On Tue, 27 Jun, 2006 at 06:17AM -0700, Mark Knecht spake thus: > Hi Dave > > On 6/27/06, Dave Phillips <dlphillips@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > >Greetings: > > > > Not long ago I mentioned that a student had traded an MSI mobo (socket > >939) for some lessons. I'm ready to start building a system around that > >board, and I have some questions for this list: > > > > 1) I can get a new AMD64 Athlon 3800 2.4 GHz for (US) $145. Is the > >Athlon 64 a good chip for audio work, and is that a good price ? It's > >the best listed on Pricewatch. > > Yes. Im using an AMD64 Athlon 3000+. Works fine. You might want to > check in with Lee Revel or someone technically in tune with the kernel > developers about dual core chips. Mine is single core. There are still > (I think...) soome dual core issues but they are fewer now then > before. > > > > > 2) Recommended case/power supply ? > > Coolermaster case > > I think I'm using an Antec 450W supply. It's pretty quiet. Look into > the Zalman power supplies if you can afford it. > > > > > 3) The MSI box says it includes an nVidia nForce3 chipset, which I > >assume means that there's an audio/video chipset on the mobo. I'll > >probably disable the audio, and I have a gForce AGP video card to put in > >the machine. Question: Am I better off using the integrated video or > >should I use my card instead ? (Btw, I use the kernel nv driver, not > >nVidia's binary driver). > > Whatever you choose try for no fans... > > > > > 4) I assume I'll have to buy new RAM. What should I buy ? > > Crucial.com > > > > > 5) The CPU includes a fan, but should I get something more powerful ? > > More quiet - Zalman definiately. > > > > > 6) How can I best reduce the noise from this system ? > > Zalman fan, Zalman or other quiet power supplies, no fans on the > motherboard or video card, good disk drive. > > > > > 7) Am I correct to assume that this system runs in a 32-bit more as > >well as the 64-bit ? How do I determine which mode I'll run in ? > > No - it will run either 32-bit or 64-bit. However Linux has 32-bit > emulation libraries to allow 32-bit binaries to run an a 64-bit > system. I run 64-bit but I think if I was to do it again I'd just go > 32-bit. 64-bit systems have trouble with many 32-bit Windows media > types as win32codec built for 64-bit isn't completely compatible (or > just doesn't work) yet. Some of Java isn't as well supported on 64-bit > yet. Flash s OK. No clue whether any of that matters to you but it > does to me. I have absolutely no problems with 64bitness. I wouldn't go back and if someone made a 65 bit processor, I'd happily give it a go. That last bit was a joke, BTW. > > > >This system will replace my ancient desktop machine, so also I need to > >know if there are any precautions or warnings re: running Linux audio > >software on it. The distro of choice will be Debian Etch a la Demudi 1.3.0. > > Gentoo for me. Cannot comment on distros much. Why not? Where's all the dogmatic, fiery, evangelistic rightiousness that is the right of all Gentoo users? > > > >Sorry for all the questions, I'm completely new to the 64-bit game. As > >always, any & all advice will be vastly appreciated. :) > > We owe you so much you don't have to apologize for anything. Ask away. > We need to put the universe's karma bit more in balance. > > Good luck, > Mark > > > > >Best regards, > > > >dp > > > > >
