Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus (
More info?)
[Hrmpf... I just noticed several different, and apparently unrelated,
articles sitting in my Agent "Outbox", which for some unknown reason
apparently never got posted. This is one of them. Re-posting. Apologies if
duplicate.]
On Thu, 06 May 2004 00:11:05 GMT, in <alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus>, R
<R@nothere.com> wrote:
>
> I built my Asus P3F with 700 pentium about 4 years ago, rock solid and
> on win98se, but it's time for an upgrade.
[snip]
The P3B-F was indeed a great board, for its era; nearly as much so as the
legendary T2P4.
> I'm leaning for the new system to include:
>
> Asus P4C800-E DELUXE
> Intel Pentium 4/ 3.0E GHz (Hyper Threading)
[snip]
I strongly prefer AMD CPUs, for several reasons; but that is an argument I'll
gladly defer to another day, thank you. <~>
> (2) Western Digital Raptor
>
[snip]
I don't see this as a "make or break" item; but since you're looking for
opinions...
Are you (mostly) looking for speed, or size? Either way, the WD360GD model is
(currently) hard to beat on the "bytes/buck" scale, while still maintaining
"passable" performance. The WD740GD is still bigger, but disproportionately
more expensive (today, anyway; wait an hour or two, and that will surely
change -- life in the ultra-competitive HDD market). And both include a
decent warranty (a relative rarity for WDC), as long as you buy it right. So
I can't say this is a *bad* choice. But if speed is the ultimate goal,
neither Raptor is a match for a good SCSI RAID array.
Now, for the place I think you're making a *serious* mistake:
> Seems like every other day I read about a new virus out attaching Win
> XP.
[snip]
Windows-specific worms/virii/etc. are by no means limited to XP. As a rule,
they'll just as readily attack any other version of Windows more recent than
WfWG (some are specifically aimed at Windows-based servers, as opposed to
desktops; but that's another matter).
HOWEVER... WinXP, specifically, should be avoided for several *other*
reasons. Far too much to go into here; but see:
<http://www.hevanet.com/peace/microsoft.htm>
or <http://www.futurepower.net/microsoft.htm>
and (read all three):
<http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/03/14/11winman_1.html>
<http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/03/21/12winman_1.html>
<http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/03/28/13winman_1.html>
and finally:
<http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/tcpa-faq.html>
If you want to go with an NT-based (as opposed to DOS-based) version of
Windows, then stick with Win2K/SP4; but be *SURE* to install it using
"2000lite", available here: <http://www.litepc.com/xplite.html>, so you can
tame some of its more egregious excesses (like MSIE, for example).
> I plan to get into Unix operating system on one hard
> drive,
[snip]
Good move, BUT...
Unless you have some very specific reason to favor a particular vendor's
version of Unix, I *strongly* suggest that for your purposes, "Unix" should
equal "Linux". Beyond that, everyone has their own pet Linux distro, and
rarely will any two randomly chosen penguin-heads agree on which that should
be. But the "bottom line" is that Red Hat is *generally* considered the most
"compromised by commercial marketing concerns" -- which may or may not
actually mean it's suitable to you. Personally, I have a soft spot for
Knoppix <http://www.knoppix.net/>, which is near-certainly the hands-down
winner in terms of easing the transition for long-time Windows users.
> ...but not sure if the second hard drive (portable) should keep the
> Win 98se or go with Win XP?
[snip]
See above WRT WinXP. As for Win98SE, there's no reason you couldn't install
that beside either Linux or an NT-based Windows (or both); and depending on
what applications and peripherals you plan to use, it may be a very good idea,
at least as a temporary "bridge" while you learn Linux. But if you do go this
route, it is again an "absolute must" to install it via 98lite:
<http://www.litepc.com/98lite.html>, for the same reasons as apply to Win2K.
> Would Win98se even work with
> hyper thread?
[snip]
Presuming that by "work with" you mean "take advantage of", no -- but that's
rather a moot point AFAIAC. You certainly do *NOT* need "HyperThreading" to
use and fully take advantage of Win98SE.
> I already know Win98 would limit the new programs coming
> out and the new software architecture would be
> better with the newer processors,
[snip]
This is at least mostly Urban Legend.
The best fundamental lesson you can possibly learn, applicable in all sorts of
contexts beyond just this one, is:
"Newer" != "Better".
> Oh yeah, another quick question. Would the Antec 380 True Power be an
> adequate power supply?
>
[snip]
Probably, depending on what else you're putting in the box. The main thing to
keep in mind is that newer P4 systems can really load down the +12V rail, far
beyond what used to be considered "normal". So if you insist on going the
Intel route, look at that spec particularly close.
--
Jay T. Blocksom
--------------------------------
Appropriate Technology, Inc.
usenet01[at]appropriate-tech.net
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759.
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