Linux Mini-ITX rig upgrade, your thoughts please!

[OPSJono]

So I currently have a Fractal Design Arc XL as my case.

See my sig for the current rig.

 

But I'm looking at selling that and upgrading to this:

 

--- Edit ---

Changed my mind on the case I'll be using.

 

I'll be going for a Node 202 instead of the 304.

 

This will also mean I need a smaller CPU cooler. But I already own a Noctua L9i that I used in a 2U server a couple of months ago.

 

Everything else pretty much remains the same.

 

But I will need to velcro two of my SSD's to the outside of the drive cage because the case only natively supports 2 SSDs.

 

New list: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/vjhdhM

 

 

--- /Edit ---

Reasoning:

 

My current CPU doesn't support VT-d for device passthrough in KVM. (Virtualisation software in Ubuntu).

 

And I've been wanting to down-size my PC for about a year now.

 

--------------

 

Things like the GPU and SSD's and case fan(s) I already own, so I don't need to factor them into the cost as they don't need an upgrade.

Honestly my EVGA GTX 670 2GB still holds up very well in every game I play. - GTA, Rocket League, CoH2, CS:GO, and a few others.

 

So I just need the platform and CPU upgrade to gain the VT-d features.

 

--------------

 

Why VT-d?

 

I want to run Ubuntu as my main OS, and have a Windows 8.1 Enterprise environment in a contained virtual machine. But I will need full GPU passthrough support so that I can play games using the full power of the GPU.

 

--------------

 

I would like thoughts on the case more than anything, I've heard good things about the 304, and I'm sure Linus did a video on it a while ago?

 

But I'm not so familiar with the Mini-ITX space.

 

Also if there are any better coolers I could go with? - I would prefer air cooling over water cooling.

 

Any questions/thought please let me know below!

[TheSLSAMG]

The Node 304, coming from an owner, is an alright case. The HDD/SSD mounts aren't the greatest and you will want a modular PSU (and a short one at that), it's a good case to pack a lot of power into a small package. The Core 500 is awesome as well if you want to go with an AIO.

[PlayStation 2]

eww the 6700k

why not just d0 it

[Bittenfleax]

@OPSJono Why not dual boot drive? OS on each (or one)? 

[FuzzyYellow]

@OPSJono Why not dual boot drive? OS on each (or one)? 

cuz linux, and convenience.

[OPSJono]

@OPSJono Why not dual boot drive? OS on each (or one)? 

 

I don't want to be dual booting.

 

Just the hassle of having to restart everytime just to play a game on Windows.

 

I would rather just boot up a VM, play the game, then shut it down/leave it running in the background whatever and carry on with Ubuntu.

 

Plus it's also a bit of a technical exercise for me to get this working as it's not the simplest of things. But I like a challenge and I want to use Linux more and more.

 

But Windoze is needed for quite a few of the games I play on a daily basis.

 

 

The Node 304, coming from an owner, is an alright case. The HDD/SSD mounts aren't the greatest and you will want a modular PSU (and a short one at that), it's a good case to pack a lot of power into a small package. The Core 500 is awesome as well if you want to go with an AIO.

 

Yeah I have a modular SFX power supply in mind.

 

I will only have 3 or 4 SSD's in this system, so hopefully I should be alright with mounts!

[OPSJono]

eww the 6700k

why not just d0 it

I don't get what you mean.

Sorry.

 

 

cuz linux, and convenience.

 

Yep. This ^

 

I use Ubuntu 15.04 headless every day for servers.

 

And I want to get into the desktop space for Ubuntu as well. But Gaming is a thing we still need Windows for hence the challenge of a VM with GPU passthrough would be my ideal solution.

[Bittenfleax]

I don't want to be dual booting.

 

Just the hassle of having to restart everytime just to play a game on Windows.

 

I would rather just boot up a VM, play the game, then shut it down/leave it running in the background whatever and carry on with Ubuntu.

 

Plus it's also a bit of a technical exercise for me to get this working as it's not the simplest of things. But I like a challenge and I want to use Linux more and more.

 

But Windoze is needed for quite a few of the games I play on a daily basis.

 

 

 

Yeah I have a modular SFX power supply in mind.

 

I will only have 3 or 4 SSD's in this system, so hopefully I should be alright with mounts!

"Only 3 or 4". lol

 

Yeah fair enough. I understand. 

[OPSJono]

"Only 3 or 4". lol

 

Yeah fair enough. I understand. 

 

Yeah haha!

 

Because:

Samsung 840 Pro 256GB: Ubuntu boot

Crucial 500GB: Steam/Origin/UPlay

Kingston HyperX 240GB: Windows via direct passthrough.

 

+ probably another 500GB soon for more games because the current 500GB only has 10Gb free!

[Bittenfleax]

Yeah haha!

 

Because:

Samsung 840 Pro 256GB: Ubuntu boot

Crucial 500GB: Steam/Origin/UPlay

Kingston HyperX 240GB: Windows via direct passthrough.

 

+ probably another 500GB soon for more games because the current 500GB only has 10Gb free!

Ahhhh nice. 

[TheSLSAMG]

I don't want to be dual booting.

 

Just the hassle of having to restart everytime just to play a game on Windows.

 

I would rather just boot up a VM, play the game, then shut it down/leave it running in the background whatever and carry on with Ubuntu.

 

Plus it's also a bit of a technical exercise for me to get this working as it's not the simplest of things. But I like a challenge and I want to use Linux more and more.

 

But Windoze is needed for quite a few of the games I play on a daily basis.

 

 

 

Yeah I have a modular SFX power supply in mind.

 

I will only have 3 or 4 SSD's in this system, so hopefully I should be alright with mounts!

An SFX unit won't really fit in there since the case was made for larger PSUs. You could probably get or make a bracket for it though.

[OPSJono]

An SFX unit won't really fit in there since the case was made for larger PSUs. You could probably get or make a bracket for it though.

 

I think I've actually changed my mind now on the case.

 

The Node 202 looks like the case I'll end up getting!

 

Updated list:

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/vjhdhM