Re: BDI

Gene

I need to make a distinction between the BDI 2+ series and the TNG. You will
like TNG a lot more if you have an 800 MHz or better proc with 64 Meg or
better RAM. The rest below applies to the 2+ series.

There are a few video driver chips that are not real friendly with BDI. Most
are the SiS variety. My approach is to try the bdi and if you don't see the
full screen pic of Dan Falck's RF-45 after a couple of minutes then try it on
another box. Nothing is done to the hard drive during an install until long
after that pic shows up.

There were cpu issues for Linux a long time ago but I believe that they are
for the most part not an issue now. Linux is already available for the 64
bit AMD chip which isn't available yet. This box uses the 800 Mhz via, the
one next a k6-2 450, the box on the griz is running with an old Gateway with
an overclocked p5 and a motherboard that does things that I am mystified
by. Upstairs is a cyrix pr300 for ma's accounting and surfing.

If you have an obsolete desktop machine you might try a new motherboard and
processor from someone like Tigerdirect or computergeeks. The latter even
tests some equipment and certifies Linux compatablilty. With the ability to
turn equipment around these days using ebay or a local thrift shop or pc
store, I've found that it is less trouble to try the install than to search
the compatability stuff on the web.

Desktops are easier than laptops. Many of the older laptops can't boot from
the CD and you can't have both a cd and a floppy in the machine at the same
time. However, BDI is awesome on a flat panel. Once you find a flat panel
definition that works, there is a tuner program called xvidtune that will let
you shift the display around until you are happy with the result. Then you
can edit that definition into /etc/X11/XF86config and it will work for you
every time.

Hope this helps.

Ray

>    From: Gene <capper@...>
>
> Is there a compatibility issue with motherboards and CPU'S and BDI? If
> so What is the kind to get?