Re: [expert] Hardware Help Request
Kerry Waldrip wrote: I have to upgrade! I'm running MD 7.0 on a Cyrix 166 chip and an antiquated video card. I'm going to purchase an Athlon processor, but have no idea for a good motherboard. I'd really appreciate some good suggestions. Not a techie just yet. TIA! It is hard to beat ASUS. Rather expensive and worth the extra cost. Four models are available to you. Choose one without integrated sound. ABIT cards seem to be one of the Big Issues for linux support on this and other mailing lists. Microstar mainboards are OK, and FIC sems to have done a better job on Athlons than on P-IIIs, but still FIC is at its above-average best with Super-7 boards. SB Live! is a great audio card and none can fault the SB PCI 128 either. Keep away from combined sound/modem cards and anything Aureal/Voyetra/Turtle Beach if you want to avoid problems. For video cards, I would advise distance from TNT2 and Diamond cards. They just don't get the idea of open-source at all and are offering binary drivers to obscure our vision of what happens in the core of the operating system. There are many good cards and some even support gaming in 3D. Avoid most built-ins (none are offered on Athlon systems anyway). Memory is an important decision. Buy the best you can afford, and go for quality rather than quantitiy and for certified memory. PC133 is a MINIMUM specification to seek. If anyone ever compiles for Athlon code, you will need close adherence to specs. Disk Drives--If IDE type, get IBM or Quantum(not BigFoot), and buy the better quality. Make sure you put cooling fans on them and buy some extras to swap in when the original fans wear out (15-18 months) IF SCSI type, almost any brand will do. These answers are from my experience with over 400 systems in all sorts of configurations. The mileage of others will vary widely. Civileme
Re: [expert] Hardware Help Request
Kerry Waldrip wrote: I have to upgrade! I'm running MD 7.0 on a Cyrix 166 chip and an antiquated video card. I'm going to purchase an Athlon processor, but have no idea for a good motherboard. I'd really appreciate some good suggestions. Not a techie just yet. TIA! Kerry, CPUAMD K7-750 - picked up CPU, heat sink, dual cooling fans for $250 US. Mobo Abit KA-7 - love this board ATX style, 6 PCI, 1 ISA, 1 AGP-4 Memory 128Mb - PC133 Video Diamond something or other (will upgrade to an AGP latter in life) H/DMaxtor 40G UDMA66 Sound SB live- this card rocks! CD-ROM Creative labs 52X PLEASE get yourself a couple of extra fans to put in the case. You can never have enough of these baby's -- Joseph S. Gardner Senior Designer / Technical Support Kirby Co., Cleveland, OH [EMAIL PROTECTED] This is linux country, on a clear day you can hear Windows reboot Registered linux user #1696600 ICQ #63389227
Re: [expert] Hardware Help Request
Asus, ABit, and Gigabyte make the best Athlon boards. Kerry Waldrip [EMAIL PROTECTED] on 06/13/2000 07:27:45 AM Please respond to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] cc: Subject:[expert] Hardware Help Request I have to upgrade! I'm running MD 7.0 on a Cyrix 166 chip and an antiquated video card. I'm going to purchase an Athlon processor, but have no idea for a good motherboard. I'd really appreciate some good suggestions. Not a techie just yet. TIA!
[expert] Hardware Help Request
I have to upgrade! I'm running MD 7.0 on a Cyrix 166 chip and an antiquated video card. I'm going to purchase an Athlon processor, but have no idea for a good motherboard. I'd really appreciate some good suggestions. Not a techie just yet. TIA!