[sclug] On ultra cheap machines

[Bob Dunlop]

> I'm totally out of touch with PC hardware: can you still get
> motherboards with integrated CPUs? Are they cost-effective? Any suggestions?

Just brought a Gigabyte E350N mini-itx motherboard cpu combo.[1]

Ran 64 bit Mint linux with no problems.  The most boring install
I've ever had.

I brought one of thier board/ram/case bundles which I thought good
value but no reason why the board wouldn't run in an existing case.

This board has a VGA outlet (plus HDMI) and PS/2 keyboard mouse
support which may ease the upgrade path with older equipment.

If upgrading an old machine remember that most modern motherboards
are SATA only.  Then again a PATA hard drive is probably on it's
last legs by now.  Also the mini-itx bundled cases only have space
for laptop sized drives.

[1] http://www.mini-itx.com/store/~E350N

-- 
        Bob Dunlop