Greetings

With Slackware 11.0 in the periphery of my vision, the 2.6.* kernel, the improved gcc, etc., and acknowledging the leaps forward in technology of on-line environments, multimedia files, and the need for memory-efficient usage of a machine's resources, I want to pose the following question:

If I were to build a Slackware-optimised machine from scratch at today's market price and availability, which hardware components should I use?

The following are broad limits:

1. Reasonable costs - the field is wide-open, but the pocket is not particularly deep
2. I am looking to build a desktop system on a LAN
3. The system should be able to handle a range of multimedia files, some games, OpenOffice.org apps, Internet, ... the usual really, but well - nice sound, good graphics, smooth motion, etc.
4. I'd be looking for a responsive system irrespective of the desktop environment it is running, and which does not baulk with multiple apps open
5. Suggestions about motherboard and RAM chips, CPU, fans, etc would be welcomed
6. Please no flaming other people's suggestions guys: I am asking for input, not igniting WWIII

I list Slackware specifically, because that is my preferred distro, and as it has fewer bells and whistles than a number of other distros, its demands might be different. They might not be. If anyone has any thoughts about that, that would be interesting to read too.

Thanks all

My 2 cents: Slack is Linux, and therefore the level of support a given component will have depends on how much the manufacturer supports Linux. Some manufacturers are notorious for weak Linux support (... hmmm... I'm thinking of a video card company whose name has three letters.....) while others have much better Linux support (such as that other video card company) and lastly, some components are OS-neutral (such as RAM and hard drives)

Since your main concern seems to be with performance, my main suggestion would be to be willing to spend a little more on a slightly faster CPU, more RAM, and a higher end video card. The truth is though, that most hardware is basically OS-neutral, and really doesn't care whether Windows or Linux is running on it.

Generally speaking, here's what I'd suggest:

1. Mobo - the CPU socket must match the CPU, and the CPU's front side bus (FSB) speed must be supported by the mobo. Similarly, the mobo must support the RAM speed. If you plan to use the onboard sound, video, LAN, etc, then check to see whether or not the chipsets are Linux-friendly. Additionally, you want to be sure that the mobo has enough expansion slots (and that the slots are the right kind) for your needs. If you are using stand-alone cards for video, sound, LAN, etc, then check whether or not that maufacturer offers Linux drivers. As for brands, everyone has their favorite, but I've been impressed with Asus.

2. CPU - you can't go wrong with either Intel or AMD. Personally, I have developed a preference for AMD, but out of the last 4 CPU's I've purchased, two were Pentiums and two were AMD Athlons. Looking forward, I plan on only buying AMD's, as I consider them to offer a better price/performance ratio than Intels. This is not a comment on quality (both are equal IMO) but rather an economic consideration.

3. RAM -- go with a reputable brand, and go with the fastest RAM your mobo can support. I like Kingston

4. Hard Drive -- everyone has their own preferences. For me, it's Western Digital

5. PSU -- don't overlook the PSU, and I would urge you to spend the extra money for a high quality brand. Poor PSU's usually fail at unexpected times, and when they do, they usually take out other components. The one and only time I bought a "budget" PSU, after about 6 months of trouble-free operation, it failed, and when it did it took out the CPU, mobo, and video card. Buy a quality brand (eg, Antec)

6. Video -- there are only two main choices here. One choice is based on the "3 letter company" and the other is nVidia. I've dropped the cash to buy both kinds of cards, but I will *never* buy another "3 letter" card. If video performance is important, then I'd suggest going with a card with at least 256Mg. I've got a 6600 and a 6800, and would recommend them without hesitation

7. Sound -- similar to video. Check that the manufacturer supports Linux or that drivers exist for the card you want to use. I have no recommendation here because I just use the onboard sound. If I want to do serious listening, I use my stereo

8. Printer -- avoid printers that rely on proprietary or Windows-only drivers. Regardless of Windows or Linux, the only printer I would ever buy is Hewlett Packard. They just work, and they work excellently. Plus Linux support is superb. Sure, there are other printers out there but why bother

9. CD/DVD -- generally anything works just fine. Personally I like Lite-On

10. NIC -- again, check if you need any special drivers. As long as you can get a connection, the specifics on the card usually don't really matter. Modern PC's will come with an onboard LAN port, so you may not even need a NIC

11. Case -- personally I like buying cases without a PSU, because I want to use one of my own choosing. The one exception I have to this rule is with Antec, because at least in my view, their cases and PSU's are very high quality. If you purchase a case where the PSU is included, be sure that the PSU is a reputable brand and that the wattage is sufficient for your needs. In other words, don't buy a case just because it "looks cool" or because it has illuminated fans.

12. Fans -- 120mm fans are gaining popularity, because they can spin at a slower rate while still moving more air than a standard 80mm. I like 120's, and given a choice between them and 80's, I go with 120's. However, this is purely a "nice to have" and would not be a factor in a purchasing decision.

Good luck with it, whatever your decision

You might want to use some kind of program that logs your activities thoroughly on the box you're currently using the most, so you can
a) identify the ressource hogs on the memory (e.g. Firefox), processor, drives
b) discover the bottlenecks hardware-wise (for me this has been mostly RAM)
c) optionally, track down your favourite applications
If you find something that does all of this and gives you a log at the end of the day/week/month automagically, let me know

Just a few additions to what J.W. has posted:
4. Hard disk drives: A 250GB hdd isn't going to be of much use if it all comes crashing down on you because of a power outage. Being a desktop user myself I just burn my vital por^H^H^H text files and such on DVDs now and then. Really depends on where you're living (how stable your mains supply is). The only trouble London seems to be having right now is with water, right? So you probably won't be needing an UPS. Either way (two smaller hard drives or one big one) I'd give SATA a go, since it seems to be quite convenient (it behaves like an USB device). Try to get any data about it's MTBF (if the manufacturer says it has a MTBF of 2.235 gazillion hours, best check the net for it's real MTBF ).

8. Printer: If you buy a new one, best get a laser printer, don't let the inkjet industry milk you dry. If you really need things in colour, ask a friend or visit your local copy shop.