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From: "Frank Brand" <fbrand at uq.net.au>
To: <general at lists.humbug.org.au>
Subject: Re: [H-GEN] 
Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 12:03:46 +1000
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>Hi list,
>I want to build a computer to run Linux, (Ive given up on the packard bell
>dual boot)
>so what is the cheapest way to go about it for hardware and what is the
>minimum requrements. I wont have any trouble doing it, I just want you
>opinion on the best way to go about it.


My 2 cents:-

Depends how much you want to pay to join the megahertz war.

I think that, if you have the spare cash, new computers are so cheap for
computing power it is better value to buy a new one. Say Celeron or Duron
800-900 with 256 Mb RAM and a 20 Gb HDD, 52X CDROM should cost about $750
without a monitor. I think thats pretty good value really and you get a
warranty too!

If you want to go second hand and save some dollars I suggest buying a whole
box rather than components as it will be cheaper (of course if you can cadge
the stuff off mates it might be cheaper again but you might get what you pay
for too).

At the moment there are some good inexpensive P166's about. I sold a nice
one recently for $180 with ASUS ATX desktop case, 97 Mb RAM, Matrox video
card, SONY CDROM, Intel Pro+ network card, 2.1 GB Quantum HDD. These could
be upgraded to P200 for around $50 or P233 for a bit more (P233 chips are
hard to find).

As an example of cost, buying components (good components) second hand might
be :-

1. ATX case & PS $20 +
2. FDD $10
3. Mouse $5
4. Keyboard $5
5. Video Card $10
6. 2.1 GB HDD $60
7. HX motherboard $25 +
8. P166 CPU and fan $10 +
9. 97 Mb RAM (72 pin) $60
10. CDROM $20

So if you got some good stuff it would probably cost in excess of $200 -
$225 for components. Of course you may already have some of these. Choice of
motherboard is critical as it influences the case, video card, memory and
even hard disk drive choices (eg if you get an unsupported motherboard
fitting a bigger - ie over 2.1 GB - drive might be difficult but, OTOH, as
long as Linux or Windows sees a drive there the fact that the whole drive is
seen by the BIOS is not a problem - it will usually be seen by the OS) 72
pin RAM is more expensive than SDRAM. Also go for an ATX case if possible as
they will be useable into the future AT cases are an investment in
yesterday. Be wary of motherboards with the Houston real time clock...get
one with a silver lithium battery. Also be wary of the Chinese PCChips
boards...the Taiwanese ones seem to be Ok tho.

If you wanted to go for higher speed the Pentium II's might range around
$300 to $500 for a box.

Minimum configuration depends on your use. For a GUI the minimum I would use
is P166 64 Mb RAM but for console only something less will do but a P166 is
so reasonable now and the older hardware (earlier Pentiums and 486's) is now
over 6 years old and prone to failure, unless saving $50 is really critical
just go for the 166.

I am not a great fan of dual booting off the same HDD either, I'd go for two
smaller disks and  have a separate disk for each OS. You can easily use one
disk but I just prefer not to.

As you have found out Packard Bell is not an easy box to work on...its a
pain to work out how to even open the towers...most proprietory boxes are to
be avoided for a hardware hacker ( eg Compaq, Dell, HP, Packard Bell, IBM
etc etc) they are very proprietory and parts are often hard to come by. Eg a
HP power supply for the socket seven box is over $200 and a generic $30
power supply can not be used etc etc.

As you have already seen, chose your hardware carefully so that it is Linux
compatible.

If you want to call me to explore this in more detail...I am available on
3379-9189.


Frank Brand


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