urgent advice needed for 100% Ubuntu-compatible desktop

[Xen]

M. Fioretti schreef op 05-10-2017 9:24:

> I badly need to buy or assemble a desktop with the
> features below, as soon as possible.

I can't help you much with Ubuntu compatibility for recent components.

And even though I'm a silent PC enthusiast, I can't readily give you a 
list of things to buy either.

Many SSDs make noise. It is more useful to get some quick list from 
someone or something for an Ubuntu compatible system and then check 
those components for silence.

I.e. don't start from scratch here.

But "fast and responsive" means you need an SSD, certainly in Linux.

The most renowned ones are the Samsung EVOs = good starting point. 
(950).

SSDs are not good for repeated, sequential writing. I would still 
suggest for data use a HDD, but that's up to you.

3.5" HDDs are rarely very silent, but 5400 rpm ones these days are 
relatively quiet if you manage to suspend them or provide some rubber 
dampers.

2.5" HDDs at 5400 are very quiet and do not need any suspension.
2.5" HDDs at 7200 (WD Scorpio Black) vibrate a lot and need suspension 
from rubber cord, which is annoying.

So first question: do you need lots of storage?
- get 2.5" HDD if speed for the storage is not important
- get 3.5" HDD if you need a LOT of space and order some rubber cord 
while you're at it.

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For cases, the most silent cases are still Antec.

The P8 could be recommended if you like an open case without the 
necessity of an optical drive:

http://antec.com/product.php?id=707295&fid=82

120mm fans are generally preferred over 80mm fans because of higher 
availability of silent ones, but the Minuet is worth noting:

http://antec.com/product.php?id=1144&fid=86&lan=uk

Do not buy Antec fans if you need extra ones.

The performance line started with the P180 is still there:

http://antec.com/images/product_detail/P100/BigBanner/3.gif

But seems overkill for your needs, due to the high number of harddrive 
slots.

I cannot recommend anything else
--------------------------------------------

Fans that people would recommend are:

- Noctua
- I can recommend these cheap 120mm ones: Cooltek Silent Fan 120

http://www.cooltek.de/en/fans/silent-fan-series/105/silent-fan-120-1-200-rpm

Silent and cheap.

If your motherboard doesn't lower fan speeds automatically or via BIOS, 
always make sure you have 1 or 2 fanmates:

http://www.zalman.com/contents/products/view.html?no=504

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Power supplies:

- Antec is not recommended.
- Corsair is always silent but high end uses weird plastic that I don't 
like:
   - RM 650i
   - RM 550
   - CS 550M
- But they are all modular or semi-modular, which can be nice.
- The cheaper VS350 doesn't have that black plastic but black sleeved 
cables with a mesh sleeve that is pretty nice and I would in general 
recommend against all-black cables but that's just me.
   - all of them are dead silent, including the VS350.

I cannot recommend any other power supplies, my favourite brand Nexus 
went down under and was purchased by an American company that only ships 
to America.
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Everything else has little bearing on noise here.

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CPU coolers:

- get Scythe Mugen 5 PCGH edition (because you get 2 fans for free) if 
your case can handle it (120 mm fan desktop case), or Scythe Kodati Rev. 
B if you need something really tiny.

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Motherboard:

- older = better chance of good driver support
- depends a lot on form factor for the case you choose
- ATX, µATX or ITX?
- all form factors are good enough for your needs.
- ITX probably more energy efficient
- Intel probably more energy efficient
- onboard video is all you need, preferably nVidia or Intel

CPU:

- any recent CPU
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> Side question: since I have to buy hardware, I'd also like a good,
> full size, silent keyboard WITH cable (no wireless) but WITHOUT numeric 
> keypad.
> Suggestions?

Apple keyboards are the most silent but they have very flat keys.

Any keyboard with raised keys is not going to be very silent.

But get one with low keys like:
- Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600 (does have numeric pad) but is quite 
okay.

This one has a full numeric but very slim and I have no experience:

http://www.i-rocksusa.com/products/KR-6421-BK.html