Linux compatibility issues

[neit]

Hi,

I am putting together a new system (my parents will kill me when they find out i blew $500 on a sat night for pc parts :Q). My current issue is, before i get all my parts in the mail, i wanna know if can put linux on it without having a nightmare (also appreciated will be a comprehensive link to a hardware compatibility site).

I just ordered the MSI 266A motherboard, xp 1600, crucial 256 DDR, IBM 60GB deskstar hard drive, and i'm using the GeForce3 Ti200 by visiontek. I don't have a cdrom yet, i'm planning on using a generic floppy, keyboard, mouse, etc. until a few paychecks later. Are there any issues i should look out for w/ integrated sound?

This will be my first experience w/ Linux (i finally decided i'll never learn it until i install it). I plan on using Red Hat, i hear its the most idiot friendly . One last thing, i plan on dual booting w/ XP pro, that shouldn't be too hard, right? just a good 'ol partition magic?

 

[Valhalla1]

I'd say mandrake is the most idiot-friendly.. it is basically Redhat with some more idiot-helping features. not 100% sure about the gf3 and the integrated sound but u will have no problems with anything else u listed

edit- I'm quite sure you can get X up and running fine and all with the geforce 3, but not sure how well you'll be able to play 3d accelerated games like q3/ut in linux unless drivers are out there

 

[Nothinman]

GF3s are supported with open source drivers for 2D only and binary only ones from nVidia for full 2D/3D support. No idea bout the integrated sound, since I have no idea what chipset it is.

Best bet is to get a book and use whatever distro is included there, because the book will answer many of the newbie questions you'll surely have.

 

[pedrog]

I just helped a friend install Mandrake and just installed the latest RedHat from scratch a few weeks ago. Both are very friendly installs... I've also heard good things about Suse.

Anyway, I have a bit older MSI that does just fine with the VIA on board audio chipset. Which chipset does your new board have? Mine uses the ac97 codec. It was autodetected during the install process for RH.

To bad you don't have a cdrom drive. Are you planning to do a net install?