Post subject: Building New Computer - Please Assist? (Redux)
Posted: Tue 05-27-2008 6:55PM
Captain
Joined: Thu 08-23-2007 5:42PM Posts: 111 Location: the void
Source: Off Campus
Okay, here's the deal. I need a desktop to happily sit in the living room of the GOH and do these three things without bitching at me -
1. Torrenting 2. Movie playback 3. Play the occasional SNES or GBA Rom
The thing is going to run Linux, as a note. It is also going to be plugged into a projector.
So, I am looking at newegg, and this is what I have picked out. All I need is the tower itself, nothing more.
What do I need from you? Any sorts of comments, tips, or tricks. Hell, the stuff I picked out may not even like each other, which is why I need your help. Know a thing or two about building computers? Then show it off.
**Completely redone due to various issues - the only thing that is bugging me now is the Mobo. If I can plug in my old IDE 250 gig harddrive into it, that would be wonderful, but also want Sata slots on it, as well.
Post subject: Re: Building New Computer - Please Assist? :)
Posted: Tue 05-27-2008 8:47PM
Brigadier General
Joined: Wed 08-17-2005 1:43PM Posts: 1611
Source: Off Campus
What linux distro are you using? Does that distro have good support for ATI drivers? I have heard people have problems with linux and ati. I would look into a similarly priced Nvidia card unless you are sure that one will work.
_________________ I have now been banned twice. Do not mess with me. Also, you suck.
Post subject: Re: Building New Computer - Please Assist? :)
Posted: Tue 05-27-2008 11:00PM
Colonel
Joined: Wed 02-20-2002 11:27PM Posts: 867 Location: No one's really sure what became of Castorite after graduation
Source: Off Campus
Personally, I'd recommend just finding a Mac mini. It's small, relatively quiet, and looks nice on the shelf.
Bluetooth and wifi are optional built-ins. For everything else there's USB and firewire. The base memory configuration (256MB, 512MB, 1GB depending on release date) is more than enough for Linux, but if you want to add a larger SODIMM there's tons of tutorials on the web. If you decide to hardhack in a radio receiver of some sort, I recommend branching a USB port internally and soldering the leads to a shell-stripped USB unit (see EeePC hacking tutorials).
In my experience, large hard drives on media boxes are a waste. They quickly get out-of-sync with each other and regular computers. Just NFS mount your desktop or file server and pull movies and games across the network. 802.11g or faster is usually sufficient. Sound reduction bonus: replace the hard drive with a Compact Flash card or other solid state device.
Most x86 models should have enough processing power to decode H264 video at HDTV resolutions, but probably not the early G4 models. Dirac is right out. Research here pays off, as does knowing your media collection. See: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/m ... ities.html
Both the PPC and x86 variants have GPUs supported "out-of-the-box" by modern Linux distributions, so no need to futz around with driver blobs every time you change your kernel. Taking bets on when nvidia.ko or fglrx.ko will fandango-on-core is a thing of the past! - The x86 variants have an Intel GMA950 GPU. This is actually pretty nice since Intel engineers contribute code directly to X.org and the rest of the freedesktop.org projects. As such, it's usually the first driver to get cool enhancements like EXA (a year or two back), OpenGL textured video (last fall), the TTM memory manager (ongoing), and the Gallium 3D framework (upcoming in a few months). - The PPC variants have an ATI 9200. The free drivers work pretty well for these boards since they're based off of the original ATI R200 programming references. The ATI drivers are usually the second to get cool new features. This is expected to be cleaned up and fine-tuned if/when ATI publicly releases the R200 docs.
One point that you may not like is BluRay capability. While there does exist a BluRay drive in a slimline form factor (bonus: it's designed for Macs), it's pretty darn expensive. Expect the prices to drop when supply-and-demand finally kicks in. The base DVD drive should be competent for most everyday activities.
Of course, if you go this route you should give OS X a fair shake before wiping it.
Post subject: Re: Building New Computer - Please Assist? (Redux)
Posted: Thu 05-29-2008 8:01PM
Major General
Joined: Sun 08-14-2005 8:36PM Posts: 2174 Location: in a Google Fiberhood. Suck it bitches!
Source: Off Campus
LostBoyz wrote:
why pay more for less?
EDIT: also a popcorn hour can run torrents, play back and stream all HD media. Then just snag an old pc or xbox for roms.
qft.. xbox is probably the best way to go for anything < N64 or PS1.. it can handle those, but the emu's available aren't the greatest.. and not everything is emulated
_________________ They let us play with markers, but i keep trying to draw infinity
Post subject: Re: Building New Computer - Please Assist? (Redux)
Posted: Fri 05-30-2008 12:52PM
Captain
Joined: Thu 08-23-2007 5:42PM Posts: 111 Location: the void
Source: Off Campus
Cas, everything you mentioned was a good read, but I can't see myself getting a Mac. Installing Linux on this thing is going to be scary enough, and thankfully, I am having a good friend of mine do it for me, since he's a Linux geek. XD
I know you mean well, but, I like PC's. If they break, I have all of Rolla to help me. If a Mac croaks, it's not that easy. XD
Also, as of now - ze setup . . this list is current as of now. I've changed everything on this damn list like three times because of what people say. XD
I only have 2 thoughts, both would require a little more money, but not much. I would recommend picking out an 80 Plus certified PSU, it really ends up being about 15-20% savings in energy with only swapping out the PSU. I have a server at home that I swapped out a good corsair PSU with an Antec Earthwatts PSU and cut the energy under a load by about 15% and idle about 20%. The link below would do nicely, and the price difference isnt too much, its even cheaper than the one you picked after rebate.
The only other thing thats even worth mentioning is that if you are buying an optical drive, you should go with SATA, you can pick one up for just a couple bucks more than the one you picked out, will both read and write faster, and will be useful longer. As I'm sure you've noticed PATA is on its way out the door.
Also, I've built dozens of computers over the years, and if you need any help assembling it just let me know I'll be happy to assist.
_________________ If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you. -Oscar Wilde
Post subject: Re: Building New Computer - Please Assist? (Redux)
Posted: Fri 06-06-2008 5:46AM
Major
Joined: Mon 02-12-2007 11:53PM Posts: 481 Location: Taking over the Universe
Source: MST-WPA Wireless
Good cheap build. I like it for what you are using it for. I would recommend some low RPM, high CFM 120mm fans for cooling, especially with a fan less card.(If you case has 120mm fan areas. I would try to stay away from 80mm fans cause if you want any type of good CFM rating, they are loud. Make sure you have at least one exhaust fan. I had to turn mine off because it was getting unbalanced and my video card idle temps went up almost 10C without the exhaust fan on. They make a big difference. BTW, I'm looking to upgrade my computer as well. However it will cost almost $1000 because I have an older socket 939 CPU so I would have to get a new MB, CPU, RAM, and Video card. The computer would kick ass though.
Post subject: Re: Building New Computer - Please Assist? (Redux)
Posted: Fri 06-06-2008 5:48PM
Brigadier General
Joined: Wed 08-17-2005 1:43PM Posts: 1611
Source: Off Campus
Kingkoopa wrote:
Good cheap build. I like it for what you are using it for. I would recommend some low RPM, high CFM 120mm fans for cooling, especially with a fan less card.(If you case has 120mm fan areas. I would try to stay away from 80mm fans cause if you want any type of good CFM rating, they are loud. Make sure you have at least one exhaust fan. I had to turn mine off because it was getting unbalanced and my video card idle temps went up almost 10C without the exhaust fan on. They make a big difference. BTW, I'm looking to upgrade my computer as well. However it will cost almost $1000 because I have an older socket 939 CPU so I would have to get a new MB, CPU, RAM, and Video card. The computer would kick ass though.
qft.
I don't have 120mm fans and I wish my case did. I have 2 intakes on the front, 1 intake on the side and 2 exhaust on the back (all 80mm). Plus my video card is a dual slot with a fan and then there is a fan on the cpu heatsink(92mm I think). My psu does have a 120mm which is nice. My computer is pretty damn noisy but I have gotten used to sleeping with it on, plus I use headphones for most of my gaming so it doesn't really matter.
_________________ I have now been banned twice. Do not mess with me. Also, you suck.
Post subject: Re: Building New Computer - Please Assist? (Redux)
Posted: Fri 06-06-2008 7:31PM
Major
Joined: Mon 02-12-2007 11:53PM Posts: 481 Location: Taking over the Universe
Source: RC I
My computer has 1 intake 120mm, 1 intake 80mm, 1 exhaust 120mm, PSU has a 120mm, and my CPU heatsink has a 120mm fan. Its the Thermaltake Big Typhoon but I replaced the stock fan (~55CFM) with a Silverstone fan (~110CFM). My OC'd CPU usually stays below body temperature, which in itself is amazing. The loudest fans in my computer are my 2 7800GTX video card fans. The main reason, however, is because I am using the EVGA Precision program to keep those fans at 100% duty cycle all the time. I really don't want them to overheat since they are factory OC'd. The loudness of those fans go down a lot if I take the duty cycle down to about 50% but the temps rise too much for my tastes. Lifetime warranty, ftw! ^_^
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The computer would kick ass though.