Building an AMD64 system

[Paul Barker]

Hi all im going to build a new system based on an AMD64 processor.
I've built systems before but just want to check a couple of details.

Am I right in thinking the AMD64 requires registered ram? I've chosen
an Athlon 64 2800+ and AOpen AK89 MAX mobo (on board audio and lan).
512MB ram should do the trick I think. I've also decided on a full
tower so i have some room to upgrade in future.

The system will have 2 HDDs, a DVD-ROM and a floppy drive, is a 400W
PSU alright for this?

Also, i'm concerned (sp?) about the temperatures of the HDDs, which
are a Seagate ATA Barracuda 120GB and an SATA WD Raptor 36GB, should i
go for some sort of HDD cooling?

Lastly, i'm planning on running Linux on this box, any specific
issues?

Graphics card is an AOpen GeForce FX5200 btw.

Thanks in advance,
Paul Barker

 

[Cuzman]

" Am I right in thinking the AMD64 requires registered ram? "

Only the first range of FX CPUs did. The new socket-939 FX doesn't, and
none of the Athlon64 CPUs ever did.


" ...is a 400W PSU alright for this? "

You might scrape through with a 400W PSU from a good manufacturer, but I'd
go for something higher if I was you.


" ...should i go for some sort of HDD cooling? "

It depends on the case you use, and the amount of air your fans can push
across them. However, that 10k Raptor will certainly get hot, so you may
want to get some ideas from http://www.xoxide.com/hardrivcool1.html

 

[McQualude]

Paul Barker:

Lastly, i'm planning on running Linux on this box

Welcome to your new hobby

 

[Paul Barker]

Welcome to your new hobby

My hobby is gunna be writing an OS for this platform!!

I've decided to drop the SATA Raptor and keep the 400W PSU, will
upgrade PSU and add an SATA hard drive in about 12 months, hopefully
the prices of both will have dropped slightly by then.

This box needs to get me thru 5 years at uni, so i'm hoping to get
maximum room for upgrades over the next few years. The PSU comes built
into the AOpen case im buying. I think its an AOpen brand rather than
a generic.

Cheers for the advice,
Paul Barker

 

[Matt]

The system will have 2 HDDs, a DVD-ROM and a floppy drive, is a 400W
PSU alright for this?
Yes.

Lastly, i'm planning on running Linux on this box, any specific
issues?

Graphics card is an AOpen GeForce FX5200 btw.

Stick with an nvidia-based graphics card such as the one you mention.
Get the 3D OpenGL Linux driver at nvidia.com. See the README for that
driver. Install it with the method wherein you install kernel source
[from rpm] and compile the kernel interface.

Fedora and SuSE are about the best Linux distros.