To install the operating system you will need a CD with ``ISO image'' ubuntu-8.10-desktop-amd64.iso (MD5 checksum f9cdb7e9ad85263dde17f8fc81a6305b). You can order this CD from Ubuntu for free; or you can create the CD using a computer that has an Internet connection (to download the ISO image), a CD burner, and a blank CD.
To configure and use the standard workstation you will need a keyboard, a touchpad/trackball/mouse, a monitor, and an Ethernet cable attached to the Internet. Collect this equipment for later use.
If you have only one keyboard, mouse, and monitor, and you need those to operate an older computer, you have two options:
Prices can change at any moment. Use Price Grabber to find the latest and greatest prices. Price Grabber takes a search term such as BX80569Q9550 and gives you prices of the BX80569Q9550 from various warehouses; you can then click on a warehouse link to buy the BX80569Q9550. Warning: Price Grabber labels some items as refurbished; don't buy those.
Most of the components of the 2009.01.23 standard workstation are available from ZipZoomFly:
| Price | Component | Warranty | Watts |
|---|---|---|---|
| $282 | Intel BX80569Q9550: 2830MHz Socket-775 1333FSB L2-12MB Core 2 Quad CPU with a fan | 3 years from Intel | |
| $92 | Western Digital WD7500AACS: 750GB SATA hard drive with NCQ | 3 years from Western Digital | 40? at +12V1 (max for spinup, normally 6.5), 4 at +5V |
| $25 | Asus EN8400GS Silent/HTP/256M: 256MB PCI Express x16 video card using nVidia GeForce 8400 GS chip with VGA, DVI, TV outputs | 3 years from Asus | |
| $22 | LG GH20NS15: SATA DVD-ROM CD-ROM DVD+-R DVD+-RW DVD-RAM CD-R CD-RW drive (black) | 1 year from LG | |
| $8 | 7-day shipping |
The following components are available from Newegg:
| Price | Component | Warranty | Watts |
|---|---|---|---|
| $255 | Asus P5E WS PRO: Socket-775 1066FSB motherboard with audio and dual Ethernet | 3 years from Asus | |
| $11 | 3-day shipping |
The following components are available from techonweb:
| Price | Component | Warranty | Watts |
|---|---|---|---|
| $53 | Kingston KVR800D2E5K2/4G: 4GB DDR800 unbuffered ECC memory in two DIMMs | lifetime from Kingston | 10 at +3.3V |
| $53 | Kingston KVR800D2E5K2/4G: 4GB DDR800 unbuffered ECC memory in two DIMMs | lifetime from Kingston | 10 at +3.3V |
| $120 | Antec NSK6580: 12.2kg 465mmx210mmx472mm case (silver/black); one 1200RPM 39CFM 25dB case fan; 1.6kg EarthWatts 430 power supply (max output watts: 430 at +5V, +3.3V, +12V1, +12V2 combined; 360 for +12V1, +12V2 combined; 130 at +5V, +3.3V combined; 100 at +5V; 204 at +12V1; 204 at +12V2; 66 at +3.3V) | 3 years from Antec | 10? for fans at +12V1 |
| $10 | Antec PRO 92MM DBB: case fan | 3 years from Antec | |
| $8 | 7-day shipping |
Non-recommended variant: non-ECC memory. Make sure to buy ECC DIMMs. I have a separate page discussing the importance of ECC memory.
Variant: more disk space. If you have more money to spend, the hard drive is one of the most obvious places to spend it. For example, you can buy several drives, and store data with parity using software RAID level 5. (Parity is an easy-to-use automatic backup mechanism: your latest data is still accessible even if a drive dies. Three disks with parity can store as much data as two disks without parity.) Make sure you have enough connectors, cables, and space for your drives.