Right Hardware for Ultimate

[nicgom]

Ok, I've been reading about O.S. a lot, what is the best, what works the best, win people, say win is the best, because the best software is made for it, it's the most popular, for gaming the one and only and so on, then there are other kind of computer users, who happen to be Mac OS fanatics, the buy ipod, iphone, get their music and videos from the apple store, because it is becoming more than just a mode, the OS works very well with itÅ› hardware, but you are attached to it, and you have to pay for it, and itÅ› more expensive than other hardware for other OS's
and then we have Linux, in our case in this forum, Ultimate, and for most of the users it works very well, drivers are recognized, and as said it just works.
butnot for everybody, some times we have to install other drivers that might work,but not perfectly, so i would like to know, which could be a bullet proof hardware/ultimate combination, I'm personally a laptop user, i need a laptop for my work and more importantly for my study, but i also would like to build a desktop for home use.
it doesn't have to be a high end pc, just one where the hardware and software work together, i mean, the right driver for its hardware working on ultimate, just as for example mac os interacts with an imac.
I'm not a gamer, and if i occasionally play i do play, solitaire, super Mario, donkey kong country, not more, but i still would like to have at least 128 MB video card, so that i can fully enjoy compiz and don't have problems with watching any movie format.
then, the motherboard, audio hardware and so on.
As TheeMahn says the 64 Bits version of Ultimate is superior in performance, that meaning to me, i'd better get a AMD processor, being that said, which graphic card works better with those processors, i might be wrong but i think i read ati, what model for the processor, what model for the video card?

i hope i will be able to build it soon, and i would love it to be cheap, not only because I'm just a student, but also, because i would love to be able to encourage other people to do the same to get a full system, with a great Free OS working at least as well as any expensive hardware with any other OS does.

Lets say there is a 300 dollars budget, and that i might be buying most of the parts on eBay.
I'm sure it is possible, i read every day of companies selling cheap pc's for 200 dollars some with a Linux ditro preinstalled, here in Germany you get a dual core pc with a 512 MB graphic card for 199 euros.

iĺl be waiting for suggestions

[LeadFingers]

For video, get Nvidia.
It has the best Linux driver support and the drivers install much easier.
Don't get the Nvidia 6300 series or the 6200 series as they may cause problems.
While the nvidia 8800 series are very nice a few models have driver problems.

for the rest of your gear read the Working section it hardware, to see what works out of the box.

[Baphomet]

Check out this Hardware Compatibility Site for Ubuntu. This breaks things down by component (motherboard, video card, et cetera). This would be the best place I can think of to start with if I was going to build what I knew would be an Ubuntu-compatible PC.

Of course this doesn't mean that EVERY part on that list is compatible with every OTHER part on the list; so some research on your part is still going to be required. This list is also not entirely inclusive; just because a certain part is not on the list does not mean that it will not work with Ubuntu.

[nicgom]

thanks for the info, i thought ati worked better with AMD, just did'nt know it did not work well with linux, ok now i now, AMD, Nvidia, for the motherboard i think i will try Asus, bacause of splashtop http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd_kZhbXkXA.
for the HD i think Ide is the best idea, if not, please correct me.

[LeadFingers]

thanks for the info, i thought ati worked better with AMD, just did'nt know it did not work well with linux, ok now i now, AMD, Nvidia, for the motherboard i think i will try Asus, bacause of splashtop http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd_kZhbXkXA.
for the HD i think Ide is the best idea, if not, please correct me.

Sata will be faster. watch the sales on bestbuy.com they have stupid-good sales.
I was a true Asus fan but anything after the 939 motherboards have been rushed to market and have way to high failure rate. If buying a 939 board, you can't beat Asus.
Before buying a motherboard, read the reviews on newegg.com
Anything with a 1 egg rating higher than 8% , you prolly don't want.
In the AM+ & AM2 category MSI and BioStar seem to lead the pack.

[DaddyX3]

I would not count out Intel chips right now. They are handing AMD their a$$'s in performance. They are resonably priced for once as well. There are some really nice Intel based MB's out there right now and if you want an nvidia chipset for your graphics solution I would seriously look into going Intel. DO SOME RESEARCH ON AMD vs INTEL for starters, then you will only have one obvious decision after that. Don't get me wrong, I've been a AMD guy for many years, but what it boils down to is, do you want to stick with the AMD cpu just because your used to the name!? That wouldn't make much sense. Good Luck!

[cowboy]

I would not count out Intel chips right now. They are handing AMD their a$$'s in performance

Darn...wish someone would of told me...lol
All I can say do your homework...
LeadFingers is right Sata is faster...even Fry's have some smoking deals and sometimes with free shipping...Daddy is also right..I have to mess with him...
They all helped me put one together..and could not be happier...bottom line and I do not want to sound redundant is check around, read, and when you decide post back..we will all be here to help..

[DaddyX3]

I would not count out Intel chips right now. They are handing AMD their a$$'s in performance

Darn...wish someone would of told me...lol
All I can say do your homework...
LeadFingers is right Sata is faster...even Fry's have some smoking deals and sometimes with free shipping...Daddy is also right..I have to mess with him...
They all helped me put one together..and could not be happier...bottom line and I do not want to sound redundant is check around, read, and when you decide post back..we will all be here to help..

Yes, cowboy - you had plenty of input! You had more than you knew what to do with ... LOL! .. poor guy