[NTLUG:Discuss] (OT) Probably a stupid question

[Steve Baker]

Wayne Dahl wrote:

> Also, it doesn't have onboard video.  What reasonably priced ($150 and
> under) can you recommend?  I saw the video card discussion a while back,
> but unless I'm dreaming, you guys were discussing higher dollar video
> cards than I need.

nVidia have full 64 bit driver support for Linux - so anything from them will
work.  I would try to find a board with either a 5900 series or 6800 series
chipset.  Cards with GeForce-4, 3, 2 or worse are going to be seriously
outdated in a year or two for specific technical reasons (lack of fragment
shader capability to be precise).

You should be able to find a card with a 5900 series chipset under $150.

> The big question I have is in the area of software.  I've never used a
> 64 bit machine before.  Can you run 32 bit software on one?

Yes.

> I don't
> have a problem installing a 64 bit version of Linux on it as I can
> download it for free, but what about Windoze?

64 bit Windows XP was announced recently - but I think they are only
selling it as a server product rather than addressing the desktop
market right now.

I wanted to run Windows, I'd stick with a 32 bit system for now...but
I'm not involved with the Windows world - so someone else would have to
advise on that.

> What about apps?  Will 32 bit apps run on a 64 bit machine?  Will they
> run well or will there be problems if they run at all?  If I really need
> 64 bit apps, what's the availablility, both Weenderz and Linux?

For most Linux apps for which you have source code, you can compile them
for 64 bit *or* 32 bit.  But 64 bit machines will run 32 bit applications
(at least under Linux - dunno about Windows) so it's not the end of the
world if you can't get them to run under 64bit.

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