Re: Machine died
> > I am thinking, no BIOS reprogram necessary. Power Supply is always a
> > good guess. I think it is time for a new system, but don't completely
> > give up on the old one. Build a new machine, and when it is up and
> > running, go back and see if the old one can be salvaged and put to good use.
>
> Bad RAM is always a potential problem too if the pwoer supply isn't it.
I'm still not sure that my power supply is good; but even if it isn't,
since I tried another one with all RAM unplugged, I figure that the MB
should have beeped. No?
If so, RAM can be bad, but the MB is surely bad :-/
Talking about RAM, is it possible to re-use it in a new MB? That is if the
frequency is _lower_ than the one recommended by the MB? Also, I think that
they are ECC.
If not, what make is recommended nowadays?
> > Build the new machine using an Intel CPU this time 'round, whether it
> > was AMD or Intel before. Core 2 is your best bet, A Xeon for servers or
> > multisocket workstations. It is too soon to buy Nehalem, if you need to
> > buy it today. If you can wait three months, consider a Core i7.
>
> I agree entirely.
I didn't think of that. That's a good idea since although with my usage a
Core 2 is more than enough, I assume (?) that the prices might drop when
the new series is available.
[I can use the laptop in the meantime but I'll have to transfer data that
was on a RAID1 disk. Is there anything I should be aware of if I plug this
drive as an external (USB) disk? Do you know the "mdadm" command to use to
make the RAID partition available (possibly read-only)?]
> > Almost any wired network NIC will do. The onboard ones are probably
> > supported by Linux.
>
> Yeah usually. I discovered recently that some (like BNX2 that IBM uses
> a lot) require a firmware file. How annoying when doing a netinstall.
What do you think of this MB:
http://www.cotubex.be/informatics/info.asp?cat=Motherboard&artnr=34821&navniv=2
> > Get a 80+ PS, meaning a PS that is at least 80% efficient. If you use
> > it in an office building, or business, get one with power factor
> > correction.
What is the advantage?
Do you have a specific make in mind?
> > For a personal desktop machine, if 3d is necessary, nVidia or AMD/ATI
> > both will do. AMD recently had its fiasco with the midrange chips. You
> > may with to go with the red team (ATI) this time, until nVidia gets its
> > act together.
>
> I am sticking with nvidia until ati gets their driver act together
> (hasn't ever happend yet, but there is always hope it will happen some
> day). My experience is that ATI makes great video chips and reliable
> boards, and have amazingly bad drivers and support. I used to use
> nothing else until I got badly burned by that, and won't deal with them
> again until they prove they care about customers.
Also an ASUS card then?
Do I lose something (since I'm currently not a gamer) by taking the
cheapest from those:
N7200GS
N8400GS
N8600GT
N9600GT
N9600GTX
[I just might want to try compiz some day...]
Is there a recommended card (from the point-of-view of the debian-packaged
driver support)?
Thanks for the advice,
Gilles
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