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Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.questions Path: sserve!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!yarrina.connect.com.au!werple.apana.org.au!otis.apana.org.au!serval.net.wsu.edu!netnews.nwnet.net!oracle.pnl.gov!osi-east2.es.net!cronkite.nersc.gov!dancer.ca.sandia.gov!overload.lbl.gov!lll-winken.llnl.gov!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uunet!imagen!usenet From: klee@imagen.com (Kang H. Lee) Subject: Re: Need advice for building bsd machine Message-ID: <1994Dec6.222626.6371@qms.com> Sender: usenet@qms.com Nntp-Posting-Host: mars Reply-To: klee@imagen.com Organization: QMS Inc. References: <3btpj1$pnv@agate.berkeley.edu> Date: Tue, 6 Dec 1994 22:26:26 GMT Lines: 82 In article pnv@agate.berkeley.edu, patko@uclink.berkeley.edu (Patrick Chung-Pui Ko) writes: > > Hi > I'm up to building a new system with the idea to be dedicated BSD machine. > Since I have only the case I can shoose any configuration but can't decide > which is better...... I will appreciate if you give me some guide lines.... > > 1. What BIOS should I choose. Is AMI the best or I can go with AWARD. > I don't think it matters. > 2. Does the CHIPSET matter? Should I choose/avoid specific chipset or a > combination chipset/BIOS. What about CONTAQ chipset. Is it any good..?? > I don't know about this one. > 3. I know that more cache is better. But is the difference so big when > compare 245K system with one which has 1M of cache. Get as much as you can afford. > > 4. Does it matter if I use 36pin SIMMs or 72pin on the motherboard. > I would go with 72pin on motherboard. This is because usually with 72pin slot, you can mix and match the simm size. My AIR motherboard comes with four 72pin simm slots with 4 banks that supports upto 256MB on motherboard!! > 5. When choosing video card, is it that critical to have VLB card? If I have > a choice of getting ATI UltraPro ISA or the same but VESA and twice > the price > of ISA, which one should I get..? Get VESA, EISA, or PCI version. It is worth investing. > > 6. What else should I look out for when building a BSD machine ..? > > Get at least 17 inch monitor. I currently have 15 inch, but it is too small for displaying several apps. Get a good monitor as well. I have CTX 1560, which is piece of trash. I get moivre(sp?) patterns when I switch to hi-res which does not help my already poor eyesight. I would recommend viewsonic 17 inch monitor. Also, when buying system, ask for least number of simms for your memory configuration, i.e. if your system is 16MB RAM, don't get four 4MB SIMM, get one 16MB SIMM. So if you want to upgrade to 20, 24 or 32MB, you don't have to throw away any SIMMs that you already have. For this reason, I bought Ares 486DX33 EISA/VESA computer. It came with one 16MB SIMM without extra charge. Zeos wanted $200 extra for just swapping out four 4MB SIMMs with one 16MB SIMM!! This was also true for Micron. Also, don't get Micron. I first ordered Micron computer. It was fine and dandy until I tried to add another hard drive. The Micron computer is tool-free chasee, and the bracket that came with the hard drive did not fit in there. I had to pay for extra $20 for getting a bracket from them. So I returned the computer, and they took their time in creditting my account. Oh that is another thing. You should read a fine print about restocking charges as well, just in case you need to get a refund. I am very happy with my Ares, and when I installed NetBSD, it came right up. No hassle and no problem. You should download a file from rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/news.answers/pc-unix, called hardware. It contains many useful information including answers to your questions. It also contains lists of vendors for BSD compatible hardware. Also, take a look at Intel-X-Unix-Faq file at rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/news.answers/x-faq. It should contain brief list of supported graphics card. XFree86 also comes with full list of supported graphics card, but you need XFree86 files to get the list(sorry I don't have it here). This should keep you busy for next day or two :). Hope this helps. PS: I have nothing to do with Ares company. I am just a happy customer. Kang