[H-GEN] Linux (or FreeBSD) and Socket 7 Motherboards

[Steve]

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[ Humbug *General* list - semi-serious discussions about Humbug and ]
[ Unix-related topics.  Please observe the list's charter.          ]

Hi All,

I have a K6-2/400 CPU here and am considering getting a motherboard that
supports this processor (my existing Linux PC is using an old Servex Socket
7 board that seems not to support this CPU, nor does it have anywhere I can
find to download an updated BIOS from).

Which Socket 7 chipsets (since Intel is now out of this game) are fully
supported under Linux (or FreeBSD)?  I am willing to purchase a new board
for this computer if I have to, but am quite willing to use a 2nd hand board
if someone has one lying around they want to get rid of for a decent price.

I am currently running a P-166 in my sole Linux box, and this machine acts
as a firewall, proxy,  dial-up and Samba server.  I want to leave this
machine basically as is, but move Samba services to another box (the K6-2)
and use the new K6-2 machine as a learning tool - a bit difficult to do this
on my existing box now.

Any and all help and comments appreciated.

Regards,
Hilton Travis

I've been using a K6-2 300Mhz for my linux box for over a year - it works
great, and no troubles at all. Motherboards aren't really the sort of thing
you need support or drivers for - unless its a really funky board, linux
will handle it fine.

As for your not being able to use your old socket 7 board, theres actually a
distinction between 'socket' and 'super' 7 boards. The super 7 boards have
support for higher speeds, different voltages, and higher multipliers.
Basically - a socket 7 goes up to max 233Mhz (roughly, you may be able to
push it to 250 or even 266, depending on the board) and super 7 boards
support up to 550Mhz+.

No amount of BIOS upgrades will help you there.

However there is a gizmo on the market that plug into the mobo in the chip
socket and change the multiplier settings so you can push an old socket 7 to
higher multipliers, but I've never seen it, and I don't know how much they
cost.

Steve.


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