Linux Server Build Help/Questions

[mrodg1]

Hello,

 

A friend of mine wants me to spec out and build a Linux server/desktop combo machine for him and I am not quite sure where to start.

 

He is a professor, but is wanting a computer of his own instead of run by campus IT. He wants it to be able to run well with 3-4 students hitting it up for data at a time, as well as to be a regular computer interface so that it can be used for image processing. The budget is $1000, +$250 extra if absolutely necessary and doesn't need to include peripherals. 

 

He wants it similar to another professor's Linux server that is using a standard desktop mobo, 32gb of RAM, a 2.4 GHz 8-core Xeon, and then 2tb of storage and a 250/500gb ssd boot drive. He will want some sort of graphics card for image processing as well.

 

Essentially, I am not sure what sort of components to get for it and how to set it up as a linux server and regular linux desktop at the same time and using these components; so, I am looking for input, component suggestions etc to help out with this.

 

Thank you for your time,

--mrodg1

[manikyath]

the question kinda is what *exactly* are they doing?

 

if the students hitting it up for data is just access to files over the network, that can pretty much be ignored in terms of specs. if we're talking a big database... well

 

if image processing means showing youtube videos and the like, same applies as before, if it means "photoshopping" (or similar prorgams) large images, or even 3D models or videos.. things get more complex.

[mrodg1]

11 minutes ago, manikyath said:

the question kinda is what *exactly* are they doing?

 

if the students hitting it up for data is just access to files over the network, that can pretty much be ignored in terms of specs. if we're talking a big database... well

 

if image processing means showing youtube videos and the like, same applies as before, if it means "photoshopping" (or similar prorgams) large images, or even 3D models or videos.. things get more complex.

I do believe it is going to be a fairly large database. I'm just going off of all of the information I've been able to get. I've gotten somewhat vague responses on it. Ha ha.

 

Image processing means running through hill-shades, digital elevation models, and aerial imagery (among other intensify statistical image processing and data building within QGIS. So, I believe it is on the more complex end of things.

[manikyath]

1 minute ago, mrodg1 said:

I do believe it is going to be a fairly large database. I'm just going off of all of the information I've been able to get. I've gotten somewhat vague responses on it. Ha ha.

 

Image processing means running through hill-shades, digital elevation models, and aerial imagery (among other intensify statistical image processing and data building within QGIS. So, I believe it is on the more complex end of things.

any info on if that second half is gpu accelerated or not? (and if it requires amd/nvidia, and workstation cards or not?)

[mrodg1]

11 minutes ago, manikyath said:

any info on if that second half is gpu accelerated or not? (and if it requires amd/nvidia, and workstation cards or not?)

I don't think it has to be; but, I think gpu acceleration will help some of these processes in terms of speed. They could probably get by without it. I think having it is a bonus and if it fits into the budget then he wants it.

[manikyath]

2 minutes ago, mrodg1 said:

I don't think it has to be; but, I think gpu acceleration will help some of these processes in terms of speed. They could probably get by without it. I think having it is a bonus and if it fits into the budget then he wants it.

i meant more so "do those image programs have the capability of using the gpu for the heavy work, over the CPU"

[mrodg1]

1 minute ago, manikyath said:

i meant more so "do those image programs have the capability of using the gpu for the heavy work, over the CPU"

Ooh, I got ya. I have no idea on that and I doubt he knows either. I think it is something he is hoping would work; hence the benefit of getting a good graphics card; but in practical use, I have no idea if it can actually do that.

[manikyath]

1 minute ago, mrodg1 said:

Ooh, I got ya. I have no idea on that and I doubt he knows either. I think it is something he is hoping would work; hence the benefit of getting a good graphics card; but in practical use, I have no idea if it can actually do that.

then i'd just pump all the money into a beastly cpu, and either run off of integrated or some kind of cheapo gpu.

 

what kind of displays will he be hooking up to this? (resolution and connector type)

[mrodg1]

1 minute ago, manikyath said:

then i'd just pump all the money into a beastly cpu, and either run off of integrated or some kind of cheapo gpu.

 

what kind of displays will he be hooking up to this? (resolution and connector type)

Either 1 or 2 generic Dell 1080p monitors; probably VGA even though I've suggested DVI - it is basically whatever the campus supplies him at that point though.

[manikyath]

9 minutes ago, mrodg1 said:

Either 1 or 2 generic Dell 1080p monitors; probably VGA even though I've suggested DVI - it is basically whatever the campus supplies him at that point though.

from a quick look at pcpartpicker, the other prof's system seems to fit just nice within budget, maybe just a "copy" of that?

[mrodg1]

41 minutes ago, manikyath said:

from a quick look at pcpartpicker, the other prof's system seems to fit just nice within budget, maybe just a "copy" of that?

That is what I was thinking for the most part; but, I needed to be sure those components and stuff would work for what he wanted. I believe a graphics card may fit into the build as well, budget wise... not completely sure. Thanks for the help.

[manikyath]

2 minutes ago, mrodg1 said:

That is what I was thinking for the most part; but, I needed to be sure those components and stuff would work for what he wanted. I believe a graphics card may fit into the build as well, budget wise... not completely sure. Thanks for the help.

well, certainly in a school enviroment consistency is a considerable factor, both profs having the same machine means they can teach class in the same way.

[mrodg1]

1 minute ago, manikyath said:

well, certainly in a school enviroment consistency is a considerable factor, both profs having the same machine means they can teach class in the same way.

Yeah; they are in different departments and are using it for different things though; but, it should work.