[fwlug] Building a New PC: It's Greek to Me

[Andrew Latham]

On power, my new desktop at the office is a MSI nettop AP1900 that
uses less power than the lights in the bathrooms....  I use cli and
web apps so the system is plenty for that...

Total cost $450...  :)



~
Andrew "lathama" Latham
lathama at gmail.com

* Learn more about OSS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_software
* Learn more about Linux http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux
* Learn more about Tux http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tux



On Sat, May 15, 2010 at 7:10 PM, Vern Ceder <vceder at canterburyschool.org> wrote:
> Hi Joe,
>
> I'm assuming that Greek prices are less tariff-tormented these days than
> they were back in my time there. From browsing the plaisio site that seems
> to be the case. So yeah, I'd agree that 1000€ is plenty for a decent system.
>
> IMHO the areas where skimping is not a good idea are power and cooling. A
> marginal power supply may not be able to handle a peak load once everything
> is installed, and cheap fans tend to be noisy and then have bearing problems
> (which makes them VERY noisy) and then fail. So given the collection of
> parts you have, I'd probably spring for  a 500W power supply (they have the
> big brother of the one you list for 70€) and you also consider a case that
> included an extra fan, which your choice does not. Either way, check the
> reviews of the power supply to see whether its fan is quiet and holds up
> well.
>
> Καλὴ τύχη!
>
> Vern
>
> Joseph Brennan wrote:
>>
>> This is slightly off-topic, but it's tangentially Linux-related and I
>> don't know where else to turn for help.
>>
>> My cousin's husband in Greece is convinced that I'm a master hacker
>> because I showed off a few Linux command line tricks on my netbook while I
>> was there.  He wants me to help design a new PC for him, for 1000€  or less
>> (about $1,250).  He is obsessed with having the latest everything.  The main
>> tasks he wants the computer for are e-mail/Internet and playing a Windows
>> XP-based rally racing video game (the company he wants to buy from only
>> offers Windows 7, so I'm not sure what he's going to do about that).  I told
>> him I don't think he needs to spend that much because his game is old and
>> isn't as much of a resource hog as newer games, so he doesn't need as much
>> memory and processing speed as he thinks.  I wanted him to look for a used
>> computer with XP to run his game, with the ability to dual-boot Ubuntu, of
>> course.  He won't listen.  Only the best, he says---as long as I stay under
>> $1,250.
>>
>> So, I'm trying to help him design the fastest, most durable system I can
>> while staying within his budget.  The problem is, while I have experience
>> breathing new life into old computers, I have never set out to build an
>> entirely new one.  I've never needed, for instance, to buy a new fan.
>>  They've always just worked.  Is a 60€  fan  really 25% better than a 45€
>> fan?  Something tells me "no," but I've never had to buy one.  I've picked
>> the cheapest parts possible while keeping in mind that he wants high
>> performance, a bigger monitor, and probably the smallest profile possible
>> for the rest of the computer.  The price is 1,250€, which is over-budget.
>>  I'd like to remove Windows7, which adds over $100 US to the price, but he
>> wants a Windows machine.  (I will, however, be sneaking an Ubuntu dual-boot
>> install onto it the next time I visit!)
>>
>> Any suggestions on cost-cutting measures?  Is the i7 really worth the
>> premium over the Core2 Duo? Wanring: Massive amounts of HTML and some Greek
>> characters follow...
>>
>>
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Peripherals/Connectivity/Cables/Power-Supply-Cables/Konig-Power-Cable-For-Nb-3Pin-CABLE-712.htm>
>>
>> Konig Καλώδιο Τροφοδοσίας για NB (3pin)
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Peripherals/Connectivity/Cables/Power-Supply-Cables/Konig-Power-Cable-For-Nb-3Pin-CABLE-712.htm>
>> αφαίρεση
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Cart.aspx?Action=RemoveProduct&Product=1170627>
>>
>>
>>        2,89 €          2,89 €
>>
>>
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/PC-Cases/Coolermaster-Elite-310-Silver-Case-RC-310-SKN1-GP-RC-310-SKN1-GP.htm>
>>
>> CoolerMaster Elite 310 Silver Case (RC-310-SKN1-GP)
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/PC-Cases/Coolermaster-Elite-310-Silver-Case-RC-310-SKN1-GP-RC-310-SKN1-GP.htm>
>> αφαίρεση
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Cart.aspx?Action=RemoveProduct&Product=1312863>
>>
>>
>>        35,50 €                 35,50 €
>>
>>
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/PSU/Xigmatek-Go-Green-PSU-400W.htm>
>>
>> Xigmatek Go Green PSU (400W)
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/PSU/Xigmatek-Go-Green-PSU-400W.htm>
>> αφαίρεση
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Cart.aspx?Action=RemoveProduct&Product=1309005>
>>
>>
>>        59,90 €                 59,90 €
>>
>>
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/CPU/Intel-Core-i7-930-s1366-2-80GHz-BX80601930.htm>
>>
>> Intel Core i7 930 (s1366, 2.80GHz)
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/CPU/Intel-Core-i7-930-s1366-2-80GHz-BX80601930.htm>
>> αφαίρεση
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Cart.aspx?Action=RemoveProduct&Product=1457632>
>>
>>
>>        282,90 €                282,90 €
>>
>>
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/CPU-Coolers/Xigmatek-Hdt-S1284-Big-Scorpion-CAC-SXHH4-U01.htm>
>>
>> Xigmatek HDT-S1284-Big Scoprion Cpu Cooler (CAC-SXHH4-U01)
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/CPU-Coolers/Xigmatek-Hdt-S1284-Big-Scorpion-CAC-SXHH4-U01.htm>
>> αφαίρεση
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Cart.aspx?Action=RemoveProduct&Product=1142968>
>>
>>
>>        40,60 €                 40,60 €
>>
>>
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/Motherboards/Asus-P6T-Se-1366-X58-Ddr3-90-MIB870-G0EAY00Z.htm>
>>
>> Asus P6T SE (1366, DDR3, X58)
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/Motherboards/Asus-P6T-Se-1366-X58-Ddr3-90-MIB870-G0EAY00Z.htm>
>> αφαίρεση
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Cart.aspx?Action=RemoveProduct&Product=1229753>
>>
>>
>>        189,98 €                189,98 €
>>
>>
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/RAM/OCZ-Gold-Low-Voltage-8GB-DDR3-1333-Ram-Kit-PC3-10666-9-9-9-20-OCZ3G1333LV8GQ.htm>
>>
>> OCZ Gold Low Voltage 8GB DDR3-1333 Ram Kit (PC3-10666, 9-9-9-20,
>> OCZ3G1333LV8GQ)
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/RAM/OCZ-Gold-Low-Voltage-8GB-DDR3-1333-Ram-Kit-PC3-10666-9-9-9-20-OCZ3G1333LV8GQ.htm>
>> αφαίρεση
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Cart.aspx?Action=RemoveProduct&Product=1462415>
>>
>>
>>        243,00 €                243,00 €
>>
>>
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/Hard-Disk-Drives/Seagate-Sata-Ii-250-Gb-8Mb-7200-12-ST3250318AS.htm>
>>
>> Seagate 250 GB HDD (8MB , 7200.12rpm, Sata II , ST3250318AS)
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/Hard-Disk-Drives/Seagate-Sata-Ii-250-Gb-8Mb-7200-12-ST3250318AS.htm>
>> αφαίρεση
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Cart.aspx?Action=RemoveProduct&Product=1287958>
>>
>>
>>        37,00 €                 37,00 €
>>
>>
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/SVGA/ASUS-Vga-Pci-X-5450-Silent-Di-512Md2-Lp-90-C1CP2A-J0UANABZ.htm>
>>
>> Asus 5450 SILENT/DI/512MD2 (Low Profile, PCI-Express, DDR2, 512 MB)
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/SVGA/ASUS-Vga-Pci-X-5450-Silent-Di-512Md2-Lp-90-C1CP2A-J0UANABZ.htm>
>> αφαίρεση
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Cart.aspx?Action=RemoveProduct&Product=1467158>
>>
>>
>>        50,69 €                 50,69 €
>>
>>
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/Optical-Disc-Drives/SONY-AD-7240S-0B-DVDRW-SATA-24X-BULK-BLACK.htm>
>>
>> Sony AD-7240S-0B DVDRW + / - (Sata 24X, Bulk, Black)
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/Optical-Disc-Drives/SONY-AD-7240S-0B-DVDRW-SATA-24X-BULK-BLACK.htm>
>> αφαίρεση
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Cart.aspx?Action=RemoveProduct&Product=1301799>
>>
>>
>>        19,51 €                 19,51 €
>>
>>
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/B2O/B2O-Software/Operating-System/Microsoft-Windows-7-Home-Premium-32bit-Greek-Eng-OEM.htm>
>>
>> Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit Greek/Eng OEM
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/B2O/B2O-Software/Operating-System/Microsoft-Windows-7-Home-Premium-32bit-Greek-Eng-OEM.htm>
>> αφαίρεση
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Cart.aspx?Action=RemoveProduct&Product=1401777>
>>
>>
>>        88,40 €                 88,40 €
>>
>>
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Peripherals/PC-Monitors/Monitors/Asus-23-6-VH242H.htm>
>>
>> Asus VH242H TFT Monitor 24''
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Peripherals/PC-Monitors/Monitors/Asus-23-6-VH242H.htm>
>> αφαίρεση
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Cart.aspx?Action=RemoveProduct&Product=1210998>
>>
>>
>>        189,00 €                189,00 €
>>
>>
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Peripherals/PC-Peripherals/Keyboards/Logitech-Wired-Classic-200-968019-0115.htm>
>>
>> Logitech Classic 200
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Peripherals/PC-Peripherals/Keyboards/Logitech-Wired-Classic-200-968019-0115.htm>
>> αφαίρεση
>> <http://www.plaisio.gr/Cart.aspx?Action=RemoveProduct&Product=1015230>
>>
>>
>>        9,90 €          9,90 €
>>
>>
>> συνολικό κόστος προϊόντων       1.249,27 €
>> κόστος μεταφορικών      0,00 €
>> συνολικό κόστος αγορών  1.249,27 €
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
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>
> --
> This time for sure!
>   -Bullwinkle J. Moose
> -----------------------------
> Vern Ceder, Director of Technology
> Canterbury School, 3210 Smith Road, Ft Wayne, IN 46804
> vceder at canterburyschool.org; 260-436-0746; FAX: 260-436-5137
>
> The Quick Python Book, 2nd Ed - http://bit.ly/bRsWDW
>
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