[KLUG Members] New machine - Linux hardware?

[Adam Williams]

>I am new to mailing lists. Please don't spank me too hard if this is off
>topic!
>Currently running Red Hat 6.2 (2.2.18) on a 166 Cyrix with 128meg ram.
>I want to build a new machine keeping Linux functionality (and bragging
>rights) uppermost in mind. I don't necessarily need to be bleeding edge
>but I do want to be as modern as Linux currently supports. I guess I am
>looking for a dream machine to last me a couple years. I am interested
>in a machine that will build from source, projects like OpenOffice and
>Mozilla.
>Any suggestions on:
> * Motherboards/Processors

Intel if possible, avoid Tyan.

> * Case and power supply

As big as possible.

> * Quiet - Cooling fans

Replace every 12 months.

> * Video cards

Do you need 3D?  Very nice 2D cards are cheap.  Spend money on RAM.

> * Audio cards

Don't know anything about these.

> * Network cards (for this old machine to new machine)

Avoid Linksys.
SMC cards are pretty good for the money.
If you intend to generate loads of traffic shell out for an SMC.

> * Ram (amount and type)

Real memory,  not the PC100/PC133 utter crap.  Failure rate on
PC100/PC133 is phenominal.  Shell out for memory with at least Parity,
and at best ECC.  At worst case keep a spare stick for when one freaks
out,  which it will, if you use PC100/PC133.

> * Hard drives (probably two 10-30gig ea.)

More drives the better.  If you use IDE stick to one drive per bus. SCSI
is cheap these days and will maintain performance while you saturate the
processors compiling OpenOffice.

> * 3 1/2 floppy

How about an LS-120?

> * CD-rom(/burner)

If you get IDE keep it on it's own bus.  I have Ricoh, they work great.

> * Anything else you would like to comment on
>would be greatly appreciated.

And how do you intend to back it up?

Get an SMP motherboard,  you can add another processor later when the
model you used is CHEAP.

Budget for a UPS.

>If you have had good or bad experiences with hardware or building a new
>box, please respond.

Cheap hardware is cheap.  Do not be deveived by glossy ads, mother
nature never blinks.

>I don't mind reading about this stuff if you could point me to some of
>your favorite sites dealing with hardware or building a machine.

hitechcafe.com and compgeeks.com always have a supply Fujitsu and IBM
drivers,  buy no other brands.  Nothing will ruin your day like a flaked
out drive (except flaked out memory).  I can reliably bake a PC brand
hard drive in six months, Best Buy started to get real annoyed with me.

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Ximian GNOME, Evolution, LTSP, and RedHat Linux + LVM & XFS
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