Hi,

I would like to build a new system but I don't know if this configuration is compatible with Mandrake 8.2 or 9.0 (or Linux in general).

System:
Processor: athlon xp 2200+ (1.80)
Motherboard: ASUS A7N8X Deluxe (nforce 2 chipset)
Memory: 512 MB
HDD: IBM deskstar 40Gig 7200rpm
Video card: Geforce 4 ti4200 agp 8x
Cd-rw: lite-on 48/24/48
Sound: onboard
Ethernet: onboard

So, please let me know if this system is OK. If it isn't I would like to know what is the problem and what could replace it.

For now, I have a boxed edition of Mandrake 8.2 but if some of this hardware isn't compatible with 8.2 but is with 9.0, I can download or buy a boxed edition of 9.0 if necessary.

If you need more precision let me know.

Thx,
spy5600

THe best way to do this is reading the distro documentation. I dont see anything wrong ( even the onboard sound should be ok), but just check drake`s web page or your manual, as you have a boxed distro.

Ok thanks for the reply.

I just wanted to know if it would work. My main concern was and still is the nforce2 chipset.

But the problem is that my boxed edition date is quite old (July 2002 I think) and the nforce2 chipset didn't exist at that time, so there's no information about it in my documentation. Also, I looked at the Mandrake website but they only talk about the nforce chipset (not 2). So is nforce2 well supported by linux?

Thx,
spy5600

Oh,

I would also like to know if serial ata is working under linux. I don't entend to use it but, it's on the board so maybe I will use it someday.

Thx,
spy5600

Finally, I have checked some forum and saw that people had trouble with nforce2 based motherboard.

So, should I get a A7N8X (nforce2 based) or a A7V8X (VIA kt400 based)

Finally, I think I am going to go with the A7V8X because I think it will give me less trouble than the A7N8X (if someone tells me that the nforce2 chipset won't give me more trouble than the kt400, I going with the nforce2 for sure. But, the more I read, the more I'm going away from it).

But, I have another question. The video card I wan't to buy is an ti4200 agp 8x. The problem is that I read some thread and if I understood correctly, agp 8x doesn't work under the kernel 2.4, only in the 2.5 (and I don't want to use the 2.5 because I'm only a newbie). So, do you think it will work? I really don't care to use agp 4x if needed.

Thx,
Spy5600