help with building new box

[ookami01]

hey gang

i am a soldier in the US Army returning from Iraq. Hopefully in a few months but i can't really be sure.

i was wondering if anyone had any ideas for a linux compatible computer. I am planning on buying all of the parts and putting it together and putting linux on it.

the only problem that i think i will run into is finding out which hardware to purchase. I don't plan on spending any more than 1500$ or so.

I have been reading books on linux and perusing the pages of Justlinux everyday on my MS laptop and i plan on using this laptop for MS stuff and for my college work.

sometimes what i do to figure out what hardware might work is go to a website that sells preconfigured linux systems and copying there hardware.

thanks for any input - i appreciate it.
take care.

[canon006]

Well if you've decided on which distro to use, some have hardware compatibility lists on their sites, Mandrake (http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/fhard.php3) and Redhat (http://hardware.redhat.com/hcl/), also you can check out these sites that have some companys and specific products that support linux linux.org (http://www.linux.org/hardware/components.html) and LinuxTested.com (http://www.linuxtested.com/linux_results.htm)
other than those sites, just search around and see if anyone's said anything about using a part you're looking at under linux. Good luck and be safe on your way home.

[arkaine23]

I'd suggest getting:

an Nforce2 motherboard (Abit, Epox, or Asus)

an Nvidia video card (anything above a GF3, and avoid GF4 mx's cuz they are actually GF2's) If gaming is not important to you, get a cheap card like a TNT2.

get 512mb of PC3200 ram (corsair is really good, so is Twinmos)

Get one of the following:

Barton 2500+, XP 1700+ Tbred B, XP 2100+ Tbred B

All of those CPU's will be capable of overclocking to about 2.1-2.3 Ghz or more. A nice way to get a fast system but save yourself money....

Use broadband, or if you're stuck with dial-up, get a US robotics hardware modem (they cost $50+).

Get a strong PSU- 400w Sparkle, Enermax, or Antec

Get an overbuilt heatsink and fan- Thermalright makes great heatsinks. I use SK7's personally with an 80mm fan that pushes 50cfm.

Get a big case that has room for at least four 80mm case fans. Larger size fans are better because they make less noise. Case window and cold cathode fluorescent light are optional.

Don't forget the little things like thermal paste (arctic silver 3), fans, and fan grills.

Lite-on makes great CDRW drives that are cheap.


www.newegg.com is a great place to get most of these parts for low-cost. I'd buy the fans somewhere else like svcompucycle.com

[je_fro]

http://www.linuxcompatible.org/

I've got the Abit NF7-S (nforce2 chipset) and it was a little tricky, but everything works fine.