Need suggestions on buying a PC for Linux.

[jadex]

Need info and input on:
1- Best places to purchase new/used hardware.
2- Preferred hardware such as modem/cpu etc.
3- Should I upgrade to a newer, different distro. (Currently using Red Hat 6.2)
I just need a basic box to learn Linux for a college student on a budget. :rolleyes:

[kozumo]

The most important thing of all is to get <A HREF="http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/other-formats/html_single/Hardware-HOWTO.html" TARGET=_blank>linux-compatible
hardware</A>. I recently got a AMD Duron and I'm quite happy with it. Though computers are so cheap, I could've gone for an Athlon just for a bit more.

If you live in Canada, I can tell you places where you should NOT buy. From a recent post, Best Buy seems not to be a good place to buy from, if you're in the US.

Future Shop - never buy from them, NEVER, you're asking to get ripped off.
Compucentre - same.
Where else? well pick up the Computer Paper if you're in Canada and go check the prices and go around asking for prices. Go to several places and of course pick the cheapest one. Warranty is always a good idea btw.

If you're looking for a basic box, then maybe the video card and sound card will not be your focus, so you can get crappier ones. RAM and CPU are very important, and so is the motherboard if you're looking to upgrade in the future. If you have an extra computer (which you obviously do), get 2 NICs or 3 if you want a gateway and they will be something to fool around with for networking.

If you need more tips for hardware, go to the hardware section of the forum and ask which parts to get since there are already linux users who are currently using those parts.

[bdg1983]

Probably would have been easier for someone to post suggestion if they knew in what area you lived. Where's 'na'?

Being from Toronto myself, I also find the best prices from the free 'Computer Paper' and 'Toronto Computes' and I usually end up shopping at Canada Computers.

I only shop at Future Shop when they have something on sale (without those damn mail-in rebates).

[kid]

You'd get great suggestions on what Linux-friendly hardware to buy from TheDukeOfUrl.org (http://www.thedukeofurl.org/). The site features the "Linux Buyer's Guide" which reviews particular products' (brands and models) support for Linux, as well as their performance under Linux.

You may also want to read The Unix Hardware Buyer HOWTO (http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/Unix-Hardware-Buyer-HOWTO/index.html) for detailed explanations of what kind of hardware to buy. It doesn't list specific brands though.

There's also LinuxHardware.org (http://www.linuxhardware.org/) -- "taking steps to make your hardware choices easier". And Spindl3top.org (http://www.spindl3top.org) -- "a place staffed by hackers where you could go to geek around and find help with free software, where you could build a box or get help modding your own box".

[ 25 May 2001: Message edited by: kid ]

[nick098]

The best place to find a new computer is
Lan Plus (http://www.lan-plus.com)
they only have 64 megs of ram and a 10 gig hard drive but they are really cheap and they hold up nicely. I have yet to get one but my school gets them.

[cga]

Just a couple of vague, generalized recommendations;

1. Do not get integrated video/sound on the motherboard.

2. If you need a modem, buy an external one and spend a little extra for a quality unit, such as US Robotics.

Also, check the already cited hardware lists, and before you buy, you may want to post again with a list of components to see if anyone here may have comments specific to any of your choices.

[jadex]

Thanks for the replies, I'll post the specs on what I decide to buy after I research the urls you suggested. Btw I'm located in Boone, North Carolina If anyone can suggest any local retailers etc. I can't wait to get Linux setup.

[nick098]

It dosn't really matter juist make sure you don't get ripped off

[Big_daddy]

BOONE? They sell computers there?

Former Tweetsie RR employee.