Linux Format forums

[gunny]

I'm planning on buying one of two systems:

$2000 System

1 x Asrock ConRoe945PL-GLAN Motherboard - i945PL, 800MHz FSB, Dual Channel DDR2-533, PCI-Express x16, SATAII 300, GbE LAN, 8-Ch, ATX

1 x Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6300 - ''Conroe'' Dual Core Processor - 1.86GHz, 64-Bit, 1066FSB, 2MB Cache, VT, LGA775 - BX80557E6300

1 x GeiL (DDR2) 2x1Gb DDRII 533, PC4300 Dual Channel Heat Spreader Hand Picked

1 x Plus Corporation (Black) Midi Tower, 2 x Front USB / Audio (500 Watt PSU)

1 x Inno3D (PCI Express) GF 7600GST 256MB 128-bit DDR3, SLI Ready, HDTV, Dual DVI, PCI Express X16 interface, FAN, 500MHz Core Clock, 1400MHz Memory Clock

1 x LG L1950T-SN 19'' TFT LCD Monitor - Silver, 8ms Response Time, DVI

3 x Samsung 250GB ''SP2504C'' SATA II 3Gb/s NCQ HDD - 7200rpm, 8MB Cache, NoiseGuard, ImpacGuard, SilentSeek

1 x LiteOn SHM-16SP6S (OEM) (Black) 16x 8x / 8x / 16x 6x / 4x / 5x /+ 48x 24x 48x E-IDE Super AllWrite, support Double Layer DVD+/-R9, DVD-RAM, SMART-BURN, SMART-X, ABS® mechanism

1 x LiteOn SHM-16SP6S (OEM) (Beige) 16x 8x / 8x / 16x 6x / 4x / 5x /+ 48x 24x 48x E-IDE Super AllWrite, support Double Layer DVD+/-R9, DVD-RAM, SMART-BURN, SMART-X, ABS® mechanism

1 x Excel 108-Key Windows keyboard with Multimedia functions-Silver Colour w/ Black Keys- PS/2

1 x Creative (Blue) Mouse Optical 3500 - USB or PS/2 connector, 3 keys, Unique Easy-scroll Wheel

1 x I will assemble the system myself
1 x All Components Covered by 1 Year or Manufacturers RTB Wty Unless Stated

$1909

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$1500 System

1 x AMD Athlon™ 64 AM2 Socket 3800+ (2.4Ghz, 128Kb L1 + 512kb L2 cache, 90nm) Retail Boxed Processor With Heatsink & Fan

1 x Asrock AM2NF6G-VSTA Motherboard, nVidia nForce 6100, HT2000, Dual DDR2-800, PCI-E x16, Int VGA, SATAII 300 RAID, 10/100 LAN, 7.1-Ch, USB2.0, mATX

1 x Plus Corporation (Black) Midi Tower, 2 x Front USB / Audio (500 Watt PSU)

1 x Corsair (DDR2) 1Gb Value Select (VS1GB533D2) 1GB 240-pin XMS2-4200

1 x Chi Mei CMV 937A 19'' With In Built Speakers Widescreen TFT (Silver/Black) D-Sub, 8MS, 1440 x 900 WXGA

2 x Samsung 250GB ''SP2504C'' SATA II 3Gb/s NCQ HDD - 7200rpm, 8MB Cache, NoiseGuard, ImpacGuard, SilentSeek

1 x LiteOn SHM-16SP6S (OEM) (Beige) 16x 8x / 8x / 16x 6x / 4x / 5x /+ 48x 24x 48x E-IDE Super AllWrite, support Double Layer DVD+/-R9, DVD-RAM, SMART-BURN, SMART-X, ABS® mechanism

1 x Black 16X DVD Drive (1 Yr Wty)

1 x Excel 108-Key Windows keyboard with Multimedia functions-Silver Colour w/ Black Keys- PS/2

1 x Creative (Blue) Mouse Optical 3500 - USB or PS/2 connector, 3 keys, Unique Easy-scroll Wheel

1 x I will assemble the system myself

1 x All Components Covered by 1 Year or Manufacturers RTB Wty Unless Stated

$1,479.00


I'm just wondering if their are any glaring non-linux compatiblites there? Also, can anyone recommend a decent wireless (PCI) card.

[ollie]

You haven't mentioned which distro you prefer - have you checked the Hardware Compatibility List for all components?

I prefer AMD but also recommend using a separate graphics card. This seems to be missing from the "$1500 system" which would account for a fair bit of the price difference.

Have fun - it's always a learning experience when using motherboards that may not fully support Linux

[linuxgirlie]

Gotta be AMD all the way.... And Nvidia for graphics
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[nordle]

I haven't bought an Intel chip since a p2-350, always AMD. But not now.

If you want to hold off for 6mths and get a quad core amd, then ok, but if your talking today, its got to be conroe. AMD messed up with AM2 IMHO, they are forcing me to change socket, and if Im being forced to do that Im getting the best chip I can, which is conroe.

But, you mention DDR2-553, DDR2-800 is available for about 10% more in price.
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I think, therefore I compile

[gunny]

Hmm...yes, I do intend to get a seperate GFX card, but it seems to have slipped from my list...

Is the quad core AMDs worth waiting for, or is the Core 2 Duos good to go now?

Oh yes, and I'll be using Ubuntu and possibly CentOS/Fedora at a later stage.

[nordle]

There is nearly always some other tech around the corner, although it seems as though cpu tech has been at a slower pace recently.

So your never going to be ahead of the game for long, the question's really break down to what do you need, want and afford.

Buyng a new home PC today, core duo is the answer, lower poewer, lower heat, lower noise, more performance, similar price. The christmas rush will be all about intel, unless demand so greatly exceeds supply that the price is kept high, then maybe AMD looks more competative, but doubtful.
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I think, therefore I compile