Hello Edwin Lee,

I do not have a specific recommendation for you. However, one site I always
check when planning similar things myself is Phoronix:

http://www.phoronix.com/

I've interlaced some other comments below. Have fun building your new
system!

Regards
C David Rigby

On Sun, Nov 9, 2008 at 2:03 AM, Edwin Lee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Probably not the most appropriate place to ask, but since Linux
> compatibility
> is a huge consideration, i reckon i would rather rely on personal
> experience
> from fellow Linux users instead of mainstream reviews elsewhere.
>
> i'm looking to build a ATX form factor home-use desktop around an AMD
> 64-bit X2
> 6000+ CPU and 4 GB (2 x 2 GB) of Kingston PC6400 800 MHz RAM, and i'm
> seeking
> recommendations for a motherboard. Been out of touch since i built my last
> system 3 years ago. i would want one with onboard ethernet, but i suppose
> almost all motherboards on the market nowadays have this. Onboard video and
> audio is not a consideration.
>
> Of utmost importance of course, is compatibility with Linux (i'm not even
> sure
> if this is actually a moot point, i.e., can i take this for granted), and
> stability and reliability.


IMHO, you cannot yet take these things for granted. Many manufacturers still
release for Windows first, and Linux compatibility is an after-thought, or
left to the community to firm up.


> i also have a soft spot for Asus motherboards with
> nVidia chipsets, but this is more due to my outdated experience, and am not
> sure if this combination is still the best (in terms of compatibility and
> reliability/stability), so i'm open to other brands and other chipsets as
> well.
>
> Another question, in considering a graphics card, i suppose i should be
> looking
> at nVidia chipsets as they would provide better compatibility through their
> open-source drivers right? (i may be totally wrong here...)
>

Unless things have changed drastically since I last looked, nVidia's driver
still requires a closed-source "blob". Further basic information is
available in the wikipedia article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NVidia#Documentation_and_drivers

To the best of my knowledge, the binary driver for Linux, developed and
delivered "gratis" by nVidia, works fine. I have a 7600GT in my now
2+year-old Intel mobo system that has never given me a problem. (Unlike the
motherboard itself, which is why I suggest above that one cannot assume full
GNU/Linux compatibility with a new motherboard.) Ubuntu's package management
system has integrated support for the driver, so it can be installed under
package management control like other packages. You do have to do this
yourself after installation, though, as the default Ubuntu install includes
only free software. I cannot speak for other distros, but if you are capable
of building your own hardware, installing the nVidia drivers would probably
be a trivial task for you.

AMD has committed itself to open sourcing all of the ATI drivers. They have
made impressive progress, though work remains to be done. See the wikipedia
article on Fglrx:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fglrx


> Would appreciate all your recommendations/suggestions/comments! Thanks!
>
>
>
> Regards,
> Edwin
>
>
>
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