Just landed a new job (score!) and I’m anticipating having a few grand to play with. I’m going to replace my aging notebook with one of these for hauling around (~ $1000), and I’d like to put together a kickass desktop system for another grand to fill in where the notebook is weak.
I’ll be running SuSE 8.2 or better on both of em to start.
I’ve already determined that I’m going to buy a refurb 19-21" CRT from these guys, so that’s about two hundred down. I’ve got $800 more to blow.
Here are my only requirements:
[ul]
[li]Full (or close to full) compatibility. I want to be able to use hardware acceleration on my vid card. I want to be able to burn VCDs.[/li][li]All-aluminum case, no windows, no lights, no paint. I’m a superficial mofo, but the apartment is relatively small, so something elegant yet unobtrusive is a must, if only to balance out the big honkin monitor.[/li][li]Front-mounted USB 2.0, at least four ports.[/li][li]Black or metallic drive faces. Why spoil my purty silver case with beige plastic?[/li][li]CD-R at >= 24X. I don’t care about RW.[/li][li]At least 80GB of hard drive, 7200RPM.[/li][li]It’s gotta last me three years, minimum. I’ll be starting school again soon enough, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to blow this kind of money in the future.[/li][/ul]
Other than that, I don’t care about name brands, having the absolute fastest, or whatever. I just need a solid, well-running, good-looking system.
If you don’t feel like doing all my legwork for me, I’d appreciate your general (or specific component) suggestions just as much; I’m relatively new to Linux, and this is my first homebuild.
As far as the Video card goes, your best bet is to go with a recent ATI card. They’re good, you get full acceleration, and you don’t have to use a stupid proprietary driver the way nvidia cards make you do it. Just about any IDE hard drive will be well supported, likewise with CD burners (including auto-detection of drive speeds). I’m not sure about USB 2.0, because I’ve yet to get a box that uses it.
You should probably call tech support (or look on their web site) of the company you get it from and see if they support Linux before you buy. I’m thinking specifically about issues like them offering Linux drivers.
Most new machines aren’t a problem, but there are exceptions. I’ve had issues with winmodems and some video cards for example.
Yeah… I don’t really expect much support on a notebook, but they’re the only people I can find who make a four pounder with decent specs for about a grand.
S’okay. I winged it with my current notebook (KDS) and people have reported some success with running Redhat on Averatec/Sotec’s earlier offerings, so I’m willing to give it a shot.
It’s the roll-your-own that makes me nervous… I don’t know enough about hardware to be absolutely sure that my power supply is adequate for my mobo, or whatever.
If you’re in or near Austin, TX or Las Vegas, NV (or don’t mind having it shipped to ya), Laboratory Computers can build you a Linux-friendly box (but I think they only offer Mandrake or Red Hat installed…). I’m not sure about their case style, though.
As to video, whilst I would agree that ATI is good, I have had no problems with nVidia under Linux (various RedHat and Slackware). Your CD writer will be fine, I have yet to see one that will not work properly, and the burn tool,s that come with most distros make it easy - and you have lots of control. USB, OTOH, can be a little more tricky. The ports themselves ought to be OK, but…this really comes down to individual device support. Check out what you are going to be running before buying any USB hardware. You may end up having to write a driver for it. Trust me, I did that once, and once only. I will never do it again.
Winmodems, yup they can be problematic, but most of them can now be used. Although, unless you have broadband (try roaring penguins great pppoe software) then a real modem might be a better bet.
Can’t help much with cases as no doubt you get different stuff there. Here most is sourced from Asia, not sure if it is the same there
Your hubby should join the boards, mnem, if only so you don’t have to constantly answer Linux questions by proxy. Then again, we’d probably bug him too much.
I intend to buy only those peripherals that are known to work, or at least have a suitable hack for them.
With this new job, I’ll be getting every Saturday off for the first time in five years, so it might be time to put in an appearance at the local LUG…
I have tried. He just isn’t interested enough, what with spending all his time on Slashdot, playing Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Enemy Terretory, or customizing his new laptop with the exact Linux specs he wants…! As it is, I have to speed-type what he says when I ask him the questions and edit afterwards for proper spelling because I can’t get him to sit down and post himself! I suggested creating an account for him to answer Linux questions through, but even then I’d probably have to type it myself…would that be a sock puppet?
The advantage this way, though, is that even though I rarely remember what I (he) tell people to do (assuming I understand it), I consider it a learning experience for me!