building a gaming computer for Linux Mint 19.2

[daverader1]

Hello,

I am planning to order hardware today to custom build a desktop tower computer and plan to install Linux Mint 19.2 Cinnamon. My question revolves around recommendations for specific hardware including those to avoid. I do plan to game on the computer, although perhaps on a moderate level. There are MANY websites w/ specific computer build component recommendations based on price range, games played, monitor quality and so forth. But, more specifically, is there anything I should be VERY aware of when ordering and custom building a Mint 19.2 gaming computer?

Thank you for any valuable insight you can provide.

Have a good day.

Dave

[daverader1]

Perhaps I should have more specifically mentioned the video card, but I am interested in opinions regarding all components.

Thanks.

[catweazel]

Perhaps I should have more specifically mentioned the video card...

No, because you've neglected to provide one single syllable of important information.

Budget, preferences for vendor, the games to be played, hardware planned, so on and so forth. Nevertheless if you have a few grand to kick around, get this:

Code: Select all

System:    Host: Z390 Kernel: 5.0.0-32-generic x86_64 bits: 64 gcc: 7.4.0 Desktop: KDE Plasma 5.17.2 (Qt 5.13.1)
           Distro: KDE neon User Edition 5.17
Machine:   Device: desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: ROG STRIX Z390-E GAMING v: Rev 1.xx serial: N/A
           UEFI [Legacy]: American Megatrends v: 1302 date: 09/02/2019
Battery    hidpp__0: charge: N/A condition: NA/NA Wh
           model: Logitech MX Ergo Multi-Device Trackball status: Discharging
CPU:       8 core Intel Core i9-9900K (-MT-MCP-) arch: Skylake rev.12 cache: 16384 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 57600
           clock speeds: max: 5000 MHz 1: 4171 MHz 2: 4481 MHz 3: 4483 MHz 4: 4403 MHz 5: 4393 MHz 6: 4397 MHz
           7: 4631 MHz 8: 4106 MHz 9: 4359 MHz 10: 4111 MHz 11: 4362 MHz 12: 4387 MHz 13: 4382 MHz 14: 4344 MHz
           15: 4612 MHz 16: 4396 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA Device RTX 2080 Ti bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 ) driver: nvidia Resolution: 3840x2160@60.00hz, 3840x2160@60.00hz
           OpenGL: renderer: GeForce RTX 2080/PCIe/SSE2 version: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 430.50 Direct Render: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Intel Cannon Lake PCH cAVS driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1f.3
           Card-2 NVIDIA Device 10f8 driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 01:00.1
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k5.0.0-32-generic
Network:   Card-1: Intel Wireless-AC 9560 [Jefferson Peak] driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 00:14.3
           IF: wlo1 state: down mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Intel Ethernet Connection (7) I219-V driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k bus-ID: 00:1f.6
           IF: eno2 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
           Card-3: Realtek Device 8125 driver: r8125 v: 9.002.02-NAPI port: 3000 bus-ID: 06:00.0
           IF: enp6s0 state:  up speed: 2500 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 9487.3GB (67.4% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: RAID10C size: 8987.2GB
           ID-2: /dev/nvme0n1 model: Samsung_SSD_970_EVO_Plus_500GB size: 500.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 39G used: 12G (31%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1
           ID-2: /home size: 174G used: 4.2G (3%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 30.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 0.0:56C
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: 0
Info:      Processes: 334 Uptime: 52 min Memory: 2506.5/32078.1MB Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.4.201) inxi: 2.3.56

[SpookyWatcher]

I recommend to stay AWAY from Asus motherboards for Mint installs for only two reasons. They are awesome boards but getting fan speeds reported in Mint is near impossible. If that is not a big deal then by all means Asus are great boards and that's actually what I have running in my two systems.

So I recommend Gigabyte mobos if that is important. Another reason I recommend Gigabyte is I have had much easier time with xmp and overclocking ram on the Gigabyte Mobos than Asus ROG boards.

But aside from that...without you telling us what it is your looking at.. i.e. budget wise, horsepower needed etc, we can't really help.

Another broad stroke of the brush. Get Nvidia GPU. AMD GPU on Mint is a pain.

[AndyMH]

I got one of these just over a year ago:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07 ... UTF8&psc=1
coupled with an intel i5-8400 and a GTX1080. Went with intel simply because I was worried about support for ryzen CPUs at the time. Had no problems with mint, drives my oculus rift okay.

[daverader1]

Sorry for being negligent re: lack of information.

My budget is $1500-2000 excluding peripherals and monitor, although that can go up/down as needed.

I do not really play the video/cpu intensive games like first person shooters. I'm more into "thinky" games, close combat the bloody first, civilization games, and so forth. But having said that, I do want a system that will be viable into the future for more system demanding games.

I really appreciate the thoughts re: components to avoid.

Thanks.

[Petermint]

Intel Core i9-9900K

Yeah, start with the cheap stuff.

I agree with the Gigabyte bit. They might be AU$10 more but they rarely have surprise problems.

I would start with twin M.2 NMVe slots. Even if you only start with one installed, you have room to expand. For CPU, I usually choose something less than the most expensive because they can be stupidly expensive and require enormous cooling systems. The $9999 you save by not buying the most expensive Intel chip can give you better disks, better memory, and better GPU.

The absolute fastest memory usually produces no speed difference from one or two steps down, where you can get double the memory for the same price.

On USB 3, look for USB 3.1 Gen 2.

[daverader1]

I recommend to stay AWAY from Asus motherboards for Mint installs for only two reasons. They are awesome boards but getting fan speeds reported in Mint is near impossible. If that is not a big deal then by all means Asus are great boards and that's actually what I have running in my two systems.

So I recommend Gigabyte mobos if that is important. Another reason I recommend Gigabyte is I have had much easier time with xmp and overclocking ram on the Gigabyte Mobos than Asus ROG boards.

But aside from that...without you telling us what it is your looking at.. i.e. budget wise, horsepower needed etc, we can't really help.

Another broad stroke of the brush. Get Nvidia GPU. AMD GPU on Mint is a pain.

Excellent points to remember. Thank you.

[daverader1]

Intel Core i9-9900K

Yeah, start with the cheap stuff.

I agree with the Gigabyte bit. They might be AU$10 more but they rarely have surprise problems.

I would start with twin M.2 NMVe slots. Even if you only start with one installed, you have room to expand. For CPU, I usually choose something less than the most expensive because they can be stupidly expensive and require enormous cooling systems. The $9999 you save by not buying the most expensive Intel chip can give you better disks, better memory, and better GPU.

The absolute fastest memory usually produces no speed difference from one or two steps down, where you can get double the memory for the same price.

On USB 3, look for USB 3.1 Gen 2.

Also very good points. Thank you!

Here is my current build list. Feel free to comment as you wish.

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/nWQQq3

CPU: Intel Core i9-9900K 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Scythe Ninja 5 43.03 CFM CPU Cooler
Thermal Compound: ARCTIC MX-4 2019 Edition 4 g Thermal Paste
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z390 AORUS ULTRA ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory
Storage: Samsung 970 Evo 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive
Video Card: Asus GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8 GB DUAL EVO OC Video Card
Case: Fractal Design Meshify S2 ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: Corsair RMx (2018) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply

This build places me at the top of my range, but I feel that it is very future-proof.

I plan to also purchase a Razer Raptor 27 monitor.

[daverader1]

My other option here is to go with the Nvidia made GeForce RTX 2080 Super directly from the Nvidia website, as it is slightly cheaper (by $30) and includes a free copy/download of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. On the flip side, the Asus is overclocked and appears to be a hotter ticket in terms of sales.

[catweazel]

Intel Core i9-9900K

Yeah, start with the cheap stuff.

It's getting replaced as soon as AMD release the Ryzen 9 3950X. I'll use the i9 as my server to replace the current Ryzen 7 2700X that runs at 5GHz OC. I have the Gigabyte board sitting, waiting.

I agree with the Gigabyte bit. They might be AU$10 more but they rarely have surprise problems.

Yes, I would recommend Gigabyte over Asus for general use.

[catweazel]

My budget is $1500-2000 excluding peripherals and monitor, although that can go up/down as needed.

In terms of bang for buck, you can't go past AMD Ryzen. They are much cheaper than Intel, and cream Intel in the processing power and speed stakes. If you choose the right AMD cpu, you can save quite a lot of money.

[AndyMH]

In terms of bang for buck, you can't go past AMD Ryzen.

Academic for me, I 'upgraded' over a year ago, but the the OP is probably interested. I went intel because I wasn't sure about support for the later Ryzen CPUs. I assume this has now changed, but you probably need a 5 series kernel?

[catweazel]

I assume this has now changed, but you probably need a 5 series kernel?

Yes, that's correct.

[daverader1]

What is everyone's thoughts re: the ASUS GeForce (Nvidia family) GPU?

Also, the CPU Cooler is quite large....is it possible to determine if there will be a fit problem?

[daverader1]

My budget is $1500-2000 excluding peripherals and monitor, although that can go up/down as needed.

In terms of bang for buck, you can't go past AMD Ryzen. They are much cheaper than Intel, and cream Intel in the processing power and speed stakes. If you choose the right AMD cpu, you can save quite a lot of money.

Are you recommending a Ryzen, say the 7 3700X or 9 3900X, over the above CPU?

[Petermint]

Local shop: Intel Core i9-9900K AU$799
AMD Ryzen 7 3700x $500
That is $299 to spend on other parts.
For my use, the 9900K max single thread speed is important. The 3700x has the advantage that power usage is so low, I can build a near silent computer using Noctua fans that make less noise than the distant sound of the surf.

[Joss]

The Ryzen 3700X is cheaper than the Intel you chose and close in performance; unfortunately the motherboards are more expensive, which narrows the gap.

[daverader1]

Local shop: Intel Core i9-9900K AU$799
AMD Ryzen 7 3700x $500
That is $299 to spend on other parts.
For my use, the 9900K max single thread speed is important. The 3700x has the advantage that power usage is so low, I can build a near silent computer using Noctua fans that make less noise than the distant sound of the surf.

The price difference between those CPUs is currently $160 (in the USA). As mentioned above, the mother board is more expensive and thus negates some of that savings.

[Petermint]

AMD mb is AU$40 more, leaving $239 to spend on faster SSD. That is 500 GB of fast M.2 NMVe SSD. Half way from a 1 TB to a 2 TB SSD, something I could use today.