Hardware for a comp that will run linux

[wmanzoul]

hey everyone!

im not sure if im supposed to post this in the linux forum or the hardware one, ill try this first...

im looking to build a computer system to run exclusively under suse linux 9.1 personal. It will be used for internet surfing, word processing, multimedia (like burning cds, listening to music and watching dvds) and intermediate gaming namely ut2004. I don't have too much money to spend, around $400. I've been running around in circles trying to decide on what hardware to buy for it, mainly the CPU, ram and video card. ill list out my questions to make answering easier.

Is linux less of a resource hog than windows? If so could i get away with getting less advanced hardware?

which combination is better: faster processor/less ram or slower processor/more ram? (i know ideally that fast processor more ram is best; i just dont have a lot of money)

CPU: I'm having trouble deciding between the amd 2000+, 2200+, 2400+ and the 2500+ (barton core). Should i get a less expensive processor and use the money saved for a better video card or more ram? Or just buy the 2500+ with the barton core?

Motheboard: how much of a difference does a good motherboard have?

Ram: 256 DDR or 512 DDR? is 512 too much?

Video card: give me a recommendation on a good, inexpensive video card. it doesn't have to be top of the line. im looking to spend $50-60 max on the video card.

Feel free to give additional suggestions on things that i may not have listed.

thanks for your help!

[8raker]

Hmm...... I can't anwser that linux ?.

Are you overclocking? If so get slower cpu, more ram, if not get fast cpu,less ram.


Due yourself a favor and get the 2500+ it will w0rk like a dreeeam.-$85

Hmm....I dont know the min specs of UT2004 so I cant say on the ram.
256-$40 512-$80


Hmm..... I would get the Nvidia FX 5200 for about 50 bucks

Motherboard: Dont skimp on this get yourself a 50 buck or so Asus or Abit brand.



the8raker

[kilgoretrout]

Linux loves ram; maximize ram over processor speed. The more ram the better. In linux, modest processor and lots of ram will generally outperform faster processor and less ram.

Graphics card - get something nvidia based. The FX5200 can play ut2004. Nvidia's linux drivers are light years ahead of ati's linux drivers. In fact the nvidia linux drivers are superior to their windows counterparts in may respects.

Motherboards - nforce motherboards can be a problem and you'll need special drivers to get everything working. I see questions and problems with nforce motherboards on many linux forums. I haven't built with amd for a while, but you might want to post on linuxquestions.org re any inquiries on a specific motherboard. Or do a google search of "linux [motherboard name and model no.]" and see what you get. If under google groups you see a bunch of entries of people with the same type of hardware problem you know there is probably some issue with that motherboard.
Hopefully, someone here can also give you better advice on amd motherboards and linux. I'm thinking of doing my next build with amd myself so I am curious as well.

[Karnevil9]

Since you are going to be using the computer for multi-media, I agree with kilertrout on the issue of more ram.

[wmanzoul]

so if linux will do better with a slower processor and more ram...

"oh no! confusion abounds!"

i just got out the hardware forum with the solid advice to get a 2500+ barton over anything slower, stick in 256 DDR and drop more ram in later.

So do you think the advice still applies to linux? Should i instead think about, say, a 2200+ and 512 ram?

[ZeratulsAvenger]

Stick with the 2500+ since you can always wait a month with 256MB RAM and then upgrade later...

[wmanzoul]

So stick with 2500+/256 DDR and drop in more ram later
Look into nVidia based cards preferably the FX5200
Be sure to choose a compatible motherboard from a trusted name

All correct?

[ZeratulsAvenger]

CPU/RAM, Check
FX5200... umm... Guess it's ok if your budget won't allow anything better
Motherboard, Check

[wmanzoul]

thanx for the confirmation! just want to be sure of what i am doing

[kilgoretrout]

256MB of ram is more than adeqate. You just don't want to run out of ram and go into swap(the linux name for the hard drive page file) because you will take a huge performance hit once you go into swap in linux. With 512MB of ram you will rarely go into swap; with 256MB you can go into swap if your doing some heavy multitasking or using heavy mutimedia apps requiring lots of memory.

[wmanzoul]

OK, confirmed on the CPU/RAM
Now, how do i choose a particular video card? I mainly just plan on playing ut2004 every now and then (say 2-3times aweek). How much ram should i have on it? 64-bit or 128-bit? I don't want to overkill by buying an expensive card whose power ends up being wasted cause of lack of use. Please give some suggestions

[ZeratulsAvenger]

If you want I could try and set up UT2K4 on my 2nd system which has Slackware on it. It's the AMD system. 2GHz, not to hot of a graphics card, and 512 RAM. If it runs well with my graphics card then you really don't have to worry

I looked for actual benchmarks but couldnt find any, so I ran the benchmark on my 1st system(2.4GHz, 512 RAM, Ti4200[128MB card]) and I got an avg of around 51fps on 1024x768. More then decent. This with a system that you will pretty much be mimicking, apart from the Graphics card. I know that the Ti4200 performs better then the FX5200, but I am not sure if it is by enough so that it's worth a higher grade card then the FX5200, since you don't seem to want to go "overboard."

Hmm... well there is no place I can really find a Ti4200 to buy(from a place I know of at least) so maybe if you feel that you could spend the extra $40 an ATI 9600 would run it very well. Oh ya, and I would say go with the 128MB versions. Not sure on the 128/256 bit versions of cards since I don't know what cards fall in what catagories.

[wmanzoul]

About going overboard with the graphics card, it's that im on a $400 budget; i don't want to spend too much money on the card (say about $50-60); at the same time, i do want one that performs well with the money i do spend on it. i guess im saying that because i've looked around and seen $200+ graphics cards and got a little concerned that anything less wouldn't be worth the money spent on it. i think i can search through newegg and find a decent card with 128MB ram. i'll gladly take suggestions though

[8raker]

Wman, Don't worry about the gpu's ram, its all about the bits. A 128mb vs. a 256mb wont make much of a realtime difference, now a 128 bit versus a 64 bit will make a big difference. The reason I said the 5200 is because it is dirt cheap, and ATI's Radeon 9200 (about the same price) is only 64-bit but the 5200 is 128bit. Also the Nvidia's linux drivers are WAY ahead of the ATI linux drivers.

I would have to say if your on that small of a budget get a 5200 and be happy gaming. Also, the only reason most people say get the 2500+ barton is because of it's greaaat overclocking abilities. I know I reccomended it but I didn't know Linux loved ram. I would say drop the card down to a lil bit of a slower processor and add the extra money to get more ram, I mean you can get a 512 mb stick of a good brand for about $74 bucks at newegg.com. Lemme do a pricecheck for ya....


Processor: (If you get the 2500+)-$85

Graphics Card: Nvidia Geforce FX 5200-$50

RAM: 256-$45 or so 512-$74-80

Mainboard: Asus or Abit(any of the cheaper ones)-$45-60

Harddrive: Western Digital 80gb About $65

CDRW: 25.00

Case: Get a cheaper one for about 30.00

PSU: Enlight 360W-$32

Thats about it for a low budget the overall price including 512 mb ram is about: $410 without shipping(newegg's products are almost always free shipping)


A little over your budget but hey, not bad for what it is


8raker

[Rugpriest]

For linux stick with NVidia, their driver support is excellent. I recommend a motherboard based on an Nforce Chipset and an Nvidia graphics card. - hardware drivers are harder to get for linux than for windows.