Need Opinion on this system.

[DragonMage]

Take a look at this system. It's somewhat similar to the infamous Walmart $199 PC I think.

 

http://www.softwareandstuff.com/h_dsk_sc70...0700mhzsys.html

 

Anyway, what do you think of the compatibility of this type of system with linux (specifically mandrake 9.0) I think someone can use this type of server as a file server or something, or an internet terminal. All it needs is just an ethernet card (cheap at about 10 bux each, heck.. I have a few lying around unused).

[ral]

I think I would rather get the Microtel box and dump Lindows :)

 

Wait a minute...am at Walmart right now (online)...and can't find the old 1$199 box anymore...hhhmmm.

[pmpatrick]

The scsi hard drive and cdrom might cause problems, kind of wierd on a budget system. Also, check the compatability of the SIS grapics adapter; if you have to spring for a new one, it might not be such a bargain.

[Glitz]

I suspect they got the motherboards dirt cheap due to the speaker connector problem. There's no way ASUS would be caught dead selling motherboards with a problem like that. If this doesn't bother you then I wouldn't consider it a big problem. The refurbished hard drive sets off red flags though. As usual the graphics chipset may be a problem if you want 3D. SCSI shouldn't be a problem.

 

Glitz.

[Counterspy]

My inclination would be to check out the identifiable components at both the manufacturers' sites and at http://www.anandtech.com and http://www.tomshardware.com . Given that SCSI prices for new hardware is fairly high, you may end up with a box of parts.

 

Counterspy

[ral]

Found this message here:

 

http://www.mail-archive.com/linux-hardware...u/msg03196.html

 

"From: Chetan Ahuja <ahujache@cse.msu.edu>

Crossposted-To: alt.os.linux.mandrake,comp.os.linux.setup

Subject: Strange bootup problem with Mandrak 7.1 (maybe UDMA related)

Date: 19 Jul 2000 18:46:52 GMT

 

 

Hi,

I have installed Mandrake 7.1 on a computer consisting of an Asus

ME 99B motherboard (which contains an on-board UDMA66 port), a

Celeron 500, and a Western digital WCD 102 AA ( UDMA66) hard

drive. The problem, which is rather wierd, is this-- After the

install, I can boot into the system just fine... Once. The system

comes up properly... starts all the services etc. Then halt and

reboot the system. That's it. No more booting!!! I get a "kernel

panic. Unable to mount root file system on IDE 3:05" ( or

something similar. I'm away from the machines in question right

now). Amazing thing is, I reinstalled the whole system, it booted

properly exactly once and then refused to boot again. What's going

on here? I'm completely baffled.

 

I understand that a lot of people have had problems with Mandrake

7.1 and UDMA 66 devices. But why would it boot ONCE and not

again. I don't know what IDE chipset is on the board.

(I did see a winbond chip on the board which is usually the IDE

controller... is that it?). Has anybody encountered this

combination of MB and hard disk. If yes," how did you get around

this problem. Do I have to disable the UDMA mode in the the BIOS?

But the question remains, if the problem was with the UDMA driver,

why would it boot even once. Could somebody please throw some

light on this.

 

Thanks a lot

Chetan Ahuja"

 

Information is dated and probably irrelevant by now though.

 

What bother me most is that the MB appears to be an AT board and the HD is refurbished. On the other hand the price is reasonable, expecially since it looksl like those Lindows Microtel boxes are going for $298 now.