Looking for an all in one board for a cheap solaris/debian box

[Nitemare]

I'm going to be building a dual boot Solaris 9/Debian box and add it to my local network at home 2000 and XP. It's basically to tinker with and learn it more. I will eventually install Apache and start using it as a web server for an online business.

Right now I am leaning towards the Asus A7N266 and have noticed that they have either VM, AA or C after it. What does this mean and is this a good choice or would you recommend another board instead?

How is the video and sound quality on the board?

 

[Peter]

I suggest you get something with a VIA chipset, for proper, open source, chipset and graphics support.

E.g. ECS K7VMM+ aka PC-Chips M825LU. This even comes with a premounted, non-upgradeable Duron CPU if you want - for way below $100.

 

[Nitemare]

The K7VMM+ was one of the others that I was looking at. I was leaning towards the A7N266 because of the extra PCI slot and I've heard the SIS video on that board is pretty bad

nforce <> good linux boards?

 

[Peter]

K7VMM uses a VIA chipset, and of course VIA S3 graphics. Maybe you're mixing that up with K7SOM+?

nForce in Linux is not really a good idea because of NVidia's non-open approach to drivers.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Peter
K7VMM uses a VIA chipset, and of course VIA S3 graphics. Maybe you're mixing that up with K7SOM+?

nForce in Linux is not really a good idea because of NVidia's non-open approach to drivers.

Doh! ECS needs to work on their naming convention. thanks

 

[Peter]

What exactly is wrong with (K7) for Athlon, and then (V) for VIA, (S) for SiS?