Comments on: Advice on building a Linux box

By: jax

jax — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:46:08 +0000

on a linux system with the software first approach cinelerra video editor is suggested to run on 64 almost exclusively. Which makes me wonder which other linux software demands 64. Inkscape routinely bogs down on my p4 with 900 plus meg ram. Or is the lack of a graphics card the bigger issue ?

By: W^L+

W^L+ — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:27:04 +0000

For the last year or so, a 64-bit Flash plugin has been available from Adobe. There is also 64-bit Java.

Someone above said to pick software first, then choose compatible hardware. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Your software selection will change every six months to a year, even if the kinds of tasks don’t change. If you didn’t choose hardware that can handle the changes you need, you’ll kick off a hardware upgrade cycle before your current hardware has a chance to payback your investment.

Penguin-friendly since 1998.

By: nealio

nealio — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:12:45 +0000

If you want to do audio production using a realtime kernel, then stay away from Nvidia boards. It is a lot of trouble (or nearly impossible) to get the realtime kernel to cooperate with the nvidia video drivers.

By: frustrated

frustrated — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:04:39 +0000

This is an important topic and deserves to be done right. I have researched the hardware for every computer I have built. There is certainly a big difference between compatibility and having the best support for powerful and affordable hardware. I would like an article on this subject with more accurate information and in depth evaluation.

By: Aeiluindae

Aeiluindae — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:55:30 +0000

ATI’s driver support has come a long way. It still sucks, but there’s hope. Catalyst can be hit and miss still (although its getting better), but the open-source drivers are getting there, too. I’ve got 3D acceleration on a Radeon HD 3200 with drivers built from the git repository. There are still lots of performance improvements that need to be made, and they need to get power management working, but I’m hopeful for good driver support in the near future. There’s hope, now, where there was none when I bought my laptop a year ago with no choice about the graphics card, or knowledge of the driver issues.

By: Apopas

Apopas — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:46:12 +0000

You mention the open and closed source driver for NVidia cards and saying that you can use nouveau if you don’t want the closed one, failing to mention that nouveu is very imature at the momment and capable only for 2D.
On the other hand you say to avoid the ATI cards because their closed source driver can be a hassle without mentioning the open source one which is more mature than nouveau and also for older cards is a complete driver that works out of the box without hassle…

By: RIVE

RIVE — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:34:03 +0000

I use 64 bit Linux, flash is no problem at all, i use my lap and desktop with 64bit Debian, works really well, every package that i need has a 64 bit version

By: Daily Links for 02/01/2010 | Blog | Bob Sutor

Daily Links for 02/01/2010 | Blog | Bob Sutor — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:33:06 +0000

[...] Advice on building a Linux box [...]

By: eck

eck — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:23:32 +0000

“ISA sound cards”… it’s 2010 not 1990.

By: Conditioned

Conditioned — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:42:22 +0000

I would also recommend using Intel nic´s over dcom anyday. Most ops in #debian @efnet agree there (we talked about this years ago).

You are also talking about building a new machine and talk about isa sound cards. A bit odd to day the least, iirc isa hasnt really been used since the first pentium generation, or maybe even 486.

I agree, go with x64, having the choice of +3 or 4 gigs of ram on a workstation (and ofc server) is really nice. Even if flash wouldnt be working perfectly, you are probably going to build a machine for the future, not for what is exactly right now or weeks or even months ago.

By: JohnMc

JohnMc — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:06:33 +0000

Go 64 bit if you can. There is a flash 64bit code base available.

I also think your selection process is backwards. Identify the software first that
will be on the system first. Then note the peripheral hardware that will optimize
that usage experience. Then select the hardware that will coexist with that total
package combination.

By: GoblinX Project » GoblinX Newsletter, Issue 235 (01/31/2010)

GoblinX Project » GoblinX Newsletter, Issue 235 (01/31/2010) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 12:35:33 +0000

[...] Advice on building a Linux box [...]

By: John Stephenson

John Stephenson — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 03:02:57 +0000

Since when is there no 64-bit support for Adobe Flash? That was the main reason I switched from 32-bit. For anyone who has 3GB or more of RAM, you should go 64-bit. The 64-bit OS will run faster, although it will use slightly more RAM and slightly more HDD space.

Surround sound has never been a problem either. If your audio card works with 2 channels, it’s a safe bet it will work with 5.1. Everything else is excellent advice, especially about using Intel/Nvidia video. I’ve nothing good to say about ATI, hopefully this will change soon.

By: an0n

an0n — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:39:41 +0000

“Unless you have an application (or need) for more than 4 Gigs of ram, go with 32 bit Linux”

Unless you have a k6-2 333Mhz cpu system go with 64-bit on any “modern’ system.

. Asus is always a solid MB choice also…