[svlug] a classic question: what PC is good, cheap and Linux friendly

[David Rosenstrauch]

On 03/13/2010 09:38 PM, Hans van Rietschote wrote:
> I think this is a classic questions by now, but one where the answer needs
> updating now and then.
>
> My home build linux server just got fried and now I need to get a new one.
> Rather then building another one I was just going to buy a PC, rip off the
> pre-installed OS and then put Ubuntu on it. My server does very little at
> home: it is a NAS for all the other computers in the house, a printer server
> and it does some light video conversion stuff. So my specs are:
>
> - as cheap as possible but with a reasonable quality
> - CPU: anything goes (hey my current one was a P4) so a one core DUO is good
> enough
> - room for 2 SATA drives (more is better)
> - DVD/cdrom drive (no blue ray needed)
> - 2 Gigs of RAM
> - low energy usage (might as well go green now since it will be on 7x24)
> - small form factor so I can hide it from the interior design flair ups of
> my significant other
> - low noise level (I need to be able to work in the same room)
> - oh I almost forget the most important one: Linux compliant! (I don't want
> to mess with strange drivers etc, just plain Ubuntu will have to do the
> trick).
>
> Any suggestion would be welcome. I know I can do all the research about the
> first points but I hate to bring home a system and then find out it has
> issues with Linux so if you have some real life experience then let me know.
>
> --
> Hans

You could always just buy a machine from Zareason, which focuses 
exclusively on Linux machines.  No worries about Linux compatibility 
that way.

BTW, you mention that you had built your previous machine.  I know you 
said you didn't want to build the next one, but I'm not sure if the 
reason was lack of knowledge of the current component scene, not wanting 
the hassle, or something else.  If the issue is the former:  I recently 
built a nice Linux server to replace my last one, and I think I got a 
great deal - a quad core machine, with a very quiet case for ~$400!  If 
you're interested, I'll be happy to send you the parts list - just email 
me off list.

DR