is this non-gaming setup reasonable?

[cliguy]

I'm looking for a bit of advice on a new build for a linux rig that I will use for web development. I am trying to minimize the cost of these parts without skimping too much on expandability down the line.

All I'm looking for is cpu/mobo, ram and probably a new case/psu since any I'd have lying around are pretty much ancient. I'd love to get some 4tb hds too but I'll refrain for now. Obviously besides this I would need sata cables and then monitor and input devices but I'm just looking for advice on the best non-gaming combo I can get today for my money when it comes to those parts.

With that said, here is what i have come up with so far, but I am completely open to swapping out any ad all of these parts. I am not married to any of them, but if I could keep this around $300 it would be nice.


ASUS F2A85-M/CSM FM2 AMD A85X (Hudson D4) SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131881
- has the raid 5 which I would like to keep future options open, has a nice high max memory and high speed usb and sata.

AMD A6-5400K Trinity 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket FM2 65W Dual-Core Desktop APU (CPU + GPU) with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon ...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113282
- way faster than anything I have ever had before so it should be fun to use, especially since I usually use very low memory desktop environments if any at all... has a gpu also which should be more than enough for my purposes (I don't need integrated graphics on the mobo to use this instead of a video card right?)

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9S-8GBXL
-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231485
seems to match the mobo.. will have to be enough for a couple months and then I would like to get 3 more.

This leaves about $80 for the case and psu... I considered something like the
RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP Black 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case With 500W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156062
but I would actually like to try to come in a bit under that (price-wise) and maybe leave some room for a bluetooth keyboard and/or some other accessories to make my life easier. How much power do I reasonably need? I will probably just have a 120gb ssd on this at first but if anyone has approx. numbers on a 4hd raid setup I would also like to know that and maybe spend the few extra bucks now.

[edit: just realized this isn't a microATX, so I'm aware of that, currently looking for another case but I am definitely interested in suggestions or just a rough estimate of how much power I will need. Also I meant the numbers on a 4hd raid setup as in power consumption numbers for expandability down the line; I can't buy 4 hard drives now ]

Am I forgetting anything? I just want to be able to run ubuntu and code a lil bit...

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[RubberSalad]

Seem enough for the basic needs, since Ubuntu is more "lightweight" than windows

 

[ismaeljrp]

I'd probably go with something like this :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A4-5300 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75 Pro4-M Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.25 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.90 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $250.11
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-02 01:50 EDT-0400)

You should definately get a decent psu, this power supply is a very good one, it has enough power for what you want, it is efficient ( 80 + bronze ) . You don't need overclocking so you could cut ten bucks by going with the A4 5300. The case is pretty, it's a Silverstone, and it has front panel usb 3, and good ventilation.

 

[cliguy]

Thank you both for your replies, RubberSalad my current setups are FAR less powerful than this and run decently until I get about 30 tabs open in chrome so those parts being 'enough for the basic needs' I thought went without saying. I was asking mostly if it was all compatable and if I had chosen good parts.

ismaeljrp: Is there any partiular reason you recommended that mobo? It doesn't have the raid5 which is the first thing I narrowed my mobos down by because in the future I do want to run a raid5 setup (plus half the max mem). If I wanted to go with your case and psu, would it be ok to use my mobo and proc? Oh and one more question, was there a particular reason you suggested 2x4gb dimms? I wanted to go with 1x8gb so in a few months I could add in 3 more, but will I see significantly lowered performance by having 1 8gb rather than 2 4gbs?

 

[ismaeljrp]

Thank you both for your replies, RubberSalad my current setups are FAR less powerful than this and run decently until I get about 30 tabs open in chrome so those parts being 'enough for the basic needs' I thought went without saying. I was asking mostly if it was all compatable and if I had chosen good parts.

ismaeljrp: Is there any partiular reason you recommended that mobo? It doesn't have the raid5 which is the first thing I narrowed my mobos down by because in the future I do want to run a raid5 setup (plus half the max mem). If I wanted to go with your case and psu, would it be ok to use my mobo and proc? Oh and one more question, was there a particular reason you suggested 2x4gb dimms? I wanted to go with 1x8gb so in a few months I could add in 3 more, but will I see significantly lowered performance by having 1 8gb rather than 2 4gbs?

I chose that mobo for cost savings, but if you need the raid 5, by all means go for the Asus, it fits those needs. The case and PSU is perfect for your build, I love that case because it has a nice 120mm intake and it has front panel usb 3 at a low price, it is an Micro ATX case you might not be able to fit the Asus if it is ATX. I suggested the 2 dimms for dual channel, but really I just picked it just to give you a good idea on overall costs.

 

[ismaeljrp]

Revised :

This mobo is $ 10 less, and it is the same platform FM2 X85, it has raid 5 it is micro-atx. Same Ram as your selection :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A4-5300 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A85X Extreme4-M Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.90 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $269.86
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-02 08:04 EDT-0400)

And yes even if you were to stay with your CPU and Mobo, the case and PSU are still good to get.

 

[bambiboom]

cliguy,

I don't have anything to add to the conversation except that checking on Passmark Performance Test baselines, it appears your choices are very, very good.

The top rated machine using the AMD A6-5400 on an ASUS F2A85, integrated Radeon HD 7450D graphics, and mechanical HD (SSD's will rate higher) has a rating of 1619 with CPU=2742, 2D=566, 3D=612, Memory (W/8GB)=1112, and Disk=1320. For reference, my previous configuration of a Dell Precision T5400 > Quad core Xeon, X5460 @3.16, 12GB, Quadro Fx 4800, WD RE4 scored 1623 > CPU=4797, 2D=512, 3D=912, Memory (W/12GB)=646, and Disk=956. For contrast, the Precision was new $4,000+ in 2008/9 (the CPU was about $1,300). My cost, buying used in that configuration was about $900 and uses a dedicated, 1.5GBGB, graphics card that cost new about, $1,200!

In consideration of the cost/performance ratio on the intended applications, you've made really excellent choices!

The good old days of computers are now!

Cheers,

BambiBoom

 

[cliguy]

Wow thank you guys again, great responses. I ordered the parts about an hour ago and I'm really excited about finally having a machine for work that can keep up with me.

ismaeljrp, first off thank you so much for recommending the case and corsair psu, I love them and I'm glad you pointed me in that direction. I ended up also going with your choice on mobo/cpu to save a few bucks while still having everything I want.

I'll keep everyone posted this weekend (hopefully, if the shipping gods are happy with me) as I build it. Would anyone recommend getting anything in the meantime to make my life easier when I build it? I don't have an anti-static wristband or anything but there are no rugs here and I usually handle any parts with one of the anti-shock sleeve things that the hard drives come in. Is that enough? Am I likely to have all the hardware I need here except for hard drive rails for the ssd? (i know i have those around here somewhereee lol)

 

[ismaeljrp]

Nice! glad I could help and good luck with the build.

 

[cliguy]

Love it... everything went together real smooth... small scare when i thought i needed thermal paste but it was on the heatsink already.