Gentoo Archives: gentoo-user

From: Wols Lists <antlists@××××××××××××.uk>
To: gentoo-user@l.g.o
Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] planning a new machine : comments welcome
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2022 20:22:55
Message-Id: 5a2c114d-2832-db85-c975-1e5077e60c70@youngman.org.uk
In Reply to: [gentoo-user] planning a new machine : comments welcome by Philip Webb
1 On 02/03/2022 19:39, Philip Webb wrote:
2 > After > 6 years , I'm planning to build a new machine ANB6.
3 > The present machine ANB5 -- details at end -- continues to perform well,
4 > but I can't rely on that for ever.
5 >
6 > I use it for everyday desktop work + fun.
7 > The weekly Gentoo update is the main stressor, for which ANB5 is adequate,
8 > but it's always nice to get a bit more speed & avoid too much heat-up.
9 >
10 > I expect to buy the parts from the local store
11 > -- Canada Computers in Downtown Toronto -- & prices below are in CAD.
12 > I'm price-sensitive, but willing to pay a bit more for a better part.
13 > Here's the list + a few comments ; '*' denotes presently prefered item :
14 >
15 > ANB6
16 >
17 > [ CPU : not much difference, but comments very welcome.
18 > I've had good luck with AMD in the past, less so with Intel ]
19 >
20 > 220208 CPU AMD : CPAMD00131 : Ryzen 7 : 5700G : 8-core 16-thread : $ 388
21 > Socket AM4 : 3,8 / 4,6 GHz : Radeon Graphix Wreath Stealth
22 > 00055 : Ryzen 7 : 3700X : 7 nm : 8-core 16-thread : $ 400
23 > Socket AM4 : 3,6 / 4,4 GHz
24 > * 00110 : Ryzen 7 : 5800X : ZEN 3 : 7 nm : 8-core 16-thread : $ 460
25 > Socket AM4 : 3,8 / 4,7 GHz boost
26
27 I stick to AMD. Prejudice? Quite likely.
28 >
29 > [ Mobo : ANB4 (previous machine, now stand-by) + ANB5 have Gigabyte ]
30 >
31 > 220219 Mobo AMD : MBASU00311 : Asus : Prime B550+ (Ryzen AM4) : $ 180
32 > dual M.2 : PCle 4.0 : 1 GB Ethernet : SATA 6 Gbps
33 > USB 3.2 gen 2 Types A/C : Aura Sync RGB headers support
34 > * MBGIG00145 : Gigabyte : X570 Aorus elite WIFI : $ 220
35 > dual PCle 4.0 M.2 : Intel dual-band 802.11ac wireless
36 > front USB Type C : RGB Fusion 2.0
37
38 Again, I stick to Gigabyte.
39 >
40 > [ Memory : Kingston has always performed well & 16 GB sb adequate ]
41 >
42 > 220222 Memory : MEKIT00581 : Kingston : 2 x 8 = 16 GB $ 110
43 > DDR4 3600 MHz CL17 dual channel
44
45 What's the largest chip a slot takes? If you can afford it, buy two of
46 those. My new mobo takes 16GB, and they were only GB£50 each - £100. If
47 you ever want to upgrade the ram, you won't need to "chuck and replace".
48 >
49 > [ Graphics card : this seems to be the big problem.
50 > There are cheaper cards, but they're all "sold out" :
51 > apparently, there's a supply problem at present ;
52 > this was the cheapest in stock in late Feb ]
53 >
54 > 220223 Graphix : VCASU00223 : Asus : $ 280
55 > Phoenix PH-GTX1650-O4GD6 GeForce GTX 1650
56 > 4 GB GDDR6 : 1.41 GHz Core : 128 bit Bus Width
57 > DisplayPort HDMI DVI
58 > [ cheapest available : most types sold out : >= $ 60 ]
59
60 Look at the new "combined CPU and Video" chips - most boards have had
61 onboard graphics since don't know when, but the newer boards need a
62 combined G/CPU for onboard to work.
63 >
64 > [ SSD : Kingston as above : 1 TB sb adequate ]
65 >
66 > 220222 SSD : SSKIT00058 : Kingston : 512 GB $ 95
67 > KC600 SATA3 6 GB/s 2,5" R 550 W 520 MB/s
68 >
69 > * SSKIT00069 : Kingston : 1 TB $ 170
70 > KC600 SATA3 6 GB/s 2,5" R 550 W 520 MB/s
71 >
72 > SSSAS00105 : Samsung : 500 GB $ 100
73 > 870EVO SATA3 R 560 W 530 MB/s
74 >
75 > SSSAS00106 : Samsung : 1 TB $ 140
76 > 870EVO SATA3 R 560 W 530 MB/s
77 >
78 > SSWEE00015 : W Digital : 500 GB $ 90
79 > 3D NAND SATA R 560 W 530 MB/s
80 >
81 > SSWEE00015 : W Digital : 1 TB $ 140
82 > 3D NAND SATA M.2 2280 R 560 W 530 MB/s
83
84 If you're planning to use the mobo's SATA ports, just make sure you know
85 how many will be usable. Both an M2 board and a Graphics board nick PCIe
86 channels, and the mobo may disable SATA ports to free them up ...
87 >
88 > [ HDD : for back-up + alternative OS (Mint).
89 > ANB5 has Seagate : anyone prefer W Digital & if so, why ? ]
90 >
91 > * 220222 HDD : HDSEA00144 : Seagate : 2 TB $ 55
92 > SATA 3,5" 7200 RPM
93
94 BarraCuda? That's an SMR drive. Look at the FireCuda instead or even
95 better an IronWolf. Only snag is, it'll push the price up. Umm ... the
96 firecuda costs a lot more than I thought - a 4TB IronWolf is £84.
97 >
98 > HDWD002115 : W Digital : 1 TB $ 60
99 > SATA 3,5" 6 GB/s 7200 RPM 64 MB cache
100
101 WD Black? Again, probably SMR. The BarraCuda looks cheaper, bigger, better.
102 >
103 > [ Case : ANB5 has Deepcool, which seems a good price ]
104 >
105 > * 220223 Case : CSDCL00019 : Deepcool : $ 55
106 > E-Shield 120 mm Fan Radiator Support
107 > E-ATX/ATX/MicroATX/MiniITX
108 > 00032 : Matrexx 50 $ 60
109 > 00035 : Matrexx 55 MESH $ 70
110 > PSU Shroud
111 > 00044 : Macube 310P WH $ 80
112 > Magnetic/CableManagement/FAN HUB Pre-install
113 >
114 > [ Power : ANB5 has Thermaltake : is 700 W likely to be adequate ? ]
115
116 Crumbs. For the system you're spec'ing, 250W is probably adequate. That
117 said, at $60 I wouldn't skimp on a decent supply. A stressed supply is
118 more likely (a) to blow, and (b) to take out components with it. That
119 $60 is money well spent. My PSUs are Corsairs, for no particular reason.
120 >
121 > * 220223 PSU : PSTHL00007 : Thermaltake $ 60
122 > 700 W 80 PLUS
123 > PSSES00017 : Seasonic $ 60
124 > FOCUS SSR-650FM 650 W 80+
125 > Gold Semi-Modular ATX12V/EPS12V Compact 140 mm
126 > PSCO001438 : Corsair $ 60
127 > CX-M CX650M 650 W 80+ Bronze
128 > PSEVG00043 : EVGA $ 60
129 > 600 BQ, 80+ BRONZE 600 W Semi-Modular FDB Fan 3-Yr Warranty
130 > PSCO100109 : Corsair $ 80
131 > CX750F RGB 750 W 80+ Bronze Fully Modular
132 >
133 > [ Wifi : currently, I'm using a landline for Internet,
134 > but my new apartment has free Wifi. Is it standard on Mobos these days ? ]
135
136 Dunno. If it doesn't you should be able to get a USB dongle ...
137 >
138 > Wifi : sb std on mobo
139 >
140 > [ Sound : I've never installed sound on my computers, but it wb nice.
141 > Do all Mobos have a sound chip today ? -- I'm an utter novice here ]
142 >
143 > Sound : sb available fr mobo, card is opt'l extra
144
145 I think sound has been standard for absolutely years. Note that most
146 VDUs are HDMI nowadays - get one with speakers and the sound should come
147 out that.
148 >
149 > [ DVD drive : I don't believe I need this anymore ]
150 >
151 > DVD ?
152
153 You don't need it, just get one anyway, they're about £20 max? (Or
154 salvage one from an old PC - they're all SATA nowadays anyway.)
155 >
156 > [ These are the specs for the present machine, built Oct 2015 ]
157 >
158 > ANB5
159 >
160 > 150914 CPU : AMD X8 FX8370E 8-core 4,3 GHz 16 MB 32 nm 95 W : 259.00
161 > Direct replacement : 3 yr : 38.85
162 > 150926 Mobo : ASUS M5A97 LE AMD 970/SB8950 DDR3 1866 GHz : 104.99
163 > 150914 Memory : Kingston HyperX Fury 8 GB DDR3 1866 MHz CL10 : 68.99
164 > 150914 Graphix : Asus GT610 810 MHz clock 1200 MHz memory : 74.99
165 > 150914 SSD : Kingston SSDNow V300 240 GB SATA RW 450 MB/s : 109.99
166 > 150914 HDD : Seagate Desktop SATA3 1 TB 64 MB 6 GB/s : 57.99
167 > Ont recycle fee : 0.75
168 > 150914 DVD : Samsung SH-224FB 24x SATA 1.5 MB : 21.99
169 > Ont recycle fee : 0.75
170 > 150917 Case : Deepcool Terraract BF : 39.99
171 > 150917 PSU : Thermaltake TR2 500 W : 59.99
172 >
173 > ANB4 ANB5 have Gigabyte mobo (ANB5 had Asus, wh had 2 defects) ;
174 > ANB1-3 had Asus mobo (ANB2 orig'ly had Soyo)
175 >
176 > [ 'ANB' = 'Aristotle's new body' : Aristotle was my original XT in 1989
177 > & when I built my 1st machine in 2000, it was his 1st new body,
178 > since when he's been my computer spirit (smile).
179 > I'm a Classicist by training & wrote my PhD thesis on the philosopher.
180 > I have a mathematical side too ]
181 >
182 For your hard drive, SMR will be fine for backups. I'd try and create
183 two 50GB partitions for /gentoo and /mint on the SSD. Try and use UEFI
184 for boot, it'll probably make booting simpler. I've got
185 BIOS/GRUB/gentoo+SUSE and they trample on each other :-( Then you've got
186 900GB for /home etc.
187
188 I'd put LVM on the backup drive, so you can create snapshots of your
189 backups and do full backups with an incremental copy - look at rsync
190 with --in-place. That makes the BarraCuda even better value ...
191
192 Cheers,
193 Wol

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Re: [gentoo-user] planning a new machine : comments welcome Dale <rdalek1967@×××××.com>