Gentoo - whats the best install choice

shadowrift · n00b Joined: 29 May 2004 Posts: 58

Hi,
I just want to know what the best path I should take is as far as which install cd and all that jazz. Here is my hardware setup

Mainboard -
CPU - Model
Brand AMD
Processors Type Desktop
Series Athlon 64 X2
Tech Spec
Core Manchester
Multi-Core Dual-Core
Name Athlon 64 X2 3600+
Operating Frequency 2.0GHz
Hyper Transports 1000MHz
L1 Cache 64KB+64KB
L2 Cache 2 x 256KB
Manufacturing Tech 90 nm
64 bit Support Yes
Hyper-Transport Support Yes
Virtualization Technology Support No
Multimedia Instruction MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, 3DNOW! Professional
Thermal Power 89W

MainBoard
Brand Foxconn
Model 6150BK8MC-KRSH / C51PVM06N2-6KRSH
CPU Type Athlon 64 X2 / Athlon 64 FX / Athlon 64
FSB 1000MHz Hyper Transport (2000 MT/s)
Chipsets
North Bridge NVIDIA GeForce 6150B(PV)
South Bridge NVIDIA nForce 430
Onboard Video Chipset NVIDIA GeForce 6150

Network
Wireless WMP54G v4

Memory ( I have two of these)
pqi
Series POWER Series
Model MD441GUOE
Type 184-Pin DDR SDRAM
Tech Spec
Capacity 1GB
Speed DDR 400 (PC 3200)
Cas Latency 3
Voltage 2.5V

Drives
CD/Burner

Hard drive
200 gigabyte hard drive on an ide cable

I really want to take the time and do this right and customize settings where I need to I am pretty knowledgeable about my computer but still new at linux. I would just like to know what the best route I should take is as far as what install CDs to use. I do not have a wired network I have wireless. (my neighbors let me borrow theirs.) so I need to take that into consideration. I have heard it is almost impossible to install my wmp54g network card. Well thats all I have for right now. I am not asking for someone else to install this for me I would just like a good start and some good places rto look for information pertaining specific hardware. As I said before I want Gentoo to be fully customized for my computer thanks

pizzach · Apprentice Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 195

Really the install is about the same for all of the CDs as long as you are following the Gentoo handbook. For a newbie though, I would recommend the LiveCD just because it's nice to have a GUI before install is complete. For example you can use gparted for partitioning and view the handbook with Firefox for nicer formatting etc. Not that I have anything against fsck or lynx.

notHerbert · Advocate Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 2228 Location: 45N 73W

Well, I think the minimal CD and the Gentoo Handbook is the normally recommended way of installing Gentoo.

There is a gentoo wiki (which is down at the moment) for your wireless card.

pizzach · Apprentice Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 195

As shadowrift said, the minimal CD is normally the recommended way to install. If you do use the live CD, you should probably open up a terminal window and follow the directions as listed in the handbook instead of doing the automated install. It'll be the same exact install as the minimal CD that way.

fangorn · Veteran Joined: 31 Jul 2004 Posts: 1886

Use the handbook and follow the steps.

What you use as live linux is up to you. I prefer SystemRescueCD (gentoo based, better hardware support) or GRML (amazing capabilities in networking and detection of software RAID). Some people even drop in a Knoppix DVD so they can play tuxracer or something else while compiling.
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Geralt · Apprentice Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Posts: 150

I'm using the Ubuntu live-cd, because it just works (wireless and stuff). It really doesn't matter from what you install. On another machine I'm running several linux dristibutions and I just installed it from an already working one.

The best installation media is one where your wireless is working :-)

shadowrift · n00b Joined: 29 May 2004 Posts: 58

I guess I had heard that my network card would hold a problem..that's one reason I had gone away from linux before because it would not work with my network card and right now that's the only way I can have internet...(installing packages and stuff) Does anyone know if this network card is supported. And also before I had problems with my Ati motherboard. So when I recently rebuilt I went with nvidia. Does my hardware look alright? I was also planning on installing 64 - bit because I wanted to use the full potential of my hardware. Am I going to have trouble with the 64 bit software?

Geralt · Apprentice Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Posts: 150

d2_racing · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:12 pm Post subject:

In fact, I use an Gentoo AMD64 , and flash,java are working with Firefox.

So, there is no more problem with that