[Pc_Support] Hardware recommendations.

[Bryan J. Smith]

Homer-de-Hacker wrote:  
> In re the 64 bit cpu, my personal advice is don't.  I
> have had an amd64  bit machine for 6 or more months now
> and the 64 bit stuff stinks.

Hate to cross you Homer, but I think your issues have more to
do with chipset (possibly distribution) than AMD64.  I've
been running with AMD64 on my personal workstation and build
system for work (I tote it back'n forth) with Fedora Core
3/x86-64, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (and CentOS) 3 and
4/x86-46 with _no_ issues except manually re-packaging
Firefox and associated bins, libs, plug-ins for it.


If you're like me, I'm not building a full ATX system
anymore.

With the new GeForce 61x0 / nForce 4x0 in MicroATX, I
_strongly_ recommend you go with these solutions for <<$100. 
The Socket-754 is just over $50, and the Socket-939 (which
has dual-core options) start at $70.  You get on-board video
that does the job -- GeForce 6150 come with HDTV component
out (including 1080p).

Not sure about GeForce 61x0 support in Linux, but I assume
all  but the latest features work with the existing G7x
drivers in the Standardware "nvidia" driver.

If you want more of a full ATX, there are countless nForce4,
4x, Ultra and even SLI mainboards that are sub-$100.  I
highly recommend the nForce4.  If you want more workstation,
then look to nForce Pro 2200, possibly the 2200+2050, and
with the AMD8131 if you want PCI-X busses (for 3Ware cards).

Otherwise, the on-board I/O contention is solved quite well
given the fact that the SATA ports are on their own,
dedicated PCIe x1 channels (1 channel per 4 SATA ports).  I
can't believe how fast I can install software from CD/DVD now
that the CD/DVD (ATA) and HD (SATA) drives are on different
PCI busses.

> Unless he wants to waste motherboard resources and limit
> future upgrade abilities he should look for PCI-Express
> and not AGP or PCI.  Matrox don't make any PCI-Express
> cards last time I looked, and even if they did they'd cost
> the same as better cards from other suppliers.

PCI-Express (PCIe) is now the future, and stability is most
excellent.  Especially on native PCIe designs like the
GeForce 61x0, 6200, 6600 and 7800 series.


OTHER BS NOTES:  

1.  Monarch Computer is getting a bad rap as of late.  I'd
avoid them.

2.  NewEgg.COM doesn't offer pre-assembly w/burn-in as an
option IIRC.

3.  I haven't used them in awhile, but Multiwave
(http://www.mwave.com) does offer pre-assembly w/burn-in as
an option IIRC.  They are close to NewEgg.COM in pricing in
many areas (and I used to use them before I discovered NewEgg
in 2001).

4.  LG GSA-4167BK (black faceplace) is $42.99 at NewEgg.COM. 
No reason to buy any other drive -- it's got the best
features (and the best Linux compatibility).

5.  Dual-core (single socket) <= Dual-processor (dual-socket)
when comparing AMD to AMD.  In AMD, dual Socket-940 Opteron
2xx gets you 2x memory and I/O versus single Socket-939
Athlon64x2 or the new Socket-939 Opteron 1x5 (dual-core
Opteron in Socket-939, uses ECC non-registered).

6.  Now when it comes to Intel, dual-core v. dual-procesor
makes _little_ difference.  The memory and I/O in 2x
Socket-604 versus LGA-775/Socket-479 can (and often is in
low-cost mainboards) _no_better_.  It all depends.


-- 
Bryan J. Smith                | Sent from Yahoo Mail
mailto:b.j.smith at ieee.org     |  (please excuse any
http://thebs413.blogspot.com/ |   missing headers)