haertig

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Barebones small form factor system. Runs Debian nicely.

Only real issues were with SATA and ethernet on initial install. Both fixed relatively easily. Newer kernesl appear to alleviate the problems I encountered.

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Kernel 2.6.8 (Debian SARGE) did not detect SATA drive. However, newer kernel from Debian SID did. I believe support for this chipset/SATA combination came in around kernel 2.6.10 or 11. This is a known issue with the nForce3 chipset.

Installing Debian SARGE with the 2.4.?? kernel option did detect SATA, but did not detect onboard ethernet. I did not attempt to troubleshoot the ethernet problem because I was not interested in running a 2.4 kernel.

2.6.12 kernel detected SATA and ethernet, but for some reason it was assigning eth0 to the firewire and eth1 to the normal network interface. I manually edited /lib/modules/2.6.12-1-686/modules.ieee1394map and commented-out the eth1394 line to workaround.

Running kernel 2.6.14-1-686 I no longer see the firewire/ethernet problem and do not need to comment-out eth1394 the ieee1394.map file. SATA works fine. Green light recommendation for the system with this kernel.

System runs extremely cool. Noload temps run 39_degrees_sys/38_degrees_CPU and highload temps run 43_sys/50_CPU with an Athlon64 3000+

RECOMMENDED, but go for newer kernels to avoid some head scratching.

haertig

Update to my previous review:

Over time, this system has started to run hotter than before. So I withdraw my earlier comment about "runs extremely cool"

No-load temps are in the same ballpark as before, averaging around 41 Celcius. But high load temps have skyrocketed. Something intensive like compiling a new kernel will rapidly bring temps up to 62-63 Celcius, which is getting very near the top of where this processor should go. I replaced the generic CPU thermal paste with Artic Silver and used compressed air to blast out the fins on the CPU heatsink/fan unit. It still runs at the high temp when at load. There is no replacement CPU heatsink/fan that I can find (and no room inside to fit a larger 3rd party unit)

I have lowered my rating of this SFF system because of the heat issues that have crept up. This has nothing to do with Linux compatibility, but may be an issue for someone considering this SFF/mobo for high-load applications. The only hardware change between my initial review and now was the addition of a second harddisk. This, of course, could have much to do with the heat issue - especially given the tight SFF configuration.