On Tuesday 02 November 2004 03:59, Tom & Karen Pino wrote: > Hi all, > I am going to start building a computer for linux. I have an old tower > that I think will work (it may be too awkward). > > I would like some recommendations on components. Chipset? Sound card? > Video card? Modem (dial up is what I need in this remote area)? > > Anything anyone can think of that would be helpful would be great. I > want to make this as easy as I can on myself. Will probably get stuff > on e-bay and anywhere else that I can find it cheap but want a machine > that will not have problems with linux. > > Peripherals can wait. > Thanx in advance, > Tom Just about any CPU or chip set will work. The modem will cause the most trouble. Internal software based 'Winmodems' are problematic in Linux. There are non free proprietary drivers for them, but it is cheaper and simpler to buy an external serial (not USB) modem. An external serial modem requires no driver and will always work in Linux.
For video cards, proprietary drivers are available for Nvidia and ATI cards which perform better than the Open Source alternatives. My experience is purely with Nvidia. There is an issue at present with the current proprietary Nvidia driver not compiling properly with Mandrake 10.1 A page on my web site describes how to get it installed. Older Nvidia drivers install without a problem and perform just as well. derek -- www.jennings.homelinux.net http://twiki.mdklinuxfaq.org
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