Building a desktop for linux

I am having a hard time deciding on a motherboard. Anyone here have any experience on which mobo is fully supported with the latest kernel?

I already decided to get the q6600, 4 gbs ram, 2 250 HDD, with a low end nvidia GPU.

The desktop will be used for networking, media center, encoding, bittorrenting (uploading/downloading), and light linux gaming (id software games). Main focus will be networking.

My budget, I would like to spend the least possible but not too cheap for the long run. I definitely want a quad core .

 

Not that the difference is that big, but I've had better experiences with ATI cards over Nvidia. Otherwise it looks like a nice rig.

 

I have a DFI Lanparty nf3(about 3+ years old)MOBO and I really like it. Everything on it seems to work fine with Linux. Not to mention that the BIOS is the most detailed that I have ever seen for overclocking(which I don't do).

 

Your best bet is to choose a motherboard with the features you want, and then Google for Linux + that model name, and see what pops up. Most chips are supported any more, so the only real issues will possibly be with the sound drivers, if those are oddball or not. Other than that, SATA, USB, Ethernet, all that should be quite well supported.

 

Alright, what do you guys think of this set up?

Motherboard

Processor

Memory

HDD X 2

ODD

Case

PSU

Total $619.92 (was 580 yesterday )

I am a little iffy about the PSU, I am not sure if its enough for later in the future if I decide to get a mid range discrete gpu. I sort of just pick the PSU from the "Current Best Computer You Can Get For $X U.S." thread. How much better did ATI's driver have gotten? Being a network desktop, I prefer less crashes if possible.

 

Is there a reason you're going with the MicroATX? Is it because you wanted integrated graphics? Because you could get a much larger motherboard with more expansion ports (good if you want to upgrade in the future) and fit it into that same case. The PSU is also pretty much overkill for the features you're driving. You only need a 300W or so PSU for your whole machine there. The CPU is 95W (a good choice, BTW), and you don't have anything else that pulls that much power. The only reason I'd go with a 550W PSU is if you got a bigger motherboard that supported more devices for expansion, such as some aftermarket graphics cards if you wanted to beef up the GPU horsepower, and get off the integrated stuff.

The RAM looks good, I'd consider upgrading to 2x2GB if you can afford it.

ATI's drivers work pretty well. I don't do any 3D work with mine, though... it's purely a media center machine, and only plays video on our 61" TV The other machines I have that actually do 3D work all have NVidia cards or the Intel X3100. I have heard that they do pretty good for 3D, I just don't have any personal experience.

Your optical drive link is to the RAM, not a drive, but I've had great experience with anything Lite-On, so that's my recommendation.

I think that's about it... let me know if you have any more specific questions

 

I am also going to build a desktop for linux. I ordered the stuff for the PC recently. The motherboard will be the same. According to users of the phoronix forum the GA-MA78GM-S2H works well with linux (apart from HDMI-Audio maybe).
If you prefer a better integrated GPU you could wait for a motherboard with the Radeon HD 3300 (but current Catalys driver (8.8) probably not support the HD 3300). If the graphic performance of the HD 3200 is to bad you could upgrade it with the HD 4470, HD 4650 or HD 4670 which will be released by ATI this month.
Could be that the Linux-catalyst drivers will support CrossFire with these graphiccards in a few month or weeks. The current version of the catalyst drivers (8.8) supports Crossfire with the HD 4850 and HD 4870.

I've choosen a memory with 800 MHz and 2GB. Not sure if the 1066MHz is worth the more money.

 

Thanks pitabred! I didn't really choose the microatx due to its size but because neweggs did not have anyway to filter them out . Also, I read on other forum that gigabye have great hardware support for linux.

Motherboard

Processor

Memory

HDD X 2

ODD

Case

PSU

For only few more $$$ - $658.93! With the biostar mobo, 4 GB RAM, and the correct ODD .

 

Back home my desktop has a Gigabyte DS3 (which revision can't remember) mobo and a Gigabyte NVidia 8300GT (I think???). I could find the exact specs if you like.

Everything runs great in Linux (Ubuntu Feisty/Gutsy), with the exception of wireless, but in my case that was a separate pci-express card. HTH.

 

Looks good to me The one thing to be careful of is the SATA ports on the Biostar. My current mobo bit me because the SATA ports were horizontally aligned like they are on that one, so I have to use a PCI SATA card because the ports are pointed right into the power supply of my media center case. I need to upgrade Check how the mobo will be oriented in the case you chose, and if those are clear for cables, I'd say you're well on your way to a nice, inexpensive desktop.