LinuxMCE Forums

General => Users => Topic started by: brake16 on April 10, 2009, 03:05:56 pm

Title: more RAM or separate video card?
Post by: brake16 on April 10, 2009, 03:05:56 pm

Good Morning

I'm looking at getting this mobo for my hybrid/core:
ECS GF8200A (V1.0) ATX AMD Motherboard
NewEgg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813135085 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813135085)
LinuxMCE hardware wiki: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/ECS_GF8200A (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/ECS_GF8200A)

For now, I plan on playing around with it without using the HDMI jack.  I'll just keep my fingers crossed that that will have support when 8.10 comes out.  I'm sure I'll be configuring at least until then!  I have a few video performance questions:

• The hardware wiki profile for this mobo recommends at least 2 GB of RAM if using the onboard video card.  I don't have any problem doing that, and I'd go to 4 GB in a heartbeat if I thought that would give me smooth UI2.  Would I be better off loading up RAM or buying a separate video card?  Assume for now that fan noise is not an issue.
• I'm assuming for now that Nvidia's hybrid SLI setup is a no-go in any linux distro.  Any experience or knowledge either way? (Hybrid SLI: http://www.nvidia.com/object/hybrid_sli.html (http://www.nvidia.com/object/hybrid_sli.html))  If this is an option, I'd be more than willing to try out something like this: Galaxy GeForce 8400 GS 84GEE6HDFEXN Video Card (Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16814162026 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16814162026)) or any recommendations.

Here's the rest of my intended setup (open for comment/criticism/random smackdown):

• AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200 2.7GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor
• 2 to 4 (or 8?) GB of 1066 RAM
• Intel PWLA8391GT 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter - OEM
• I have an 80GB hdd and a 250 GB hdd lying around to throw in.  I'll probably start with the 80 and use the 250 to "start" a NAS down the road.
• I have a Sony DVD-RW also lying around.  I'll have to double-check the model#.

Any thoughts?  I appreciate the experiences here (I've been lurking for about 16 months), and I'm looking forward to contributing my (successful?) setup someday.

Thanks
brake16

Title: Re: more RAM or separate video card?
Post by: merkur2k on April 10, 2009, 06:30:17 pm

I see no reason for more than 2 gig in any case. the onboard graphics should use no more than 256 meg.
I also see no reason for sli of any sort. if a 7xxx series geforce can run UI2 flawlessly, then there is no reason to throw more graphics power at it.