[gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
> My motherboard is getting flaky and it's time for a new one. I have > an AMD 6000+ CPU, 4GB DDR2/800 RAM, 2TB SATA2 HD, Blu-Ray burner, PCI > wireless card, 400W power supply, and ATX case. I could replace any > of these components if it's worthwhile for some new feature, but I may > as well keep them if it's not. > > The most important thing is reliability and Linux compatibility but I > also need HDMI and I figure USB 3.0 is a good idea. The system is for > playing music and movies, no gaming whatsoever. If you're familiar > with the current hardware scene, where would you go from here as far > as a motherboard and other components? Any features a Gentoo'er > should look for? > > - Grant Is Nvidia still the way to go instead of ATI? I use the nouveau drivers with my onboard Nvidia chipset now and they've been fine for the most part. I use a threaded ffmpeg to decode HD video instead of VDPAU so I don't bother with nvidia-drivers. - Grant
[gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
On 07/02/2011 09:06 PM, Grant wrote: The most important thing is reliability and Linux compatibility but I also need HDMI and I figure USB 3.0 is a good idea. The system is for playing music and movies, no gaming whatsoever. If you're familiar with the current hardware scene, where would you go from here as far as a motherboard and other components? Any features a Gentoo'er should look for? - Grant Is Nvidia still the way to go instead of ATI? Yep. Unless you have old ATI hardware. Current hardware doesn't work well. Since he wants to buy new stuff, NVidia is recommended.
[gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
Grant wrote: > My motherboard is getting flaky and it's time for a new one. I have > an AMD 6000+ CPU, 4GB DDR2/800 RAM, 2TB SATA2 HD, Blu-Ray burner, PCI > wireless card, 400W power supply, and ATX case. I could replace any > of these components if it's worthwhile for some new feature, but I may > as well keep them if it's not. You'll probably keep the HDD, Blu-Ray drive and the wireless card for the new system. It's better to replace your PSU. For example : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371046 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182202 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207012 They'll all do the job, different brands, models and prices. If you're not going to sell the old CPU and memory modules you can buy a mobo and keep it as a backup PC : http://cgi.ebay.com/Asus-M2N68-AM-PLUS-Socket-AM2-GeForce7025-DDR2-A-V- Lan-/310329745884?pt=Motherboards&hash=item48411821dc You'll need a new chassis if you decide to keep these old parts. > The most important thing is reliability and Linux compatibility but I > also need HDMI and I figure USB 3.0 is a good idea. The system is for > playing music and movies, no gaming whatsoever. If you're familiar > with the current hardware scene, where would you go from here as far > as a motherboard and other components? Any features a Gentoo'er > should look for? Plenty to choose. HDMI is nearly in every motherboard with onboard video. There are many ways to go, I picked the AM3+ way and with some excessive spending for the motherboard : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128514 Not economical but I like the look and the quality of this one. For the CPU : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103903 A cheap option, but should be enough and instead of paying big bucks for 6-cores etc, wait for the bulldozer. For memory : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308 8 GB should be good for a long time. With this board you'll need a discrete video card. This one should do the job : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161374 Fanless, so some ventilation is needed. I went full AMD. Good luck.
Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
Grant wrote: My motherboard is getting flaky and it's time for a new one. I have an AMD 6000+ CPU, 4GB DDR2/800 RAM, 2TB SATA2 HD, Blu-Ray burner, PCI wireless card, 400W power supply, and ATX case. I could replace any of these components if it's worthwhile for some new feature, but I may as well keep them if it's not. The most important thing is reliability and Linux compatibility but I also need HDMI and I figure USB 3.0 is a good idea. The system is for playing music and movies, no gaming whatsoever. If you're familiar with the current hardware scene, where would you go from here as far as a motherboard and other components? Any features a Gentoo'er should look for? - Grant Is Nvidia still the way to go instead of ATI? I use the nouveau drivers with my onboard Nvidia chipset now and they've been fine for the most part. I use a threaded ffmpeg to decode HD video instead of VDPAU so I don't bother with nvidia-drivers. - Grant I don't have any experience with ATI but I still use Nvidia and their drivers. I haven't had any problems as of yet. I did have a video problem once but it was a kernel problem. For me, I see no need in me getting a ATI card. That's just me. Dale :-) :-)
Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
>> Is Nvidia still the way to go instead of ATI? I use the nouveau >> drivers with my onboard Nvidia chipset now and they've been fine for >> the most part. I use a threaded ffmpeg to decode HD video instead of >> VDPAU so I don't bother with nvidia-drivers. >> >> - Grant > > I don't have any experience with ATI but I still use Nvidia and their > drivers. I haven't had any problems as of yet. I did have a video problem > once but it was a kernel problem. For me, I see no need in me getting a ATI > card. That's just me. > > Dale I've just read that Nvidia no longer makes onboard video. Has anyone else heard that? Are server motherboard more reliable? - Grant
Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
On Saturday 02 July 2011 20:36:55 Dale wrote: > I see no need in me getting a ATI card. That's just me. It's also me. NVidia has been straightforward for years: just plug it in and go. Choose the closed-source driver, or nowadays the Nouveau driver, and everything Just Works. Mind you, I don't play computer games (life's just too short) and so I've no need of "3D". -- Rgds Peter
Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
>>> The most important thing is reliability and Linux compatibility but I >>> also need HDMI and I figure USB 3.0 is a good idea. The system is for >>> playing music and movies, no gaming whatsoever. If you're familiar >>> with the current hardware scene, where would you go from here as far >>> as a motherboard and other components? Any features a Gentoo'er >>> should look for? >>> >>> - Grant >> >> Is Nvidia still the way to go instead of ATI? > > Yep. Unless you have old ATI hardware. Current hardware doesn't work well. > Since he wants to buy new stuff, NVidia is recommended. That's what I was afraid of. The fact that Nvidia has stopped making onboard video will pose a problem. I could install an Nvidia video card but I'm trying to keep temps low and I don't want a third fan in the case. - Grant
Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
Grant wrote: Is Nvidia still the way to go instead of ATI? I use the nouveau drivers with my onboard Nvidia chipset now and they've been fine for the most part. I use a threaded ffmpeg to decode HD video instead of VDPAU so I don't bother with nvidia-drivers. - Grant I don't have any experience with ATI but I still use Nvidia and their drivers. I haven't had any problems as of yet. I did have a video problem once but it was a kernel problem. For me, I see no need in me getting a ATI card. That's just me. Dale I've just read that Nvidia no longer makes onboard video. Has anyone else heard that? Are server motherboard more reliable? - Grant I looked around on newegg and found that there are several mobos that have Nvidia video built in. It seems they do still make them. I'm not sure if the video or mobos are any that you would like but they are being made at least. Me, I tend to buy video cards. They have upgrade options without having to put in a new mobo. YMMV tho. No idea on server boards. I would think they would be more reliable tho. Dale :-) :-)
Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
Grant [11-07-03 01:12]: > >>> The most important thing is reliability and Linux compatibility but I > >>> also need HDMI and I figure USB 3.0 is a good idea. The system is for > >>> playing music and movies, no gaming whatsoever. If you're familiar > >>> with the current hardware scene, where would you go from here as far > >>> as a motherboard and other components? Any features a Gentoo'er > >>> should look for? > >>> > >>> - Grant > >> > >> Is Nvidia still the way to go instead of ATI? > > > > Yep. Unless you have old ATI hardware. Current hardware doesn't work well. > > Since he wants to buy new stuff, NVidia is recommended. > > That's what I was afraid of. The fact that Nvidia has stopped making > onboard video will pose a problem. I could install an Nvidia video > card but I'm trying to keep temps low and I don't want a third fan in > the case. > > - Grant > Hi Grant, half a year ago my motherboard lost its blue smoke and I had to buy a new PC (the rest of the old one was outdated). One of my thoughts was: No graphics card with a fan! But the guy in the store said, that graphics cards without a fan has a problem: Either they are to slow (less heat) to be bought by the people or they are fast enough to be bought, but they will die sooner/easier due to a too hot GPU. He gave me a card with fans and said: "If you hear something too loud -- bring it back." I tested the card and: Nothing. The only thing I hear is the very quiet fan of the PC case. The card is a: MSI N430GT PCI Express 2.0. It has two fans, which means lesser noise since both fans can run at lower speed. You said, you will not need a gamer graphics card. But if you are a fan of rendering (Blender,Luxrendere etc...) you may consider a card with more muscles since GPU based rendering is the way to go. BUT: When reading the driver informations from nvidia I found that the sections saying "Added support for" are still missing the GT 430. I dont know whether this has any impact to you work -- the card runs well with Linux and the OpenGL-based Blender does not have any problems (its GPU based render engine is currently under development so I didnt test that...) If you are intereseted in the setup of my PC, post me a mail! Best regards, mcc
Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
Is Nvidia still the way to go instead of ATI? I use the nouveau drivers with my onboard Nvidia chipset now and they've been fine for the most part. I use a threaded ffmpeg to decode HD video instead of VDPAU so I don't bother with nvidia-drivers. - Grant >>> I don't have any experience with ATI but I still use Nvidia and their >>> drivers. I haven't had any problems as of yet. I did have a video >>> problem >>> once but it was a kernel problem. For me, I see no need in me getting a >>> ATI >>> card. That's just me. >>> >>> Dale >>> >> I've just read that Nvidia no longer makes onboard video. Has anyone >> else heard that? >> >> Are server motherboard more reliable? >> >> - Grant > > I looked around on newegg and found that there are several mobos that have > Nvidia video built in. It seems they do still make them. I'm not sure if > the video or mobos are any that you would like but they are being made at > least. I bet that's just old stock. I can't find a single motherboard with Nvidia graphics and an AM3+ or FM1 socket on newegg.com. - Grant > Me, I tend to buy video cards. They have upgrade options without having to > put in a new mobo. YMMV tho. > > No idea on server boards. I would think they would be more reliable tho. > > Dale
Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
Dale [11-07-03 03:08]: > Grant wrote: > >>>Is Nvidia still the way to go instead of ATI? I use the nouveau > >>>drivers with my onboard Nvidia chipset now and they've been fine for > >>>the most part. I use a threaded ffmpeg to decode HD video instead > >>>of > >>>VDPAU so I don't bother with nvidia-drivers. > >>> > >>>- Grant > >>> > >>I don't have any experience with ATI but I still use Nvidia and their > >>drivers. I haven't had any problems as of yet. I did have a video > >>problem > >>once but it was a kernel problem. For me, I see no need in me > >>getting a ATI > >>card. That's just me. > >> > >>Dale > >> > >I've just read that Nvidia no longer makes onboard video. Has anyone > >else heard that? > > > >Are server motherboard more reliable? > > > >- Grant > > > > > > > > > I looked around on newegg and found that there are several mobos that > have Nvidia video built in. It seems they do still make them. I'm not > sure if the video or mobos are any that you would like but they are > being made at least. > > Me, I tend to buy video cards. They have upgrade options without > having to put in a new mobo. YMMV tho. > > No idea on server boards. I would think they would be more reliable > tho. > > Dale > > :-) :-) > I prefer overclocker boards and dont overclock them. Most of them have a better heat dissipation and the PCB has a better layout HF-wise. Only my two cent...you currency may vary ;) Best regards mcc
Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
On 07/02/2011 06:26 PM, meino.cra...@gmx.de wrote: Grant [11-07-03 01:12]: The most important thing is reliability and Linux compatibility but I also need HDMI and I figure USB 3.0 is a good idea. The system is for playing music and movies, no gaming whatsoever. If you're familiar with the current hardware scene, where would you go from here as far as a motherboard and other components? Any features a Gentoo'er should look for? - Grant Is Nvidia still the way to go instead of ATI? Yep. Unless you have old ATI hardware. Current hardware doesn't work well. Since he wants to buy new stuff, NVidia is recommended. That's what I was afraid of. The fact that Nvidia has stopped making onboard video will pose a problem. I could install an Nvidia video card but I'm trying to keep temps low and I don't want a third fan in the case. - Grant Hi Grant, half a year ago my motherboard lost its blue smoke and I had to buy a new PC (the rest of the old one was outdated). One of my thoughts was: No graphics card with a fan! But the guy in the store said, that graphics cards without a fan has a problem: Either they are to slow (less heat) to be bought by the people or they are fast enough to be bought, but they will die sooner/easier due to a too hot GPU. He gave me a card with fans and said: "If you hear something too loud -- bring it back." I tested the card and: Nothing. The only thing I hear is the very quiet fan of the PC case. The card is a: MSI N430GT PCI Express 2.0. It has two fans, which means lesser noise since both fans can run at lower speed. You said, you will not need a gamer graphics card. But if you are a fan of rendering (Blender,Luxrendere etc...) you may consider a card with more muscles since GPU based rendering is the way to go. BUT: When reading the driver informations from nvidia I found that the sections saying "Added support for" are still missing the GT 430. I dont know whether this has any impact to you work -- the card runs well with Linux and the OpenGL-based Blender does not have any problems (its GPU based render engine is currently under development so I didnt test that...) If you are intereseted in the setup of my PC, post me a mail! Best regards, mcc Interesting recommendation. Which of the two has a better history of providing good support for linux drivers for their products?
Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
meino.cra...@gmx.de wrote: Dale [11-07-03 03:08]: Grant wrote: Is Nvidia still the way to go instead of ATI? I use the nouveau drivers with my onboard Nvidia chipset now and they've been fine for the most part. I use a threaded ffmpeg to decode HD video instead of VDPAU so I don't bother with nvidia-drivers. - Grant I don't have any experience with ATI but I still use Nvidia and their drivers. I haven't had any problems as of yet. I did have a video problem once but it was a kernel problem. For me, I see no need in me getting a ATI card. That's just me. Dale I've just read that Nvidia no longer makes onboard video. Has anyone else heard that? Are server motherboard more reliable? - Grant I looked around on newegg and found that there are several mobos that have Nvidia video built in. It seems they do still make them. I'm not sure if the video or mobos are any that you would like but they are being made at least. Me, I tend to buy video cards. They have upgrade options without having to put in a new mobo. YMMV tho. No idea on server boards. I would think they would be more reliable tho. Dale :-) :-) I prefer overclocker boards and dont overclock them. Most of them have a better heat dissipation and the PCB has a better layout HF-wise. Only my two cent...you currency may vary ;) Best regards mcc I have a Cooler Master HAF932 case. Cooling is not a issue here. BTW, I have a Gigabyte board that is overclockable. I have huge heatsinks in case I decide to but mostly just like to keep everything cool. Oh, no water here either. I don't even have drinks around my rig so why put water into it. o_O Dale :-) :-)
Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
Grant wrote: I bet that's just old stock. I can't find a single motherboard with Nvidia graphics and an AM3+ or FM1 socket on newegg.com. - Grant I didn't see a AM3+ either. May have to buy a mobo and a separate video card. At least that way, you can get what you really want. This is one reason I buy separate pieces. I don't need a supped up video card but do want a decent mobo. When I buy separately, I can put a little extra into my mobo and save on the card. Of course, my last build has a donated card. Works great for me. Does stumble a little on the very HD video of the Asteroid Galaxy Tour singing the Golden Age tho. Since it does it in the same place and only on the one video, I'm wondering if it was recorded that way somehow. :/ You may want to check pricewatch, tigerdirect and just froogle for a while. Eventually you can narrow down what you are looking for and just find the better deal. It's a plan anyway. Dale :-) :-)
Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
>> I bet that's just old stock. I can't find a single motherboard with >> Nvidia graphics and an AM3+ or FM1 socket on newegg.com. >> >> - Grant > > I didn't see a AM3+ either. May have to buy a mobo and a separate video > card. At least that way, you can get what you really want. This is one > reason I buy separate pieces. I don't need a supped up video card but do > want a decent mobo. When I buy separately, I can put a little extra into my > mobo and save on the card. Of course, my last build has a donated card. > Works great for me. Does stumble a little on the very HD video of the > Asteroid Galaxy Tour singing the Golden Age tho. Since it does it in the > same place and only on the one video, I'm wondering if it was recorded that > way somehow. :/ > > You may want to check pricewatch, tigerdirect and just froogle for a while. > Eventually you can narrow down what you are looking for and just find the > better deal. It's a plan anyway. > > Dale Thanks Dale. I'm reading that onboard ATI graphics are fine if you don't need 3D and can use the open-source driver. I guess I'll give it a try. - Grant
Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Time for hardware upgrade(s)
JD [11-07-03 05:57]: > On 07/02/2011 06:26 PM, meino.cra...@gmx.de wrote: > >Grant [11-07-03 01:12]: > >The most important thing is reliability and Linux compatibility > >but I > >also need HDMI and I figure USB 3.0 is a good idea. The system is > >for > >playing music and movies, no gaming whatsoever. If you're > >familiar > >with the current hardware scene, where would you go from here as > >far > >as a motherboard and other components? Any features a Gentoo'er > >should look for? > > > >- Grant > Is Nvidia still the way to go instead of ATI? > >>>Yep. Unless you have old ATI hardware. Current hardware doesn't > >>>work well. > >>> Since he wants to buy new stuff, NVidia is recommended. > >>That's what I was afraid of. The fact that Nvidia has stopped making > >>onboard video will pose a problem. I could install an Nvidia video > >>card but I'm trying to keep temps low and I don't want a third fan in > >>the case. > >> > >>- Grant > >> > >Hi Grant, > > > >half a year ago my motherboard lost its blue smoke and I had to buy a > >new PC (the rest of the old one was outdated). > > > >One of my thoughts was: No graphics card with a fan! > > > >But the guy in the store said, that graphics cards without a fan has a > >problem: Either they are to slow (less heat) to be bought by the > >people or they are fast enough to be bought, but they will die > >sooner/easier due to a too hot GPU. > > > >He gave me a card with fans and said: "If you hear something too loud > >-- bring it back." > >I tested the card and: Nothing. The only thing I hear is the very > >quiet fan of the PC case. > > > >The card is a: MSI N430GT PCI Express 2.0. > > > >It has two fans, which means lesser noise since both fans can run > >at lower speed. > > > >You said, you will not need a gamer graphics card. But if you are a > >fan of rendering (Blender,Luxrendere etc...) you may consider a card > >with more muscles since GPU based rendering is the way to go. > > > >BUT: > >When reading the driver informations from nvidia I found that the > >sections saying "Added support for" are still missing the GT 430. > >I dont know whether this has any impact to you work -- the card runs > >well with Linux and the OpenGL-based Blender does not have any > >problems (its GPU based render engine is currently under development > >so I didnt test that...) > > > >If you are intereseted in the setup of my PC, post me a mail! > > > >Best regards, > >mcc > Interesting recommendation. > Which of the two has a better history of providing good > support for linux drivers for their products? > > > ...?... Oh, I fear, once again my English damaged what I want to say... NVidia produces the chipsets but dont build graphics cards. They only make a reference board and offer that for $$$ to manufacturers. MSI is one of them. The MSI-card I use is a 100% "NVidia card". It runs to 100% with the original genuine nvidia-drivers. And on the boards are the original NVidia GPUs. GT 430 is the name of the GPU family. Or...what was the question? :) 8) ;) Best regards, mcc