[gentoo-user] Re: Somewhat OT. Building a rig. Want to get opinions before spending $$$

[Dale]

Dale wrote:
> I'm planning to build a new rig.  My current rig is about 7 or 8 years
> old now and it needs to be updated.  Current rig is AMD 2500+ with
> 2Gbs of ram and a Abit NF7 v2.0 mobo.  Couple hard drives too.
>
>
> This is build #2:
>
> I'll be using the same case, power supply, video card etc so I won't
> list them all twice.  Just listing the things that have to be changed.
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128431
>
> GIGABYTE GA-770T-USB3 AM3 AMD 770 USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard.  The
> only thing I don't like about this is that it doesn't have a com port
> for my UPS.  I guess a adapter will be found somewhere.
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103675
>
> AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache
> Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor.  This should fit the mobo
> according to the website.  Agree?
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148325
>
> Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3
> 12800) Desktop Memory.  According to newegg this fits the mobo.  Agree?
>
> I only plan to build one or the other not both.  I would like to make
> sure everything should fit fine but I would also like to get a
> opinion.  I would like a opinion on whether build #2 would be better
> in the long run?  It appears to be a bit faster although the price is
> not much different.  Build #1 is $611.92.  Build #2 is $637.92.  That
> doesn't include shipping but a lot of the items have free shipping
> anyway.  Basically, I need this to last me several years since I can't
> afford to rebuild every few years.  Also, one reason for the HUGE CPU
> cooler, I run folding in the winter.  Helps heat the place up a bit.
> lol  My current rig with a Volcano 12 runs at about 90F at full load.
> I would like to run pretty close to that since it just makes the CPU
> last longer.
>
> I'm open to ideas, discussion, problems and opinions.  I mostly want
> to make sure each build will work and which I should build.
>
> Thanks for your time and replies.  If you need more info, let me know.
>
> Dale
>
> :-)  :-)
>

I ordered the parts for the rest of my build yesterday.  I changed the 
CPU to a 3.2Ghz version and the memory to a single stick of 4Gb instead 
of two 2Gb sticks.  Easier to upgrade later.  Since I live only a few 
hours from the newegg warehouse, I get most of it today.  I been reading 
the install guide and have been trying to keep up with amd64 threads on 
here as well.  I still have a few questions tho.

I usually use Knoppix to boot from but want to know if it supports a 64 
bit CPU?  I Googled and found a 64 bit version of Knoppix but it says it 
is discontinued.  If the current version does support 64 bit, will it 
see all the cores so that emerges move along pretty swiftly?

If knoppix doesn't work, could someone recommend something else to use?  
I found Kanotix while doing my searches but still not sure if that is 
what I need either.  It looks like it is made to install on a hard drive 
or something.  I basically need to boot to install Gentoo on the new 
rig.  I also want to test the ram before installing as well.

All this assumes that I need to install Gentoo with amd64 of course.  
Has it got stable enough and everything working well enough to install 
it as amd64 instead of 32 bit?

Thanks.

Dale

:-)  :-)