Ryzen Build for a Linux PC for Programming & Web Development

[Nicole]

Budget (including currency): $500 USD

Country: United States

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: Ubuntu, Visual Studio Code, various programming software

Other details: My wife is looking to have me build her an inexpensive PC for her to run Ubuntu and use for programming in Python and web development.  I know she probably doesn't need a Ryzen 5 but she wanted something a step above the Ryzen 3.  As for other choices I went with the motherboard simply because it was the cheapest motherboard that fit the case, was compatible with the 3600 series with no BIOS flashing needed, and had two viable ports to drive dual monitors. (Will use HDMI directly with one and DVI to HDMI for the second.)

 

Other than perhaps going to a Ryzen 3 and maybe a different power supply, I don't think there is anything I could do to shave any money off it?

 

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor  ($199.99 @ Newegg) 
Motherboard: ASRock B550M-HDV Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($80.99 @ Newegg) 
Memory: ADATA XPG Z1 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 CL16 Memory 
Storage: Kingston A400 120 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($28.49 @ Newegg) 
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($47.98 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: EVGA BQ 500 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply  ($63.98 @ Newegg) 

 

 

 

[find_better_name_later]

You will also need a cheap graphics card because the Ryzen 5 3600 doesn't have integrated graphics.

[Nicole]

1 minute ago, find_better_name_later said:

You will need a cheap graphics card because the Ryzen 5 3600 doesn't have integrated graphics.

I have a GTX 970 that I can throw in it!

[igormp]

Why not got for a bit more storage, and also go for a NVME ssd? If she's running docker or doing stuff with nodejs, those 120gb will be gone pretty quickly.

 

12 minutes ago, Nicole said:

I have a GTX 970 that I can throw in it!

Just keep in mind that the video outputs on the motherboard itself won't be useable at all, you'll need to drive both monitors through the 970.

[Nicole]

3 minutes ago, igormp said:

Why not got for a bit more storage, and also go for a NVME ssd? If she's running docker or doing stuff with nodejs, those 120gb will be gone pretty quickly.

I have a 1TB WD black mechanical drive I was going to put in for extra storage. I had thought about going for a NVME drive but I read about Linux being finicky sometimes with NVME drives, and I don't think she would notice any of the speed increases from it.  She is using an old Macbook Pro with a janky off-brand SSD and she thinks its perfectly acceptable, so I just opted for the SSD to make things easier!

 

3 minutes ago, igormp said:

Just keep in mind that the video outputs on the motherboard itself won't be useable at all, you'll need to drive both monitors through the 970.

Yeah I guess overlooking the no onboard video made my choice in motherboard irrelevant in some ways, but the GTX 970 has more than enough HDMI/DP ports to go around!

[Fatih19]

You could go with a 2600 if you're so inclined on saving money. Technically still a Ryzen 5 and would be better in code compilation than a 3300X.

[igormp]

11 hours ago, Nicole said:

I have a 1TB WD black mechanical drive I was going to put in for extra storage. I had thought about going for a NVME drive but I read about Linux being finicky sometimes with NVME drives, and I don't think she would notice any of the speed increases from it.  

Oh, then it's fine, I guess you just didn't make it clear in the OP. I'd still try to go for at least a SSD with dram tho, even if it's 2.5".

 

Fyi: linux on nvme works just fine, I'm using one in my work laptop.

[Nicole]

5 hours ago, igormp said:

Oh, then it's fine, I guess you just didn't make it clear in the OP. I'd still try to go for at least a SSD with dram tho, even if it's 2.5".

 

Fyi: linux on nvme works just fine, I'm using one in my work laptop.

Yeah I didn't think to include it because it wasn't something I had to actually buy, but it was part of my plan. 

 

But if a nvme world fine I can probably Dave a few dollars on the board by going to one that doesn't have the video ports I need but has a M.2 slot, I don't think the board I currently have selected has a slot. Worst comes to it if I'd doesn't work I return it and just buy a SSD.