Need some advice

[GrimGargoyle]

I am a Mac user. However, for the purposes of learning some more Linux ins and outs, I would like to set up some Intel hardware.

I would like to build my own homebrew computer and I would like to know what the old pros here would think make a killer Linux box.

I don't need a high end system, just a serviceable box. Money is an object. I need something on the cheap.

Was thinking maybe something along the lines of a Pentium 200/128 megs/6 gigs. But what is a good cheap video card that works with Linux? What about Ethernet? All those little details.. What is the best machine I could build for about 300 bucks? And what Distro would be best to go with this system? Right now on the Mac side I am using Yellow Dog Linux Champion server. (And learning it the hard way... Not much documentation) Yellow Dog is Redhat based. Um... I don't think I like Redhat much.. Would Mandrake be a good crossover linux?

One last thing. NO WINDOWS ON THIS BOX. I don't do windows. I want a box that boots and lives with Linux with no windows dependancies. Please fill me in.

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[Gweedo]

For an ethernet card go with 3com. There is good driver support for 3com cards. AVOID at all costs Linksys net cards, seen many people run into problems withem.


For graphics, focusing on cheap here, probably a trident video card, or ATI. On your higher end Creative Labs.


Almost any mboard and chip will work. I would look at a mboard with chip at pricewatch. Also, I would go with AMD.


Go ahead with Mandrake 7.2. It is easily setup in most cases and configurable.


You can look up prices at www.pricewatch.com (http://www.pricewatch.com) .


If you have a monitor you should be able to build a low range system for 300 or less.


Good Luck. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/wink.gif


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Dubbie..Dubbie..Do..
Watch out.. or the Penguin will get You http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Gweedo (edited 18 November 2000).]

[GrimGargoyle]

Another question or two. I can get a cheap voodoo 2 card... Good idea or bad idea? I would also like some good expansion options.. What is a good case and mother board to do this with. I dont want bleeding edge, I just want to add stuff later like a CD burner and maybe a good tape drive or something for storage and archive stuff.

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[ph34r]

Anything more than a 166 with 64mb of ram will be a screamer linux box. Get a halfway decent video card too. A vooodoo3-2000 shouldn't be more than $50 or so nowadays, and they do fsckin great in linux. If you don't care to play games, then just get a 4mb card that is on the hardware support list (ati and trident off the top of my head are well supported). The hardware list is available at www.linux.org (http://www.linux.org) .

You may want to avoid mandrake if you don't like redhat - they are basically a updated and enhanced redhat. You may prefer something like Slackware or Debian, or a Debian based distro like Storm.

[GrimGargoyle]

I am still a gnubee. I just don't like Redhats goofy installer. And I dont like the way it refuses to cooperate with me when I try and update my stuff. Yellow Dog RH based. I have heard lots of good stuff about the new Mandrake through saying that it auto configs your system. RH based crap has failed to do this on my current system. I had to go in manually and set everything up. I still have no sound, and 8 bit slow video that I can do nothing to fix because i386 refuses to be installed. (Might be a Mac Distro thing.. It is still pretty beta buggie)

So AMD or Intel? I would actually prefere not to line Intel's pockets and further the Wintel empire.. AMD would be a better choice? But what chip on the cheap? I found a AMD 3D now 300 mhz for 90 bucks.. Good deal?

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[Gweedo]

I use Drake 7.2 and have no problems with rpms. Sure if you run into a dependency problem you have to go find it but hell almost every rpm is located at http://rpmfind.net

Ofcourse I have customized the living hell out of it and it flys like a bat out of hell.

Sure it is not as simple as apt-get but you can still get the job done.

If you do go with debian, take a look at Storm Linux. It is based on debian but contains more of a gui install.

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Dubbie..Dubbie..Do..
Watch out.. or the Penguin will get You ;)

[GrimGargoyle]

One more question. On the Mac, Linux has USB support and it is quite good. How is USB support on the peecee side?

[georgesr]

If you are looking for a good cheap machine to run Linux on go with a used E-Machine. They make a 366i and 466i which were only around $399 when new. You can pick them up used for around 200 bucks. They use all generic equipment and installing Linux on them is a breeze. They have ATI graphics, Crystal sound fusion audio, celeron procesor and Maxtor drives. I have four of them on my home network and the only problem I have ever had with them is failing cpu fans (they are very cheap). If you get one immediately replace the cpu fan with a good brand name one.

Originally posted by GrimGargoyle:
I am a Mac user. However, for the purposes of learning some more Linux ins and outs, I would like to set up some Intel hardware.

I would like to build my own homebrew computer and I would like to know what the old pros here would think make a killer Linux box.

I don't need a high end system, just a serviceable box. Money is an object. I need something on the cheap.

Was thinking maybe something along the lines of a Pentium 200/128 megs/6 gigs. But what is a good cheap video card that works with Linux? What about Ethernet? All those little details.. What is the best machine I could build for about 300 bucks? And what Distro would be best to go with this system? Right now on the Mac side I am using Yellow Dog Linux Champion server. (And learning it the hard way... Not much documentation) Yellow Dog is Redhat based. Um... I don't think I like Redhat much.. Would Mandrake be a good crossover linux?

One last thing. NO WINDOWS ON THIS BOX. I don't do windows. I want a box that boots and lives with Linux with no windows dependancies. Please fill me in.

[georgesr]

You have had problems with linksys ethernet cards? All I have ever used is Linksys equipment setting up home networks and I have never had a problem. In most cases, if I am setting up a system using Drake or Suse Linksys cards are automatically recognized during setup and I don't need to do anything else. What type of problems have you experienced?

Originally posted by Gweedo:
For an ethernet card go with 3com. There is good driver support for 3com cards. AVOID at all costs Linksys net cards, seen many people run into problems withem.


For graphics, focusing on cheap here, probably a trident video card, or ATI. On your higher end Creative Labs.


Almost any mboard and chip will work. I would look at a mboard with chip at pricewatch. Also, I would go with AMD.


Go ahead with Mandrake 7.2. It is easily setup in most cases and configurable.


You can look up prices at www.pricewatch.com (http://www.pricewatch.com) .


If you have a monitor you should be able to build a low range system for 300 or less.


Good Luck. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/wink.gif

[Wonock]

If you don't like RedHat you might not like mandrake. They have diffrent installers but Mandrake is still a rpm based distro. Ya may want to try SuSe, Debian, Slackware or Storm if you don't like the Red Hat way. Mandrake though, by far, is the most helpful distro for a newbie in my opinion.

Wonock

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Not everyone can be right
But everyone will decide!
-Face To Face

[PAEricksen]

I have also never had a problem with linksys network cards.

Adamant computers has a nice case for less than $40

If you want to build your own pc then use an AMD processor Duron or Athalon

I hate MAXTOR drives... they always fail on me.. all i use is western digital and I haven't had a bad one yet ( knock on wood ).

PAE

[This message has been edited by PAEricksen (edited 26 November 2000).]

[linuxraver]

u might wantto check out www.krex.com (http://www.krex.com)

i built a duel p3 intel coppermine 800mhz system with 256mb of ram a oxygen video card NIC sound card case power supply key board mouse hdd zip drive 250mb
32x8x4 cdrw 50x cdrom
for under 1800$