[GTALUG] New Deaktop PC -- To Run debian Linux - PCPartPicker Recipe;

[Giles Orr]

On 28 March 2018 at 09:50, Steve Petrie, P.Eng. via talk <talk at gtalug.org>
wrote:

> Giles, thanks for reply.
>
> My remarks, questions below.
>
> Steve
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> *From:* Giles Orr <gilesorr at gmail.com>
> *To:* Steve Petrie, P.Eng. <apetrie at aspetrie.net> ; GTALUG Talk
> <talk at gtalug.org>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 27, 2018 12:14 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [GTALUG] New Deaktop PC -- To Run debian Linux -
> PCPartPicker Recipe;
>
> On 27 March 2018 at 09:08, Steve Petrie, P.Eng. via talk <talk at gtalug.org>
> wrote:
>
>> *Greetings To GTALUG,*
>>
>> At long last I have created a final build recipe for my new desktop PC to
>> run debian Linux. Replacing an ancient Dell PC running WIndows XP:
>>
>>    - https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/user/Steve_Petrie/saved/#view=krFNNG
>>
>>  The configuration is an Asus LGA1151 socket motherboard with Intel
>> i5-6500 CPU and 16 GB DDR4 memory..
>>
>> A dialup modem remains to be added: US Robotics USR5637 V.92 USB Faxmodem
>>
>> Comments welcome.
>>
>> * * *
>> * * *
>>
>> My plan is to be ordering the parts by Friday 30 March or or Monday 2
>> April at the latest. The HP PS/2 keyboard and HP PS/2 mouse are already
>> ordered (from PC-Canada) but that order is still on hold, pending addition
>> of items to the order..
>>
>
> It's probably too late to convince you of this (as I suspect it would
> strongly imply a move to a newer and more expensive processor) but getting
> USB-C and USB3.1 on the motherboard would be good.  You can _probably_ get
> a PCI-E card later, but I wonder if it will fully support USB-C's
> relatively complex alt-modes and etc.  Of course, it may not support them
> on the motherboard either, but I think it's worth a try.
>
>
>
> ***Good points. I will look into a possible motherboard upgrade to add
> USB-C and USB3.1.
>
> I'd also encourage you - fairly strongly - to not get PS/2 accessories.
> You're already encountering one of the problems, trying to plug two devices
> into one port - I suspect that won't go well for you.  Not only is USB much
> more versatile, it's much easier to "split," and add more ports.
>
>
>
> ***
> *** I know that PS/2 is an ancient interface. I only chose PS/2 because it
> is my understanding that a PS/2 keyboard and mouse combination is better
> supported and earlier, during the actual Linux boot process, than a USB
> keyboard and mouse combination. So PS/2 keyboard and mouse offer more
> liklihood of functionality when there are Linux boot problems.
>
> *** I also understand that USB keyboards and mice, take far more and more
> complex software drivers to be loaded before keyboard and mouse
> functionality appears. So a non-bootong Linux may not offer a functional
> USB keyboard / mouse service, whereas a PS/2 cpmbination might already be
> alive and functional.
>
> *** If I'm wrong on this PS/2 versus USB keyboard / mouse
> boot-friendliness business, I will happily switch to using  USB keyboard /
> mouse.
>
> And finally, I'm in awe of your memory strategy.  But I totally agree: max
> out every slot - when you can afford it.  That's the way to go.  And 16G is
> already a decent baseline.
>
>
> *** Confession: Actually, the choice of a single 16 GB memory DIMM came
> about at the end of an arduous and desperate search for ANY memory
> available in Canada at reasonable price, that is listed on the Asus
> motherboard's memory QVL (qualified vendor list).
>
> *** But yes, I'm not unhappy to be keeping the full 64GB address space
> open.
>
> *** Is it just a superstition that I read somewhere, that there is there a
> memory access speed advantage, to using more DIMMs to get the desired total
> memory size ?? For example, that a dual-DIMM 2x8GB configuration provides
> faster memory access than a single DIMM 1x16GB ??
>

The last time I ran into a motherboard that didn't want to support USB
keyboards at the BIOS level, it was 15 years old (or older).  I have a fair
number of antique computers around my place, so I think this is a fairly
measured judgement ...  I don't think this is a problem with modern
motherboards.  Don't you have an old PS/2 keyboard from your previous
computer?  Keep it around for the "just in case Giles is wrong" (it
happens).

I believe that there's still some advantage to having matched pairs of
DIMMs, which have to be in the correct, matching slots.  But I've also had
the impression that this offers only a relatively small advantage.  But I
am NOT an expert an expert on this subject: I hope someone else can answer
this in more detail.

-- 
Giles
https://www.gilesorr.com/
gilesorr at gmail.com
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