Some Linux questions....

[Amatsu Mikaboshi]

Ok, I've configured a system that is good...I just wanted to have a dual boot of Windows and a friendly version of Linux to help me learn it....the system will be mainly used to run games, Photoshop, and other graphics programs.....I also want to know if it will have any problems (hardware related) with any Linux distributions....

CPU - P4 660, 3.6Ghz
Motherboard - ASUS nForce4 SLI (Intel)
Memory - OCZ 240 pin, 2Gb
Video Card - Nvidia 6800 GT(x2)
Hard Drives - WD Raptors 10k RPM, 74Gb(x2)(RAID 0)
Hardrives Seagate - 7.2k RPM, 400GB(x2)(RAID 1)
CD/DVD Drive - Lite On...(x4)
Sound Card - Creative Labs...
Monitor - Dell 2405 FPW
Keyboard & Mouse - Longitech...Optical/wireless
Modem - D Link
Speakers - Klipsch 5.1

Thanks.

[Karnevil9]

Rather than dual boot, I also believe it is better to just use a live CD version of Linux until you see if it what you are looking for. Then if you like it, go ahead and find a new user friendly version such as Mandrake or SuSE, Fedora or Ubuntu and dual boot.
For live CD's I like Knoppix. Ubuntu is new, had good hardware recognition and looks very promising. For the asking they will send you a live CD and a bootable version in a packet. I think SuSE has a live CD also but I believe it is limited in what it will allow you to do. Your hardware looks fine. I don't think there are any conflicts there. If you are using a wireless system, linux may give you some problems.

[digitalfreedom64]

Oh that look sso much like my dream computer, how bout you send that on my way, lol
Just joking but hey looks good to me. You have great hardware choices.
If you're wanting to just try linux out a Live cd would probly be your best bet, unless you're like m and too impatient to wait for the cd to load. It loads much quicker off the hdd. Now as for witch version you get you'll probly want to try on a few flavors. The first one I tried out was Mepis and I've actually found it to be my favorite of the few that I've tried. I've also tried Mandrake, Fedora, Suse, Kubuntu (Ubuntu w/KDE) and plan on trying out Debian once I ever get the discs for it. As I mentioned I like MEpis best so far and Kubuntu, the one i'm working with now, runs a close second. Mandrake and I realy didn't get along too well. Suse was a live cd so I really can't say much about it. I tried Fedora Core 3 and didn't much care for it, from what I here Fedora Core 4 (newest) is somewhat better.

[Karnevil9]

Crashoverride. If you haven't already got Debian I have a set a of the Debian 3.0 woody disks that you can have N/C. I gave up for now trying to get that installed and don't have time to mess with it. They are just collecting dust. PM me with your shipping address if your interested.

I've also always had trouble with Mepis. I can never get it to work properly with an old generic monitor that I have, but I have tried several times because I really like what I see on their website and their screenshots. I think they would also be a good choice.

[kilgoretrout]

I second the live cd idea. It's a good way to check general hardware compatibility in linux.
Issues you might have:
1. You have a complicated hard drive configuration with two raid arrays. Picking that up properly can be an issue. A live cd test will give you a lot of info here on how/if the raid arrays are going to work.
2. Your graphics card is relatively new. Nvidia has excellent linux drivers so nvidia is always a good choice if you want to run linux. You will have to do the nvidia driver install after you install the distro of your choice to get optimal 3d performance. Check the distro help forums as this is a perennial question from newbs. Almost all freely downloadable linux distros ship with a generic open source driver for nvidia cards(nv) which sucks for 3d but is fine for 2d. Sometimes the newer nvidia cards won't work with the open source driver as it takes a while to get them included/supported. Not likely to be a problem but a live cd will tell you for sure.
3. The nforce mb used to be a problem in linux and there were closed source linux drivers available from nvidia. I'm not that familiar with the board myself but IIRC the on board nic wouldn't work w/o the proprietary drivers. I believe that's all been worked out and the drivers are now included in the standard kernel. The live cd will tell you a lot here as well. Check google to see if there are a lot of reported problems in linux with this board, particularly the nic and the raid stuff.

[digitalfreedom64]

Originally Posted by Karnevil9 Crashoverride. If you haven't already got Debian I have a set a of the Debian 3.0 woody disks that you can have N/C. I gave up for now trying to get that installed and don't have time to mess with it. They are just collecting dust. PM me with your shipping address if your interested. I've also always had trouble with Mepis. I can never get it to work properly with an old generic monitor that I have, but I have tried several times because I really like what I see on their website and their screenshots. I think they would also be a good choice.

I've had issues with Mepis on LCD monitors as well i think with 3.0 but the almost got that cleared up in 3.1. I found one problem with Kubuntu. My Athlon XP system has a soundblaster audigy 2 soud card and I have no sound,with Mepis I do. Mandrake wouldn't even install on that system for some reason. I guess it's because I started out with a debian based distro like mepis but I always find myself going back to debian based. I find I like them better than RPM distros like fedora and mandrake.

[Amatsu Mikaboshi]

Hmm...sounds interesting. I know my CPU supports 64 bit, are there any 64 bit distros?

I've heard you guys mentioning Debian alot, and I've heard it is a very good distribution....I see Karnevil9 said "I gave up for now trying to get that installed and don't have time to mess with it." Is Debian harder to work with?

[Karnevil9]

The true Debian system can be difficult for most newbies to install. I don't know if their latest distro is any better. Past versions were not new user friendly, because they are not load and go systems for the most part. But fortunately there are plenty of debian based systems out there like knoppix, Mepis, Morphix, libranet and others that give you the stability of debian without the install problems.

[digitalfreedom64]

I know a few Distros that have 64 bit. I don't think this is all of em but here's a few.
Fedora Core 4
Gentoo (From what I hear about this one it can be quite a pain to install)
Ubuntu
Kubuntu (Ubuntu + KDE)
Suse 9.3
Mandriva 10.1 (Mandrake)

[kilgoretrout]

Kanotix also has a 64 bit OS and is an easy way to get a debian sid install; you can do it directly off their live cd. Kubuntu is debian based as well. Both were designed to give newbs an easy way to install debian.