Build an Arch optimized computer

jerik · 2010-01-21 16:23:45

Hi, I was thinking to build a stationary computer to run Arch on. I will do some video editing, photo editing, some DTP with scribus, and I like the 3D desktop effects, and I like like fast responding software. I have two computers with ati cards, but they take the strength out of me sometimes by beeing so slow and little responsive. Especially a ten page document in scribus takes so much effort to scroll to the next page. And if I want to edit in Kdenlive it can't handle it pretty well... So I need some good suggestions for components. I'd like USB3, and I think 64bit processor since I understand that allows more RAM?

wbeyda · 2010-01-21 16:34:39

The best boards that support USB3.0 are the Asus P6X58D those are i7 boards. There aren't alot of USB3.0 devices yet and I would just reccomend a P6T instead cause they are cheaper and a great mobo. But if money is no issue by all means go buy a ASUS P6X58D

EDIT: and please for the love of god don't run ATI or AMD hardware with linux. your just asking for it to go up in a cloud of smoke. Intel and Nvidia FTW

Last edited by wbeyda (2010-01-21 16:36:09)

jerik · 2010-01-21 16:40:55

So, would a Intel card be strong enough?

lifeafter2am · 2010-01-21 16:41:10

wbeyda wrote:

The best boards that support USB3.0 are the Asus P6X58D those are i7 boards. There aren't alot of USB3.0 devices yet and I would just reccomend a P6T instead cause they are cheaper and a great mobo. But if money is no issue by all means go buy a ASUS P6X58D
EDIT: and please for the love of god don't run ATI or AMD hardware with linux. your just asking for it to go up in a cloud of smoke. Intel and Nvidia FTW

I agree about not running ATI, but I have run AMD chips for quite some time and they have ZERO problems in any Linux distro. In fact, I am typing this on a dual quad-core AMD setup right now.

Last edited by lifeafter2am (2010-01-21 16:54:35)

lagagnon · 2010-01-21 16:50:00

wbeyda wrote:

EDIT: and please for the love of god don't run ATI or AMD hardware with linux.

Nonsense about AMD hardware. Been using it for 7 years, many different processors, with Linux, without any concerns whatsoever.

anonymous_user · 2010-01-21 16:53:59

Question: are some onboard audio chipsets better supported than others? Realtek vs VIA vs ADI

jerik · 2010-01-21 17:08:33

What about videocard, processor and ram?

lifeafter2am · 2010-01-21 17:11:39

jerik wrote:

What about videocard, processor and ram?

NVIDIA, AMD or Intel, doesn't really matter. For RAM I just check the reviews for any certain brand ... I think I am using Crucial in my laptop don't know about the desktop (as it's server RAM).

wbeyda · 2010-01-21 18:41:17

lagagnon wrote:

wbeyda wrote:
EDIT: and please for the love of god don't run ATI or AMD hardware with linux.
Nonsense about AMD hardware. Been using it for 7 years, many different processors, with Linux, without any concerns whatsoever.

You might be able to run AMD with no problems but I would never run anything other than the i7 cause its amazing. I'm a huge fan.

lifeafter2am · 2010-01-21 18:46:35

wbeyda wrote:

lagagnon wrote:
wbeyda wrote:
EDIT: and please for the love of god don't run ATI or AMD hardware with linux.
Nonsense about AMD hardware. Been using it for 7 years, many different processors, with Linux, without any concerns whatsoever.
You might be able to run AMD with no problems but I would never run anything other than the i7 cause its amazing. I'm a huge fan.

Your opinion is one thing, but don't state something that sounds like thier are problems running AMD with Linux, because that's just false. You might not of meant that but it came off that way because you metion ATI in the same sentence, which we all know has fairly poor support.

The i7 is great chip, but that doesn't mean its for everyone. For example, I do a lot of 3D rendering, and server architecture (Xeon or Opteron) is far supurior for my needs than what I would call a gaming chip like the i7.

jowilkin · 2010-01-21 18:57:48

Just do NOT get an AMD/ATI videocard, go with Nvidia. For processor I think Intel is stronger these days, but you would do fine with AMD as well. Quad core is really nice An Intel i7 with 3 sticks of fast RAM will be your fastest, but also most expensive option.

apollokk · 2010-01-21 21:36:53

You'll be ok with:

- a Core i7 (s1135)
- <=4GB of RAM
- a mid-end NVidia

anonymous_user · 2010-01-21 21:42:45

^ for a socket 1156, Id rather get the i5 750.

apollokk · 2010-01-21 21:44:00

Yes, depending on his opinion -> with or without HT.

jerik · 2010-01-21 22:13:13

How far is it possible to push a graphic card in linux. I mean, when are you throwing money out of the window?

barzam · 2010-01-21 23:33:06

Are you going to play games I guess you need something more expensive, but not for compiz effects and desktop work. Heck I have a Dell laptop that is 2 years old now and it is nothing at all special hardware wise, but still runs a very smooth KDE4 desktop.

extofme · 2010-01-22 00:48:50

i dont buy anything but AMD and ATI, on the 7+ machines i've built in the last few years.

my quad core 2.6ghz on my desktop is OC'ed to 3.12ghz and can run mprime for hours with no problems, and i spent less than $200 on it; every proc i've had has been rock solid.

also i like that ATI opened up their specs/ATOM bios. i have KMS/etc on all my machines now including my high end cards.

slightly OT i just think Intel procs are slightly overrated and i usually go toward the smaller companies because there tends to be more honesty in the products and innovation so that they can compete against fatter wallets. in the past AMD procs had onboard mem controllers so they didnt need a super FSB to carry everything, and they run cooler in my experience, etc etc.

i always saw intel just flashing numbers (FSB/clock/etc) everywhere, even though an AMD proc could do more operations per clock cycle than Intel, and didnt need as high of clock speeds for comparable performance. i guess my only point if there is one is that computers are a slathering of independent components, and it takes diligent research and understanding to tune the hardware to the expected workload. both Intel and AMD produce quality products, i just prefer the latter.

jerik · 2010-01-22 18:11:53

So, any NVIDIA card is good? There are so, so many.

flamelab · 2010-01-22 18:13:52

Buy any from the latest generation (GT220 to GTX295), depending on your needs. NO ATi CARD, of course (for now).

jerik · 2010-01-22 18:32:47

Is there much difference between a SATA2 and 3 harddisk?

jerik · 2010-01-22 18:41:22

And also, how many watts PSU do i typically need?

lifeafter2am · 2010-01-22 19:08:33

jerik wrote:

And also, how many watts PSU do i typically need?

This highly depends on what chip, motherboard, number of hard-drives, video card, number of fans / cooling system etc.

Last edited by lifeafter2am (2010-01-22 19:09:13)

jerik · 2010-01-22 19:16:17

ASUS P6T SE, X58, Socket-1366 1.499
DDR3, ATX, Firewire, GbLAN, 3xPCI-Ex(2.0)x16
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=439503

Intel Core™ i7 Quad Processor i7-920 2.350
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=391447

Gainward GeForce GTS 250 512MB PhysX 875
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=392033

Kingston DDR3 HyperX T1 2000MHz 6GB Fan 1.799
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=48 … roductTabs

Cooler Master HAF 922 Midi Tower Sort 779
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=461645

ACE RawDeal Plus 620W PSU 519
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=50 … roductTabs

Samsung SpinPoint T166 320GB 325
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=367431
_____________________________________________________________
SUM 8.146

As of what what you've shared I've put this together, and I wondered what you think. The prices are in Norwegian currency.
1 U.S. dollar = 5.8061894 Norwegian kroner

anonymous_user · 2010-01-22 19:22:12

Pick a better brand for the PSU like Corsair, XFX, or Silverstone. And for that system around 600W is good.

jerik · 2010-01-22 19:41:17

How about "Cooler Master Real Power M620, 620W PSU"?

Arch Linux

#1 2010-01-21 16:23:45

Build an Arch optimized computer

#2 2010-01-21 16:34:39

Re: Build an Arch optimized computer

#3 2010-01-21 16:40:55

Re: Build an Arch optimized computer

#4 2010-01-21 16:41:10

Re: Build an Arch optimized computer

#5 2010-01-21 16:50:00

Re: Build an Arch optimized computer

#6 2010-01-21 16:53:59

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#7 2010-01-21 17:08:33

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#8 2010-01-21 17:11:39

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#9 2010-01-21 18:41:17

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#10 2010-01-21 18:46:35

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#11 2010-01-21 18:57:48

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#12 2010-01-21 21:36:53

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#13 2010-01-21 21:42:45

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