Re: [K12OSN] CPU envy

[Bob Karschnia <bobk mn rr com>]

I just updated to an ASUS A7N8X-E ($112) with a 2500 Athalon ($90) and 512MB 
RAM ($72).  It has 2 onboard NICs, one is a gigabit connection, and dolby 
audio.  It screams and with a ATI Radeon 7000 ($39) it has killer graphics as 
well.

4.0.0 went in pretty easily.  No problems so far. 


On Friday 02 January 2004 10:19 am, anthony baldwin wrote:
> Okay,
> I'm having that old feeling of CPU envy again.  I'm presently running a
> Pentium 3 1ghz with 512mb ram.  The mobo is whatever was included with
> this Compaq when I bought it 3 years ago, but I have ugraded to it's
> maximum potential (was a celeron 600mhz with only 32mb ram). So the mobo
> must go!
>
> I'm eyeing this:
> http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=
>638353&Sku=MBM-P4MDPT-C2000
>
> It's a CPU/Mobo combo with a Celeron 2.0ghz.  The link gives all the
> details.  My present Mobo has onboard audio & video, so I'm looking at a
> similar mobo solution, in order to avoid the expense and hassle of
> installing separate sound and video cards/drivers, but I want to check
> the compatibility to make sure that I can run this board. The price is
> within my near grasp (when tax money comes).  I would have to purchase a
> new fan and ram, too.  Altogether, I suspect that should still be
> cheaper than buying a new machine, but I'd have to add it all up.
> Really, the mobo/cpu bundle, a fan and 1ghz of ram could run over $200,
> couldn't it?    (Now I mention it, I do think I've seen faster machines
> than mine preloaded with Lindows, which would come right off in favor of
> K12, of course, for around $200, and they are tempting.  I've seen those
> at Tigerdirect and at Walmart.com.  Lycoris is also selling cheap PCs
> now, I think....enough rambling.)
>
> As far as I understand, too, I can install a new board and cpu without
> doing a fresh install, right?  I mean, the kernel will detect the
> difference and adjust accordingly, won't it?  This is what I've been
> told, and I'm amazed by that, considering that, afaik, the new board
> should require new video and sound drivers, etc.  Or would I be required
> to reconfigure the Xserver and sound by hand?  That would make more
> sense than to expect this to be done automagically, but if it does occur
> automagically, I'll be both grateful and amazed.
> I am sure that backing up all crucial files before this undertaking
> would be wise anyway, then if I do have to do a fresh install, I won't
> lose anything.  I've had difficulty tar/gzipping things due to my own
> ignorance and difficulty in translating man pages into the common
> tongue.  I've only upgraded the hardware (besides adding ram and simple
> stuff like that) with the old win98, which I wiped last summer.  I've
> had this same mobo and the P3 since slightly before I started running
> linux two years ago.  This is the first computer I've ever owned, so my
> experience is limited, even though I did build a computer around the old
> celeron I swapped out (for my daughter, on which she loves to play
> Gcompris, Tuxpaint, Stickers, Tuxtype, Ktuberling and more.)
>
> I guess mostly I'm asking for suggestions regarding upgrading my
> machine, especially simple solutions for swapping out the mobo/cpu
> without incurring great expense or hardship.
> I'll likely put this mobo/cpu into my daughter's machine upon upgrade,
> then donate the celeron and mobo she has to my ltsp project at school.
> Part of me says I'd buy a whole new machine if I could, but I can hardly
> justify the expense.  Upgrading seems the best option.  I guess my mind
> isn't completely made up yet.  I just feel the need for more speed.  Any
> hardware that becomes obsolete here at home will likely go to school.
>
> Now that I've babbled and jawed, I'd like to express my gratitude for
> any time you've already wasted reading this mess, in addition to any you
> spend actually dignifying this drivel with a reply.