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Computer Programming/Entertainment Build + Dual-Booting Help

Last response: in Linux/Free BSD
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February 19, 2014 5:15:39 AM

Hello Tom's Community!

I'm a student computer programmer, and would like a nice desktop to do my schoolwork as well as maybe watch a few movies, play some games, video editing, etc.

I want the following:

1. Lot's of RAM (will be using large programs such as Matlab, apache server, etc. )
2. Dual monitor setup
3. SSD and HDD

I'm thinking the following parts:

SUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge 3.5GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I73770K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CORSAIR Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 Desktop Memory Model CMY16GX3M2A1866C9R (Red)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE120BW 2.5" 120GB SATA III TLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Seagate Pipeline HD ST2000VM003 2 TB 3.5" SATA 3Gb/s Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Ok so what I need help with is:
1. The power supply unit
2. Anything having to do with RAID/how to configure my SDD and HDD
3. Do I need a graphics card unit?
4. Installing Linux from a USB
5. Anything else you can think of.

BTW, I looked here: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/262320-31-1500-budget... but it seems a bit outdated.


UPDATE:
I've purchased the following parts:

CORSAIR CX600M 600W High Performance Modular Power Supply
Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor
Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Seagate 600 Series 240GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (I still haven't finalized this, actually)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card
Lite-On 24x CD/DVD Burner
Penguin Wireless N PCIe Card for GNU / Linux v4 (TPE-N300PCIE4) - Windows Compatible
Penguin USB Bluetooth Micro Adapter for GNU / Linux v2 - Also Windows compatible


You can give me tips on SSD to buy, but I'm pretty set on the other parts. I'm having some confusion now about dual-booting. I'm looking to dual boot Windows 7 and the latest version of Ubuntu. I would install Windows first and then download Ubuntu and use 30gb of space for the installation of Ubuntu. So if I have 30gb space for Ubuntu, does that mean I have 210gb of space for Windows? And all the files I create on Ubuntu, will they be limited to 30gb combined space? If I decide to buy an HDD for storage, could I store files and applications from both OSes in the HDD? Or will I have to partition that disk as well??


Thanks in advance.

More about : computer programming entertainment build dual booting

February 19, 2014 5:37:33 AM

1. Get a branded 500W+
2. Motherboard drive controller should be in AHCI mode.
3. If your not gaming, the HD4000 will do fine, even for 1080 video.
4. Yes
5. Seagate Pipeline HD ST2000VM003 2 TB 3.5" SATA 3Gb/s Internal Hard Drive - pointless having a SATA3 motherboard and using a SATA2 HDD and Seagates have reliability issues.
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February 19, 2014 9:06:41 AM

BigM:

a) think twice about an SSD -- like you're getting married -- then buy two(2) enterprise HDD
b) over-subscribe your power supply: 700 bronze/silver watts
c) order Crucial ram from factory ... I have zero(0) failures in 15 years.
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February 19, 2014 10:45:08 AM

das_stig said:
1. Get a branded 500W+
2. Motherboard drive controller should be in AHCI mode.
3. If your not gaming, the HD4000 will do fine, even for 1080 video.
4. Yes
5. Seagate Pipeline HD ST2000VM003 2 TB 3.5" SATA 3Gb/s Internal Hard Drive - pointless having a SATA3 motherboard and using a SATA2 HDD and Seagates have reliability issues.


nss000 said:
BigM:

a) think twice about an SSD -- like you're getting married -- then buy two(2) enterprise HDD
b) over-subscribe your power supply: 700 bronze/silver watts
c) order Crucial ram from factory ... I have zero(0) failures in 15 years.


Well I'd be using the HDD in SATA2 and SSD in SATA3. and What's all the hesitation with SSD? Haven't they come a long way?

and as for the HDD is enterprise both of your first choices?
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February 20, 2014 8:34:52 AM

I think if you get an SSD you are doing the right thing by getting a top of the line one like the Samsung. I have learned the hard way not to get an off brand--I had a refurb OCZ fail within a month, and now a year old OCZ purchased new has been having problems. Depending on your needs reliability may not be a priority, but when you are spending that much money you do not want to have to go through the hassle of replacing and reinstalling everything.

The HDD you have in your build is designed for video recording (such as security camera setups) where the disk is to be always on and working. Thus it is going to be bad for power consumption and probably not last as long as a traditional HDD (eg the Barracuda series).
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February 22, 2014 11:17:54 PM

Ok boys and girls, I've removed the off topic arguments, let's get back on topic shall we.
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