From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Dec 14 19:44:51 2005 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id C7CFA16A457 for ; Wed, 14 Dec 2005 19:44:51 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from cswiger@mac.com) Received: from pi.codefab.com (pi.codefab.com [199.103.21.227]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id C897943D49 for ; Wed, 14 Dec 2005 19:44:49 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from cswiger@mac.com) Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by pi.codefab.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id B5B695FDA; Wed, 14 Dec 2005 14:44:48 -0500 (EST) Received: from pi.codefab.com ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (pi.codefab.com [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id 54024-07; Wed, 14 Dec 2005 14:44:41 -0500 (EST) Received: from [199.103.21.238] (pan.codefab.com [199.103.21.238]) (using TLSv1 with cipher RC4-SHA (128/128 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by pi.codefab.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 6CC9A5F84; Wed, 14 Dec 2005 14:44:41 -0500 (EST) In-Reply-To: <20051214192109.GD41870@thought.org> References: <20051214171014.GB37495@thought.org> <20051214192109.GD41870@thought.org> Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v746.2) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed Message-Id: <7088318B-3141-44E6-9F50-CB51F6CAE501@mac.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Charles Swiger Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 14:44:40 -0500 To: Gary Kline X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.746.2) X-Virus-Scanned: amavisd-new at codefab.com Cc: FreeBSD Mailing List Subject: Re: fquestions X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 19:44:52 -0000 On Dec 14, 2005, at 2:21 PM, Gary Kline wrote: >> You forgot to tell us which VIA chipset or MB-- there are lots and >> lots of VIA-based motherboards around, with a wide variety of >> hardware. > > Here's the URL on the board. It looks okay, but then it was > written by salesmen:). I'm flying blind here. > > http://www.pcchips.com.tw/PCCWeb/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx? > DetailID=358&MenuID=22&LanID=2 The onboard graphics is "embedded UniChromeII 3D Graphics, 64M share memory", which I do not believe is supported well under X11, you're better off getting a real video card unless you're going to be working remotely or headless. The embedded AC97 audio controller probably will work, though, as should the onboard VT6103 NIC. >> I wouldn't get a Celeron + VIA combo; I'd rather use an Intel MB with >> an Intel CPU, and I'd much rather get a Pentium-3/-M CPU then a >> Celeron. Otherwise, go with an VIA socket-A motherboard and a >> Athlon- >> XP/Barton/Sempron CPU, those should be quite inexpensive and yet >> perform quite well. >> > > My hardware days date from the Vax 11/70, and it's hard to > keep track. But here's another question: What's wrong with > the Celeron? The "better" Intel would be another $100. The Celeron's have about half to 1/4th as much L2 cache as the better CPU. For some specific tasks, like pure routing, it won't matter, but for almost anything else a P3 is a much better performer. > Re the Athlon, yes, it is a bit less, but doesn't it run > hotter than the Intel? Half of my platforms are Celeron > and I push them hard, but if AMD is just as good, then that's > the way to go. It depends on the AMD model, the Semprons are going to run around 40W, whereas the older Althons and the Barton cores are in the mid-60W range. I've got a 80mm fan on my AMD3200+ Barton, but it runs cooler than a similar 2.4GHz P4 box. Most P4's want 70W or more, but on the other hand, the Celerons and P3's are around 35W. -- -Chuck