Building a linux compatible system

Am trying to decide on components (mobo, processor, memory, video card) for a linux system; would like to go with AMD Athlon processor (XP 1800?). I've visited the Mandrake Linux site and have checked their hardware compatibility database -- they show only the Gigabyte 7VAXP as "certified." I've read dozens of reviews for this motherboard, but none which discuss linux compatibility. Do any of you have any experience with this board in a linux box? Thanks in advance.

LaRamie

I've had dual boot (Windows95-98/Red Hat 5.1-6.2, Mandrake 7.x) intel (486, Pentium 266) systems in the past; X Windows on a 486 with 8 Mb of RAM was not a pleasant experience. I'm hoping to build two systems with identical components, one will be set up as a server, the other as a workstation (it's partly an educational project - I'm taking a linux sysadmin class). In any case, the systems may end up as Windows workstations and should be capable of handling the latest version of Windows.

LaRamie