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From: michaelv@iastate.edu (Michael L. VanLoon)
Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.questions,comp.os.linux.help
Subject: Re: which video/SCSI/ether card ?
Date: 26 May 94 19:31:49 GMT
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Lines: 48
Message-ID: <michaelv.769980709@ponderous.cc.iastate.edu>
References: <2s2294$c4d@nntpd.lkg.dec.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: ponderous.cc.iastate.edu
In <2s2294$c4d@nntpd.lkg.dec.com> jenkins@oils (Jon Jenkins) writes:
>I am about to set up a system to run either Linux or Free/NetBSD.
>I would like some info on video cards and SCSI cards from people
>who have set up BSD systems before.
>The requirements for the video card are as follows:
>1: 1280x1024 non interlaced resolution with at least 70Hz refresh rate
>2: able to drive both PC style monitors (i.e. 15pin D connector
> PS any hardware buffs know a way of converting
>3: Have a compatible driver for Linux/Free/NetBSD
All three systems use the same X software (XFree86). I would suggest
you post your video questions to that group: comp.windows.x.i386unix.
>Which ethernet card should I buy ?
I've heard that the 3com 3c5x9 cards are very good. Also, everyone
seems to be having good results with SMC/WD 80x3 cards.
>As far as SCSI adapters go the consensus seems to be
>that Adaptec 1542 (floppy version ) is the most
>reliable. Any arguments ?
Who's consensus?
The consensus seems to be that Adaptec is an anal company who has not
the slightest interest in making cards that work with free unix
software. All their newest cards use proprietary firmware that they
are unwilling to release programming info for into the free-source
market. Granted, the 1542 still works, but it's a rather slow ISA-bus
card compared to the current crop of VLB, EISA and PCI cards from
BusLogic.
I would suggest not patronizing Adaptec because of their uncooperative
politics. Buy a BusLogic card. Go with them in this order if
possible: 1) EISA or PCI, 2) VESA Local Bus (VLB), 3) ISA if you must.
ISA bus cards are slower than the others, and can only access a
maximum of 16MB of system memory. VLB isn't very good at
bus-mastering and bus arbitration among multible devices, but is much
faster than ISA. EISA and PCI are definitely the best choices.
--
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Michael L. VanLoon Iowa State University Computation Center
michaelv@iastate.edu Project Vincent Systems Staff
Free your mind and your machine -- NetBSD free Un*x for PC/Mac/Amiga/etc.
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