[OT] Suitable Athlon Motherboard for Linux

[OT] Suitable Athlon Motherboard for Linux

[Joseph Mathewson]

Having heard the various horror stories about the VIA PCI data corruption
bugs, and watching one Via based machine destroy itself with a Mandrake 8.0
 2.4.3, I was just wondering if anyone had a suggestion for an Athlon
motherboard that works reliably under Linux (I don't think all the issues
have been cleared up in the kernel yet?).  There must be quite a few Linux
Athlon users out there - what boards are you using and with what success?

I can't see much alternative to Via chipsets in the Ahtlon market, other
than all-in-one-graphics-sound-network jobbies that, from previous
experience (namely the i810), are also best avoided.

Joe.

+-------------------------------------------------+
| Joseph Mathewson <joe@mathewson.co.uk>          |
+-------------------------------------------------+

Re: [OT] Suitable Athlon Motherboard for Linux

[Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams]

On Wed, 4 Jul 2001, Joseph Mathewson wrote:

> Having heard the various horror stories about the VIA PCI data corruption
> bugs, and watching one Via based machine destroy itself with a Mandrake 8.0
>  2.4.3, I was just wondering if anyone had a suggestion for an Athlon
> motherboard that works reliably under Linux (I don't think all the issues
> have been cleared up in the kernel yet?).  There must be quite a few Linux
> Athlon users out there - what boards are you using and with what success?
>
> I can't see much alternative to Via chipsets in the Ahtlon market, other
> than all-in-one-graphics-sound-network jobbies that, from previous
> experience (namely the i810), are also best avoided.
>
> Joe.

I have a D-700 on an Asus A7V (VIA 82C686A) with BIOS revision 1007 running
Red Hat 7.1 with kernel 2.4.3-12. Stability seems to be fairly good, with
occasional lockups in XFree86. If you need more details, feel free to ask.

-- 
Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams  <ignacio@openservices.net>

Re: [OT] Suitable Athlon Motherboard for Linux

[Hans-Christian Armingeon]

On Wednesday,  4. July 2001 20:49, Joseph Mathewson wrote:
> Having heard the various horror stories about the VIA PCI data corruption
> bugs, and watching one Via based machine destroy itself with a Mandrake 8.0
>  2.4.3, I was just wondering if anyone had a suggestion for an Athlon
> motherboard that works reliably under Linux (I don't think all the issues
> have been cleared up in the kernel yet?).  There must be quite a few Linux
> Athlon users out there - what boards are you using and with what success?
>
> I can't see much alternative to Via chipsets in the Ahtlon market, other
> than all-in-one-graphics-sound-network jobbies that, from previous
> experience (namely the i810), are also best avoided.
>
> Joe.
>
I think the SIS chipset based mainboards will be at a very good performance, 
even faster than VIA. I read it in the german c't magazine.

Johnny

Re: [OT] Suitable Athlon Motherboard for Linux

[Dmitry Pogosyan]

Hans-Christian Armingeon wrote:

> On Wednesday,  4. July 2001 20:49, Joseph Mathewson wrote:
> > Having heard the various horror stories about the VIA PCI data corruption
> > bugs, and watching one Via based machine destroy itself with a Mandrake 8.0
> >  2.4.3, I was just wondering if anyone had a suggestion for an Athlon
> > motherboard that works reliably under Linux (I don't think all the issues
> > have been cleared up in the kernel yet?).  There must be quite a few Linux
> > Athlon users out there - what boards are you using and with what success?
> >
> > I can't see much alternative to Via chipsets in the Ahtlon market, other
> > than all-in-one-graphics-sound-network jobbies that, from previous
> > experience (namely the i810), are also best avoided.

What about Ali chipsets, like in ASUS A7A266  ?

>
> >
> > Joe.
> >
> I think the SIS chipset based mainboards will be at a very good performance,
> even faster than VIA. I read it in the german c't magazine.
>
> Johnny
> -
> To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
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Re: [OT] Suitable Athlon Motherboard for Linux

[Stephen Wille Padnos]

Well,

I have an Acer AK73 Pro(A), with an Athlon 1.333 GHz (133 FSB).  I have never
had anuy lockup or data corruption problems.  I do run this system as a
dual-boot, usually under Win2K :(

The system is as follows:
Acer AK73 Pro(A)
Athlon (C) 1.333 GHz
IBM DTLA307060 60G IDE hard drive
Creative labs RW1210E CD rewriter
IOmega Zip250
Matrox G450
Creative SB Live Value 5.1
D-Link network card (RTL8139)

Pretty much the exact equipment that everyone complains about, but I can
recompile kernels (fast!), copy large files, play music, and drag windows
around in X - without any problems.  I haven't used this system under Linux too
much, so I can't say for sure that it is much better than other Via-based
systems, but it does seem to be better.  I haven't done any tweaking to the
stock RH7.1 install, except for building a 2.4.4 kernel (I'm on the Win2K boot
now - I can't remember if I had Athlon optimizations on or not).

There are several things that I did with this system:
First, I got a big power supply - 400 watts.  This is with 1 hard drive, and
only 3 I/O cards.

Second, I got one of the AMD retail CPU's.  The difference in price was small
(maybe 10%), and it includes a GUARANTEED good fan - plus it has a 3-year
warrantee.

Third, I didn't buy the cheapest motherboard on the market.  I have had
excellent experiences with Acer products (since the '486 days), and this is one
more positive experience for me.

Let me know if you would like my kernel .config for experimentation. (not that
I have done anything great to it - it just seems to work :)

- Steve

Joseph Mathewson wrote:

[snip]

> I can't see much alternative to Via chipsets in the Ahtlon market, other
> than all-in-one-graphics-sound-network jobbies that, from previous
> experience (namely the i810), are also best avoided.
>
> Joe.
>

Re: [OT] Suitable Athlon Motherboard for Linux

[Catalin BOIE]

On Wed, 4 Jul 2001, Joseph Mathewson wrote:

> Having heard the various horror stories about the VIA PCI data corruption
> bugs, and watching one Via based machine destroy itself with a Mandrake 8.0
>  2.4.3, I was just wondering if anyone had a suggestion for an Athlon
> motherboard that works reliably under Linux (I don't think all the issues
> have been cleared up in the kernel yet?).  There must be quite a few Linux
> Athlon users out there - what boards are you using and with what success?
> 
> I can't see much alternative to Via chipsets in the Ahtlon market, other
> than all-in-one-graphics-sound-network jobbies that, from previous
> experience (namely the i810), are also best avoided.
> 
> Joe.

Hi!

I have an EPOX 8kta2 (www.eopx.com) and I'm very pleased with it. No
lookups since I buy it! I use a Thunderbird @ 650MHz.


> 
> +-------------------------------------------------+
> | Joseph Mathewson <joe@mathewson.co.uk>          |
> +-------------------------------------------------+
> -
> To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
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> Please read the FAQ at  http://www.tux.org/lkml/
> 

---
Catalin(ux) BOIE
catab@deuroconsult.ro
A new Linux distribution: http://l13plus.deuroconsult.ro
http://www2.deuroconsult.ro/~catab

Re: [OT] Suitable Athlon Motherboard for Linux

[Kain]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 1711 bytes --]

On Wed, Jul 04, 2001 at 07:49:50PM +0100, Joseph Mathewson wrote:
> Having heard the various horror stories about the VIA PCI data corruption
> bugs, and watching one Via based machine destroy itself with a Mandrake 8.0
>  2.4.3, I was just wondering if anyone had a suggestion for an Athlon
> motherboard that works reliably under Linux (I don't think all the issues
> have been cleared up in the kernel yet?).  There must be quite a few Linux
> Athlon users out there - what boards are you using and with what success?

I have had absolutely WONDERFUL luck with the Gigabyte GA-7DX and GA-7DXR boards.  My setup is slightly high-end, but here's what I have:
(GA-7DX):
AMD Athlon TBird 1.33Ghz
256MB DDR SDRAM
Yamaha YMF744 Soundcard
CardXpert NVidia Geforce 2 MX (32MB)
some random bt848 videocapture card from Intel
Tekram DC390U3D Ultra3 SCSI
Matrox Networks Tulip (PNIC II Actually) NIC.

Works like a charm.  Here's the other machine:
(GA-7DXR):
TBird 1.33Ghz
No sound
Maxtrox Millenium G200 (I think... only used it in text mode)
1.25GB ECC DDR SDRAM
AMI Megaraid Elite 1600 Dual Ultra3 SCSI Raid.

The first machine is using a SuperMicro power supply (350 watts *sustained* 370 peak I think)
The second is using a random company dual 400W hotswap redundant PS.

All an all, I've had amazing luck with this hardware.  If you're looking at it, give these a try.  YMMV.
-- 
I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish Church, by the Roman
Church, by the Greek Church, by the Turkish Church, by the Protestant Church,
nor by any Church that I know of.  My own mind is my own Church.
                -- Thomas Paine
**
Sadist
Bryon Roche, Kain <kain@kain.org>

[-- Attachment #2: Type: application/pgp-signature, Size: 232 bytes --]

Re: [OT] Suitable Athlon Motherboard for Linux

[Scott Nursten]

I'll second this. Running a 

GA-7DX with Athlon 1.2Ghz 
512MB DDR SDRAM
GeForce 2 MX
Intel Dual EEPro Server Adapter
Adaptec 2940UW (w/ IBM SCSI's, HP CDRW, Plextor SCSI CDROM) 
Soundblaster Live!. 

No problems at all. Lovely smooth running all day, every day. As below, YMMV, 

Rgds,

Scott Nursten

Kain wrote:
> 
> On Wed, Jul 04, 2001 at 07:49:50PM +0100, Joseph Mathewson wrote:
> > Having heard the various horror stories about the VIA PCI data corruption
> > bugs, and watching one Via based machine destroy itself with a Mandrake 8.0
> >  2.4.3, I was just wondering if anyone had a suggestion for an Athlon
> > motherboard that works reliably under Linux (I don't think all the issues
> > have been cleared up in the kernel yet?).  There must be quite a few Linux
> > Athlon users out there - what boards are you using and with what success?
> 
> I have had absolutely WONDERFUL luck with the Gigabyte GA-7DX and GA-7DXR boards.  My setup is slightly high-end, but here's what I have:
> (GA-7DX):
> AMD Athlon TBird 1.33Ghz
> 256MB DDR SDRAM
> Yamaha YMF744 Soundcard
> CardXpert NVidia Geforce 2 MX (32MB)
> some random bt848 videocapture card from Intel
> Tekram DC390U3D Ultra3 SCSI
> Matrox Networks Tulip (PNIC II Actually) NIC.
> 
> Works like a charm.  Here's the other machine:
> (GA-7DXR):
> TBird 1.33Ghz
> No sound
> Maxtrox Millenium G200 (I think... only used it in text mode)
> 1.25GB ECC DDR SDRAM
> AMI Megaraid Elite 1600 Dual Ultra3 SCSI Raid.
> 
> The first machine is using a SuperMicro power supply (350 watts *sustained* 370 peak I think)
> The second is using a random company dual 400W hotswap redundant PS.
> 
> All an all, I've had amazing luck with this hardware.  If you're looking at it, give these a try.  YMMV.
> --
> I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish Church, by the Roman
> Church, by the Greek Church, by the Turkish Church, by the Protestant Church,
> nor by any Church that I know of.  My own mind is my own Church.
>                 -- Thomas Paine
> **
> Sadist
> Bryon Roche, Kain <kain@kain.org>
> 
>                                                   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>    Part 1.2Type: application/pgp-signature

-- 
Scott Nursten - Systems Administrator
Streets Online Ltd.

Direct:		+44 (0) 1293 744 122
Business:       +44 (0) 1293 402 040
Fax:            +44 (0) 1293 402 050
Email:          scottn@streetsonline.co.uk

      -----------------------------------------------------------------------
	"Unix is user friendly. It's just selective when choosing friends."
      -----------------------------------------------------------------------

[OT] Quad-cpu motherboard recommendation

[ognen]

Hello,

can someone please recommend a motherboard that can carry four CPUs,
either AMD or Intel (but other than Pentium III Xeon 700 Mhz) capable of
running Linux?

Best regards,
Ognen
-- 
Ognen Duzlevski
Plant Biotechnology Institute
National Research Council of Canada
Bioinformatics team

Re: [OT] Quad-cpu motherboard recommendation

[Dan Hollis]

On Thu, 5 Jul 2001 ognen@gene.pbi.nrc.ca wrote:
> can someone please recommend a motherboard that can carry four CPUs,
> either AMD or Intel (but other than Pentium III Xeon 700 Mhz) capable of
> running Linux?

So you want a quad-pentiumpro-200 do you? :D

-Dan

Re: [OT] Quad-cpu motherboard recommendation

[Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams]

On Thu, 5 Jul 2001 ognen@gene.pbi.nrc.ca wrote:

> Hello,
>
> can someone please recommend a motherboard that can carry four CPUs,
> either AMD or Intel (but other than Pentium III Xeon 700 Mhz) capable of
> running Linux?
>
> Best regards,
> Ognen

If you're going to go quad then you're usually better off dealing with a big
company like Dell or IBM than going homebrew. Yes, they're pricey, but they
know what they're doing.

-- 
Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams  <ignacio@openservices.net>

Re: [OT] Quad-cpu motherboard recommendation

[William Park]

On Thu, Jul 05, 2001 at 01:24:03PM -0600, ognen@gene.pbi.nrc.ca wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> can someone please recommend a motherboard that can carry four CPUs,
> either AMD or Intel (but other than Pentium III Xeon 700 Mhz) capable
> of running Linux?

I only know of <www.supermicro.com>, but they use Xeon last time I
checked.  Why not get dual, and take a coffee break?

-- 
William Park, Open Geometry Consulting, <opengeometry@yahoo.ca>
8 CPUs cluster, (Slackware) Linux, Python, LaTeX, Vim, Mutt, Sc.

Re: [OT] Quad-cpu motherboard recommendation

[Joel Jaeggli]

pIII's other than xeons aren't capable of running in > 2  cpu
configurations...

you chipset choices are also limited to 450nx, profusion, and serverset
IIIHE


joelja

On Thu, 5 Jul 2001 ognen@gene.pbi.nrc.ca wrote:

> Hello,
>
> can someone please recommend a motherboard that can carry four CPUs,
> either AMD or Intel (but other than Pentium III Xeon 700 Mhz) capable of
> running Linux?
>
> Best regards,
> Ognen
>

-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joel Jaeggli				       joelja@darkwing.uoregon.edu
Academic User Services			     consult@gladstone.uoregon.edu
     PGP Key Fingerprint: 1DE9 8FCA 51FB 4195 B42A 9C32 A30D 121E
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is clear that the arm of criticism cannot replace the criticism of
arms.  Karl Marx -- Introduction to the critique of Hegel's Philosophy of
the right, 1843.

Re: [OT] Suitable Athlon Motherboard for Linux

[Victor Julien]

I run linux on a MSI K7T-turbo-RAID (via kt133a) with a Duron 600@866
(6,5*133) and its is ROCKSTABLE!! Pretty impressive. For stability I can
really recommend this board!

Victor

Re: [OT] Suitable Athlon Motherboard for Linux

[Stephen M. Williams]

Seems to run fine here.  I'm using a Tyan S2380 (600MHz pre-Thunderbird)
with the VIA KX-133 chipset, running Kernel 2.4.5

On 04 Jul 2001 19:49:50 +0100, Joseph Mathewson wrote:
> Having heard the various horror stories about the VIA PCI data corruption
> bugs, and watching one Via based machine destroy itself with a Mandrake 8.0
>  2.4.3, I was just wondering if anyone had a suggestion for an Athlon
> motherboard that works reliably under Linux (I don't think all the issues
> have been cleared up in the kernel yet?).  There must be quite a few Linux
> Athlon users out there - what boards are you using and with what success?
> 
> I can't see much alternative to Via chipsets in the Ahtlon market, other
> than all-in-one-graphics-sound-network jobbies that, from previous
> experience (namely the i810), are also best avoided.
> 
> Joe.

Stephen Williams
mailto:rootusr@midsouth.rr.com

* I've tried killing time, but it keeps making a comeback.

Re: [OT] Suitable Athlon Motherboard for Linux

[Jim Roland]

Unfortunately, some distros will have some configurations, patches, and
customizations that may cause problems with some systems.  I am using an
EPoX 8KTA3+ (with IDE ATA100 RAID controller) and have absolutely no
problems with RedHat 6.1, or my current RedHat 7.1, and I am using the RAID
controller in a non-RAID configuration.  Using Mandrake for critical
applications such as servers and firewalls, I have always had "strange"
unexplained lock-ups, etc (that was on Mandrake 7.0).  What will really
matter is what hardware you're plugging into the motherboard and it's
interaction with those cards.

My system (which runs without any problems whatsoever):
EPoX 8KTA3+ Mainboard
Athlon K7 1.2GHz
512MB RAM
1 CDROM on IDE0 (standard 52x)
1 CDRW on IDE1 (Plextor Plexwriter 16/10/40A)
1 30 GB Seagate HD on IDE2 (Highpoint RAID Controller part of mainboard)
1 6GB Western Digital on IDE3 (Highpoint RAID Controller part of mainboard)
GeForce2 MX (32MB RAM)
Netgear FA311 NIC



----- Original Message -----
From: "Stephen M. Williams" <rootusr@midsouth.rr.com>
To: <joe.mathewson@btinternet.com>
Cc: <linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org>
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2001 10:52 PM
Subject: Re: [OT] Suitable Athlon Motherboard for Linux


> Seems to run fine here.  I'm using a Tyan S2380 (600MHz pre-Thunderbird)
> with the VIA KX-133 chipset, running Kernel 2.4.5
>
> On 04 Jul 2001 19:49:50 +0100, Joseph Mathewson wrote:
> > Having heard the various horror stories about the VIA PCI data
corruption
> > bugs, and watching one Via based machine destroy itself with a Mandrake
8.0
> >  2.4.3, I was just wondering if anyone had a suggestion for an Athlon
> > motherboard that works reliably under Linux (I don't think all the
issues
> > have been cleared up in the kernel yet?).  There must be quite a few
Linux
> > Athlon users out there - what boards are you using and with what
success?
> >
> > I can't see much alternative to Via chipsets in the Ahtlon market, other
> > than all-in-one-graphics-sound-network jobbies that, from previous
> > experience (namely the i810), are also best avoided.
> >
> > Joe.
>
> Stephen Williams
> mailto:rootusr@midsouth.rr.com
>
> * I've tried killing time, but it keeps making a comeback.
>
> -
> To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
> the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org
> More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
> Please read the FAQ at  http://www.tux.org/lkml/
>