[gentoo-user] building a machine for Gentoo

[Philip Webb]

I have run Gentoo since I built my 2nd machine in Oct 2003 .
The 1st box (2000) is set up for emergency use (Mandriva 2005)
& is becoming too old & slow for today's Internet & software in general.
As a result, I'm planning to build a 3rd machine later this summer.
The 2nd will become my emergency alternative machine.

Below are the parts which seem best for my needs & budget.
The new machine probably wb overkill for my modest desktop needs,
but I was very successful with cutting-edge pieces for the 2nd box 2003
& hope the 3rd wb as good in 2011, when I mb more ambitious (grin).

(1) 3rd Machine

  (a) CPU -- AMD 64 X2 4800+ (65 W) , 512 K , 65 nm , socket AM2
       or    AMD 64 X2 5600+ (89 W) ,   1 M , 90 nm , socket AM2
  (b) Mobo -- Asus M2N-E Nforce 570 , DDR2 533/667/800
  (c) Memory -- Kingston , 1 GB , 800
  (d) Graphix -- Asus EN8500GT Nvidia , 512 MB DDR2 800
  (e) HDD -- W Digital , 500 GB , 16 MB
  (f) DVD-RW -- Samsung SH-S182F/BEBN , DVD-W 8x , CD-W 32x
  (g) Diskette -- from 1st machine
  (h) Case -- store-brand Radiant P4 Mid (500 W)

(2) Additions for 2nd machine 

  (a) Copy data into 2nd machine : DVD-ROM -- LiteOn 16x
  (b) Switch keyboard/mouse/monitor : KVM switch -- DLink

(3) LCD Monitor -- Samsung SyncMaster 931BW , 19 in , 1440x900 , 2 ms

Brands are chosen which I've had some experience with before.
I want to be sure all the pieces can be used with Gentoo
(I looked at Gentoo docs, but didn't see anything re hardware).

(1a) I'm confused by the CPU features '65 nm' & '90 nm':
  yes, I know they refer to tiny distances,
  but would expect the faster CPU to have the smaller distance,
  whereas the opposite is true for those listed (AMD docs don't mention it).
(1d) The Nvidia site lists '8500GT' as supported by driver 100-14-09 ,
  which is in Portage, but currently masked (the reason is not clear);
  Phoronix has a review of this card used with Linux.
(1f 2a) I'm new to DVD's, which I plan to use for back-ups
  & to keep the 2nd machine upto-date as an emergency alternative;
  I don't now do video or gaming, but the box should support them in case.
(1h) The store will probably confirm whether the power supply is adequate.
(2b) A KVM switch seems a big improvement on plug/unplugging connections.
(3) My Samsung SyncMaster 550s CRT monitor (2000) still works very well.

Does anyone have any warnings or comments re any of the bits & pieces ?

-- 
========================,,============================================
SUPPORT     ___________//___,  Philip Webb : purslow@××××××××××××××.ca
ELECTRIC   /] [] [] [] [] []|  Centre for Urban & Community Studies
TRANSIT    `-O----------O---'  University of Toronto
-- 
gentoo-user@g.o mailing list