From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Nov 17 17:34:42 2003 Return-Path: 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 BB38B16A4CE; Mon, 17 Nov 2003 17:34:42 -0800 (PST) Received: from boleskine.patpro.net (boleskine.patpro.net [62.4.20.155]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 7F79B43FE9; Mon, 17 Nov 2003 17:34:41 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from patpro@patpro.net) Received: from [192.168.0.1] (cassandre [192.168.0.1]) by boleskine.patpro.net (Postfix) with ESMTP id A11AD75; Tue, 18 Nov 2003 02:34:41 +0100 (CET) Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v606) In-Reply-To: <20031117200108.66f53bcb.b_cassidy@bellsouth.net> References: <20031117200108.66f53bcb.b_cassidy@bellsouth.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Message-Id: <6007B49C-1967-11D8-9BA9-0030654D97EC@patpro.net> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Patrick Proniewski Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 02:34:39 +0100 To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org, Bryan Cassidy , freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.606) Subject: Re: New parts for new PC (need help - little knowledge of hardware) X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 01:34:42 -0000 On 18 nov. 2003, at 03:01, Bryan Cassidy wrote: > Next is to choose a mother board. I am > wanting a ASUS just because I hear alot of people talking about it on > the forums, irc etc and think I would be happy with it. you will, as long as you do not choose a cheap ASUS (SiS chipset and controllers) For max performance and better FreeBSD support, choose a motherboard with Intel chipset (if you choose to go with a pentium of course, I've no experience with AMD) > If the motherboard from > asus has onboard sound can I use a PCI sound card? you can, of course. > Is it best to use a > PCI sound card or onboard? PCI is better, in general, as for Video or LAN, but some high end motherboard have very good (in quality) onboard feature. my order of priority here is : lan > video > sound : if you can buy only one PCI card, take a NIC card, then a video card, then finally a sound card. Of course, a gamer would choose to get video "offboard" as a priority. depends on your use. > I was thinking about buying the TrueBlue 480 Watt PSU > 480 Watt ATX12V Illuminated from antec. Good idea? first you list your needs : - computational power - disk space - video power - RAM use then you choose your processor, your disks, and so on. You should end with 1 or 2 motherboards that will suit your needs and price. In general you'll want to avoid very cheap chipset, ultra-low end video card are just good enough for console, low end NIC with crash your freeBSD box (worst case) or drop paquets and deliver poor I/O. Remember that PIV and latest AMD need huge PSU, 480 W will be fine anyway. SATA disk are not yet good enough to justify their tag. IDE will be great but I would recommand a good controler (*not* SiS) Try and choose a good motherboard that will sport 4 or more RAM slots, and that support more than 1GB RAM, so you'll be able to add some RAM later. Don't go with IDE RAID. Even if it works great, it's extra money and hassle. NIC : intel etherexpress Pro 10/100 is really good, most 3Com are good too, avoid low end Dlink/Realtek Take a look a ABIT's motherboard, some of them are really good. hth patpro -- je cherche un poste d'admin-sys Mac/UNIX (ou une jeune et jolie femme riche) http://patpro.net/cv.php