[NTLUG:Discuss] need hardware config recommendations

[Stuart Johnston]

ntlug at levelofdetail.com wrote:
> NTLUG,
> 
> I want to build a good, fast new desktop system for general home use.
> I've done a couple so far, but this one would be a little different. I
> plan to install Fedora Core 3 on it. I'm looking at these components
> (with newegg.com links):
> 
> ---
> motherboard
> 
> ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe Socket A (Socket 462) NVIDIA nForce2 Ultra 400 ATX
> AMD Motherboard
> 
> http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131478
> 

This seems to me a little expensive for a Socket A board.

> ---
> 
> processor
> 
> AMD Athlon XP 3000+ Barton 333MHz FSB 512KB L2 Cache Socket A Processor
> 
> http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103381
> 
> ---
> HD (2)
> 
> Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 SATA NCQ ST380017AS 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache
> Serial ATA150 Hard Drive
> 
> http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148040
> 

These are nice drives although I doubt you will be able to take 
advantage of the NCQ, at least not initially.

> ---
> 
> Video
> 
> ASUS EAX700-X/TD/128M Radeon X700 128MB 128-bit DDR PCI-Express x16
> Video Card
> 
> http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814121540
> 
> OR
> 
> XFX Geforce FX5200 256MB DDR PCI Video Card
> 
> http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814150061
> 
> OR
> 
> ASUS EN6600/TD/256 Geforce 6600 256MB 128-bit DDR PCI-Express x16 Video
> Card
> 
> http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814121179
> 
> ------------
> ------------
> 
> I'm especially shaky regarding the video cards. What should I look for?
> Is video through PCI always faster than AGP? Are PCI and PCI Express
> compatible with each other and compatible with Linux?

Like others have said, go with a Geforce.  That motherboard above does 
not have a PCI-Express slot.  In fact I'm not sure that any Socket A 
boards do (newegg didn't seem to have any).  You might as well move up 
to an Athlon 64.

> 
> Regarding the hard drives, I've done Ultra ATA drives before but want to
> do Serial ATA this time. I assume it's a simple 1-to-1 cable connect (no
> master-slave) 

That is correct.

> and there are no extra steps with building or installing
> on them.

Make sure you have a SATA compatible power-supply or some SATA power 
converters.