comments on this MB/CPU for ubuntu system
 

Hi folks.

My xubuntu machine seems to be dying; I'd like to replace the MB and CPU. This machine sees very light duty, so I don't need a powerhouse and I don't want to spend a lot. I want to use my existing case, so I need micro-atx form factor. I'm mostly concerned about linux compatibility.

Thoughts on this combo?:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138377

Thanks!

Hi there,

Linux compatibility shows at the details. The CPU is more or less irrelevant, but the video and audio subsystems are interesting, as well as the network controller being used.

AMD sempron, a single-core CPU. Quite okay for low or moderate demands.
Up to 16GB memory, that's a helluva lot.
ATI Radeon graphics solution, that shouldn't be a problem. Neither should the sound chip.
Almost any Realtek network controller should work with Linux. Pity that it's not fast Ethernet, but only 100Mbit.
I appreciate the presence of two PS/2 ports for keyboard and mouse, as well as the presence of a legacy IDE port for PATA hard disks or CD/DVD drives. For future expansion, you'll probably choose SATA drives. Have to, I'm afraid.
I'd regret that the onboard video solution only supports one monitor; I've become very much used to my dual-monitor setup during the last few years.

On the whole, not exactly a Cray-II, but definitely comfortable for the average home user.

[X] Doc CPU

I would try a lighter distro than Xubuntu for that combo, but it should work regardless. Will be a tad on the slow side but if not gaming no real issue IMHO.

(Yes, I know Xubuntu is supposed to be a 'light' distro).

Hi there,

an assessment of that kind is always subjective. I think for most casual users, this system has enough power under the hood. Round it off with a 250GB HDD and 2GB, or maybe 4GB of RAM, and you're well off.

"Supposed to" is the right term here. Actually, when Ubuntu still had Gnome2, I could hardly find a difference in responsiveness between xubuntu (xfce) and the regular Ubuntu (Gnome2). Sometimes, I even thought that xfce was somewhat sluggish, while Gnome usually reacted crisp and swift.

[X] Doc CPU

http://www.biostar-usa.com/app/en-us...nt.php?S_ID=28

Its got an RTL8105T....which I have never heard of. It may not work with linux.
VIA VT1708B which is crap, but I spose you arent buying this for sound quality.
Old 3000 series radeon video which has had the closed soruce video drivers dropped.

Does you case fit mITX boards?

I'd be temped to buy an AMD E350 system. Only a bit more cost, they have newer and still supported HD6XXX AMD video, and mostly have better networking and sound as well. Power consumption is also better, and its multicore as well. Though it wont be as fast for single threaded stuff, it would multitask better.

*edit- or FM1, it only a few $$ mroe expensive and would be better all round than the sempron/biostar 760G.

AMD A4-3400 Llano 2.7GHz dual core, $45-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819106014

JetWay JTA75MG FM1 AMD A75, $45-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813153217

SATA III (760G is SATAII), USB 3.0, 10/100/1000 networking.

Ubuntu was up until unity very gnome-centric. Many versions of xubuntu were heavier than ubuntu.....that wasnt the fault of Xfce, it was due to development and some rather odd choices for defult settings and programs with xubuntu.

Xfce wasn't miles faster than gnome 2.X when I was playing with it but it was faster and lighter. I mostly compared gnome 2.X vs xfce with debian.

I think with some setting tweaking and maybe fluxbox it would be reasonably fast.