Need advice for a workstation
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I agree with JSOP that the video card and power supply are overkill and you could save some money with lower specs. The only other thing I would change would be to eliminate the spinning disk and go with another SSD instead. One more thing...do you really need 32GB of RAM? :)
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
kmoorevs wrote:
One more thing...do you really need 32GB of RAM?
As soon as you bring in virtualization, yes. If you need a couple of test environments, and want/need to leave them running all the time, 32GB is a decent point for a realistic mixture of Windows OS versions. 8GB won't cut it, and with 16GB, you'll constantly be shutting down/restarting individual VMs, looking for spare RAM. With 32GB, it pretty much becomes "fire and forget" - launch them, and always leave them running, so they're always available. I personally also need to have instances of MS's SCOM and SCCM, and those are memory hogs, so I'm currently at 64GB and wished my motherboard could take more. But until I had a need for them - I went from 8 to 16 then 32 before I found that to be the sweet spot. Of course this is all my opinion, YMMV etc etc.
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Get the largest SSD you can afford, 250gb will not hold your c drive.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity - RAH I'm old. I know stuff - JSOP
Mycroft Holmes wrote:
250gb will not hold your c drive.
Really? I have separate, full dev environments running inside 128GB VHDs, and have never had a need to make anything larger. But perhaps that's the key...? Not lump multiple instances of things together? I don't have anything running on the host other than necessary drivers. Since I never reboot it, for the longest time, my host OS was on an 80GB spinner - but with the VMs on SSDs.
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I need some advice as I'm trying to build a new workstation my current one is fading away and got all my data backed up. I'm just looking for a programmer/productivity machine with no intention of playing games on it as I have game consoles for that. I am planning to just write code and would like to do some virtualization to be able to test my code in different environments along with database development. I hope the link below will show the specs I picked out correctly and would like to see if there are any changes that would need to be made that would ensure I can do what I'm hoping for. Thank you for any assistance and have a wonderful day. System Builder - Ryzen 5 2600X 3.6 GHz 6-Core, Radeon RX 580 8 GB ARMOR MK2 OC, View 22 Tempered Glass Edition ATX Mid Tower - PCPartPicker[^]
I'd opt for a gaming laptop, fully loaded with SSD + external HDD, & 32gig memory - if possible. Even an used Dell mobile workstation with SSD & 32 gig memory would definitely fit the bill with great performance. I'm completely done with Desktops. Fiddling with SMPS ,UPS ,Motherboard& HDD problems. It's been a great journey with pure-notebook set up (with dock-stations)
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I'd opt for a gaming laptop, fully loaded with SSD + external HDD, & 32gig memory - if possible. Even an used Dell mobile workstation with SSD & 32 gig memory would definitely fit the bill with great performance. I'm completely done with Desktops. Fiddling with SMPS ,UPS ,Motherboard& HDD problems. It's been a great journey with pure-notebook set up (with dock-stations)
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The SSD and memory are the things you'd want to focus on. My "desktop" is a small 65watt box without moving parts; no fan, no sounds, by using an i3 laptop-cpu. Before you call that "too slow", remember that compiling is not just a CPU-function, there's a lot of disk-activity involved. When I bought it, lots of people would say 16Gb is excessive - and that's true, most people do not have a VM running with 4Gb dedicated to it. Spent about less than half of what you are proposing :D
Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
Eddy Vluggen wrote:
My "desktop" is a small 65watt box without moving parts; no fan, no sounds, by using an i3 laptop-cpu.
In my case, the heavy lifting (VM host) is done by a beefy tower system sitting in another room, and I use a puny Intel NUC on my desk (quiet, takes even less power than your 65W laptop, generates no heat) to remote into individual VMs. Although any old laptop would also do, in the real "dumb terminal" sense. The only thing that was important to me, for the system sitting on my desk, is screen real-estate - the NUC can drive a 4K monitor, and I also have two additional 1080p monitors running off of USB3-to-VGA adapters.
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I need some advice as I'm trying to build a new workstation my current one is fading away and got all my data backed up. I'm just looking for a programmer/productivity machine with no intention of playing games on it as I have game consoles for that. I am planning to just write code and would like to do some virtualization to be able to test my code in different environments along with database development. I hope the link below will show the specs I picked out correctly and would like to see if there are any changes that would need to be made that would ensure I can do what I'm hoping for. Thank you for any assistance and have a wonderful day. System Builder - Ryzen 5 2600X 3.6 GHz 6-Core, Radeon RX 580 8 GB ARMOR MK2 OC, View 22 Tempered Glass Edition ATX Mid Tower - PCPartPicker[^]
After all this talk about hardware, I went ahead and ordered a 500gb PCIx nVME SSD and an adapter (that holds two nVME drives) for my desktop so I can put my VMs on it.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013 -
After all this talk about hardware, I went ahead and ordered a 500gb PCIx nVME SSD and an adapter (that holds two nVME drives) for my desktop so I can put my VMs on it.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013 -
I need some advice as I'm trying to build a new workstation my current one is fading away and got all my data backed up. I'm just looking for a programmer/productivity machine with no intention of playing games on it as I have game consoles for that. I am planning to just write code and would like to do some virtualization to be able to test my code in different environments along with database development. I hope the link below will show the specs I picked out correctly and would like to see if there are any changes that would need to be made that would ensure I can do what I'm hoping for. Thank you for any assistance and have a wonderful day. System Builder - Ryzen 5 2600X 3.6 GHz 6-Core, Radeon RX 580 8 GB ARMOR MK2 OC, View 22 Tempered Glass Edition ATX Mid Tower - PCPartPicker[^]
well a bit late to the party but my 2 cents worth. graphics card: nah, I've just built a new machine very similar (except mines intel) and I don't miss the graphics card at all, even doing CAD. Not missed at all. m2 drive they run hot, and cause the chipset to run really hot, so 1. more case cooling - but gets weird coz too much cooling can be as bad too 2. skip the m2 [for now] ??? well seriously you will not notice the difference in your usage boot time difference on a SATA ssd vs m2: less than a second. And once booted: difference is none you will ever notice (except in SOME really hard core games.) m2 will likely reduce the life of your mobo, and during heavy compiles (on really large projects) may even cause thermal shutdowns unless you really have the cooling well figured out. skip the spinner, throw in a couple of 1TB SSD's (for SSD 1TB are the best gb/$ at the moment.) In a year or so you will see m2 daughter boards (with better cooling in mind) - already some coming out right now but expensive/proprietary - early days. could always fit a m2 later once they have the cooling properly figured out. (also predictions that SSD prices will drop by midyear plus m2 drives will get better capacity too.) Oh, next seriously think about installing linux and running windows in VM(s) - can run multiple copies, can take/rollback to snapshots, totally separate the dev env from testing... and linux makes good use of powerful hardware, windows not so much.
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well a bit late to the party but my 2 cents worth. graphics card: nah, I've just built a new machine very similar (except mines intel) and I don't miss the graphics card at all, even doing CAD. Not missed at all. m2 drive they run hot, and cause the chipset to run really hot, so 1. more case cooling - but gets weird coz too much cooling can be as bad too 2. skip the m2 [for now] ??? well seriously you will not notice the difference in your usage boot time difference on a SATA ssd vs m2: less than a second. And once booted: difference is none you will ever notice (except in SOME really hard core games.) m2 will likely reduce the life of your mobo, and during heavy compiles (on really large projects) may even cause thermal shutdowns unless you really have the cooling well figured out. skip the spinner, throw in a couple of 1TB SSD's (for SSD 1TB are the best gb/$ at the moment.) In a year or so you will see m2 daughter boards (with better cooling in mind) - already some coming out right now but expensive/proprietary - early days. could always fit a m2 later once they have the cooling properly figured out. (also predictions that SSD prices will drop by midyear plus m2 drives will get better capacity too.) Oh, next seriously think about installing linux and running windows in VM(s) - can run multiple copies, can take/rollback to snapshots, totally separate the dev env from testing... and linux makes good use of powerful hardware, windows not so much.
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Thank you for taking the time to respond. Very useful information to consider before my final selection of parts as still tweaking and verifying everything should work together before I pull the trigger on my purchases. I have thought about a linux OS just despite my username I haven't played with linux in a while and not sure which OS would be a good one to try. I have to look up John's posts as I know he's been sharing some tips about his migration to linux from Windows. Again thank you and have a great day.
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Always happens when people talking about hardware that others go I want to buy some too :). If you don't mind which brand do you select for the PCI nvME SSD as I'm reading up on those and tempted to get one.
Samsung - there were others that were less expensive, but most of those ship from China and take MONTHS to arrive.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013 -
Thank you for taking the time to respond. Very useful information to consider before my final selection of parts as still tweaking and verifying everything should work together before I pull the trigger on my purchases. I have thought about a linux OS just despite my username I haven't played with linux in a while and not sure which OS would be a good one to try. I have to look up John's posts as I know he's been sharing some tips about his migration to linux from Windows. Again thank you and have a great day.
Ubuntu or Mint (based on Ubuntu, but with a less traumatic UI change for long-time Windows users). If you want something lighter weight, use Lubuntu, but your system specs don't really require a lighter distro.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013 -
Samsung - there were others that were less expensive, but most of those ship from China and take MONTHS to arrive.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013 -
Ubuntu or Mint (based on Ubuntu, but with a less traumatic UI change for long-time Windows users). If you want something lighter weight, use Lubuntu, but your system specs don't really require a lighter distro.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013 -
Thank you for taking the time to respond. Very useful information to consider before my final selection of parts as still tweaking and verifying everything should work together before I pull the trigger on my purchases. I have thought about a linux OS just despite my username I haven't played with linux in a while and not sure which OS would be a good one to try. I have to look up John's posts as I know he's been sharing some tips about his migration to linux from Windows. Again thank you and have a great day.
Quick note: NewEgg has the ASUS ROG Strix B450-F on a 48 hour sale (40 hrs left) for $109.99 Edit: promo code: EMCERSP22 in case you don't see it specs are very similar, Strix has dual m2 (vs single), slightly better sound, but what I like most is it has HDMI 2.0 + DP versus HDMI + DVI-D - display port is far more common in monitors = more choices (esp if going dual screens)
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Quick note: NewEgg has the ASUS ROG Strix B450-F on a 48 hour sale (40 hrs left) for $109.99 Edit: promo code: EMCERSP22 in case you don't see it specs are very similar, Strix has dual m2 (vs single), slightly better sound, but what I like most is it has HDMI 2.0 + DP versus HDMI + DVI-D - display port is far more common in monitors = more choices (esp if going dual screens)
Message Signature (Click to edit ->)
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Mycroft Holmes wrote:
250gb will not hold your c drive.
Really? I have separate, full dev environments running inside 128GB VHDs, and have never had a need to make anything larger. But perhaps that's the key...? Not lump multiple instances of things together? I don't have anything running on the host other than necessary drivers. Since I never reboot it, for the longest time, my host OS was on an 80GB spinner - but with the VMs on SSDs.
There is a vast difference between the c drive contents and a development environment, all those other applications you may need/want usually get installed on the c: not just your dev tools.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity - RAH I'm old. I know stuff - JSOP
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There is a vast difference between the c drive contents and a development environment, all those other applications you may need/want usually get installed on the c: not just your dev tools.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity - RAH I'm old. I know stuff - JSOP
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There is a vast difference between the c drive contents and a development environment, all those other applications you may need/want usually get installed on the c: not just your dev tools.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity - RAH I'm old. I know stuff - JSOP
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I need some advice as I'm trying to build a new workstation my current one is fading away and got all my data backed up. I'm just looking for a programmer/productivity machine with no intention of playing games on it as I have game consoles for that. I am planning to just write code and would like to do some virtualization to be able to test my code in different environments along with database development. I hope the link below will show the specs I picked out correctly and would like to see if there are any changes that would need to be made that would ensure I can do what I'm hoping for. Thank you for any assistance and have a wonderful day. System Builder - Ryzen 5 2600X 3.6 GHz 6-Core, Radeon RX 580 8 GB ARMOR MK2 OC, View 22 Tempered Glass Edition ATX Mid Tower - PCPartPicker[^]
Personally I would stick with Intel chipset/cpu if you are going to be using VMWare. Agree with others re SDD, I would have a 250GB for your main boot/OS, a second 250GB for your VM boot/OS and then a pair of mirrored 1-2TB mechanical drives for data storage (both for real and VMs). As said elsewhere, no need for a graphics card unless you want to go for more than two monitors - an Asus H270 has dual video out already. An Intel network card for the VMs would also make life a lot simpler.
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You don’t need a 850w power supply, and you don’t need a video card at all unless you need dual monitor support, and even then you can get one a lot cheaper than the one you selected (personally, I prefer nvidia cards). Also, you may regret getting a case that has a glass side panel. Finally compare prices with Newegg. The same cpu on Newegg is $150.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
