What Distro should I install?
 

Guys I have the following specifications:

Shuttle XPC SN95G5
AMD Athlon 64 4000+
ATI Radeon X800 XT
Audigy 2
160GB Maxtor SATA
A serial 56kbps external modem

What distro should I install? I'm still a novice in linux, and I want to know which distro can maximize my hardware. What I mean is which has the available modules and easy to install.

I tried to install Slackware to no avail because of the SATA hard drive.

Thanks!

PS: Sorry for my bad english, filipino guy here.

Suse 9.2 64bit. It comes with the main 32bit package for 9.2. 2XDVD v9 and 5 CD's. Just my opinion, but you know what opinions are like.

Be sure to install apt4rpm after you get Suse installed. google apt4rpm suse.

I have read that Gentoo works as well. Make sure you use the development-sources which is a 2.6 kernel. I don't think the 2.4 kernels support the SATA drives.

Later

:D :D :D :D

Moved: This thread is more suitable in Linux-Distributions and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

Thank you for your replies. I might consider downgrading to PATA drives. :(

Thanks for moving this thread XavierP :)

Preparing to install Linux:
# Choosing a Linux Distribution:
Will your hardware work?
Do you have good RAM? Memtest86 - A Stand-alone Memory Diagnostic
A Beginner's Guide to Choosing a Linux Distribution
Reasons to Choose or Not Choose Linux
LWN distro list
elinux Linux Distributions
# Freeware tools for partitioning/resizing hard drive partitions:
Any Linux Live CD usually have fdisk, cfdisk and other tools available
Ranish Partition Manager
# Understanding Linux Filesystem layout:
Directory Navigation Help File
Filesystems, Directories, and Devices Help File
Proper Filesystem Layout
Advanced filesystem implementor's guide (requires registration)

Do I buy a boxed source, download off the internet or buy some cheap CDs?
It's your choice! If you download, I suggest that you check the md5sums on the Linux ISO Images and make sure you know how to burn ISOs in Windows to install Linux
# Cheap CDs
Discount Linux CDs
Linux Central
Cheapbytes
TuxCDs
ComputerHelperGuy
CheapISO
Os Heaven

Try downloading the free versions first, then when you find one you like you can buy the boxed version. This will give you an idea of how the other distro's work. Gentoo should work good, also give MEPIS a try, it's easy for people switching over to get started.

One way to test Gentoo and most any distro, is to boot the install CD. Usually if that works you can make the install work too. The kernel that is used is the most important thing. If the kernel does not support what you have, you may have a issue, if possible at all.

I would suspect that any distro that uses a recent 2.6 kernel, or has the option like Gentoo to pick your kernel, it should work.

Do you know what chipset your mobo has? I can look for the kernel options and see if it is supported here. I use 2.6.8 Gentoo kernel. I haven't updated because I haven't rebooted in about 4 months. They newer ones also do not have supermount support. I'll be glad to check on it for you though, even though Gentoo is a little rough on the install. :tisk:

Later

:D :D :D :D :D

Try Knoppix, from CD. That is, try running it; there isn't anything to install.

I'm running Debian, which I recommend over RH. But Knoppix is fine in a pinch since it boots and runs from the CD and won't muck up your hd unless yuo tell it to. My experience with it has shown it to recognize everything in any machine I've run it on and it sets up faster than any other Plug and Play $OS I've seen.

turkix
http://www.turkix.org/index1.php?newlang=english

BTW, You can also install Knoppix (my install ended up being Debian SID) using the Knoppix live CD.

Thanks for all your replies. I have downloaded free versions of Fedora Core 3, Slackware 10, RedHat 9 and Suse 9.2 64Bit. But I am open for more suggestions and try to download them when I do have the time.

With regards to my mobo's chipset, I believe SN95G5 uses nForce3 250.

My setup plan is dual boot (Window$ XP and Linux). I'll be needing Window$ when post processing pictures (Photoshop) and play Games. Other than that, all tasks will be on linux.

My main concern is the SATA hard drive. Thanks for all the help.

OK. I did a bit of searching and found these:

about half way down. Use find to search the page for "nforce3":

http://www.linuxmafia.com/faq/Hardware/sata.html

Also about half way down, look at post by Augustus, he has a list in there:

http://www.linuxhardware.org/cgi-bin...=19;t=32;st=20

Look under "nForce3 Ultra Linux Support" which is a bit under the first two pics. It tells where the drivers are in the config:

http://www.linuxhardware.org/feature.../1654258.shtml

That is a bit to read and may require a bit of stiching together but it did help me to find this in the 2.6.11-gentoo-r4 kernel config screen:

It looks like it should work if whatever you install detects it properly. If you need to use this, this is the path to the drivers: Device Drivers > SCSI device support > SCSI low-level drivers, just in case you need to know that. Also make sure you have your BIOS set up properly before you start the install. From what I have read, that is critical.

Now go install something and let us know how well, ;) , it goes.

Hope all that helps. I'm on a slow dial-up and it takes a while to get all that. :( :(

Later

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reihat, you need not use PATA. Here is a kernel native card that will let you use your SATA without any linux configuration.

http://www.8anet.com/merchant.ihtml?...atid=86&step=4

It's an 8006-2LP 3ware RAID card. Well worth the money if you are ever thinking about SATA/RAID/Linux or just JBOD. 100 bucks more, but at least you get to keep the hardware you already have.

I think that with the info I linked to he can use what he has. It appears to be supported by the newer kernels.

Let us know what happens though.

:D :D :D :D