Posted on 07/17/2013 8:57:36 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
fyi
Considering I built it only a few short months ago, I'm not going to be upgrading anytime soon. Had I known Linux and AMD still had issues working together, I'd have stuck with Intel. As is, I went with AMD purely based on the "bang for the buck." Not sorry I did, but I'm generally speaking not happy with the lack of AMD support in the Linux community.
My next box is going to have an Intel Haswell processor. I'll pay the Intel upcharge to get the Linux compatability.
There are no instructions to speak of ..in Chinese or any other language.
For me its a hobby like customizing cars that I have been at since the days of the Intel 8086 processors, and quite enjoyable. In the old days hand building a stock machine saves alot but not really much anymore
The EVGA GT-630 isn't the fastest video card in the world, but I'm not a gamer so all I really wanted was decent quality desktop productivity performance from a video card.
If I tried buying a system like I built, I'd be paying somewhere north of $1,200. I built it myself for a tad under $750. I shopped very hard to get the best prices on the components I used, and I sourced from several different sources to pay the minimum price I could.
Thus far, it's been a screamer. I've had several Virtual machines (Linux, Windows Server, Windows XP) all running at the same time and the FX-8350 seems to handle the load well.
My base OS on it is Windows 8, slimmed all the way down to run in just under 600mb of Memory. All unnecessary services disabled, and unnecessary software components weren't installed when I loaded the OS.
Overall: VERY HAPPY. Thinking about wiping the SSD and installing latest Ubuntu Server first, then VMWare to run the other stuff I need to run. I use my system for my "work from home" computer along with all my amateur radio gear and the home environmental's (heating, cooling, alarm system.) It's been rock solid since I built it. Zero complaints.
That's true. The best part about building your own computer is that you, the builder get complete control over the quality of components that goes into your build and the cost of those components.
If you know you're not a gamer, you can "cheap out" on the video card for example. I paid $39 for my graphics card (above) with 2gb of memory on it. I knew the GPU wasn't "gaming quality" but then I didn't care. I'm not a gamer, all I wanted was reasonable Desktop graphics performance. So I didn't need to spend $200 - $300 on a high end graphics card.
Other folks who may be hard-core gamers may opt to buy a very high end graphics card or dual-SLI and spend upwards of $600 for just their video card setup.
It all depends on what you want to get out of your system. Yes it's easy to 'spend more' however it's also possible to 'save more' and still get better quality components than buying some piece of crap mass-produced unit using the cheapest parts possible from Dell, Gateway, HP or Lenovo.
The motherboard I purchased came with all the instructions necessary to install the CPU, Memory, install it in the case, and cable the front and rear panel to it. That was literally all I needed.
Cases come with very minimal documentation if any, and if you purchase OEM parts such as HDD's, they ship in a foil package in a box. No instructions, no cables, etc..
But here's the thing: Once you've installed your CPU and Memory on the motherboard, installed it in the case and connected the front and rear panel cables, the rest of the build is pretty darn intuitive.
Well, at least for me, I've been doing this for almost 30 years now. For a "newbie" it can be pretty daunting unless you have someone there with you who's done it before and can show you how.
That's how I started "back in the day" .. I had a friend help me with my first build and I've done all the rest of my and my family's builds since.
PC builds for sure are a lot more intuitive than they used to be.
All so you can get to the windows start tiles just a few seconds faster...
Is there any real reason for all this CPU power?
(my 2.0Ghz dual core does everything I want it to)
20+ years ago, it was cheaper (by half) to build your own PCs.. Since then, the prices of parts and accessories have gone up since more people started building their own.
Now, it costs almost double to build what I can buy as a name-brand... although, I still prefer building my own, since I know what is in it. The pre-built (brand name) PCs, put crap gear (memory, vid cards, sound cards, etc.; some stoops so low as to use your ram as vid ram, which takes the ram away from the cpu).
Have you tried different distros? I am running AMD with Mint KDE and have had NO issues..
For a "newbie" it can be pretty daunting
And last i knew AMD still supported the Boy Scouts in contrast to Intel who ceased funding in support of same gender sexual compatibility.
Plus the priced of the OS. I am interested in this, and you likely used http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/cpu/
An maybe here to compare CPUs:
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html
And here to determine what PSU you will need: http://www.extreme.outervision.com/index.jsp
I prayerfully found this place before to have the best buys and service contract for complete systems: http://www.computerlx.com/config.aspx?t=&product_ID=656
Im sure Intel funds things I don’t like. Like Obama for example. If I wanted, I could spend hundreds of hours researching every damn company I buy products from, and find something they do that I don’t like. Then what? I’d never be able to buy anything without some pantywaste coming along and saying I offended them because of a product I purchased? F that.
I’ve tried Ubuntu and Mint. Neither recognizes my on board sound card.
Not 100% certain I’m doing everything correctly, so I’d be happ to read any tips, etc...
I had a few quirky bugs with Cinnamon (I think they have those fixed, but Cinnamon wasn’t to my taste)... KDE has been solid since Mint 12....
About the sound card, the only problem I have is disabling the on-board (I have X-Fi, so don’t need the on-board.. even have it disabled in BIOS).. No problems, just shows unnecessary options when I am going through sound options.
Mint KDE 15 is still RC, but it is the smoothest I have seen yet.. It will automatically update to final release as soon as it comes out.
Run M15 KDE on Live-boot and see if it can read it. (I would also suggest a fresh install with /boot, /root, /SWAP, and /home.... all separate partitions, so it will be easier on your system and for you to keeps stuff you need when it comes time to upgrade ;))
Which MoBo are you using? I will see if I can find some info ;)
Thanks for the help!
I understand the problem, and we all fund China, but in a clear case as this btwn the only 2 companies worth considering a choice is easier.
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