High RAM Capacity Motherboard / Linux-Friendly Hardware

[Galvin Tjime]

Hello,

I recently began to look for a new desktop machine (ever since my old computer's hard drive died and took out an IDE channel with it) and, finally, after nearly two years of toying around with Fedora and Gentoo, I have finally come to use Linux as my primary operating system. I want the machine to work as a data/email server and I want it to be able to run a multidude of Virtual Machines (I have tried to run both Windows and a/a few linux distros in VMs at the same time....needless to say on a machine with 3 GB of RAM and a 1.7 GHz Dual Core it doesn't work) so I would like to have a nice Quad-Core machine with a LOT of RAM.

I am also looking in to finding a lot of linux friendly hardware, specifically:

1. A newer, higher end graphics card (capable of running some newer games but mainly for processing multiple VMs; preferably with HDMI output)

2. A second network card for a redundant ethernet/fibre connection

3. A sound card capable of handling 7.1 Surround Sound output

If you wouldn't mind helping me out, I would be most appreciative.

[kona0197]

Whatever you get I would suggest sticking to an AMD CPU. Better bang for the buck.

Originally Posted by Galvin Tjime

Hello,

I recently began to look for a new desktop machine (ever since my old computer's hard drive died and took out an IDE channel with it) and, finally, after nearly two years of toying around with Fedora and Gentoo, I have finally come to use Linux as my primary operating system. I want the machine to work as a data/email server and I want it to be able to run a multidude of Virtual Machines (I have tried to run both Windows and a/a few linux distros in VMs at the same time....needless to say on a machine with 3 GB of RAM and a 1.7 GHz Dual Core it doesn't work) so I would like to have a nice Quad-Core machine with a LOT of RAM.

I am also looking in to finding a lot of linux friendly hardware, specifically:

1. A newer, higher end graphics card (capable of running some newer games but mainly for processing multiple VMs; preferably with HDMI output)

2. A second network card for a redundant ethernet/fibre connection

3. A sound card capable of handling 7.1 Surround Sound output

If you wouldn't mind helping me out, I would be most appreciative.

are you a power user? do you need an intel?

you dont need much Ram, what exactly are you running or going to be running to need a lot of Ram?
4 to 6 Gigs Ram is enough i think.

what Graphics card do you use now? Nvidia have the best linux support, though iu dunno if they support there most recently released cards.

Soundcard, how much do you wanan spend on a soundcard?

[kona0197]

All of these boards take the high end AMD processors and up to 16 GB of RAM...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...%20Athlon%20X2

[Galvin Tjime]

Demz says:

are you a power user? do you need an intel?

you dont need much Ram, what exactly are you running or going to be running to need a lot of Ram?
4 to 6 Gigs Ram is enough i think.

what Graphics card do you use now? Nvidia have the best linux support, though iu dunno if they support there most recently released cards.

Soundcard, how much do you wanan spend on a soundcard?

No, I have used AMD and Intel before and find both to be (basically) equivalent with AMD being cheaper just as Kona0197 mentioned. Also, I don't overclock my hardware so I would prefer something that's fast right out of the box.

I run a LOT of virtual machines and have quite easily run into problems before with running out of RAM, even with 4 GBs.

My laptop, which is my computer at this point in time, uses an Intel 945M Chipset with 128 MBs shared memory. My desktop used to use an ATI Radeon 9600 SE until it died, so anything newer than that would be most excellent.

I am willing to spend about $200 on a Graphics Card and around $100 on a Sound Card. Oh, also, with the sound card I would prefer to have a digital audio out port to hook into my TV (I plan on using this machine as an entertainment unit when I'm home and in the mood to do something like that).

[kona0197]

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128392
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125271
Sound Card w/ Digital Out: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102019
8 GB Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145262
Quad Core AMD Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103650

Your looking at about $800 when you include the case, Hard Drive and DVD Burner...

[Galvin Tjime]

Hey, thanks Kona! It all looks good and, surprisingly, within my budget.

[kona0197]

No worries! Don't forget to add a case, power supply, hard drive and DVD burner.