basic linux system?

[bluffer]

Hello,

I've got myself nicely confused with hardware specs for a moderate system, to be home built, on which Linux will be the only OS.

What I want is a system will stand the maximum chance of being compatible with the majority of distros. I understand that this rules out cutting edge stuff, for which I have no real need anyway. Something mid range will be ample. But where do I start?

Would AMD socket 939 be better than Intel 775, Pentium 4 say? I don't have to have dual memory or sli, but think I should have PCIe. Or perhaps I should go for an up-t0

[dave87]

939 would be better than p4, but conroe would be better than 939

Something like a 3700+ Single core or a 3800+ dual core would probably be the basis of nice system

[directhex]

whilst there are no issues with the chips themselves, there are some irregularities with some of the chipset features on modern core2 boards. best bet is amd right now.

nvidia or via, it's your choice. other details are as expected (audigy recommended, nvidia rather than ati for graphics, any disk)

[bluffer]

Hi Dave87,

See what I mean? Got myself confused and posted twice!

Now would this Conroe socket be compatible with Linux? It is very new, isn't it? Or is compatibility more a matter of sound drivers, and Sata drivers and Southbridges, etc, than the actual socket?

The single core psu would be fine, I'm sure as would single channel memory.

[directhex]

Hi Dave87,

See what I mean? Got myself confused and posted twice!

Now would this Conroe socket be compatible with Linux? It is very new, isn't it? Or is compatibility more a matter of sound drivers, and Sata drivers and Southbridges, etc, than the actual socket?

The single core psu would be fine, I'm sure as would single channel memory.

core2 is absolutely fine - it's the ich8 southbridge used on desktop boards that's the problem

[bluffer]

Hi Directhex,

Okay, AMD it is. Would it be worth going for an AM2 socket, rather than a 939, even though I'd most likely not be using its capacities to the full? I suppose I could upgrade later if the need ever arose?

It doesn't come with the ICH Southbridge you mentioned, does it?

[DavidM]

The ICH is an Intel southbridge I think.

I'm seriously thinking about going Linux dual-boot for my next system as well... but like yourself, I'll probably go the AM2 root.

[directhex]

i'm not aware of any problems with am2 - from a chipset driver perspective, there are no real changes

core 2 is fine if you get a board with an older ich7 southbridge (as found on most core2 laptops, or the imac)

[ikonia]

if your not looking for cutting edge, I think your aiming too high.

A cheap 939 board, AMD64 3000, 512 ram and a AGP video card with a sata disk would cost a few hundred pounds and be an excellent mid range system.

I don't think you need to go to all this AM2 conroe etc etc.

[bluffer]

Hi Fellas,

I certainly agree that the latest stuff is really more than I need. So if I went for a 939 socket mobo, can you advise which varieties have Linux compatible bits and pieces on them?

When I read up on mobo specs I get lost among Marvell and Promise and Via and various controllers, etc. No end of people seem to have Linux nstallation problems that I'm keen to avoid.

You are all being very helpful, by the way.

[ikonia]

Bluffer,

read through this thread.

It has a list of distributions and resources for them, some howto's and some hardware compabability websites.

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=88803

[bluffer]

Hello All,

Well, my stupid duplicate posts have actually worked very well. You have all sorted me out and I'm most grateful to everybody.

This is a nice forum. I'm sure I'll be back again in future.

[this_is_gav]

but like yourself, I'll probably go the AM2 root.

Tell me that wasn't intentional

[DavidM]

Ouch