Re: Putting together a computer from old components

On 29/11/2021 22:35, Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:
> On 29 Nov 2021 at 18:46:48 GMT, "Spiros Bousbouras" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> 
>> On 29 Nov 2021 15:16:44 GMT
>> Jaimie Vandenbergh <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> On 29 Nov 2021 at 14:30:41 GMT, "Anssi Saari" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> So, it really depends what you intend to do with your computer. Light
>>>> use, a little web browsing on simple web pages, email, simple stuff
>>>> probably not a problem. Heavy web browsing on heavy pages, editing
>>>> complex documents or video, encoding video... Might need a lot of
>>>> patience.
>>>
>>> Definitely put as much RAM in the machine as it can take, in order to
>>> keep it even vaguely viable. Use SSDs as well - give the old thing every
>>> possible advantage.
>>
>> As I say in  <[email protected]> , 2 gigabytes RAM work fine at
>> present and I don't expect that my computing needs will go up.
> 
> You don't use the modern web much, I take it - that forces higher specs
> on you otherwise, or your view of the Internet will slowly constrict.
> 
>>   But if it's
>> easy to add more , I will add more. I also don't see why SSD vs hard disk
>> would matter to me because my current hard disk doesn't get much work.
> 
> Swap.
> 
>>> What I'd actually suggest is a Pi4 or CM4/8gig though. It'll almost
>>> certainly be quicker than an Athlon for most things and has a lot more
>>> Linux support (don't use PiOS for your desktop though, it still has the
>>> horrific laggy mouse). You can even pull out a PCIe x1 slot, easier on a
>>> CM4 carrier board.
>>
>> Several questions here :
>>
>> - Do ARM processors have anything analogous to the Intel management engine ?
>> If not then yes , that's a plus in my book. Plus I want to learn some ARM
>> assembly so having an ARM processor would be a bonus.
> 
> I am fairly sure (but not 100%) that they do not. Raspberry have solid
> documentation, and I've not found an extra controller inside but also
> they don't make a statement that there isn't (I mean why would they
> think to?)
> https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/processors.html#bcm2835
> 
>> - Can a Raspberry Pi offer a usual desktop experience ? For example can I
>> expect the applications on Linux repositories to work ?
> 
> Yes. Full Ubuntu, Fedora, Manjaro, Kali distros/repos and more are
> available.
> 
>> - Why would Linux be better supported on a Raspberry Pi than an AMD processor ?
>> As far as I know , Linux works equally well on all mainstream processors.
> 
> I was thinking modern well-defined fixed Pi hardware would be more
> likely to have current support than random 2005 Athlon boards, but it
> could be comparable. AMD were very second-string back then and some
> stuff never made it into mainstream Linux support - more could have
> fallen out by now. Check the video, audio and network on your board of
> choice are supported before purchasing.
> 
>      Cheers - Jaimie
> 

Yes I often find that Asus were producing "deluxe" versions  where as 
much as humanly possible was stuffed onto the motherboard...

The A8N32SLi-Deluxe I have knocking about from its manual:

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socket939/A8N32-SLI%20Deluxe/E2280_A8N32-SLI_Dlx.pdf

Nvidia chip for up to 4 EIDE devices and 4 SATA2 drives

A silicon image sata controller for an internal and an external SATA drive

So supporting up to 10 drives.

Supports up to 10 USB 2.0 ports

IEEE 1394 Firewire

Two lots of gigabit LAN, one being Marvell and the other being Nvidia

plus all the usual audio including optical and co-axial SPDIF


plus a floppy port.... Whats one of those? ;-D