[gentoo-user] [OT?] Advice on hardware

[gentoo-user] [OT?] Advice on hardware

[Daniel da Veiga]

Greetings list,

After my mobo fried, I decided to upgrade and buy a new one, with a
new processor, I would get an Asus last generation with an Athlon 64
as processor and the rest inherit from my previous machine (so,
compatible as far as I know).

I've seen posts regarding imcompatibility issues with A64 and Gentoo,
and heard about an specific division of Gentoo Foundation studying and
developing for the A64. I'm kinda a "stable" user, so, I'm afraid of
buying hardware that will still be tested and maybe encounter some
weird errors.

Any advice?

PS: Nvidia would be my choice for video, anyone have suggestions?
-- 
Daniel da Veiga
Computer Operator - RS - Brazil

-- 
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT?] Advice on hardware

[Andreas Karlsson]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 529 bytes --]

On Friday 15 July 2005 17.06, Daniel da Veiga wrote:
> Any advice?

I´ll give my 2 cents. Asus is to begin with a (in my experience) very good 
vendor. 
Even though you buy a AMD64 now, you are not forced to compile Gentoo for 
amd64 arcitecture. You could compile it for AthlonXP (x86).

> PS: Nvidia would be my choice for video, anyone have suggestions?

I have a Nvidia 6800 (AGP) and is extremly pleased with it. X has never 
crashed one single time during the last 6 months. 

Best regards,
Andreas Karlsson

[-- Attachment #2: Type: application/pgp-signature, Size: 189 bytes --]

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT?] Advice on hardware

[Zac Medico]

Daniel da Veiga wrote:
> Greetings list,
> 
> After my mobo fried, I decided to upgrade and buy a new one, with a
> new processor, I would get an Asus last generation with an Athlon 64
> as processor and the rest inherit from my previous machine (so,
> compatible as far as I know).
> 
> I've seen posts regarding imcompatibility issues with A64 and Gentoo,
> and heard about an specific division of Gentoo Foundation studying and
> developing for the A64. I'm kinda a "stable" user, so, I'm afraid of
> buying hardware that will still be tested and maybe encounter some
> weird errors.
> 
> Any advice?
> 
> PS: Nvidia would be my choice for video, anyone have suggestions?

Gentoo amd64 works great!  The main place you might have difficulties is with IA32 dependent apps such as wine.  If you need IA32 compatibility there is some info here:

http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/base/amd64/technotes/index.xml?part=1&chap=4

Also, for amd64 specific stuff, you can use the gentoo-amd64 mailing list.

Zac
-- 
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT?] Advice on hardware

[Daniel da Veiga]

Well, I'm planning on using cedega for gaming, so, your mail kinda
scared me (*LOL*), but anyway, there's always the choice to build a
compatible "mini-system" at another partition or disc with the
athlon-xp arch... If I ever plan on having a windows partition (I'm a
gamer, ratter prefer transgamer, but not all games run at linux) I'll
have my first tri-boot system :)

Thanks for the replies!

-- 
Daniel da Veiga
Computer Operator - RS - Brazil

-- 
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT?] Advice on hardware

[Zac Medico]

Daniel da Veiga wrote:
> Well, I'm planning on using cedega for gaming, so, your mail kinda
> scared me (*LOL*), but anyway, there's always the choice to build a
> compatible "mini-system" at another partition or disc with the
> athlon-xp arch... If I ever plan on having a windows partition (I'm a
> gamer, ratter prefer transgamer, but not all games run at linux) I'll
> have my first tri-boot system :)
> 
> Thanks for the replies!
> 

It doesn't even have to be on another parition.  You can have a 32-bit chroot inside any directory.  For some things you can use emul-linux-x86* packages to avoid a chroot entirely.

Zac
-- 
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT?] Advice on hardware

[Bob Sanders]

On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 12:06:52 -0300
Daniel da Veiga <danieldaveiga@gmail.com> wrote:


> 
> Any advice?

Yes - Get a 939 pin processor.  754 pin socket is going away.

Also, it's not just the motherboard.  If you are a gamer - start with the
Gfx card.  If you are going for one of the high end cards, be aware they
suck down 75+ watts - more than the cpu will.  A specifically designed power
supply for these cards is called for, otherwise you;ll be back here asking about
random compile failures, graphics lockups, corrupt file systems, etc.

To support the gfx card and the system, you'll need a power supply that
has a decent continous power rating, such as a PC Power&Cooling Silencer 470ATX.

If you want an SLI config, then the PC Power&Cooling Turbo-Cool 510 Express/SLI
is called for.

> PS: Nvidia would be my choice for video, anyone have suggestions?

Unless you have a specific need for high end, a 6600 GT works well with a smaller
power draw - 350 W power supply.  Here is a partial output of the Shuttle SN95G5 
that I'm running with an xfx 6600GT -

Operating System Information
  Linux 2.6.12-gentoo-r4 #1 Mon Jul 11 19:02:55 PDT 2005 on x86_64

Memory Information
  Total RAM  1025124 kB 
  Total Swap 1999864 kB 

CPU Information
  CPU 01 AuthenticAMD AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+

Bob
-- 
-  
-- 
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT?] Advice on hardware

[Daniel da Veiga]

Thanks, I did some research and I've decided to get a 939 with an
a64fx 3500+ in an asus a8n sli deluxe, I already have a 600w power
bestexpress supply, guess that will do the deal, I'll stick with my
old nvidia graphic card till I get money to get a new board (probably
pci-e), I guess all my games (I haven't played new games for a while)
will work decently, and as soon as I get my new 256mb card I guess
I'll have at least an year of game playing and a good general
processing ammount. I hate the idea of getting on-board sound (because
my SB Audigy will become useless) but I guess you can't run from that,
neither from on-board eth (I already have two net cards).

If anyone has any advices about the config above, let me know, and
Bob, it was nice to see you have a stable system running with your
config, it kinda makes me more confortable on changing archs.

On 7/15/05, Bob Sanders <rmsand@concentric.net> wrote:
> On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 12:06:52 -0300
> Daniel da Veiga <danieldaveiga@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> >
> > Any advice?
> 
> Yes - Get a 939 pin processor.  754 pin socket is going away.
> 
> Also, it's not just the motherboard.  If you are a gamer - start with the
> Gfx card.  If you are going for one of the high end cards, be aware they
> suck down 75+ watts - more than the cpu will.  A specifically designed power
> supply for these cards is called for, otherwise you;ll be back here asking about
> random compile failures, graphics lockups, corrupt file systems, etc.
> 
> To support the gfx card and the system, you'll need a power supply that
> has a decent continous power rating, such as a PC Power&Cooling Silencer 470ATX.
> 
> If you want an SLI config, then the PC Power&Cooling Turbo-Cool 510 Express/SLI
> is called for.
> 
> > PS: Nvidia would be my choice for video, anyone have suggestions?
> 
> Unless you have a specific need for high end, a 6600 GT works well with a smaller
> power draw - 350 W power supply.  Here is a partial output of the Shuttle SN95G5
> that I'm running with an xfx 6600GT -
> 
> Operating System Information
>   Linux 2.6.12-gentoo-r4 #1 Mon Jul 11 19:02:55 PDT 2005 on x86_64
> 
> Memory Information
>   Total RAM  1025124 kB
>   Total Swap 1999864 kB
> 
> CPU Information
>   CPU 01 AuthenticAMD AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+
> 
> Bob
> --
> -
> --
> gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
> 
> 


-- 
Daniel da Veiga
Computer Operator - RS - Brazil

-- 
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT?] Advice on hardware

[Jarry]

Daniel da Veiga wrote:
> Thanks, I did some research and I've decided to get a 939 with an
> a64fx 3500+ in an asus a8n sli deluxe,

I have 3200+ with a8n-sli deluxe, and I'm a little dissapointed
with that motherboard:

- terrible bios!
e.g.: you set memory frequency (ddr400), then change cpu-frequency,
and memory setting drops down to ddr266. It is almost impossible to
fix memory settings and work with cpu-frequency settings...

- layout far from being optimal
if you put long graphic card into peg-16x (gf6800), you will have
later problems with adding/removing memory chips. To remove/add
memory, you have to take out graphic card...

- 2nd lan-chip (Marwell 1Gbit) connected to pci (not pci-express)
why??? it is pci-express based mobo, so why 1gbit lan on pci???
btw, 1gbit = 128MB/s (+duplex), pci = 133 MB/s (single-channel),
so with 1Gbit lan pci must be pretty saturated...

- 2nd raid/sata again not on faster pci-express, but on old and
   slow pci! Why so many components on old pci???

- active nForce4 chipset-cooler terrible loud
it is some small cooler high-rpm fan without rpm-adjustment, which
I had to exchange after 2 weeks for passive Zalman.

Just my 2 cents. I have been using asus-products for about 7 years,
but I think asus is not the hardware-producer it used to be. Asus
still makes excelent mobo's for Intel, but its mobo's for AMD64
are... well, imho only "average". Nothing more, nothing less.
For the same (or lower) price you could get much better product...

If I would like to build a new comp today, I would probably go
with EpoX, DFI, Gigabyte or MSI motherboards...

Jarry
-- 
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT?] Advice on hardware

[Volker Armin Hemmann]

On Sunday 17 July 2005 09:38, Jarry wrote:

>
> Just my 2 cents. I have been using asus-products for about 7 years,
> but I think asus is not the hardware-producer it used to be. Asus
> still makes excelent mobo's for Intel, but its mobo's for AMD64
> are... well, imho only "average". Nothing more, nothing less.
> For the same (or lower) price you could get much better product...
>
> If I would like to build a new comp today, I would probably go
> with EpoX, DFI, Gigabyte or MSI motherboards...
>

I have good experience with Asrocks boards.

Stable, not too slow, very cheap - and it is a daughter of asus.

Their AMD boards are very usable.

A friend of mine has a MSI and a lot of problems.
-- 
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT?] Advice on hardware

[Bob Sanders]

On Sun, 17 Jul 2005 09:38:51 +0200
Jarry <jarry@gmx.net> wrote:


> If I would like to build a new comp today, I would probably go
> with EpoX, DFI, Gigabyte or MSI motherboards...
> 

Personally, my list would be Epox and Tyan.  Though Tyan is pretty
conservative, and the bios doesn't ever seem to work with ATI cards.

MSI used to be a lot better, but are about the same a DFI now, both
better, IMO, than Asus.

btw - my recommendation of PC Power & Cooling power supplies is not
because there are no others as good, it's that I've had more fails and seen
more fails with other brands.  When looking for a power supply, use PC
Power & Cooling as a reference standard.  Make sure the power supply
you're looking at can provide the same sustained currents on +3.3V, +5V, and
+12V as the equivalent PC Power and Cooling.  Also, insure the combined
sustained wattage rating of the +3.3V, +5V, and +12V are the same as the
PC Power and Cooling.

I've been burned more than once by believing online reviews of power supplies.
Sure they work, for awhile, most times, but put them in a real system and you may
find they die on turn-on.  Or worse, when the room temp is near 90F and the
system hangs a lot because of voltage sags.  

Or they can't handle the current draw at 90F and overcurrent.  Do this a few times
and then the machine never comes back on; because, the power supply just blew
a fuse - it has to go back to the factory to get repaired (yes, you can do it yourself).

Regardless, don't spend US$300 on a Gfx card then balk at US$100 for a power
supply.  You'll have the power supply for 3 yrs and the Gfx card for 1 yr.

Bob
-  
-- 
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT?] Advice on hardware

[Daniel da Veiga]

Well, that's a new advice on motherboards and power suplies, guess
I'll chill and read more before getting mine. I have been an Asus user
for about 6 years and not many problems, guess we all have to walk to
soyo's valley of death to learn more about mobos, I'll research the
MSI and DFI mobos for now.

Again Bob, thanks for the advice, that was EXACTLY what happened to my
power suply, so, I'm considering getting a new one instead of using my
fixed one, because it fried exactly in the conditions you mentioned
(and I feel better now knowing it wasn't my mistake), that cost me
some money and fried some chipset in my mobo, that now turns off by no
reason at randomic timed spaces (from 5 seconds to a minute and a
half) and that was the main reason for getting a new one.

Ok, I am far OT here, so, lets talk about gentoo, some of you have the
a8n deluxe, and I wonder how compatible the 8.1 sound, the lan and
acpi are with Gentoo, its my default system and right now I don't plan
changing it.

On 7/17/05, Bob Sanders <rmsand@concentric.net> wrote:
> On Sun, 17 Jul 2005 09:38:51 +0200
> Jarry <jarry@gmx.net> wrote:
> 
> 
> > If I would like to build a new comp today, I would probably go
> > with EpoX, DFI, Gigabyte or MSI motherboards...
> >
> 
> Personally, my list would be Epox and Tyan.  Though Tyan is pretty
> conservative, and the bios doesn't ever seem to work with ATI cards.
> 
> MSI used to be a lot better, but are about the same a DFI now, both
> better, IMO, than Asus.
> 
> btw - my recommendation of PC Power & Cooling power supplies is not
> because there are no others as good, it's that I've had more fails and seen
> more fails with other brands.  When looking for a power supply, use PC
> Power & Cooling as a reference standard.  Make sure the power supply
> you're looking at can provide the same sustained currents on +3.3V, +5V, and
> +12V as the equivalent PC Power and Cooling.  Also, insure the combined
> sustained wattage rating of the +3.3V, +5V, and +12V are the same as the
> PC Power and Cooling.
> 
> I've been burned more than once by believing online reviews of power supplies.
> Sure they work, for awhile, most times, but put them in a real system and you may
> find they die on turn-on.  Or worse, when the room temp is near 90F and the
> system hangs a lot because of voltage sags.
> 
> Or they can't handle the current draw at 90F and overcurrent.  Do this a few times
> and then the machine never comes back on; because, the power supply just blew
> a fuse - it has to go back to the factory to get repaired (yes, you can do it yourself).
> 
> Regardless, don't spend US$300 on a Gfx card then balk at US$100 for a power
> supply.  You'll have the power supply for 3 yrs and the Gfx card for 1 yr.
> 
> Bob
> -
> --
> gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
> 
> 


-- 
Daniel da Veiga
Computer Operator - RS - Brazil

-- 
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT?] Advice on hardware

[Volker Armin Hemmann]

On Sunday 17 July 2005 18:32, Bob Sanders wrote:

> btw - my recommendation of PC Power & Cooling power supplies is not
> because there are no others as good, it's that I've had more fails and seen
> more fails with other brands.  

ok, I do not now PC Power & Cooling, but I've had a couple of PSUs so far and 
the 'best' was and is an Enermax.

A friend of mine has Enermax too, reliable good stuff.
-- 
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT?] Advice on hardware

[Bob Sanders]

On Mon, 18 Jul 2005 02:56:58 +0200
Volker Armin Hemmann <volker.armin.hemmann@tu-clausthal.de> wrote:

> ok, I do not now PC Power & Cooling, but I've had a couple of PSUs so far and 
> the 'best' was and is an Enermax.
> 
> A friend of mine has Enermax too, reliable good stuff.

Yes and no.  The basic power supply is good.  However Enermax used to, last
year, put below spec pins and wires in their wiring harness.  While it's not
a big deal, their supplies can't deliver the rated power to the PC components.

Some of us were all set to do business with them when we tried the production
samples and found this out.

Bob
-  
-- 
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list