Pick Me A Linux Distro!

NumbersNotFoundNumbersNotFound Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7556Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Finally, a computer of my own...</div> I'm going away to college this summer and I'm gonna be building myself a computer. Finally, a comp to my own <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Anyway, it's got the following specs:

AMD Athlon 64 3000+
Leadtek nVIDIA GeForce FX5900XT Video Card
NEC/MITSUBISHI FE771SB-BK 17" monitor
Crucial 184 Pin 768MB RAM
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
ASUS "K8V SE Deluxe" K8T800
Seagate 160GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
Lite-On 52x24x52x16 Combo Drive
ANTEC SUPER LANBOY
Thermaltake Silent PurePower, 420W
Logitech MX500 Optical Mouse -USB/PS2 RETAIL
ZALMAN CNPS7000A-AlCu
Altec Speakers
Keyboard
Teac 1.44MB 3.5inch Floppy Disk Drive

But aside from that, I'm gonna be dual booting win2000 and Linux of some sort with XOSL. So I wonder, what would be the best distro? I'm thinking Mandrake, Debian, or Slackware. I'm not a huge Linux guru, so i have no idea how to do something like LFS or Gentoo.

Any thoughts would be appretiated, thanks <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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Comments

  • KillymageeKillymagee Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 3136Members
    I can't help you much in that department but I can say drop the **** fx5900 and get a 9800 pro. You wont regret it. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • SkulkBaitSkulkBait Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13423Members
    edited June 2004
    Here are some less popular distributions that you might like:

    <a href='http://cobind.com/' target='_blank'>Cobind Linux</a>
    + Lightweight, (fairly)easy
    - costs money
    = uses XFCE desktop, based on Fedora Core 1


    <a href='http://www.gobolinux.org/' target='_blank'>GoboLinux</a>
    + More comprehendable directory structure, easy install
    - lack of packages
    = uses KDE desktop


    <a href='http://www.arklinux.org/' target='_blank'>Ark Linux</a>
    + (fairly)Easy to use
    - ?
    = uses KDE desktop
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  • StarchyStarchy Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15727Members, Constellation
    Check out Knoppix...<a href='http://www.knoppix.org/' target='_blank'>http://www.knoppix.org/</a>

    Easy to use. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • DOOManiacDOOManiac Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
    I like Fedora Core 2. Some people who know a lot more about linux than I do dislike it, but I can't tell the difference between the different distros, and the GRUB boot screen is purdy...
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  • CommunistWithAGunCommunistWithAGun Local Propaganda Guy Join Date: 2003-04-30 Member: 15953Members
    Fedora Core is very...very...nice
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  • Jim_has_SkillzJim_has_Skillz Join Date: 2003-01-19 Member: 12475Members, Constellation
    Fedora Core ftw
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  • [WHO]Them[WHO]Them You can call me Dave Join Date: 2002-12-11 Member: 10593Members, Constellation
    I really recommend slackware, but then again I only use that for server software and haven't used any window system for it.
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  • NumbersNotFoundNumbersNotFound Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7556Members
    edited June 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin-Killymagee+Jun 16 2004, 05:07 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Killymagee @ Jun 16 2004, 05:07 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I can't help you much in that department but I can say drop the **** fx5900 and get a 9800 pro.  You wont regret it.  <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    That was more expensive- plus i've never once had a game compatibility problem with an Nvidia card and i've been using them since the TNT2.

    And after the first experience I had with slackware, which good, even though I had to really work to get an old S3 Trio64+ driver working on it, i'm gonna go with that one. My general conclusion from the experience was that, even if you overclock it 20MHz, a 100MHz P1 just isn't meant to run Linux with a GUI <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    I've got disc2 of 4 downloaded already <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • Dr_ShaggyDr_Shaggy Join Date: 2002-09-26 Member: 1340Members, Constellation
    XFCE is a sweet desktop, capable of using both KDE and Gnome features
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  • SkulkBaitSkulkBait Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13423Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->a 100MHz P1 just isn't meant to run Linux with a GUI<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Sure it is, you just have to run a really stripped down GUI (like say, BlackBox) and really light GUI apps. Running an old distro with older kernel and software would help too.
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  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    Okay, before anything else:
    <b>AVOID MANDRAKE LIKE THE PLAGUE IT IS.</b> Thank you.

    If you're just learning Linux, and want a fairly easy transition, I'd recommend <b>Fedora Core-64 1</b>. Since you have an Ath64, standard distros will not work... your mobo and CPU each have a GART, and they'll get confused as to which to use, among other incompatabilities. As well, 'normal' distros are not compiled to use the full 64-bit registers of your CPU.
    FC-64 1 comes with a GUI and pretty much all you need to get started.
    The one thing it DOESN'T come with (and will be a pain in the butt for a Linux newbie) is installing the crappy-**** nVidia kernel modules, to allow Linux to use your video card's 3D accel features.
    They have the module, and instructions posted on their website. Follow instructions and you should be fine. ATi's are much better, but as of the time of this writing, are not available for a 64-bit environment. :b
    If nVidia doesn't have 64-bit modules available, you'll have to stick with 2D mode in X until they come out with 'em.


    Whew. Long bit about Fedora Core-64 1.
    If you know what you're doing (midrange, not a newbie, can get around the CLI) you'll want Slackware. Stable, good enhancements, easy to use, decent init scripts and kernel monitoring.

    High-range, you'll either go for LFS, Gentoo... or my favorite, Sorcerer. Sorc is like Gentoo, only it came out first and has a much more robust package manager. But don't even try to install it unless you know what you're doing.
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  • Umbraed_MonkeyUmbraed_Monkey Join Date: 2002-11-25 Member: 9922Members
    edited June 2004
    What are you planning to do with your Linux?

    I say get the new Slackware 10.0 RC1


    Talesin: if he can LFS, then he wont need to ask us stuff <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • NumbersNotFoundNumbersNotFound Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7556Members
    Talesin: Maybe I won't go with Slackware, then. I do want to take advantage of the 64bit CPU <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • DOOManiacDOOManiac Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
    I recommend Fedora Core 64 on the sole fact that it rhymes rather nicely.
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  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    You *can* use the new Slack, but it's nowhere near as easy a transition for a windows-user. You'll need to recompile virtually everything, including/especially the kernel and X, to use the full 64-bit registers.

    FC-64 1 already has all of that done for you. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->


    And monkey, I was just listing off the 'placings' for Linux distros. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • Dorian_GrayDorian_Gray Join Date: 2004-02-15 Member: 26581Members, Constellation
    edited June 2004
    I recommend Gentoo personally. Easy to install (no GUI or anything, but still easy, only a few commands such as "emerge system"). It supports 64 bit processors (assuming you enter the right settings) and you can customize every single aspect of it. I've never used Sorcerer, but if its like Gentoo it should rock. The packange manager in Gentoo is awesome if you have a fast CPU, since you just type "emerge {package}" and it compiles. This is a curse on slower systems, as a 2 week OpenOffice or KDE compile is not unheard of. Hell, I've heard of bootstraps taking a month on Pentium 1's. But an Athalon 64... yikes that's a nice processor.

    But for a TOTAL Linux newbie... FC64 is the way to go.
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  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
    go fedora core two!
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  • CodemanCodeman Join Date: 2002-11-21 Member: 9497Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    Gentoo (and Sorcerer and the like) will teach you far more about linux than a pre-chewed distro will, but they can be painful to install (took me around 3 days on and off to get Gentoo running on my old Athlon 2400+)

    I'd start simple with something like Fedora, once you get hungry for more penguin love you can always change later...
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  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    Didn't notice that FC-64 2 was out... last I checked, they only had FC-64 1. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> Yeah, go for 2.

    Gentoo won't teach you 'more', it'll make it easier to have a sleeker install. It does most everything for you on the download/configure/compile/install aspect. Which you really need to do for yourself if you want to learn. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • CodemanCodeman Join Date: 2002-11-21 Member: 9497Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    i meant the config side of things - Gentoo will compile/install by itself, but I learnt a lot more about partitioning drives and cofinguring the programs - bootloader, XFree86, various servers (I had FTP, IRC, SSH and Telnet which I used to testing stuff when I wasn't online, since this was at my parent's house where there is only dialup)
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  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    For a usable OS go with Fedora. If you wan't to learn Linux, go with some other lesser known distro.

    I love Fedora. It does it's job, and it's pretty user friendly (Oh noes!!!)
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  • MonsieurEvilMonsieurEvil Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    You can always <a href='http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/05/21/0435241&mode=thread&tid=106&tid=185' target='_blank'>wade through this Slashdot article on your question</a>. Be sure to bathe afterwards though; you don't want that stink of /. on you all day, it drives off the ladies.

    Is it too late to recommend Windows XP with the upcoming SP2, and running Linux as a VMWare session? <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • NumbersNotFoundNumbersNotFound Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7556Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-MonsieurEvil+Jun 17 2004, 09:15 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MonsieurEvil @ Jun 17 2004, 09:15 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> You can always <a href='http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/05/21/0435241&mode=thread&tid=106&tid=185' target='_blank'>wade through this Slashdot article on your question</a>. <b>Be sure to bathe afterwards though; you don't want that stink of /. on you all day, it drives off the ladies.</b>

    Is it too late to recommend Windows XP with the upcoming SP2, and running Linux as a VMWare session? <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Oh, so <i>that's</i> why they've been driven off...

    Yeah, it's too late for WinXP with SP2- im' going win2k.
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  • littlewildlittlewild Join Date: 2002-11-20 Member: 9467Members
    For advanced users, you can run Linux without virtualization on a Windows PC. Use coLinux.

    As for new linux users, I recommend Fedora. It is rather fool proof, at least for me. For all other distros and reviews, check out www.distrowatch.com

    By the way, if you are going to dual boot your machine with Fedora Core 2 or Mandrake 10, please do bear in mind that there is a potential bug that might screw up your MBR and render your hard disk unbootable.
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  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    GRUB truly is a tool of satan. Only part I hate about FC-64... they don't give the option of using good ol' LILO.

    And who would want to run Linux under Windows? :b It totally defeats the purpose of having a GUIless OS running. ie: No GUI overhead.
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  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    I absolutly hate LILO... It f'd up my MBR... GRUB forever!!!
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  • FamFam Diaper-Wearing Dog On A Ball Join Date: 2002-02-17 Member: 222Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    <!--QuoteBegin-Caboose+Jun 17 2004, 07:51 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Caboose @ Jun 17 2004, 07:51 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I absolutly hate LILO... It f'd up my MBR... GRUB forever!!! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I bet youre a wow at Scrabble.
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  • MonsieurEvilMonsieurEvil Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    <!--QuoteBegin-littlewild+Jun 17 2004, 11:48 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (littlewild @ Jun 17 2004, 11:48 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> By the way, if you are going to dual boot your machine with Fedora Core 2 or Mandrake 10, please do bear in mind that there is a <b>potential bug that might screw up your MBR and render your hard disk unbootable.</b> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Oh yeah, by the way, la de daaaa... JEEBUS!!! Totally lame bug for which there is little excuse and many excuses made for it - see /.), so be careful installing for dual-boot.
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  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    <installs Windows, then FC-64-2, then downloads and installs LILO instead> Winr!~
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  • NumbersNotFoundNumbersNotFound Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7556Members
    BitTorrenting Fedora64 Core2 now!
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