Will Linux work on my computer specs?
 

Hi there,

I'm hoping this is the right forum. I'm wishing to start using Mandrake Linux 9.2 on the following system and wish to check to see if my system is full compatible with Linux.


Those are the system specs as given to me by the computer manufacturer. The company who makes the computer is Medion, it's a large European computer manufacturer. The majority of parts used to make the computer are also from large companies such as ATI, Seagate, Sony, Intel, Pioneer, Intel, etc. etc.

Regarding the graphics card, I checked out ...*url removed since I cannot post a url until I've got at least five posts, however it was the url to the database of which ATI cards were Linux friendly*... and my graphics card doesn't seem to be listed there... so I'm guessing my graphics card won't work 100% or maybe not even at all since the latest listed there is the Radeon 9700 and I've got a Radeon 9800XT.
Any info on this?

I've put in bold all the makes of company. Medion themselves actually make a lot of parts too... I'm going to contact them to see who made the motherboard - whether they did or Asus. Medion have actually stopped making a lot of parts so that is why I'm going to contact about the mother board since I know they don't plan to make DVD Readers or DVD Writers however still make their own CD Writers and Readers.

If you need any more information, please let me know and I'll contact Medion and see what they say! :)
All company makes and models are mostly there - except for the odd here and there - so if you cannot make anything out, let me know and I'll check with Medion and then report back here! :)

Thanks everyone.

Everything looks okay, but, beware of the ATI 9800 cards. I haven't really heard any success stories with getting AT Radeon 9700/9800 cards working in Mandrake 9.2.

Now if you go with Mandrake 9.1, then it will work since I know others who have had no problems with Radeon cards on Mandrake 9.1.

Good luck!

Im sure linux will work - each distribution normally has a place on their website where you can check out if your hardware has been tested with their distribution.

If you visit different websites you will get a good idea of how linux friendly your system as a whole will be.

The joy of using linux for many though is in configuring / tweaking / hacking a system to get it to work with full functionality under linux. Its very rare to just do an install and everything works perfectly first time.

You can set up a duel boot on your computer, keeping windows until you feel comfortable with linux.

<< Now if you go with Mandrake 9.1, then it will work since I know others who have had no problems with Radeon cards on Mandrake 9.1. >>

Thanks for that. I'll look into Mandrake 9.1.


<< each distribution normally has a place on their website where you can check out if your hardware has been tested with their distribution >>

Yes, I've already checked the Mandrake website.... well, simply put they have some pretty old ATI devices up there and don't even have the newer ones which ATI lists themselves. I'm pretty sure the majority will work, the only things I wasn't sure about was the graphics card, dvd rewriter and dvd reader - since I've heard about problems with them from other people.


<< The joy of using linux for many though is in configuring / tweaking / hacking a system to get it to work with full functionality under linux. >>

I know, although unfortunately at the moment I'm a bit too new to linux to be doing those kinds of things... :p
However in the future, I would like to end up being a linux savvy person and be able to do it all with few problems. :D


<< You can set up a duel boot on your computer, keeping windows until you feel comfortable with linux. >>

I was actually planning to keep a dual boot, maybe even forever until some of the programs I like in Windows come over to Linux - however in Linux I'll be doing most of my "work" and stuff, like writing documents, going on the internet, talking via gaim and so on. In windows I'm planning to just use some of the graphics programs I have and so on.



Also another quick question if it's alright: which really is a better linux distro? I've been planning on using Mandrake for a while, however a few friends have recommend I use other distro's such as SuSE Pro or RedHat. What would really be the best one for me to use? I don't know anything now, however I do want to learn and I'm very intent on learning Linux well as I would like to use it instead of Windows.

Thanks for all the help. :)

aah, the distro question...

i'm using suse 8.2 and i'm very happy with it. i did try mandrake 9.0 & 9.1 but prefer suse. but, it's a matter of personal preference really. perhaps you could check out some magazine reviews.

Thanks for your comments Kevin. Yes, I think I'll certainly check out some reviews in magazines, and also online.
I checked out some reviews here on the two, and both seem to have pretty good reviews - and of course, heh, both had reviews saying how neither was good for total beginners, heh.

But I'm certainly going to be checking online and browsing through a few mags to see reviews and so on. Guess I'll just have to see. :)


Any more comments on either of my questions from more people is also much appreciated. :)

Thanks all.