by I'm a Mac user who has gotten his feet wet in the Linux world with MkLinux
for the PowerMac/PowerMac clones. I've been pleased with it, but for
various reasons I would like a separate machine devoted solely to Linux
(my Mac does triple duty: MacOS/MkLinux/BeOS.) After careful
consideration, I've come to the conclusion that it makes more sense at
this time to go with an Intel-based Linux machine than to purchase another
PowerMac for MkLinux.
Since I'm new to the Intel world, I've been looking at the companies on
the Linux home page <http://www.linux.org> that sell complete Linux
systems <http://www.linux.org/hardware/systems.html>. I figure a complete
system that comes with Linux installed is a good way to go for someone new
to both Linux *and* Intel PCs. A company called Advanced System Labs
<http://www.aslab.com> offers the following setup for $1616. You can see
it (and others) at <http://www.aslab.com/workstation.html>. So, I have
two questions: 1) is ASL a good company to buy from? and 2) is this a
reasonable machine for Linux and for the price? Any guidance is
appreciated. I'm also considering going with the UltraWide SCSI (Adaptec
2940UW) version (see <http://www.aslab.com/workstation.html#AS-Pro> for
complete specs) of this system instead, since I can add drives, etc. later
with little fuss. It is my understanding that, in general, SCSI will use
less CPU during transfers than EIDE. Is it worth $300, though? Hmmm.
Here is the complete configuration for the non-SCSI version
underconsideration from <http://www.aslab.com/workstation.html#AS-ProIIA>:
------------------------------------
AS-ProIIA Pentium II Workstation
Includes 233-333MHz Intel Pentium II Processor with 64M
SDRAM, 6.4G Ultra ATA hard drive, 32X EIDE CDROM,
4MB Matrox Millennium II AGP, 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet
adapter, Red Hat Linux 5.0 2 CD set including the Linux
Archives, Live File System, Red Hat Users Guide Book,
and Xi Graphics Accelerated-X Server.
233MHZ, 64MB $1,616
[rest of table showing 266 & 300 MHz at various RAM configurations deleted]
Motherboard
ASUS P2L97 (ATX form factor)
CPU
Genuine Intel Pentium II series 32-bit processor
with MMX, 512K secondary cache
Chipset
Intel Natoma 82440LX
Dual channel UltraDMA/33 bus master IDE controller
Memory Subsystem
3 DIMM banks supporting up to 384MB of synchronous
unbuffered DRAM (10ns)
Memory configuration:
---------------------
64MB: 2 32MB SDRAM modules
128MB: 2 64MB SDRAM modules
256MB: 2 128MB SDRAM modules
384MB: 3 128MB SDRAM modules
Graphic Subsystem
Matrox Millennium II AGP 64-bit graphic accelerator, 4MB WRAM
standard, expandable to 16MB WRAM, resolution up to
1920x1080 in 16.7 millions colors, 250MHZ RAMDAC
Hard Disk Subsystem
Quantum Fireball ST 6.4G Ultra ATA drive, 33MB/s,
5400rpm, 128K cache
SCSI Subsystem
Optional
CD-ROM Subsystem
Toshiba 32X EIDE
Sound Subsystem
Optional
Network Subsystem
Intel EtherExpress Pro 10/100B
System Slots
One (1) AGP slot
Four (4) 32-bit bus mastering PCI slots
One (1) 16-bit ISA slot
One (1) shared PCI/ISA slot
System I/O
Infrared (IrDA) port
Two RS-232C 16550 serial ports
One ECP/EPP Bi-directional parallel port
2 USB ports
1 PS/2 Mini DIN keyboard port
1 PS/2 Mini DIN mouse port
Floppy Drive
One Teac 1.44M 3.5-inch drive
Mouse
Logitech MouseMan 3-button PS/2 mouse
Keyboard
Keytronic KT-2000 104-key with mechanical tactile
click response, Windows Keys for Windows 95
Case
235W Mid tower ATX case, FCC Class B
Three (3) accessible 5.25" drive bays
Two (2) accessible 3.5" drive bays
One (1) internal 3.5" drive bay
Dual cooling fans
Software
Red Hat 5.0 ELF-based Linux system and Xi Graphics
Accelerated-X commercial X Server
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| "Love...how it toys with us. Makes utter fools of us. |
| Flogs...whips...and spanks us..." |
| - Lacroix, Forever Knight |
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