My linux rig...

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I decided to build a rig to learn linux. I've used linux before for about 2 months, but then my laptop died on me so i'm looking to build a PC now for the linux box. I'll be using it for internet/email.

Here's my setup..Let me know what you think. I'm going to make the purchase tomorrow. Its pretty basic, onboard video and audio.

Foxconn MicroATX Mini Tower
AMD Athlon 64 2.0Ghz 512MB L2 Cache
ASRock Socket 754 - SATAII & GeForce 6100
Crucial 512MB DDR400 PC3200
Maxtor 80GB SATAII 7200RPM 8MB Cache


Foxconn TLM624 Black/Silver Steel MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case, Max Power: 250W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811153034

ASRock K8NF4G-SATA2 Socket 754 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157084

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice 800MHz FSB Socket 754 E6 Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103606

Crucial 512MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146546

Maxtor DiamondMax 80GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144010

Around 375.00 shipped.

[webby]

everything looks good except one thing. The power supply. 250W is too low for an amd 64 3000+ processor. And I'll tell ya what, I'd go with overkill on the power supply. Everything else you got looks good. What will probably end up happening - the case power supply will caugh up and die in like a year or so. I'd opt for like a 350 or really 400W power supply from a decent company like enermax, antec, or whatever. I've found from my experience that the cheaper cases contain very cheaply made power supplies that end up dying very quickly.

But that's just me. So is this machine ONLY for email and surfing the net, or you're going to use it like a router?

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Originally Posted by webby

everything looks good except one thing. The power supply. 250W is too low for an amd 64 3000+ processor. And I'll tell ya what, I'd go with overkill on the power supply. Everything else you got looks good. What will probably end up happening - the case power supply will caugh up and die in like a year or so. I'd opt for like a 350 or really 400W power supply from a decent company like enermax, antec, or whatever. I've found from my experience that the cheaper cases contain very cheaply made power supplies that end up dying very quickly.

But that's just me. So is this machine ONLY for email and surfing the net, or you're going to use it like a router?

Yeah I forgot to mention I am using an Antec 350 PSU.. I already had it so that's why I forgot to include it in the list. I know PSU's that come with cases are usually bad unless you get some more expensive brand.

Its going to be running linux.. I may upgrade the ram to anther 256 or 512MB chip since it has onboard video.. but I think i'll just drop it from 128MB of shared memory to 64MB or even 32MB since I won't be gaming. That'll use less of the 512MB.

This is pretty much going to be an internet/mail machine, learning some linux while i'm at it too. I'll probably run Samba and store a backup of my Windows Machine on it. Plus my g/f can use this one when she comes over and i'm using my other PC.

I've built dozens of PC's.. and I think this should be plenty for a linux box since I had linux running on P3's..heh

I didn't plan to upgrade this machine much either so I went with the socket 754 since between getting the 939 processor and 939 board, it would cost a little over 70 bucks more.. I didn't see it being worth it for a budget linux box.

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I just ordered another 512MB from newegg. I doubt i'm really using all of the 512MB right now on linux, but 1gb can't hurt once I start running more programs.

This setup is really quiet. I can sleep at night in my room without hearing any of the fans. The case stays fairly cool. Its been running non-stop for 3 days now.

I think i'll shut it down next weekend and start overclocking it a little bit.

[webby]

very nice. You have any pictures of the machine?

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i hate like hell opening the case since its a pain in the butt to get it out and open the door with the added noise reducing material. I'm not sure if its helping it to make it quiet or the fans are just that good.

but i did link the picture of the case itself above.


now i think i'll get a notebook once Vista comes out.. I hope Dell would add AMD processors to their lineup. I saw one on a HP with 2GB of DDR memory, 100GB hard drive, etc.. all for 1400 at bestbuy.. not bad. I just dont' like the look of the HP keyboards/palm rest.

But I also want another desktop, to run windows on it.. but the one I want is priced at 1700 bucks.. I doubt i'll ever use half of that power. So i'll have to think about it. I might just end up selling this one I just built in the spring to get a better one, then just dual boot with it. Not sure yet. It would be nice having both computers running and networked but I don't have much of a reason for it...lol