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nestumkiller
07-09-10, 22:24
Hi guys,

I'm planning to customize a linux-supported machine, but I'm a bit clueless on what motherboard to choose. I would appreciate some feedback (both problems and success installs) with any of the ASUS boards sold by pcspecialist. My plan was to have a config where the following are a must:


Nvidia GT 240
1 TB WD CAVIAR
8GB SAMSUNG RAM
i5-760 Quad-core (or lower)


and the price being up to £700. I would be extremely grateful if you could advise on a board to choose from.
PCS
08-09-10, 06:15
We don't oficially support Linux, but many of our forum members have successfully install Linux on their PC's and notebooks. I don't think you will have any problems with the "standard" ASUS motherboards we sell, such as the P7P55-M on the "Top Spec" configurator: http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/computers/intel-core-i5-pc/ and the P7H55M-SI on the "Performance" configurator: http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/computers/intel-core-i3-pc/

I believe the main problems experienced are usually graphics drivers and wireless drivers, although Nvidia and ATi (ahem AMD) are getting better at supporting Linux.
nestumkiller
08-09-10, 19:40
Thanks for the tips. Meanwhile I've done some research and found some interesting reviews:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131404&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=100&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

http://fr.asus.com/websites/global/aboutasus/OS/Linux.pdf

I'm leaning to the P7P55D-E, but I'm not sure which one exactly is by looking at ASUS webpage. They list the following:


P7P55D Deluxe
P7P55D EVO
P7P55 WS Supercomputer
P7P55D-E Premium
P7P55D Premium
P7P55D LE
P7P55D
P7P55D PRO


Is it the one in bold?
PCS
09-09-10, 07:53
No, it's this one here: http://uk.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=9i872VNaAILRp8bS

You can also see details by click ing the "i" button to the right of the motherboard options on the configurator.
nestumkiller
09-09-10, 23:08
Oh, how could I miss it? :S
Anyway, just ordered my machine. Briefly:


i5-760 Quad Core
ASUS P7P55-E
1 TB WD CAVIAR BLACK
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250
4GB RAM Kingston
Logitech Mk250 Mouse and Keyboard


Fingers crossed for the linux compatibility. I'll try not to forget to post here the results of my install.
Gorman
10-09-10, 08:41
Oh, how could I miss it? :S
Anyway, just ordered my machine. Briefly:


i5-760 Quad Core
ASUS P7P55-E
1 TB WD CAVIAR BLACK
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250
4GB RAM Kingston
Logitech Mk250 Mouse and Keyboard


Fingers crossed for the linux compatibility. I'll try not to forget to post here the results of my install.

Look forward to hearing about the install.
nestumkiller
02-10-10, 15:23
In a nutshell: everything worked fine apart from the microphone and wireless. Installed openSuse 11.3 64-bit. The nvidia drivers are installed through Yast which makes everything so much easier. Couldn't find (yet) after quite some hours of search any solution for the mic. The wireless card connects to my router (BT Home Hub) but loses connection as soon as I try some app which pulls a bit of bandwidth (like skype or BBC iplayer) - if I continue browsing it seems to last for a bit. I'm not completely convinced the problem is only on the wireless card side though...
Nemesis
02-10-10, 15:33
Hmmm just thinking wouldnt it be possible to offer pre installing Linux/ Ubuntu etc on the configurator for people who dont want windows

Then again people who use Linux are generally pretty tech-savvy so I'd imagin theyd prefer to install it themselves..

Hmmmmm
Congrats on your new PC btw dont forget to post pictures, Lots of them!!!
Gishank
02-10-10, 15:56
I believe that the used to offer a Linux solution (something PCS said, might be wrong) but due to low-demand and due to the PCSpecialist lot not being too in-depth with the workings of Linux it was scrapped. To be honest, Linux is a great little OS but is only really useful for say servers (RedHat) or say Ubuntu as a laptop/netbook OS solution.
Nemesis
02-10-10, 15:59
well PCS has misterdave the "RMA master & resident linux geek" as is said in his sig.
xrchz
02-10-10, 19:53
To be honest, Linux is a great little OS but is only really useful for say servers (RedHat) or say Ubuntu as a laptop/netbook OS solution.

Oh I can't let you get away with that... I've been using Arch Linux (and previously Gentoo) as my main desktop OS for more than 5 years now, and absolutely love it.
Phoenix
02-10-10, 22:10
Oh I can't let you get away with that... I've been using Arch Linux (and previously Gentoo) as my main desktop OS for more than 5 years now, and absolutely love it.

What in particular do you like about those distributions? I was thinking of getting Fedora on my laptop for a dual booting option alongside windows vista but I'm still not 100% sure if it's the one I should go for.
xrchz
03-10-10, 07:32
What in particular do you like about those distributions? I was thinking of getting Fedora on my laptop for a dual booting option alongside windows vista but I'm still not 100% sure if it's the one I should go for.

It depends what you're going to use it for. Gentoo and Arch Linux are my favourites because they are very customisable and don't get in your way and don't impose anything on you. I currently don't use any desktop environment, and use a non-standard window manager (Xmonad); with Arch Linux I am not forced to install anything I don't want to, so I end up with a very lean fast system. Usually people go for the whole desktop environment package (like KDE or Gnome) and most mainstream distributions come with one of those installed by default. Even if you want to use KDE or something like that, I would still recommend Arch Linux since it's just as easy to install that too.

The other main advantage of those two distributions is that they are "rolling release" distributions. That means they don't have any regularly released "versions" that you have to update every 6 months or whatever. Rather, any time any package you have installed can be updated, you can just update that package on the day if you want to. The net effect is that you're usually using somewhat newer versions of all your software than people in non rolling-release systems, thus you get bug fixes and new features implemented by the developers quicker.

I presume you've had a look at DistroWatch?

If you want to tell me more about how you want to use Linux, or have any other questions about it, I'd be happy to talk more about it (in public is ok too).
Nemesis
03-10-10, 09:47
I've heard Ubuntu is 'Linux for Windows users' if you don't want to jump in the deep end.
Thats probably what I'm going to dual-boot with windows 7.

PLus could someone who knows linux/ Ununtu help me out here thread (http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?1261-openArtist-linux-ubuntu-distrib)
Phoenix
03-10-10, 10:55
Yeah I've looked on Distrowatch a few times, I don't use my laptop for anything serious like gaming or video editing. Its main uses are for browsing the web with Firefox, creating documents with Microsoft Office and watching films/tv series' but I wouldn't mind using Open Office if M.S.O. isn't compatable. The main reason I picked Fedora is because I like the sound of it lol, sounds cooler than some of the others.
xrchz
03-10-10, 11:49
Ubuntu, or whatever's the most popular on DW (currently ubuntu), would be easiest for you Phoenix, and certainly capable of all the uses you listed without any hassle. Fedora would probably work fine too; I haven't used that one myself.
misterdave
05-10-10, 10:40
How did I miss this thread, I feel ashamed:(


Nemesis
well PCS has misterdave the "RMA master & resident linux geek" as is said in his sig.

Yes I am.

We did used to offer it yes and it wasn't dropped because as Gishank put it

due to the PCSpecialist lot not being too in-depth with the workings of Linux it was scrapped. it was dropped because we weren't selling many and couldn't see the benefit form it, I understand unix and linux quite well and can work round most issues with time and was always happy to work on one of those laptops that were in general perfect for the Ubuntu system we supplied and everything worked OOB apart from the wireless which was an easy fix.


Ubuntu does get label Linux for Windows users as its possibly the most user friendly GUI. though various people prefer different distros.

Me I have Mint 9 (no GUI) running on tripple boot with XP and 7x64 Ult, I also have a Linux Ubuntu server 10.04 box and soon to add my own custom 2TB NAS to my network.

A word of warning on the fedora front if you intend on doing any file sharing across a network you'll have fun enableing propper shares and user rights as fedora uses SELinux for security.

SELinux was developed with the NSA and is really secure but has a few issues. I gave up on Fedora because getting what I wanted shared across multiple users gave me a headache and as for setting up rsync or anything like it because a nightmare. I won't go into the problems just try googleing it.

Ask away if you need.
nestumkiller
10-10-10, 11:47
I believe that the used to offer a Linux solution (something PCS said, might be wrong) but due to low-demand and due to the PCSpecialist lot not being too in-depth with the workings of Linux it was scrapped. To be honest, Linux is a great little OS but is only really useful for say servers (RedHat) or say Ubuntu as a laptop/netbook OS solution.

Hi,

I wouldn't say to have it installed (but would be nice), but actually have a small, at least, set of parts tested with a couple of linux major distributions. That way one could choose with more confidence which hardware it could use. In my case, I was quite confident with most of them (after some internet search), but there's always something (like the audio) not properly working...