new build just for Linux

[blister]

Hi All,

I've decided to assemble a new computer just to use and learn Linux on. However, I'm finding the hardware selection rather confusing as it all seems to be in a state of flux.

I have no interest in playing games on a computer, or watching TV, or playing music, so I suspect that I don't need anything particularly powerful. At the moment I just write letters, use a small database, cruise the Web on dial-up and send emails.

Eventually I will get broadband and use digital photography but can't see past that.

So what components will suit me? Do I go for AMD or Intel? Will I need Ethernet, whatever that is?

One thing concerning me is the issue of future compatibility. AGP seems to be going out to PCI express? Will I need dual memory strips in future?

Basically I would like to know which components are most likely to be most compatible with the majority of Linux distros and any help here would be appreciated.

[michaelk]

In a nutshell an ethernet adapter is used for networking, i.e. connecting your computer to the internet and other computers. Most motherboards these days have an integrated network adapter in addition to sound and other typical I/O. It is much simpler to use ethernet when connecting to your broadband modem then via USB. Most USB modem interfaces are not well supported.

Check the hardware compatability lists for the desired distributions. In general leading edge technology will not be well supported. No problems with either AMD or Intel.

[MkIII_Supra]

And works great with Linux. I know I have been using it for 5 years (some components are a bit newer... but most of it is 5 years old).

MONITOR: Avidav LCD 17” Flat Panel
MOTHER BOARD: ASUS A7V8X-X
CPU: AMD Duron 1.2GHz Cache = 64MB
RAM: 1GB PC-2700
HARD DRIVE: 160GB Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM
OPTICAL DRIVE(S): AOpen 5224 CD-RW 52x24x52x / Generic 16X DVDRW
VIDEO: GeForce4 MMX440 with AGP8X 64MB RAM
SOUND: Creative SoundBlaster AudioPCI 128
MODEM: Best Data Model 56USB-SP/56USB-SPMAC/56USBP External modem (I never use this since I have been on high speed for 3+ years now.)
NETWORK: D-Link DFE-550TX
INPUT: Compaq keyboard / Inland 5 button with scroll wheel trackball
PRINTER(S): HP DeskJet 600 / HP Businessjet 1100
SCANNER: Canon LiDE 35

This may help you with some of the hardware. Essentially any CPU mother board combo will work just fine. All the other components listed work great!

[blister]

Hello Both,

That's just the information I wanted and I now know where to go. Many thanks for your help.

[XiaoKJ]

amd or intel? both are fine... linux won't care about that.

as abovementioned, ethernet is as good as a must if you will go online.
Your video card had better be nvidia, because that is much better supported in linux.
Things outside of the box should not matter much, unless you mean big things like printer and scanner. For printer, check out linuxprinting.org and for scanner, google on sane.

AGP/PCI-E? Are you really in touch with the times? If you read up a little, PCI-E *is* the next big thing. A good choice would be a motherboard with nvidia video embedded, like my Gigabyte GA-K8N51GMF-9. However, that motherboard is very new, and you may expect trouble with linux kernel older than 2.6.18, otherwise that motherboard is very good.

Looking at what you have written, you may need some help. You can read up on some linux books, search for other information and what have you. I'm not trying to give a personal attack, but I'm afraid that, with your linux hardware knowledge, you might get a wrong deal. Maybe you shouldn't buy now, and ask for the exact parts you want before ordering them online.

[psych-major]

Just out of curiosity, what is the real goal...to learn hardware building, or to learn Linux?
If you want to also learn hardware, the above posts are good guidelines.
If you just want a cheap PC to learn Linux on, try one of these:
http://www.geeks.com/products.asp?cat=SYS

The IBM desktops are especially well-supported in Linux.

[blister]

Hello again,

Yes, I don't have much Linux knowledge, hardware or software. I've been tinkering about with it for a few years now, without much success. It seems to me that the first problem is is to get a good distro or two installed and most I've tried just don't seem to like my hardware. I suspect that it's my old CRT, a TVM AS6S.

I did eventually find that Libranet coped with my stuff and I used it reasonably happily until I found that the distro was going defunct. After some playing around I found that Kanotix also recognised my hardware and I thought I was set. However I got into trouble and had to re-install Windows to be able to be able carry on using my computer.

This very evening I've re-installed Kanotix. I used the partitioning tool and shrank the Windows install and then created a partition for Kanotix. It took two goes but I got it in. But now I just found that when I re-boot I don't get an option to select Kanotix and because I don't know anything about Linux I don't know what to do.

I could go on and on about my experiences but I'm pretty sure that a second computer which holds nowt but Linux would be the safest way for me. I don't want to be without my online banking for too long, for instance.

I'm quite handy and there's plenty of info about assembling a computer on the Web. If I can just work out what components to buy for compatibility I'd look forward to having a go

Thanks for your replies. This is a nice forum

[psych-major]

Good luck in your journey!!

As for the dual-booting, and your particular hardware, I would take a look at either Slackware or Ubuntu.

Slackware is designed to run on just about anything and is particularly well suited to older hardware.
Here (http://justlinux.com/forum/showthread.php?t=139240&highlight=dual+boot) is a good post for getting a dual-boot setup with Windows XP and Slackware.

For Ubuntu, there are three main flavors:
Ubuntu uses the gnome desktop
Kubuntu uses the KDE desktop, and
Xubuntu uses the xfce desktop, which runs REALLY well on older hardware.
I currently run Ubuntu on an iMac 333Mhz with 128MB RAM and the performance, though not setting any speed records, is satisfactory.

As for a stand-alone environment, another trick is to purchase a separate hard drive for Linux, and physically switch back and forth between the Linux and Windows boot drives.

Anyway, I hope you find this helpful, and be sure to search for answers here. I wager most issues you will encounter will have been addressed at some point!

[hotcold]

Hi.

DJB has included details on how to build a Linux workstation along with photos ... cheers, hotcold

http://cr.yp.to/hardware/build-20060107.html

[XiaoKJ]

Cheers! With all the help given you should be fine!

[blister]

Hello All,

Well, the DJB assembly instructions are quite something, aren't they? Be hard to go wrong if I follow them properly. Once up and running I'll try Slackware and Ubuntu and will report back on my experiences.

Many, many thanks to eveyone who has contributed to my thread.

Best wishes to you and yours.