Updating my Silent Linux PC - need new MB, CPU, GPU

M

MountainX

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 2, 2008
Messages
254
Hi - I want to upgrade my motherboard, CPU, RAM and video card in a system I built about 14 months ago with the help of this forum. I'll list my current system parts below.

What will I be using the computer for?

Text-based work including software development, research, writing, web browsing (usually with a hundred tabs open!), working with large spreadsheets, etc.

I like very clear text and fast speeds, so a decent video card is important. My GT430 is more or less adequate, so I actually could stick with it. But there is a newer silent card available now and I tend to always go with the most powerful silent card I can get.

I move a lot of data files around, so excellent disk transfer speeds are important. My house is wired with GigE and all my computers are configured for NFSv4. This computer will be the NFS file server too (although there will not be many simultaneous clients accessing the box, so it is not a matter of handling a constant heavy load -- it just needs to be fast when the few requests for large files come in).

Here is my wish list:
  • Silent (like it is now - see parts list below)
  • Cool (like it is now)
  • Fits in my current Antec Solo Case (about 17" x 18" x 8")
  • Around four (or more) external USB 3.0 ports (I only have 2 now)
  • Another four or more external USB 2.0 ports
  • Support for a lot of RAM - 32 GB minimum. I only have 16 GB now. Ideally, I would like 32 GB of ECC RAM (in a motherboard that supports more). Unfortunately, ECC RAM and USB 3.0 don't seem to come together (in a quiet compact system). If you know of such a choice, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll go with 32 GB of really good RAM in a desktop (ATX) motherboard.
  • Around four (or more) internal Sata 3 (6 GB) ports
  • Two GigE connections would be great, but I could live with one on the MB and use a card (if there is room)
  • Video card (quiet) that will drive two Dell U3011 monitors at 2560x1600 resolution each.
  • I plan to keep my current power supply.
  • I would like to replace my fan speed controller with one that doesn't have blinking lights!
  • I would also like to add a Blu-Ray burner to replace my DVD drive, but that is not a high priority.

I'm running Linux Mint 12 (64 bit).

Here are some examples of new parts I am considering. (By no means have I used any deep knowledge to make these initial selections.)

  • PowerColor Radeon HD 6750 1 GB (fanless). I don't know of a more powerful quiet GPU.
  • Intel Core i7 2600 (65Watts) <-- hard to find? NewEgg only has 95W versions
  • Asus P9X79 Deluxe (Intel X79 ATX) <-- will it work with the CPU and GPU above?
  • Patriot 64GB DDR3-1333 (4x8GB now, more later) <-- anything better in 8GB sticks?

EDIT: I realized the CPU is not compatible with the MB. I'm open to suggestions. I'll also consider AMD. I like the
ASUS Sabertooth 990FX AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
because of its touted reliability. It doesn't have as many ext USB 3.0 ports as I want (or as much max RAM), but I really want a reliable and stable system.

Also, I am open to the ATI FirePro line of cards (such as 2460, which is a fanless multi-display graphics card designed for business environments where reliability and stability are needed). That sounds appealing to me. However, that particular card is not perfect because it doesn't support HDMI or DVI output -- only DisplayPort. I want to keep using my two HP L2335 DVI monitors for a while longer, if possible. I'll also use two Dell U3011 monitors.

This will be going in the system shown here (except it now has two Crucial M4 SSD's):
http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1036413742&postcount=82

Will the CPU cooler and other parts below be sufficient?

Here's the current parts list:

Antec Solo ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

5 fans - a combination of these:
Scythe Slip stream SY1225SL12LM-P fans (with PWM).
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21D 120mm Case Fan
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Case Fan

Crucial M4 512 GB SSD
Crucial M4 64 GB SSD
Samsung 2.0 TB HDD mounted in silencing/cooling mount

ZOTAC ZT-40601-20L GeForce GT 430 Graphics Card - PCI Express 2.0 x16 - 1 GB DDR3 SDRAM 2560 x 1600
Item #: 217574052

1 "SeaSonic 650W Power Supply X650 Gold"

16 GB (4 x 4)
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9S-4GBRL
Item #: N82E16820231310

1 "Prolimatech CPU Cooler for Intel Socket 1156, 1366 and 775 Megahalems Rev. B (Silver)"

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor BX80605I5750
Item #: N82E16819115215

GIGABYTE GA-P55-USB3 LGA 1156 Intel P55 USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813128425

Zalman Fan Speed controller - mounts in 5" drive bay and has 4 rotating knobs and 2 toggle switches, but has annoying flashing lights.

ASUS USB-BT211 USB 2.0 Mini Bluetooth Dongle
Item #: N82E16833320057

LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM
Item #: N82E16827106289

SABRENT CRW-UINB 68-in-1 USB 2.0 Internal Card Reader w/ USB 2.0 Port supports SDHC/VISTA
Item #: N82E16820300608

BYTECC 6 ft. HDMI Male to DVI-D Male Single Link Cable Model HDMID-6
Item #: N82E16812270113
 
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Yeah that planned setup won't work at all considering that the mobo and CPU use completely different sockets.

Yes the Core i7 2600S is hard to find from a reputable dealer. I generally do not recommend AMD above the $100 CPU price point these days as Intel is generally faster.

In addition, your requirements for a mobo with 4 rear USB 3.0 ports and 4 SATA 6.0Gb/s that also fits inside your case unfortunately leaves you with pretty much no options. There are indeed LGA 1155 mobos with 4 rear USB 3.0 ports and 4+ SATA 6.0GB/s port but they're basically eATX and above. So what matters more to you? 4 USB 3.0 ports or 4 SATA 6.0Gb/s ports?
 
Danny Bui said:
Yeah that planned setup won't work at all considering that the mobo and CPU use completely different sockets.

Yes the Core i7 2600S is hard to find from a reputable dealer. I generally do not recommend AMD above the $100 CPU price point these days as Intel is generally faster.

In addition, your requirements for a mobo with 4 rear USB 3.0 ports and 4 SATA 6.0Gb/s that also fits inside your case unfortunately leaves you with pretty much no options. There are indeed LGA 1155 mobos with 4 rear USB 3.0 ports and 4+ SATA 6.0GB/s port but they're basically eATX and above. So what matters more to you? 4 USB 3.0 ports or 4 SATA 6.0Gb/s ports?
Click to expand...

Maybe I could use a PCI card to get extra external USB 3.0 ports.

What do you think about the Maximus IV Gene-Z motherboard with that Core i7 2600S 65 watt CPU? Where can I get the CPU?

I also want a serial port (RS232) card. Those seem hard to find now days.
 
MountainX said:
Maybe I could use a PCI card to get extra external USB 3.0 ports.
Click to expand...
Well you're gonna want a PCI-E card rather than a PCI card for better performance.

MountainX said:
What do you think about the Maximus IV Gene-Z motherboard with that Core i7 2600S 65 watt CPU?
Click to expand...
That motherboard isn't worth the money unless you're actually using a mATX case. Otherwise, there are better bang for the buck motherboards out there for those using a ATX case.
MountainX said:
Where can I get the CPU?.
Click to expand...
Use Google Shopping to see if there is a reputable retailer that stocks that CPU. Though looking through it now, I don't see any reputable retailer there that actually has the CPU in stock.
 
MountainX said:
PowerColor Radeon HD 6750 1 GB (fanless). I don't know of a more powerful quiet GPU.
Click to expand...

There are fanless editions of the 6770 on the 6850 available.

6770 http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/09/19/gigabyte_hd6770_silent_cell_cfx_video_card_review/

6850 http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_6850_SCS3_Passive/

The 6850 is a bit power hungry so I would avoid unless heavy gaming. The 6770 should do most basic gaming ok and provides HDMI, DVI and Display Port so might suit your multi monitor requirements.
 
elneckio said:
There are fanless editions of the 6770 on the 6850 available.

6770 http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/09/19/gigabyte_hd6770_silent_cell_cfx_video_card_review/

6850 http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_6850_SCS3_Passive/

The 6850 is a bit power hungry so I would avoid unless heavy gaming. The 6770 should do most basic gaming ok and provides HDMI, DVI and Display Port so might suit your multi monitor requirements.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Very helpful links and recommendation. I just read both articles. The 6770 sounds like a good match for my needs.

Now I need to find a motherboard, CPU and RAM (and hopefully I can use my same CPU cooler).

I would like either the best 65W CPU I can find or a 95W CPU that tends to run toward the cooler end of the range.

And I can use a PCIe card for the extra USB 3.0 ports. So that should open up a lot of options. Any suggestions?
 
Danny Bui said:
Do you want onboard video as a backup?
Click to expand...

That would not be important to me. If it is on the MB, fine. If not, that's even better IMO. But onboard video won't be a big factor in making the MB decision.

It is more important that it fit with my case and current CPU cooler. I don't want to mod my case again because that would be like doing a new build. I want this to be a relatively simple upgrade.

The main new things I would like are:
  • a MB that accepts more RAM (32GB or more compared to my current 16 max)
  • support for ECC RAM, if possible. I would love to have this, but I just don't know if any MB that meets my other requirements offers it.
  • 4 internal Sata 6 GB/s ports
  • 4+ external USB 3.0 ports (or use a PCIe card, as discussed)
  • 2 GigE ports (I could use a NIC card for the 2nd, if required)
  • a future upgrade path if I want to use a faster CPU or RAM in the future. In other words, I hope to have a socket type that will see future new CPU's released for it. But this is a minor point because we can't predict the future ;)

Danny Bui said:
The fastest 65W CPU available right now on Newegg is the Core i5 2400S:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115075

But it would not be that much of a jump in performance over your current Core i5 750. If you want a jump in performance, your best bet would be that Core i7 2600S.
Click to expand...

I would like to find that Core i7 2600S, but no one seems to have it. Would you be comfortable going with a 95W CPU with my current setup? The pictures are here:
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1554964&page=5
 
Welp I got a few options for you:

Option 1:
$510 - Intel Core i7-2600K CPU + Asus P8P67 DELUXE Intel P67 ATX Motherboard
$270 - 2 x G.SKILL Ripjaws Series F3-10666CL9D-16GBXL 2 x 8GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$32 - Western Digital WDBFNJ0000NNC-WASN USB 3.0 PCI-E Card
----
Total: $812 plus tax and shipping.

Notes:
- Meets most of your requirements except for ECC RAM support.
- Maxed out at 32GB of RAM
- Only one Intel NIC. The 2nd NIC is a Realtek
- Combo deal ends December 31st

Option 2:
$240 - Intel Xeon E3-1230 CPU
$220 - Asus P8B WS Intel C206 ATX Motherboard
$700 - 4 x Kingston KVR1333D3E9S/8G 8GB DDR3 1333 Unbuffered ECC RAM
$32 - Western Digital WDBFNJ0000NNC-WASN USB 3.0 PCI-E Card
$30 - Highpoint Rocket 620 PCI-Express 2.0 x1 SATA III (6.0Gb/s) Controller Card
----
Total: $1222 plux tax and shipping

Notes:
- Meets every single one of your requirements including ECC RAM support.
- RAM is a special order item so you may have to wait a while for it.
- Server class CPU + workstation class mobo + ECC RAM means higher chance of stability.
- Dual Intel NICs
- The Xeon uses a little less power than the regular Intel Core i7.
- Maxed out at 32GB of RAM

Option 3:
$650 - Intel Core i7 3930K CPU
$1070 - Asus Sabertooth X79 Intel X79 ATX Motherboard + G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series F3-12800CL10Q2-64GBZL 8 x 8GB DDR3 1600
$28 - Intel EXPI9301CTBLK 10/100/1000Mbps PRO/1000 GT PCI-E x1 NIC OEM w/ 1 x RJ45
----
Total: $1748 plus tax and shipping.

Notes
- CPU uses significantly more power but has an extra two cores.
- Meets most of your requirements except for ECC RAM support.
- Maxed out at 64GB of RAM
- Dual Intel NICs
- That entire platform is still relatively new so there may be issues.
- Combo deal ends December 31st

MountainX said:
I would like to find that Core i7 2600S, but no one seems to have it. Would you be comfortable going with a 95W CPU with my current setup? The pictures are here:
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1554964&page=5
Click to expand...
Yes I would.
 
Wow, thank you! All those look like great options.

However, I will go with option #2, provided Provantage doesn't make me wait months for the RAM.

Your option #3 is attactive too... but I will play it safe with this upgrade and then do another new build relatively soon to try out some of the newer stuff. I want this machine to be stable as a rock.

I have a 2nd computer to upgrade soon too, so I'll have more options to experiment.

For this build, you nailed it with your option #2. Thank you for the recommendations! I'm going to order the parts today. Do you think I'll run into any issues getting this into my existing case? It doesn't look like there should be any problems.
 
MountainX said:
For this build, you nailed it with your option #2. Thank you for the recommendations! I'm going to order the parts today. Do you think I'll run into any issues getting this into my existing case? It doesn't look like there should be any problems.
Click to expand...
AFAIK, shouldn't be any issues.
 
Danny Bui said:
- RAM is a special order item so you may have to wait a while for it.
Click to expand...

What about this RAM? It is in stock (apparently):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148436
Crucial 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model CT102472BB1339

NewEgg has some other memory options that are listed as in stock. Here are 3 choices that look OK to me:

Kingston 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 ECC Registered w/ Parity Server Memory Model KVR1333D3Q8R9S/8G
Item #: N82E16820139280
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
$303.96
($75.99 each)

Crucial 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model CT102472BB1339
Item #: N82E16820148436
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
$399.96
($99.99 each)

Wintec 32GB (4 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) ECC Registered Server Memory Model 3RSH13339R5H-32GQ
Item #: N82E16820161458
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
-$30.00 Instant (was $499.99)
$469.99

I don't know about the reputation differences between Kingston, Crucial and Wintec... all of them are name brands I recognize. The Kingston is the cheapest. It also has "Quad Rank x8
Thermal Sensor". I don't even know what that is, but it sounds good ;)
 
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None of those RAM will work. The Intel C206 chipset only supports Unbuffered ECC RAM. It will not work with Registered ECC RAM at all.
 
I ordered everything. I switched up my external USB 3.0 strategy a bit and decided to get a single drive eSata enclosure. I'll test it and see how I like eSata compared to USB 3.0.

1
ASUS P8B WS LGA 1155 Intel C206 ATX Intel Xeon E3 Server/Workstation Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813131725
$219.99

1
StarTech SATDOCKU3SEF 2.5" & 3.5" Black USB3.0 & eSATA SuperSpeed USB 3.0 eSATA Hard Drive Docking Station with Cooling Fan
Item #: N82E16817707260
$52.99

1
Intel Xeon E3-1230 Sandy Bridge 3.2GHz LGA 1155 80W Quad-Core Server Processor BX80623E31230
Item #: N82E16819115083
$239.99

4
Kingston 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 ECC Registered w/ Parity Server Memory Model KVR1333D3Q8R9S/8G
Item #: N82E16820139280
$303.96
($75.99 ea)

1
GIGABYTE GV-R677SL-1GD Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
Item #: N82E16814125386
$138.99

1
HighPoint RocketRAID 622 PCI-Express 2.0 x1 SATA III (6.0Gb/s) Controller Card
Item #: N82E16816115076
$39.99

1
Rosewill RC-226 PCI-Express 2.0 Low Profile SATA III (6.0Gb/s) Controller Card
Item #: N82E16816132031
$29.99

I ordered two controller cards because neither one (or any other I could find) got great reviews. They are cheap and I decided it was worth the small extra cost to increase my chances of everything working when I put it together.

Since it is Saturday, I suppose I will have time to cancel the order and re-order before it ships (in the event I get feedback here about changing something).

This is going to be a nice upgrade! WIth these parts it should be a super reliable computer.

Today I just found out about CrashPlan (backup solution). I'm going to add that into the mix too.
 
MountainX said:
Is there anything that will work that I can order immediately?
Click to expand...

If you have to have unbuffered 8GB modules they're pretty darn hard to find at this stage, particularly for a price that's anything like what you'd hope to pay based on the 4GB stick prices. I'd get 4x4GB sticks of Kingston 1333 unbuffered ECC RAM and wait for prices to drop.

We use that exact motherboard with 4x4GB Kingston sticks and it works just fine.
 
Jim G said:
If you have to have unbuffered 8GB modules they're pretty darn hard to find at this stage, particularly for a price that's anything like what you'd hope to pay based on the 4GB stick prices. I'd get 4x4GB sticks of Kingston 1333 unbuffered ECC RAM and wait for prices to drop.

We use that exact motherboard with 4x4GB Kingston sticks and it works just fine.
Click to expand...

OK, I'll go with 4GB sticks and wait for prices on 8GB sticks to drop.

This memory is in stock at NewEgg:
Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM ECC Unbuffered DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Server Memory Model CT2KIT51272BA1339

The Kingston is out of stock as far as I can see.
 
MountainX said:
Is there anything that will work that I can order immediately?
Click to expand...
Do you mean work as in what platform will work with the RAM you just ordered or work as in what parts you can order from my build list?

If the former, not sure. Gonna have to take some time to do research on that.

If the latter, what's the rush? That entire setup won't work until you have usable RAM. Considering that it may take anywhere from a week to a month for that specific Kingston RAM that I recommended to come in, you would basically have a bunch of parts lying around doing nothing except losing the ability to RMA anything back to Newegg should the part be DOA or defective.

EDIT: Oh you're going for a 4x4GB set then. Hmm, just how badly do you need this new system? As for ECC RAM, I generally stick with Kingston and Kingston isn't out of stock:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139262
 
Last edited:
Danny Bui said:
Do you mean work as in what platform will work with the RAM you just ordered or work as in what parts you can order from my build list?

If the former, not sure. Gonna have to take some time to do research on that.

If the latter, what's the rush? That entire setup won't work until you have usable RAM. Considering that it may take anywhere from a week to a month for that specific Kingston RAM that I recommended to come in, you would basically have a bunch of parts lying around doing nothing except losing the ability to RMA anything back to Newegg should the part be DOA or defective.
Click to expand...

I meant is there any RAM that would work that NewEgg has in stock. I'm going with the 4 X 4GB sticks for now. I can live with 16 GB total. It will save me some money now. I'll upgrade later.

This way I can start using my computer again without waiting a month for the other RAM to come in.

Thanks again for your help!

BTW, is anything else on my list (a couple posts above) a problem? I'm getting ready to reorder after canceling the order with the incorrect RAM.
 
Here's my current shopping cart... waiting for me to click the button ;)


Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price



GIGABYTE GV-R677SL-1GD Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

GIGABYTE GV-R677SL-1GD Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
Item #: N82E16814125386
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options)



$138.99




StarTech SATDOCKU3SEF 2.5" & 3.5" Black USB3.0 & eSATA SuperSpeed USB 3.0 eSATA Hard Drive Docking Station with Cooling Fan

StarTech SATDOCKU3SEF 2.5" & 3.5" Black USB3.0 & eSATA SuperSpeed USB 3.0 eSATA Hard Drive Docking Station with Cooling Fan
Item #: N82E16817707260
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

-$28.00 Instant


$80.99
$52.99




ASUS P8B WS LGA 1155 Intel C206 ATX Intel Xeon E3 Server/Workstation Motherboard

ASUS P8B WS LGA 1155 Intel C206 ATX Intel Xeon E3 Server/Workstation Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813131725
Return Policy: Iron Egg Standard Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

-$10.00 Instant


$229.99
$219.99





HighPoint RocketRAID 622 PCI-Express 2.0 x1 SATA III (6.0Gb/s) Controller Card

HighPoint RocketRAID 622 PCI-Express 2.0 x1 SATA III (6.0Gb/s) Controller Card
Item #: N82E16816115076
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options)



$39.99




Rosewill RC-226 PCI-Express 2.0 Low Profile SATA III (6.0Gb/s) Controller Card

Rosewill RC-226 PCI-Express 2.0 Low Profile SATA III (6.0Gb/s) Controller Card
Item #: N82E16816132031
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

-$10.00 Instant


$39.99
$29.99




Team X092 32GB e-SATA / USB 2.0 Flash Drive (Black/Red) Model TG032GX092R1

Team X092 32GB e-SATA / USB 2.0 Flash Drive (Black/Red) Model TG032GX092R1
Item #: N82E16820313154
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy



$54.99




Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) ECC Unbuffered Server Memory Model KVR1333D3E9SK2/8G

Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) ECC Unbuffered Server Memory Model KVR1333D3E9SK2/8G
Item #: N82E16820139262
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy



$149.98
($74.99 each)




Intel Xeon E3-1230 Sandy Bridge 3.2GHz LGA 1155 80W Quad-Core Server Processor BX80623E31230

Intel Xeon E3-1230 Sandy Bridge 3.2GHz LGA 1155 80W Quad-Core Server Processor BX80623E31230
Item #: N82E16819115083
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options)



$239.99
 
Why do you have two different SATA 6.0GB/s cards in your cart?

What's the use for that 32GB flash drive?
 
Danny Bui said:
Why do you have two different SATA 6.0GB/s cards in your cart?
Click to expand...

I want to get this system up and running asap. I ordered two controller cards because neither one (or any other I could find) got great reviews. I saw some poor reviews (as well as some good reviews) on both of those cards.

I didn't want to get stuck with a sata card that wouldn't work over the holidays while I'm trying to build this.

The cards are cheap and I decided it was worth the small extra cost to increase my chances of everything working when I put it together.

Thanks for looking over my order.
 
MountainX said:
I want to get this system up and running asap. I ordered two controller cards because neither one (or any other I could find) got great reviews. I saw some poor reviews (as well as some good reviews) on both of those cards.

I didn't want to get stuck with a sata card that wouldn't work over the holidays while I'm trying to build this.

The cards are cheap and I decided it was worth the small extra cost to increase my chances of everything working when I put it together.

Thanks for looking over my order.
Click to expand...

Fair enough. Though if you're willing to wait around for a good deal, you could go the IBM M1015 route:
http://www.servethehome.com/ibm-m1015-part-1-started-lsi-92208i/#more-4030

It'll get you eight SATA 6.0Gb/s ports once you get SFF-8087 to SATA cables.
 
IBM M1015 -- very interesting. I'm reading the article now...

I'm not confident the other cards will work with Linux. I saw one review of a similar Rosewill card that mentioned it specifically would not run under Linux (the driver was very old). The cards I selected were neutral -- I didn't see any reviews that mention not working with Linux. But I didn't see any success reports either. That's part of the reason I am willing to order two cards -- hopefully one will work. But maybe that guess work approach isn't so smart...

This thread mentions that the IBM M1015 should work with Linux:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1507344

BTW, the raid features are not important to me on this computer. The 512 GB Crucial M4 will be fast enough. And I'm not concerned about extreme uptime because it isn't really a server -- it's a personal workstation (and just a part time NFS server).

My plan is to back up to an external drive each night and that's what I want the eSata card for. (I plan to try both USB 3.0 ext drives and eSata and see which is better. I want a reliable solution. USB 3.0 isn't always reliable and some people say eSata is faster in real life.)

I also plan to use either SpiderOak or CrashPlan to keep a near real-time backup of changed files. Both services have software that watches for changed files and backs them up frequently.
 
I decided I can take my time with the eSata solution. Once I put the computer together, I can back up using USB, as needed.

I'll remove those two sata cards from my cart (as well as the eSata enclosure, for now) and I'll follow up on the IBM M1015 because that sounds like the right solution. Thanks.
 
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Hey, I changed my mind on one very important thing. Rather than do an upgrade, I'm going to do a new build. :)

I'm going with the Asus P8B workstation motherboard, the Kingston ECC RAM (4 x 4GB), the Xeon E3-1230 CPU, silent GPU and all the other parts Danny Bui already recommended. No changes there.

But now I am going to add a case, fans, CPU cooler, Blu Ray burner, fan speed controller, memory card reader, PSU (and all the little things like cables) needed to make a complete build.

However, I will not need to purchase any storage. I will use existing SSD's and HDD's.

I like my current system enough that I want to stick pretty close to that -- the same case would be fine, for example.

Should I also order the same PSU, CPU cooler, fans and other parts used in my current system? See below.

However, I'll need new recommendations for:
  • Blu Ray burner
  • fan speed controller (no lights, 4 or 5 speed controls) (e.g., NZXT Sentry Mesh Fan Controller w/ Five 30 watts Channels)
  • internal memory card reader (e.g., ATech PRO-35U USB 2.0 Internal/External Card Reader)
  • sound-dampening case materials (e.g., AcoustiPack)

Here's the list of stuff I'm thinking about re-ordering (unless there are better PSU's and CPU coolers now). My priority is still silence.

Antec Solo ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
or should I go with the Antec Mini P180?

5 fans - a combination of these:
Scythe Slip stream SY1225SL12LM-P fans (with PWM).
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21D 120mm Case Fan
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Case Fan

1 "SeaSonic 650W Power Supply X650 Gold"

1 "Prolimatech CPU Cooler for Intel Socket 1156, 1366 and 775 Megahalems Rev. B
or should I go with this? GELID Solutions Tranquillo CC-TranQ-01-A 120mm Hydro Dynamic CPU Cooler
 
MountainX said:
Hey, I changed my mind on one very important thing. Rather than do an upgrade, I'm going to do a new build. :)
Click to expand...
Are you planning on reusing or passing down your current PC or something?

MountainX said:
However, I'll need new recommendations for:
  • Blu Ray burner
  • fan speed controller (no lights, 4 or 5 speed controls) (e.g., NZXT Sentry Mesh Fan Controller w/ Five 30 watts Channels)
  • internal memory card reader (e.g., ATech PRO-35U USB 2.0 Internal/External Card Reader)
  • sound-dampening case materials (e.g., AcoustiPack)
Click to expand...
No recommendations from me about this. Haven't needed to research any of the above items.

MountainX said:
Antec Solo ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
or should I go with the Antec Mini P180?
Click to expand...

Do note that the Antec Solo II case is already out so might want to take a look at that:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/antec-solo2

Also, the Antec Mini P180 won't work as it requires a mATX motherboard. That mobo that I recommended to you is ATX.

The Fractal Design R3 is worth taking a look at as well:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/fractal-r3
$120 - Fractal Design Define R3 Arctic White ATX Case
$120 - Fractal Design Define R3 Silver Arrow ATX Case

The Antec P280 is another case to look at as well:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/Antec_P280

MountainX said:
1 "SeaSonic 650W Power Supply X650 Gold"
Click to expand...
The problem is that PSU is currently out of stock at Newegg and the few stores that do stock that PSU are overcharging like crazy for it. So your best bet would be to reuse your current X650 Gold if you want low noise and get a cheaper noisier PSU for the other system. Something like the Antec Neo Eco 620C 620W for example.

MountainX said:
1 "Prolimatech CPU Cooler for Intel Socket 1156, 1366 and 775 Megahalems Rev. B
or should I go with this? GELID Solutions Tranquillo CC-TranQ-01-A 120mm Hydro Dynamic CPU Cooler
Click to expand...
Prolimatech is still good.
 
Thank you. I will look at the Antec Solo II case. The others are too big. I need to stick close to a 17" x 17" size.

I will need another quiet PSU because both computers need to remain functional and equally quiet. I'll reuse the current PC. A new use for it just came up, which is why I decided to add the case, PSU, etc. to make this a complete build.

What about the SeaSonic X Series X650 Gold at this link?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151088&Tpk=seasonic power supply
It is $10 more than I paid for it last year. However, the SeaSonic X750 Gold 750W is the exact same price, so maybe I should go for it. On the other hand, I doubt I really need more than about 450 watts. What do you think?
 
Last edited:
Get an HP t5740. That can run the 700MB 32-bit version of Linux Mint beautifully. :)

EDIT: I joke about using a ThinClient for that, but you can do the above. I tested it. Works with Damn Small Linux as well. pfSense is a no-go though.
 
MountainX said:
What about the SeaSonic X Series X650 Gold at this link?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151088&Tpk=seasonic power supply
It is $10 more than I paid for it last year. However, the SeaSonic X750 Gold 750W is the exact same price, so maybe I should go for it. On the other hand, I doubt I really need more than about 450 watts. What do you think?
Click to expand...

The X650 is too expensive at that price. The X750 is a good PSU but you honestly would not need more than 400W for that setup. As such, you could go with these fanless Seasonic PSUs:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...SpeTabStoreType=&AdvancedSearch=1&srchInDesc=
 
I'm wrapping up this build. I just installed the OS (opensuse 12.1). I have more to finish before this system is ready to use. However, I have already hit a problem. If the computer sits idling overnight, it becomes unresponsive to all input the next morning. I'm not suspending or hibernating the system, but the monitors do blank out and go into powersaving mode. The monitors are blank the next morning, as expected, but they won't come back on. The first morning system was completely unresponsive. The second morning the system made some sounds in response to some keyboard input, but the monitors would not wake up. Apparently, the only way to "wake it up" is to push the reset button.

My video card is the PowerColor Go! Green ATI Radeon HD6750 1 GB DDR5 2DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort PCI-Express Video Card AX6750 1GBD5-NS3DHG. The motherboard is the Asus P8B WS. I'm using the Xeon CPU, Kingston ECC RAM and other parts discussed above.

I have 3 monitors connected: a Dell U3011 (30" at 2560x1600) and 2 Dell 24" (1920x1280). The U3011 is on Display Port. One 24" uses HDMI and one uses DVI.

Any ideas?

I can't tell if it is related to the BIOS power management settings, the monitors, the GPU, or the OS -- everything is new.

Today I did notice that I could not get the main monitor (30" on Display Port) to come back on after temporarily switching it to another input (Motorola set top box on an HDMI input video source). When I switched the monitor input back to Display Port (which is connected to the ATI Radeon HD6750), it stayed blank no matter what I did, until -- using the other monitor -- I went into display configuration and changed the resolution from 2560x1600 to 1920x1200. I didn't even have to accept that configuration. I canceled it, and the monitor remained "awake".

I have not had a problem with this monitor waking up before, but I never used the Display Port input.
 
Here are some pics. Thanks so much for the excellent help! :D

DOByG


DOByG
 
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