Buying a New Desktop for Ubuntu 9.10

[terrapin893]

Want some input and/or suggestions on what to buy or not buy and what to avoid.

I want to be able to play some games and run them decently, mainly Second Life and maybe some FPS's. Other than that I dont have any real requirements.

Budget is about $550.

[AlexZaim]

Stay as close to Nvidia products as possible (V-card,MotherBoard). They have linux drivers.

[WannabeFantasma]

A"Cheap" dual core processor
with atleast a Nvidia 9600? (think 9800's are cheap now too? )
2Gb ram

think that would handle ubuntu and all kind of games?

[mk1w86]

Are you looking for a pre built machine or are you going to build it yourself? :-k

If you're looking for a pre built machine and you are in the US have a look at System 76:

http://system76.com/

[terrapin893]

Preferably a pre made that I can upgrade later. Im looking at System 76, you think those Meerkat NetTops are good computers?

[terrapin893]

Im thinking this would be perfect. With shipping it comes out to about $548.

Ratel Value
- Operating System Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) 64 Bit Linux
- Processor Pentium Dual Core E6300 2.8 GHz FSB 1066 MHz L2 2 MB
- Memory 1 GB - 2 x 512 MB - DDR 2 - 800 MHz
- Graphics 1 GB nVidia GeForce 9500 GT
- Hard Drive 500 GB SATA II 300 Mbps - 7200 RPM 32MB Buffer
- Optical Drive CD-RW / DVD-RW
- Second Optical Drive no second optical drive
- Wireless no wireless

[t4thfavor]

The system76 is probably the most serviceable pre built you wil find (ever tried working on a Dell with all there propriatery cards...). If it were me I would be buying the Nvidia ION meerkat with 4GB ram, and a moest HDD as I keep all my stuff on a server.

Oh, and I would go for wireless on a mini desktop in case I ever wanted to use it as a media center later in it's life.

Other than that, I think you pretty much have it nailed.

EDIT:With a full desktop I would never settle for anything that can be maxed out with 4GB of memory, were hitting the point where 4gb is standard on laptops. If your going to replace this in a year, then whatever. But if it costs you 550 now, think of what it costs to upgrade later, and factor that in.

Then again if it's what the budget will allow, then so be it.


Disclaimer:
I have machines in active use that were purchased in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and none of them are even concidered slow to me yet :) I also have a c2Quad q6700 with 8GB of ram (I didn't have to buy this as it was provided by work)so I may be biased.

[terrapin893]

So I decided to go out to the local electronics store and pick something up off the shelf and see what I can do with it. I dont think I made out too bad.

Acer Aspire X3300 -- On sale for $429.99
* AMD Athlon(tm) II X4 620 Processor (2.60 GHz)
* NVIDIA® MCP78PV Chipset
* 4 GB of DDR3 1033/1333 MHz SDRAM (can go up to 8GB)
* 1 TB Harddrive
* NVIDIA® GeForce® 9200 on board graphics

Runs everything perfect so far. Future upgrades would likely be up to the full 8 GB of RAM and an actual dedicated nvidia video card (the 9500 looks reasonably priced about now). Otherwise it seems like a good linux machine.

[mk1w86]

Runs everything perfect so far. Future upgrades would likely be up to the full 8 GB of RAM and an actual dedicated nvidia video card (the 9500 looks reasonably priced about now). Otherwise it seems like a good linux machine.

I have a Nvidia 9500GT and it works fine with Ubuntu. As far as gaming is concerned, it is more than enough for older games (UT2004) but might not run the absolute latest games that well - you really should get someone else's opinion on this because I do not play many PC games. ;)

[d3v1150m471c]

Toshiba L305 satellite. I use that laptop and it cost me 500 bucks. Runs like a charm.

[davec64]

I've got the Athlon x4 620 in my system, so far it's been really impressive.

I encode video regularly and my old XP2400 use to take between 4-5 hours (1.5 GB ram). The new machine takes 40 mins (4 GB ram) when usinmg all 4 cores!

I love it! :)

[cascade9]

Runs everything perfect so far. Future upgrades would likely be up to the full 8 GB of RAM and an actual dedicated nvidia video card (the 9500 looks reasonably priced about now). Otherwise it seems like a good linux machine.

I'd go for a GT220 over the 9500GT. Its slightly faster, has better VDPAU support.