Is this a good build for Linux, productivity, multiple monitors? - Hardware & Software

Hey, some time ago I [thread=906334]asked Facepunch[/thread] to build me a computer. That was all fine and dandy but it's about time I got another. I've already ordered this - I wanted to have the satisfaction of choosing all my shit - and all the parts came in but I just wanted to see if you approved. [highlight]Budget[/highlight] $800 is the limit that was given to me. I didn't want to come excessively close. [B]I do not have to buy[/B] keyboard, mouse, optical drive, hard drive, monitors, wifi. [highlight]What it'll be used for[/highlight] * Linux * Multiple monitors (3, maybe a little #4 on the side) * Productivity * Some Windows gaming (Probably just on one monitor) * I don't want LEDs * I wanted to go AMD to support the little guy (and so I can have a zillion things running at once) [highlight]Things I chose[/highlight] * [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231654]G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 2133[/url] $71.99 after promo code * [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113285]AMD FX-8320 Vishera 3.5GHz (4.0GHz Turbo) 125W Eight-Core Processor[/url] $159.99 * [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121642]Rosewill CAPSTONE-750 750W Power Supply[/url] $99.99 [I]- $15 rebate[/I] * [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121642]ASUS HD7770-2GD5 Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 2GB 128-bit GDDR5 Video Card[/url] $129.99 [I]- $15 rebate[/I] * [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121642]ASUS M5A99FX PRO AMD Motherboard[/url] $139.99 [I]- $20 rebate[/I] * [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139018]Corsair Carbide Series 200R Black Steel / Plastic compact ATX Mid Tower Case[/url] $59.99 * Windows 8 Home Premium with student discount $72.79 * One of the above had a $10 off promo code but I forget which [B]Total:[/B] $728.72 What do you think?

The PSU is honestly extreme overkill and you could have gotten a PSU that works just as well for under $50. Everything else is pretty solid though. I would suggest you pick up a Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO sometime to overclock your processor though. Or even not to, because those things run fucking hot.

It's all come in and is coming together nicely. But ughghhg! I can't seem to find my SSD I bought some time ago. If I have to install on a regular HDD I'll be pissed.

I notice now that one of my chassis fans is giving erratic speed readings. It rapidly alternates between a speed which is similar to the speed of the other chassis fan, and an over-the-top amount that seems like it is the maximum speed that can be recorded. I think the fan is actually spinning at the realistic first amount, but the reading is just off. [editline]15th February 2014[/editline] The motherboard has three chassis fan connectors. I had one in the first, and one in the third. Switching to only use #1 and #2 solved the problem. [editline]15th February 2014[/editline] Actually no it didn't

Hellz yes! I got Windows 8 and Ubuntu running on this bad boy, and it's got three monitor capabilities on open source drivers.

[QUOTE=Elecbullet;43929672]and it's got three monitor capabilities on open source drivers.[/QUOTE] Even though the OSS driver supports multiple screens, you're going to get considerably less performance graphics wise than you would with the proprietary driver. I honestly would have gone with an Nvidia GPU if you wanted to run Linux on the machine because historically ATI/AMD drivers have been crap on Linux.

I know that historically it has been so, but less historically, ATI/AMD has surpassed Nvidia for Linux usability. AMD has at least partially released documentation, and Nvidia has been quite unfriendly with Linux recently - including when they limited the official drivers to only support three monitors, when older versions supported more, to make the Windows drivers look better. AMD is more well-known than Nvidia for multiple monitors in the first place. They were first to do the whole three-on-one-card thing, with Eyefinity.

[QUOTE=Elecbullet;43930176]AMD is more well-known than Nvidia for multiple monitors in the first place. They were first to do the whole three-on-one-card thing, with Eyefinity.[/QUOTE] Matrox was actually the first with their "triple head to go".

well yeah but i aint buying no matrox shit lol

Matrox GPUs and video devices are great if you don't plan on using them for 3D stuff like games. They're generally a tad on the pricey side, but well worth it if you have an application that can use them.

In any case, I've got three monitors running smoothly on open source drivers under Linux, so I don't feel much need to change.