Dual Proc Linux System

[Platyply]

I just got done reading Just For Fun by Linus Torvalds; and I'm extremely interested in experimenting with Linux -- just to play around with it and see what it can do; I've also always wanted to build a dual-proc system (just cause). I'm having trouble coming up with a configuration though. Should I go with an AthlonMP dual proc system or Pentium III? What motherboard should I use? 512MB of RAM or 1GB? How big should the HD be? As I understand it -- Linux doesn't have many apps (read: games) outside of basic internet stuff (browser, email, etc.) and star office. I will probably dual-boot the system with Win98SE which OS should get the bigger partition?

Two Intel Pentium III 866/933/1Ghz?
Asus CUV4X-DLS or Abit VP6?
What's a good QUIET hsf?
512MB PC133 or 1GB PC133?
52x CDROM (Lite-on? Aopen?)
Western Digital HD -- 20GB or 40GB?
GeForce4 MX 440 -- too powerful for Linux system?
Mandrake Linux 8.2
Case - I want something roomy, yet compact I don't expect to update this system for years -- maybe scrap it down the road

Thanks for your help,
Platyply

 

[Sunner]

If you want a rocksolid dual CPU system, try Tyan boards, AMD or Intel.

An Athlon MP system will outperform a P-III system in most cases, but they consumer more power, and give off more heat.

As for RAM and HD, it depends on what you wanna do.
Linux has pretty much everything cept for games covered, though there are a whole bunch of games available, Quake3, UT, and Tribes2 just to name a few.

Your HD layout also dependa on what you expect to do with the two OS's.

Give a bit more info, that will make it alot easier to give advice.

 

[Platyply]

I don't have anything particular in mind for the system -- this will be a second computer. I will most likely have it as a home file/print/ftp server, scan tons of photos into it, java programming, and internet surfing. I would also like to connect a web cam to the system and have the computer host a website that I could go to and see what's going on at home when I'm away. I definitely need the system to be quiet and being AMD-based systems use more eletricity and this system will always be on, it'd be more cost effective for me to go with an Intel-based system.

 

[FrankBlack]

I built a linux SMP system awhile back, based on 2 PIII 750's, with an ABIT VP6, and it is really a great linux system. I have a 20gig drive, a scsi burner, and Matrox g450 video, which lets me see 3d, just not extremely fast. I would probably have went for dual MP's if they were out when I built this system though, but I still love my system, and it's perfect for learning/exploring/playing with linux and SMP too.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

That's more or less what I'm doing. I picked up a Tyan Thunder. Using 512MB ram. I still need to get a case and some processors. I think I'm going to put in the 1200MP's, they're only $80 on newegg, and I hear they OC well (though I may not bother for a server). This board also has SCSI 160 fun to play with.

 

[pac1085]

I will probably dual-boot the system with Win98SE which OS should get the bigger partition?

Why would you want to dual boot it with 98SE? 98 only supports uniprocessor systems. It would run, but not take advantage of the 2nd cpu.

 

[Platyply]

Alright, spending way too much time debating the options, I settled on this config:

ANTEC Performance PLUS Model PLUS880- with Antec Original TRUE P4 Power Supply 430Watt
Dual AMD Athlon MP 1600 1.4Ghz Palomino Processors
GLOBALWIN's WBK68
MSI K7D Master (MS-6501-020)
1GB Crucial PC2700 DDR-DRAM
WD WESTERN DIGITAL EIDE HARD DRIVE 40GB 7200RPM
Plextor DVD/CDRW IDE Combo Drive RETAIL
CARDEXPERT GEFORCE3 POWERPAK GOLDEN SAMPLE 64MB W/TV-OUT, VIVO, DVI
Fast Ethernet 10/100 PCI Network Adapter
Windows 98SE (I have it for free -- that's why I'm using it)
Linux Mandrake 8.2 PowerPack Edition

The system comes in at around $1300, which I think is kind of steep for experimenting -- but I'm sure I'll put it to good use.

 

[SUOrangeman]

See my home box via the info link below. I moved up from Mandrake to Debian as Mandrake didn't do well with SMP out-of-the-box. I didn't feel like figuring it out, so I went to Debian. However, Debian is probably not the best for someone new to Linux.

-SUO

 

[Workin']

$1300 for playing sounds like a lot of money. My wife would kill me if I even suggested that!

I built a SMP linux box for barely any money. It worked out so well it's now my home server, working as HTTP, SMTP, POP, FTP, SSH, VNC, and file server. It's running Debian after wasting a lot of time with Red Hat.

It's dual Celeron 366@550's on an Abit BP6, with 768MB of RAM and an old Intel i740 graphics card. The only really extravagant thing about it is the Adaptec hardware-RAID 5 controller w/ 4-40GB WD drives and 128MB cache. I bought everything except the drives used at various times from the FS/FT forums here. Excluding the drives and RAID controller, the whole shebang cost me about $150. The RAID controller and drives added almost $500 more, but I added that after I decided to use this machine as my server.

It's been running for several weeks now without a reboot or a hiccup, and it's probably way overkill for what I'm using it for, but it's beena ton of fun.