASUS P7P55D-E or 3.0 USB equilvalant
GeForce GTX 260...I don't seem to play games like I use to ...
ThermalTake 750 watt power supply rated @80+ bronze or better
Sound: On board Sound will be fine.
I7-860 Intel chip
CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 Should I substitute for the 1333 ram or should I go with 1600
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5

Why I get the feeling I left something out.

Current case I have is Thermaltake Tunsami. I love this Case

CAn someone reccomend a case to put my old chasses in with front ports. Don't have to be fancy. This is for my parents.

I plan on given this one to my parents.I never overclocked this computer so hopefully it will last a long time.



I will start this project in late January... Wish me luck..

[wonkanoby]

why such high end vga

as your not going to find many linux games to play

[notdrugged]

The only money I would spend would be on a processor and I'd get fastest 4gb of RAM. I wouldn't RAID. Use a 60 dollar video card and look up the alsa project for the sound card. Consider getting a used sound card even. Maybe something no longer in production is more suitable. Unless used professionally, Linux is a hobby. Alot of odd compatibility traps to look out for too. A fast processor and memory is the main hardware you can benefit from. As always, 99% of windows software doesn't run on Linux. I'm sure you're aware of the Wine project. The thing to look out for with that is trying to maintain wine working with system updates. Wine kinda sorta works. It never really works perfectly as advertised.

[Goldenlight]

ok.. I will scale down the video to default. The Radeon HD 5770 got to be faster then my geforce 7800gt.
I will try to get 8 gigabytes of DDR3 Ram

I will build the reccomended Midrange system on the Leaderboard. I might swicth back to windows in the future....

[Bryan]

Before doing anything, what is the objective of your build?

Linux driver support for the 5800 series is still being worked on as it lags behind windows support.

As for hard drives, whats the objective bulk storage or rendering / computation? ( Not gaming.)

If your doing computation / rendering, consider stepping up to SSD rather then conventional drives.

[Goldenlight]

just want to build a linux box for personal use..I figured midrange would be a good build since linux requires way less in requirements I just like the idea of free software.

[mr_raider]

For Linux GPUs, I strongly suggest nvidia. As for CPU and motherboards, virtually any AMD or nvidia chipset works fine.

[bonso]

If you have a 7800GT about use it, its well supported and has more power than you will ever need for regular desktop use. I recently ran my 24" of a 16MB PCI TNT on my Linux box and video was fine.

If you are going to buy the parts you might even go for integrated video, if you are just going to use the machine for regular home user desktop work I see no reason for a separate card. That goes for the system as a whole I'd say, regardless if you run Linux or Windows we are at the point where the cheapest components you can find will be more than enough.

[MrAnonymous]

I agree with nvidia for video even for integrated video. It's a lot smoother install for me than using ATI.

[Pixels303]

http://www.fudzilla.com/content/view/16797/1/

The link has a ATI comparison chart which I found useful. My 1950 ATI card severely outperforms my 8400gs Nvidia chipset, but the Nvidia still works fine for what I do. With ATI, it always is nice to brag that I can render faster at resolutions and frame rates than my monitor could possibly ever support but at a cost of using more power than needed. My ATI runs HOT, and has a big heat sink and fan, but my Nvidia has a small passive heatsink.

I agree with everyone's posts here about linux, lower end hardware is more supported.

You however can virtualize your computer and run both linux and windows at the same time so you have the benefit of two worlds, but I forget what software that does that.

In the world of operating systems, things are looking more and more confusing to me with every passing day. So many options with Microsoft being one I like less and less.

[midyxadryl]

For what its worth, my main rig is a Q6600 with 2GB of RAM, 9500GT, and a 150GB Raptor X. It runs pretty damn good. The main thing i use it for is converting audio and video formats, as well as the basic web surfing/emailing type stuff. 2GB is plenty even for a basic desktop Linux install. Mine creeps towards 1GB usage when converting video, but thats about it. It hardly ever touches the swap space. I wouldnt RAID unless youre doing a server. Even though I use hardware RAID cards, I still prefer Linux RAID as its easier to migrate when I build a new one in the future.

[notdrugged]

http://www.fudzilla.com/content/view/16797/1/


I agree with everyone's posts here about linux, lower end hardware is more supported.

That's true with regard to specific hardware in most cases. Sound chipset support is absolute garbage in Linux. Always was, always will.... Not that you won't get it working, it's just that all sound hardware suffers in some way because of something in the kernel, or something in the driver. It just constantly swaps responsibility and nobody has gotten a handle on it yet. But when it works, enjoy it.

Ubuntu's implementation of sound, while more likely to yield a working solution, in my opinion is the most cluttered and incompatible (with specialty sound software) solution by any distribution development team. They throw everything at it at once in the hopes that one of the layers sticks. In all the years I've run Linux, this is actually the worst approach I've ever seen. But I suppose there's always a give and take when taking something not meant to be quick and easy and make it simple and dirty.

Printer support is sucky too because of secret bass ackwards drivers and the unwillingness of certain huge well-known companies to make Linux drivers.

Network hardware has gotten alot better, but should be respected.

My main meaning is that Linux is generally alot less useful for the desktop power user. This is a very gross understatement. Unless tinkering is your main gig. Linux absolute rocks in the tinkering department. You can tinker like a mofo.

So getting alot of power equipment for it is sort of wasteful unless it's just an excuse to build a new rig. In that case, I totally agree with going all-out. Just don't spend all your time tinkering. LOL.

Of course, always type the product and linux together in google before buying not just what brands people tell you are okay.

[Goldenlight]

Thanks for the helpfull suggestions..

For the video card I will stick with the NVidia brand. I will buy a new one Just trying to figure out what brand. Im use to paying 350 for my video cards. I allways had a great experience with NVidia brand. Particulary the BFG brand..

For the sound solution I will try to find a compatible motherboard that support 5.1 stereo in linux. or a supported 5.1 sound card.. I don't think I will have more then 5.1 speakers.

Is there a nforce solution with the Core i7 860 chip.. Thanks..

[mr_raider]

Thanks for the helpfull suggestions..

For the video card I will stick with the NVidia brand. I will buy a new one Just trying to figure out what brand. Im use to paying 350 for my video cards. I allways had a great experience with NVidia brand. Particulary the BFG brand..

Might I suggest a 9500gt, or whatever the hell nvidia calls it these days. Not a gamer card, but it supports VDPAU which is the Linux API for HD video acceleration. There are a number of programs that can use VDPAU, like XBMC, mplayer, and mythTV.

I personnally use one rig that has a 9800gt (EVGA) and it plays legacy games well under wine, like Oblivion, or Kotor. I have another rig with an integrated 8200 GPU which does HD pretty well despite being saddled with an old 4850e CPU.

[Carlwill]

Like everyone said here. Your GPU is crazy. ATI has the worst Linux support / drivers. Your card will run as fast as a $20 PCI card. I suggest anything nVidia makes! Get a 9800GT if you want to play some native Linux games like Doom or UT.

PC and RAM are more suggested.