Build eval for a Linux workstation

[Chicharron]

I need a little help finalizing a build. This is intended to be a Linux workstation PC that's going to be rack mounted in a 4U case.

 

The use case for this is a heavy multitasking workstation. I do a lot of freelance work that covers most of the spectrum of computer work and I need something that's not going to stutter if I have a heavy load on it. I have a five monitor array now and I use all five screens regularly.

 

The video card needs at least two HDMI and one DisplayPort outputs.

 

My goal is to keep the budget under $1,500.

 

PCPartPicker part list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/gTnYHh
Price breakdown by merchant: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/gTnYHh/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor  ($364.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master - Hyper 212X Dual Fan 82.9 CFM CPU Cooler  ($32.22 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI - Z370-A PRO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($109.23 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill - Trident Z 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-4000 Memory  ($251.99 @ Newegg Business)
Storage: Samsung - 860 Evo 1TB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($279.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($108.99 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1050 2GB Windforce OC Video Card  ($159.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair - CX (2017) 450W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($23.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1331.38

[KarathKasun]

Something with more cores for multitasking TBH.  2700X would likely be a bit better for your use case.

[Swealteek]

ram can be cheaper 

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/mc98TW/team-vulcan-16gb-2-x-8gb-ddr4-2400-memory-tlred416g2400hc14dc01

[theklax]

What kind of workload? If you're asking about a workstation this is an important question...

 

Consider, will 16Gb be sufficient?

Are you running some kind of virtualisation? If so would six powerful cores be better than 8+ lower-clocked cores?

 

Perhaps you might be better served by an admin box and some kind of server running a hyper-visor, especially since you've presumably already got a rack. Food for thought anyway....

[Chicharron]

The workload varies. Sometimes it's sorting through a load of documents and having twenty or thirty PDFs open at once, sometimes it's having fifty internet windows open at once, sometimes it's running specialized software, sometimes it's copying a load of things to storage media for distribution or backups, sometimes it's editing pictures, it really depends on what I have to do that day and I usually do my work listening to music or playing a video (either streaming or saved) on one monitor.

 

The rack mount is more for space saving than it is because I have servers already. I have several other machines that I'm migrating to rack mount cases because I'm tired of juggling four or five different desktop cases. I don't actually do much with servers.

[theklax]

4 minutes ago, Chicharron said:

The workload varies. Sometimes it's sorting through a load of documents and having twenty or thirty PDFs open at once, sometimes it's having fifty internet windows open at once, sometimes it's running specialized software, sometimes it's copying a load of things to storage media for distribution or backups, sometimes it's editing pictures, it really depends on what I have to do that day and I usually do my work listening to music or playing a video (either streaming or saved) on one monitor.

 

The rack mount is more for space saving than it is because I have servers already. I have several other machines that I'm migrating to rack mount cases because I'm tired of juggling four or five different desktop cases. I don't actually do much with servers.

With the exception of not knowing what "specialised software" is an 8700/16Gb is plenty sufficient; to be honest it doesn't even really sound like a workstation load....  Unless you can point me to specific examples of things that may require additional compute cycles or memory go with the above I'd say.

 

If you're juggling around that many machines I'd strongly consider the virtualisation route for the future. Save yourself some hardware/electricity costs.

 

My 2c

[LienusLateTips]

30 minutes ago, Chicharron said:

The workload varies. Sometimes it's sorting through a load of documents and having twenty or thirty PDFs open at once, sometimes it's having fifty internet windows open at once, sometimes it's running specialized software, sometimes it's copying a load of things to storage media for distribution or backups, sometimes it's editing pictures, it really depends on what I have to do that day and I usually do my work listening to music or playing a video (either streaming or saved) on one monitor.

 

The rack mount is more for space saving than it is because I have servers already. I have several other machines that I'm migrating to rack mount cases because I'm tired of juggling four or five different desktop cases. I don't actually do much with servers.

Definitely 2700/2700X for you. Boards are cheaper too.