Hello,

1) I'm interested in buying a motherboard that's Linux compatible. Does anyone recommend one that has on board: Video; LAN; Sound; Modem - and also supports SATA? I'm thinking of starting out w/Mandrake, or Red-Hat Fedora. Ultimately I'd like serer/desktop options for: a Web-Server; Streaming Video Server; File/Print Server; and a Mail-Server; so network compatibility is key too.

2) Also, are there good archive search methods not to duplicate the same old same old questions you all answer over and over? I went to search:

*Hardware compatibility + motherboard
*Linux + motherboard
*Linux + hardware compatibility + motherboard

Unfortunately, I got everything but that. I'd like to think I can figure some things which I'm sure is vital in switching to Linux. With ooogles of threads I think I'm doing something wrong in my search approach.

Most of the mother boards are compatible with linux. I have intel original mother board and i run linux without any problems.

I use an nforce2 motherboard (you can pick any brand), that works pretty well in linux (I use Debian sid). I don't think you'll find hardly any motherboards with onboard modems, but I could be wrong. Most nforce2's (you can probably use nforce3 or 4, but I don't have personal experience with those) have onboard sound, ethernet, and some have SATA and onboard video. The only downside to the nforce 2 is that if you want to use the audio on it, you'll have to use nvidia's proprietary drivers. I don't use those proprietary drivers, I have an ancient SB Live, but I assume it works well, their proprietary video drivers rock!