New Linux box. Need suggestions
 

I'm new to linux and I am looking to build a strong PC pc. The main purpose for this machine is to run dedicated servers for a few games I play. As well as run the client for NWN, UT2K3 and other games. This is really just a test to see if I want to move into the linux world on a full time basis.

My total knowledge in linux is basically a few years using FreeBSD to host a website and use php. I really had very little interaction with the os.

Anyways. Can anyone suggest a good hardware setup and a good distro for use as a desktop and for gaming. (I might run appache and php to test some of my websites.) I can go P4 or AMD. I'm more worried about 3D support and motherboard /sound compatability with the games. I'm currently looking at something around a AMD xp 2500+ or a P4 2.4+ proccessor with 1 gig of ram and a 128 meg video card.

So, any suggestions on a motherboard, video card, sound card (if no onboard sound), nic card (if no onboard lan) and a linux distro suited to the desktop enviorment (gaming, web browsing, etc).

Thanks,
Fiction

3d graphics card ==> go for nvidia
processor ==> definately a p4
linux distro ==> I like redhat
i have p4 2.4Ghz, 512MB ram, nVidia 64MB GForce card(works great for games and nVidia has support for linux).

3d card: i love ATI much more than nvidia, but their linux support is currently limited (but they are waking up and have some very good drivers for radeon 8500 and 9700) so if u can dish out 400 bucks, go for radeon 9700; if not go for nvida geforce (geforce 4 should be supported since nvidia has one very good driver for all cards)

processor: p4, amd is iffy, (question, is hyperthreading support/utilized under the newest linux kernel?)

ram: might want to stay a little under 1 gig, maybe 880 megs, only because linux has a strange problem with ram 1 gig or more and i dont' think it's worth the hassle, 880 should be more than enough for your needs (plus with a fairly good-sized SWAP partition, all should be well)

most motherboards are supported, go intel, but avoid the integrated audio/vidio chips (especially i810, i have that chipset and it pisses me off)

sound: go for sblive, it is pretty well-supported

distro: if u want to run servers and stuff, go for redhat; if u want to plunge right into linux, go Slackware (i would not reccommend mandrake for servers)

as for running games: the games u mentioned i believe do have linux clients, but don't expect to get too much gaming out of linux at the moment: if u need to, try vmware/win4lin (winex sounds strange, but u could use that too)

Thanks for all the input. I'm looking at a p4 2.4 or 2.6 proccessor currently. Any suggestions on the best chipset? I was thinking i865. I've read about some issues with the i875 and I dont want to get anything that will be a pain to work. I think i'm gonna go with a ati 9700 or a geforce 4 ti 4600.

still not sure on which linux distro i'm going to use.

1 gb ram should be fine

I run Fedora on 2 gb

Watch out for statements that you should DEFINITELY do or not do something.....

I can tell you that I DEFINITELY have never had a problem with an AMD cpu on any Linux distro--in fact, I think most of them have specific variants just for AMD (and for 64-bit AMD)

My impression, based on about ten installs so far, is that none of the major distros will have significant issues with your hardware.

More on P4 vs. AMD:

This is perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions in computerdom---that Intel is somehow better than AMD. The only difference I ever noticed was that AMD gave more speed for the money, but I understand that that has changed.

intel is better for productivity and most things

AMD is better for gaming and price (AMD is slower, but still more power, but worse multitasking)

Ooh! I'd like to see a link to that data supporting that conclusion. I was working on an AMD-based system a week or so ago. Less than half the clock speed of the P4 on my desk -- maybe that's what you meant by "slower" -- but about 50% more bogomips (hey, about as useful as any other benchmark) and I didn't notice any trouble with multitasking at all. I'm in the process of specing out a new system and it's definitely going to be AMD-based.

And as for graphics... it depends on what you'll be running. The original poster mentioned games. My pick would be an nVidia card if games are important; they're chips are the fastest thing out there. This month. :)

here everone hav concentrated on hardware .
But please can anyone tell me how a game server can be run on Linux.I specifically want to know how to run the UT2K3(as mentioned above in 1st post) server can be run.

thanx in advance