So I need to build a linux box, and I really do need help.

However I've found that the newer the hardware, the more likely you are at buying something that is not yet supported ( I.e onboard sound ship ).

Could someone please recommend the best components that would make up a linux machine where I can get optimal use out the device being supported to it's best capabilities. Please include manufacturer and model name or number: Thanks! Here is what I need:

1) Sound Card
2) Video Card
3) DVD/CDROM Player
4) Motherboard
5) Hard Drive
6) NIC card
7) Video Editor Card ( with TV and RADIO )
8) Modem
9) Processor
10) etc. ( fan, ... )

Thanks,

Robert Liguori

Best thing to do would be to check the hardware compatibility list:

http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Hardware-HOWTO/index.html

Last time it was updated was Nov 2002

But...if you're interested in installing RedHat or Mandrake, they have their own lists:

http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/fhard.php3

http://www.redhat.com/software/linux/technical/hcl/

There's an abundance of new and old hardware out there that will work with Linux, and I really feel that the newer hardware is being supported more quickly than it used to.

It's hard to say that you should buy any ONE component for your system, so I can really only provide URLs to places where you can do some research. One word of advice is to be careful about finding hardware that looks "sort of" the same or "close enough". Hardware manufacturers have a bad habit of completely changing their designs while still retaining similar model numbers.

Hope this was helpful, and good luck!

Joe

My thoughts...
Go with an ASUS A7V-333 for the motherboard. Asus posts the onboard sound drivers on their site, so that takes care of the sound/Motherboard.

I'd personally opt for an ATI RAGE card (any of the RAGE should be peachy) or a GeForce2/TNT2

Drivers in the latest SuSE and RH should cover either card.

NIC: 3C905B - Rock Solid 10/100 card, drivers have been in Windows in 98, and in Linux for longer.

Hard Drive, assuming you're not building this to run a mission critical 24x7x366 service, then any of the ATA drives should suite you to a T, stick to brands you know and trust, and buy as much space as you can afford. If Linux will be alone on the box, then you don't have to worry about boundries on the disk (if you try to drop a linux install on an existing drive waaaaayyyy out on the drive (past about 30GB in my exp, then you'll need to boot from a floppy)

Modem, stick with a REAL modem; check the box, make sure it doesn't say windows modem. USR/3Com once again on this one. I use a USR Data/Fax internal (it doesn't say windows anywhere). If you want to be 100% safe, go external.

Processor; if you go with the A7V, then you'll be looking into an Ahtlon XP processor. hit pricewatch.com to determine the price-breakpoint that you can live with, and get the fastest you're willing to pay for.

As for DVD/CD, I'm using a Pioneer DVD (read only) drive, and a Plextor burner, and I've been happy as a clam with both. I burn, I read DVD's no fits.

Fans/etc... Get fans that'll fit the fan spaces in your chassis, don't go trying to cram a 12cm fan into an 8cm hole. Look for fans with 3-pin molex connectors, so that you can connect them to the motherboard.

Now the stumper. The GATOS project on sourceforge has been working on getting all of the vivo features from the ATI All-In-Wonder cards to work under Linux/FreeX86. So far, on my box with an AIWRadeon 7500, everything they've produced works for me. http://gatos.sourceforge.net/

I've had mixed success getting a SoundBlaster Live! or Audigy working, but it's only been when I try to do digital output (to my digital speakers) that it hasn't worked. Otherwise, if you don't like the notion of onboard sound, the Live! and Audigy have worked well for me.

Cheers! and good luck

Just something to keep in mind - on average its alot easier to set up an External Serial modem than a software Winmodem - however - if you do decide to try for a Winmodem - check this site out for info

http://www.linmodems.org/

You shouldnt have any compatibility problems with standard hardware like Hard drives, Cd rom drives, Floppies etc.

Can someone suggest a good web cam that works with linux?

Does anyone know of a webcam that I can adapt to work from /dev/video1?

Thanks.