New job, new machine (OT)

[shivandeveloper]

This isn't really libranet related, but since I have so much respect for the collective knowledge on these boards:

I am starting a new job in a week, it's with a small firm and I get to select quite a few things about my hardware. They principally buy Dell, but I could probably get them to go for a HP as well. I want to dual boot Windows (yeah, I'll need it for a few things) and Debian (or maybe Ubuntu) on it.

My hardware at home is aging and I haven't built anything new in two years. I've never tried to get SATA to run in Linux, though I'm generally aware of how, and I don't have any of the new processor types. I have no idea what to choose. This will be a fairly high end programming workstation with dual LCD panels, 2 gigs of RAM, a DVD/CD burner, and quite a bit of hard drive space.

There's these pretty nice HPs:

Here (http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06a/12454-296719-296721-307907-296721-459226.html)

The equivalent Dells - specifically the 490 and 690 (Intel instead, obviously) (http://www.dell.com/content/products/resultscompare.aspx/desktops?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&a=7267~0~31747&p=dimen_1100~dimen_3100~optix_210l~optix_gx520~dim en_5150~optix_gx620~dimen_9150~precn_380~precn_490 ~precn_690~dimen_xps600~xpsdt_700~)

They were going to buy me two

Dell LCD Panels (probably rebranded, but who makes em?) (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=19074YR)

I have this

Samsung at home (http://www.samsung.com/Products/Monitor/LCD_Digital/LS19BIDKBVXAA.asp)

The samsung has a better gray to gray refresh (4ms), but, otherwise, contrast ratio is the same and the Dell has better brightness, etc. Are there any better ones?

Uhg, too many choices and I haven't had time to study up.

[danieldk]

Some general stuff I'd go for if I had to pick a new machine *today*:

- Intel dual core CPU (naturally it has to have x86-64 extensions)
- 2GB ECC RAM
- 2 SATA disks (for software RAID-1) to run Linux
- PCI Express graphics adapter

Dell offers Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 on some models. While it is probably cheaper for you to get a machine preinstalled with Windows, I'd go for one of the Dell models that also supports RHEL4, because you can be sure that they work well with GNU/Linux.

[jpaulb]

the Dell Precision 690 doesn't look that bad, linux is also offered. Find out if it can be ordered with dual boot, that would save configuration time.

only a guess, no expert opinion here

Paul

[sammil]

If you want Dell, then their small business division has a special on the 9150.

http://www.gotapex.com/

I've bought both my last boxes from Monarch in Atlanta and been satisfied. The only problem I had with the first was the video card needing to be reseated and then replace the fan on the same card. But they will help you put together a dual core with DDR2 and SATA. For example they have a WD 250GB SATA3G with 16MB cache for $80. Came with no OS, and I've installed W2K, Ubuntu 6 and CentOS 4.3 on that drive with no problems. Ubuntu and CentOS didn't even blink or ask me anything. Win2k only sees some 130GB, but that's without a special driver. Oh, MB is an ASUS P5LD2.

As for LCDs, I have a Dell 1907 in front of me. No dead pixels and very satisfied. I paid $290 with shipping, but I thought I saw $240 today. As for video, I chose the new low-end Nvidia 7300. Hardware info shows 512MB, but it should only be 256MB. Ubuntu helped me install the proprietary drivers. I have no idea about dual-head.

[shivandeveloper]

Thanks for the replys all. I thought about Monarch, but they wanted to order from Dell so I ended up with a mid range Core Duo system (940 series processor). It has 2 gigs of ram and I ended up with 2x1907FPs after reading some about them (I really like the Samsungs better but they are so stingy with their adjustable stands and the 1907FPs have those). Unfortunately it has a 512MB ATI card in it (I like ATI, but nVidia is better for installing various distros really) which I may have to stick an improved cooling fan on (I'm betting the case has inadequate cooling for a card of that size).

I checked, the series they ordered is available as an open source sale computer (but you can't buy it that way since you get a smaller discount on the price so it ends up costing more, go figure) so I shouldn't have any problems with most distros.

Now if someone will kindly point me to an idiots guide for setting up dual monitors in Linux...

[xmixahlx]

roll your own

you save $$$
you get exactly what you want
you don't have to uninstall everything
you don't have to pay microsoft
it is more fun :)


later

[fos]

Congratulations on the new job!

Ditto what Xmixahlx said.

fos....

[shivandeveloper]

For me, I would always roll my own. I can't get them to do that or I would do it in a minute:>

[sammil]

A quick Giggle (linux ati dual head) gave the following for me...

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/linux_8.8.25.html

So. Dual video cards or stretching the desktop across two monitors? Looks like there may be an answer here. Never done it myself. Supports RHEL which must mean CentOS.

[shivandeveloper]

Congratulations on the new job!


Oops, skimmed over this part. Thanks! I am very excited about it.