From owner-freebsd-questions Wed May 8 18:49:45 1996 Return-Path: owner-questions Received: (from root@localhost) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.7.3/8.7.3) id SAA22391 for questions-outgoing; Wed, 8 May 1996 18:49:45 -0700 (PDT) Received: from genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au (genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au [129.127.96.120]) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.7.3/8.7.3) with ESMTP id SAA22386 for ; Wed, 8 May 1996 18:49:40 -0700 (PDT) Received: from msmith@localhost by genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au (8.6.12/8.6.9) id LAA01271; Thu, 9 May 1996 11:25:29 +0930 From: Michael Smith Message-Id: <199605090155.LAA01271@genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au> Subject: Re: New computer ... hardware choices ... To: b.j.smith@ieee.org Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 11:25:29 +0930 (CST) Cc: questions@FreeBSD.ORG In-Reply-To: <199605081753.NAA19426@sundial.sundial.net> from "Bryan J. Smith, E.I." at May 7, 96 12:58:24 pm MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: owner-questions@FreeBSD.ORG X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Precedence: bulk Bryan J. Smith, E.I. stands accused of saying: > I'm building a new PCI system. I'm worried about the > compatibility/performance issues with FreeBSD & Linux. > > - I'm thinking of using a Cyrix 686 processor (any problems?) and > maybe even the future AMD/NexGen Nx686-180 (when it comes out). Yah. Unless there's a significant cost bonus, a Pentium will work just as well. > - Hard Drives / Controllers (this is long!) > > I'm going to keep a Seagate ST-31200N (1.25GB SCSI-2 Fast) so I'll > definately need a SCSI-2 Controller (I'd like a Wide or Ultra-Wide, > but a plain SCSI-2 Fast Controller will do). Does anyone have a > recommendation for a SCSI-2 controller than will work with FreeBSD > and Linux? I know AdvanceSys has a SCSI-2 Fast HA for $99, and I've AdvanSys don't have a free driver. (Yet). Don't get this one. > heard of Buslogic having a UW for $250 (what model number though?). BT948. It's OK, but not wonderful. > What about the NCR 815/825 (I heard the 810 doesn't have BIOS > support). The BIOS support for the NCR parts is in most PC BIOSses; this isn't really an issue. The NCR '810 parts are cheap and fast, but I'm not sure of the quality of the Linux driver - the FreeBSD driver is excellent. You've left out the best of the lot - the Adaptec 2940UW. > Okay, if I go SCSI instead (and not use the EIDE channels), will the > SCSI BIOS allow me to boot from a cylinder higher than 1024? What With the translations employed by SCSI controllers, 1024 cylinders is around the 8GB mark. > SCSI-2 drives do you recommend (Fast, Wide, UW)? I'd prefer at a > 3.5" HH or LP (1") drive with 2-4GB capacity. Also, anyone have any Price/performance tradeoff. Seagate or Quantum are good choices. > BRYAN J. SMITH, E.I. b.j.smith@ieee.org -- ]] Mike Smith, Software Engineer msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au [[ ]] Genesis Software genesis@atrad.adelaide.edu.au [[ ]] High-speed data acquisition and (GSM mobile) 0411-222-496 [[ ]] realtime instrument control (ph/fax) +61-8-267-3039 [[ ]] Collector of old Unix hardware. "Where are your PEZ?" The Tick [[