lets see, a tipical newbie thread?

ok lets start like this. i know a lot about windows and computer hardware. but about linux.. i guess almost nothing... i have high analitical skills and logistic...

now.. my pc:
amd k6-2 @ 550mhz, 256 pc100 mem, sis530 board (integrated audio cm, video, modem etc) and 2 hdd's. as it right now i have win98 + win2k + suse.. i think ver 9... not sure... kinda old tho

my problem is: suse is bloddy slow, yaks (whatever is called, dont have internet at home) says my video cards its 630 something... suse hardware tool recognize it properly, control center doesnt know anything (let me tell ya that module its hard to use)...
i have an old version of ubuntu which i like but i like to have more "software", i cant install mandrake or fedore cuz my disc's arent working anymore (scraches ) and well... i wanted to try redhat 6.2 but i dont quite understand the install process... slackware its also a small distro etc... anyways..

i want a distro with gnome (i cant get to find how to switch to gnome within suse) cuz i feel like gnome is faster. also something that will run flawlessly with my old pc, also i dont care if the install may be hard as i heard from gentoo since im willing to learn stuff... and well.. some gaming aint bad :P

i have tried live knoppix, kinda like it... but i want something installed... not run it from CD... so... any clues any additional info ya want me to add?

lol the "newbie faq read 1st" was pretty much rite, with that kind of thread title ya ppl wont even mind in going in...

The *buntus have a pot load of "software" in their repositories. I can't imagine you'll find another distro with significantly more choices. Maybe you just need to learn how to install the packages.

Try XFCE instead of GNOME. It's lighter, but "feels" alot like GNOME. IceWM and Fluxbox are lighter still.

Try Gentoo or LFS or Damn Small Linux or Slackware or Arch.

Fluxbox on something like slackware would run nicely on your computer. Alternatively maybe get a hold of xubuntu which comes with xfce as default window manager. Dont use Gnome unless you want major lag. Every new version they bring out is harder on older hardware than the one before, and at the minute its not something i'd use on anything under 1GHz.

My best suggestion would be Xubuntu.

Also your video card is likely an SiS 630, dont expect any 3D Acceleration from it.

Alternatively why not install knoppix to your hard drive, their is a utility to do it on the cd (or at least their is on my copy of knoppix 5.1). Its a bit longwinded, but it will go on with patience (and a little luck).

I personally run Fedora Core 5 on an old AMD 500, heavily modded to remove the bloat, and using fluxbox, but it runs fast and does everything i need. The download cost is 1 dvd or 5 cds, but you could probably locate a copy by asking around, or finding out where your nearest LUG is. The same goes for the other distros. Joining a LUG might be the best idea, then you make a few friends and have access to easy (local(ish)) support, and will no doubt be able to lay your hands on installation media for a lot of distros quite easily.

But if not just download something and try it.