[SGVLUG] The "ultimate linux box for 2009" -- what would you put into it?

[matti]

Hi,

Power Supply!!!
-------------------

I bought one of those Dell Deals last year,
and the frustrating thing is that the power
supply isn't powerful enough to handle additional
components, NOR old style power connectors.

I recall it being very challenging to find good
power supply reviews awhile back - things have
gotten better thanks to people building custom
gaming rigs. Still sometimes power supplies can
run $100+!! OUCH. ( keep an eye on slickdeals.net
as I managed to get a nice one for $30 .. newegg
seems to have a lot of those deals. )


Graphics Card /monitors:
-----------------------------

I wanted to have a 2 LCD setup.. SO it looks like 
I have to get a graphics card. Right now most
graphics cards I've seen can cost quite a bit $,
and use up a LOT of power ( hence the bigger
power supply ).

Ideally I was looking at a ATI/AMD graphics card
with low power consumption... 

the challenge, I found a card which seemed nice
( ASUS EAH3450/DI/256M Radeon HD 3450 256MB for $35
after rebate.. ) but then noticed:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16814121259

"Cons: Others suggested not buy it for Linux, but I did not listen. Ubuntu recognized the card, but I then lost the sound of the integrated sound card. Ununtu knows both the integrated audio device and the HMDI audio device from this card. Somehow, the HDMI port of this card becomes the default audio device. I could not find a way to disable the HMDI audio device, or set the integrated sound device to the default. When connecting to TV with the HDMI port, sound works fine. But I can not get the sound out from the iterated sound card any more, unless I remove the video card. Struggled for days, then gave up. I guess this card may work fine for Windows."

frustrating me indeed.... 

best
matti