Linux and ASUS

[Karl L]

I'm running Fedora Core 1 on a P2 machine but about to assemble a P4.
Just bought a Antec case at a show today. Looking to decide on the
microprocessor and mobo. Like ASUS - used the P4B in a XP machine I
put together last year - so I'm thinking P4P800 Deluxe for the new box.
I understand that the P4P has a 3Com ethernet (is that so?) -- the last
box I assembled left it up to me (I used a Realtek 8139 which has worked
without a problem). What recommendations does the list have for a
microprocessor -- I'm thinking something around 3 gigs that I can o/c
to 3.5 gigs? Also, I read on the list that some Nvidia cards have
issues with ASUS -- any user info on that?

Thanks for any info.

Karl L

 

[Chris]

I'm running Fedora Core 1 on a P2 machine but about to assemble a P4.
Just bought a Antec case at a show today. Looking to decide on the
microprocessor and mobo. Like ASUS - used the P4B in a XP machine I
put together last year - so I'm thinking P4P800 Deluxe for the new box.
I understand that the P4P has a 3Com ethernet (is that so?) -- the last
box I assembled left it up to me (I used a Realtek 8139 which has worked
without a problem). What recommendations does the list have for a
microprocessor -- I'm thinking something around 3 gigs that I can o/c
to 3.5 gigs? Also, I read on the list that some Nvidia cards have
issues with ASUS -- any user info on that?

Thanks for any info.

Karl L

Can't say much about which board to use, but as far as the nVidia video
cards go, they all work in Linux, but the newer ones need the nVidia driver
to run to potential. On some Linux distros the driver can be a PITA, but it
can be done. The latest version of Suse set my card up without a hitch. I
also got it working in Gentoo which was my distro of choice. I had problems
in Debian, but now that I know how to do it in Gentoo, Debian shouldn't be
too hard. My advice is to find documentation on setting up Xwindows with
nVidia on your distro of choice before you start. the new kernels have good
support for the newer motherboard chipsets and also for many different nic
cards. It's just a matter of compiling the kernel with the right options,
but if I can do it, most people should be able to.

Chris

 

[Brendan McEnaney]

I'm running Fedora Core 1 on a P2 machine but about to assemble a P4.
Just bought a Antec case at a show today. Looking to decide on the
microprocessor and mobo. Like ASUS - used the P4B in a XP machine I
put together last year - so I'm thinking P4P800 Deluxe for the new box.
I understand that the P4P has a 3Com ethernet (is that so?) -- the last
box I assembled left it up to me (I used a Realtek 8139 which has worked
without a problem). What recommendations does the list have for a
microprocessor -- I'm thinking something around 3 gigs that I can o/c
to 3.5 gigs? Also, I read on the list that some Nvidia cards have
issues with ASUS -- any user info on that?

fwiw, I rebuilt my box a few weeks ago with the following:

ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe
1 gig Kingston pc3200 DDR400 ram
P4 3.2ghz chip
eVGA branded nVidia GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 128M DDR
Enermax 460 Watt ATX 12-V Power Supply
and for good measure...
ZALMAN CNPS-7000Cu P4 s478 HEATSINK/FAN

I'm running Fedora Core 1 Linux; kernel 2.4.22-1.2174.nptlsmp.

This board comes with a Gigabit 82547EI ethernet controller that works
flawlessly with my dsl connection with the stock kernel.

Ditto with the nVidia card. It worked right out of the box with the stock
kernel and after installing the nVidia drivers (EASY, EASY, EASY!!) it
absolutely screams (see below).

[mcenaney@beefy SoundForge]$ glxgears
22514 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4502.800 FPS
22696 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4539.200 FPS
22707 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4541.400 FPS
22463 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4492.600 FPS
22598 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4519.600 FPS
22472 frames in 5.0 seconds = 4494.400 FPS

That's at 1280x1024 with millions of colors. Yow!

I'm very, very happy with my new box (and Fedora).

of course, ymmv. ;-)

Note: use a SMP kernel to take advantage of P4 hyperthreading.