Been getting a lot of good advice on this forum. Was interested in playing with Linux and was talked into Linux Mint a while ago by some very helpful people. I still have a need for a windows system or two for my software, but wanted to try Linux mint on a cheap build for my wife and kids needs. I’ll eventually need four systems when I’m done.
I will not build a system where windows is more than 20% of the system cost. It is much cheaper to buy a system at that point.
So I came up with two possible approaches:
Option 1:
Build an iddy bitty Linux box only. I tried to make the cheapest system I could based on Mint's system requirements
I came up with this http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3y25W
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: AMD 5150 1.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($52.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: MSI AM1I Mini ITX AM1 Motherboard ($40.50 @ Vuugo)
Memory: Crucial 2GB (1 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($22.50 @ Vuugo)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP600 32GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($44.17 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Antec ISK 310-150 Mini ITX Desktop Case w/150W Power Supply ($84.50 @ Vuugo)
Total: $244.66
Question 1: Will this run linux mint? I’m told Linux needs little to run, but I think some are exaggerating when they insist even a slide rule or abacus can run linux.
Should I buy a Zotac box instead if I want it really small?
Option 2
Build a full fledged mini itx system, install windows, partition the drive and play with Mint, Ubuntu and other suggestions I was given. I put this system together for that.
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3rnOr
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($65.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H87N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard $112
Memory: Corsair 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($38.65 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.75 @ Vuugo)
Case: Thermaltake VL52021N2U Mini ITX Desktop Case w/200W Power Supply ($68.50 @ Vuugo)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($17.82 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($98.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $466.50
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-25 18:55 EDT-0400)
Explaining Computers Built this similar one
Afterwards I was delighted to find a professional on “explaining computers” building virtually the identical system on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV55san63yQ
My Question
Would it be safest to build my first system as a windows machine and fiddle with linux afterwards. Or build the mini linux system (if it is satisfactory) and dive right in.
I guess what I’m asking is: How long will it realistically take to install Linux Mint and get my wife and kids surfing the internet, playing online kids game with flash/java/javascript, checking gmail? Real light duty stuff.
And will I find it easier to build a pure linux system vs a dual boot, possibly quad boot system!
Thanks in advance
I will not build a system where windows is more than 20% of the system cost. It is much cheaper to buy a system at that point.
So I came up with two possible approaches:
Option 1:
Build an iddy bitty Linux box only. I tried to make the cheapest system I could based on Mint's system requirements
I came up with this http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3y25W
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: AMD 5150 1.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($52.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: MSI AM1I Mini ITX AM1 Motherboard ($40.50 @ Vuugo)
Memory: Crucial 2GB (1 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($22.50 @ Vuugo)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP600 32GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($44.17 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Antec ISK 310-150 Mini ITX Desktop Case w/150W Power Supply ($84.50 @ Vuugo)
Total: $244.66
Question 1: Will this run linux mint? I’m told Linux needs little to run, but I think some are exaggerating when they insist even a slide rule or abacus can run linux.
Should I buy a Zotac box instead if I want it really small?
Option 2
Build a full fledged mini itx system, install windows, partition the drive and play with Mint, Ubuntu and other suggestions I was given. I put this system together for that.
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/3rnOr
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($65.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H87N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard $112
Memory: Corsair 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($38.65 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.75 @ Vuugo)
Case: Thermaltake VL52021N2U Mini ITX Desktop Case w/200W Power Supply ($68.50 @ Vuugo)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($17.82 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($98.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $466.50
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-25 18:55 EDT-0400)
Explaining Computers Built this similar one
Afterwards I was delighted to find a professional on “explaining computers” building virtually the identical system on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV55san63yQ
My Question
Would it be safest to build my first system as a windows machine and fiddle with linux afterwards. Or build the mini linux system (if it is satisfactory) and dive right in.
I guess what I’m asking is: How long will it realistically take to install Linux Mint and get my wife and kids surfing the internet, playing online kids game with flash/java/javascript, checking gmail? Real light duty stuff.
And will I find it easier to build a pure linux system vs a dual boot, possibly quad boot system!
Thanks in advance
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