Will Linux run on an HP m7680n?

[D. Hugh Redelmeier]

| From: Merv Curley <mervc-MwcKTmeKVNQ at public.gmane.org>

| On Tuesday 17 April 2007 12:44, Kevin Cozens wrote:

| > I could put a machine together but these days but these days I just don't
| > really feel like going through the hassle to research all the bits and
| > pieces I need and I'm still not sure how much (if any) money I would save
| > over buying off the shelf.
| 
| Just before Xmas I picked up a Gateway  Athlon 64 - 3600 [Media Center] and 
| all the the goodies for $399, it is fine with Linux.  A son last month got an 
| equiv. Emachine computer which also was completely compatible.   Now Factory 
| Direct may not be convenient to you but there are other houses around with 
| good deals on surplus computers marked as re-furbed.
| 
| $1000 sounds like too much. 

I agree.  But the m7680n has a lot of extras that Kevin might actually
want.

http://www.hp.ca/products/static/consumer/Fall2006/m7680n.pdf

- 2G of RAM (but RAM prices have tumbled recently; 1G DDR2 can be
  found for $70 I think)
- 500G in two hard drives (each worth just under $100 retail).

- two optical drives

- no floppy

- TV Tuner with remote control.  I think that this is an OEM version
  of the Hauppauge PVR 150, but I'm not sure.  Worth perhaps $100 if
  you want it.

- Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 CPU.  This CPU sells at a premium.  Better
  than the AMD competition, but I personally think that the market
  price is higher than the benefit.  Note that this will support
  x86_64 instructions (unlike the orignal Core) and VT (for
  processor virtualization) (unlike the older AMDs).

- I don't know what the nVidia 7300LE graphics card is.  It is
  apparently occupying the PCIe x16 slot.

- something is occupying all 3 PCI slots.  Guess: Tuner card, 802.11b/g
  card, modem card (probably a WinModem).

- includes 802.11b/g (not common for desktops)

- includes wireless keyboard and mouse

- includes Windows XP, not Vista.  This is probably a negative.  It
  probably explains the reduction from list price.

Does it run Linux?  I don't know.  Probably.  Try google.
- Intel P965 chipset ought to be good.
- nVidia 7300LE ought to be supported
- the wireless card is a crapshoot.
- the tuner might well be supported (depends on the brand)
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