I've been successful at the compilation! Running custom-configured 2.6.11.6 kernel now. So far, so good. The memory is reported correctly. Video is much better too (with a recent nVidia driver).

The next to-do is to get the monitor tick at 100 rather than 85 hz and 32 bit depth with 1600x1200 (which I can under Windows and see two facing pages in a page layout application). Frequency drop-down list ends at 85. It will be interesting to get inside XF86Config and probably do some driver tweaks. Then I can be in business as far as hardware is concerned.

What is power line frequency in russia? I think that much of europe is 50 hz; seems to me that a 100hz screen refresh would be undesirable because it would beat with flourescent lights. 85 Hz has the advantage of not beating with anything.

The power frequency in Russia is not like in the US; it is equal to that in Europe -- 50.

[Oh, Russia... that riddle inside an enigma wrapped in mystery.
You must expect to be surprised every step of the way.]

A refresh of 85 does not look as good as 100. Maybe this perception has something to do with the resolution too. I think I must be able to get from my video subsystem the same parameters that are possible under Windows.