tlug: CD-R, system advice

[Marcus Metzler <mocm@example.com>]

Hi
Joe Rodrigue writes:
 > Hi, I'm about to order a Linux system and wanted to run it by you guys first.
 > 
 > I'm working on a dictionary and would like to be able to put it on CD ROM
 > (text, sound and images), so I will get a CD ROM burner (the write-once kind).
 > So I need to get something that is compatible with that.  I seem to remember
 > someone talking about CD ROM burners here lately.
 > 
 > Actually, I am going to buy two systems, the first for the dictionary stuff
 > and the second for myself.  The second one definitely needs to support
 > Japanese, but not burning CD ROMs.
 > 
 > Here is what I have in mind for the first system.  The second will be similar,
 > although I may get a Cyrix or AMD CPU instead.
 > 
 > Pentium P166
 > ASUS TX97-X Intel 430TX chipset, ATX 
 > 512k pipelined burst mode cache, 6ns 
 > Two built-in high speed serial ports and an enhanced parallel port 
 > 64mb SDRAM 10ns 
 > NCR 53C810/815 fast SCSI II controller, 32bit busmaster PCI 
 > One Quantum 4.3gb UltraSCSI drive, 5400RPM, 10ms 
 > Toshiba 12X SCSI-2 CDROM drive 
 > Matrox Millennium II 4mb WRAM 250Mhz 
 > Teac 1.44mb floppy drive
 > Mid-tower case, w/ 250w UL listed PS, 7 drive bays 
 > Logitech Trackman Marble, PS/2 
 > 
 > Specific questions:
 > 
 > 1. What would you suggest for a CD ROM burner?
 >
The Yahama burners tend to be quite good. I have the old Yamaha 100, but
I think the new 400 series is also supported by Linux. 
 > 2. Is this SCSI II controller a good choice?  How about the hard disk?  Do I
 > have to worry about these being compatible with the CD ROM burner?
 > 
The SCSI controller is ok, but why don't you get the Asus P55T2P4S board.
It has the controller already on the board, which saves you one PCI slot
and in my opinion the TX chipset is not as good as the older T2.
 > 3. Can I do better than to get a Pentium chip?  I'm aware that the motherboard
 > only supports 64 MB of RAM, but I don't know of a good alternative at the
 > moment.
 > 
A Pentium Pro or Pentium II could be better, but if you don't need a fast
floating point unit you could try the AMD K6.
See above. The T2P4 supports up to 512MB. Of course you don't have the SDRAM.
 > I will be running Debian Linux, and the first system will be a dual-boot with
 > Windows NT (not my decision; I won't be using NT).

Well, I hope that helps.

Marcus

-- 
-----------------------------------------------
Dr. Marcus Metzler
Department of Physics
Toho University
Miyama 2-2-1, Funabashi, Chiba 274
Japan

e-mail : mocm@example.com
-----------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
Next TLUG Nomikai: 14 January 1998 19:15  Tokyo station
Yaesu Chuo ticket gate.  Or go directly to Tengu TokyoEkiMae 19:30
Chuo-ku, Kyobashi 1-1-6, EchiZenYa Bld. B1/B2 03-3275-3691
Next Saturday Meeting: 14 February 1998 12:30 Tokyo Station
Yaesu Chuo ticket gate.
---------------------------------------------------------------
a word from the sponsor:
TWICS - Japan's First Public-Access Internet System
www.twics.com  info@example.com  Tel:03-3351-5977  Fax:03-3353-6096