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New linux dev machine setup - Thoughts? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I'm considering to build a new machine for personal use, but it's been a while since I've upgraded, so I'm looking for some thoughs about this one.

Currently I'm running Linux about 98% of the time, with some occasional gaming on Windows. Mostly normal desktop browsing and software dev work, hence plenty of RAM and CPU to keep dev feedback loops tight (Rust, JVM languages, web stuff, containers, VMs, the usual). One new SSD so far, but I have a bunch of 3.5" drives and one M2 I'll probably bring over from my current machine as well. Hence the case should support more than two 3.5" disks.

I'm not looking to upgrade the GPU at this point, I think my current 2080 will still be good enough to power the occasional game and my two 1440p 144hz displays for desktop usage. But I want to prep the system for an upgrade in a gen or two without major changes (meaning the PSU should have enough headroom and reasonably future proof connectors).

I don't care about RGB. Its acceptable if it can be configured to a dim white or single color as ambient light, but no LEDs are preferred if two parts are equal in all other regards.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's a gaming machine you've picked the parts for there, not a dev machine. Swap out the 64 GB of gamer's RAM with 128 GB of bog-standard Corsair for the same price, replace everything else with something that costs half as much, throw in a third monitor so you've plenty of space to look at code, make sure you've a top-notch keyboard, also webcam and microphone for those stand-ups with your team.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Thanks, I get the idea, but unfortunately none of this fits my usecase:

I've purposefully downgraded from three to two displays because I found that I didn't use the third one very much, even though it makes sense in theory. Just personal preference. Similarly I've went from 4k to 144hz 1440p, fits me better.
This is a machine for private use, so no standups. Professional work happens on my employer supplied m2 macbook. Which is one reason why I consider upgrading, I can tell that CPU performance has made a big enough jump to consider a personal upgrade as well. An AT2020 USB is already here and my current periphery is fine. Webcam not needed on this one.
I think 64 gigs is already future proofing it considerably, but I would use it regularly enought to make it worth my while (currently on 32, gotten close a few times). 128 gigs I can't foresee ever using. But should a killer usecase for that come around the corner it's easy to buy another set of RAM and chuck it in. Though I'm thinking about a different set to save a few bucks and spend them on something else. Arguably low timing RAMs are not as critical here, you're right about that.