Linux for a n00b

[Joe]

How well do the linux distros use multi-cores and such ?

And on the back of that question, how well do the apps/games/whatever use cores ?

Very Well

Due to 2 big Factors:

PTHREADS --

Linux Partakes in extensive use Of PThreads, PTHreads are very SMP efficient (seriously POSIX Boxes have been running SMP for yhears)

OPEN SOURCE ---

Open source software evolves @ an alarming rate and hence get SMP optimised quickly

Just Ensure u have a SMP Kernel ... most modern distros ship a hybrid w/ SMP support

Xtra Reading :: https://computing.llnl.gov/tutorials/pthreads/

Go down to PThreads Overview for a breakdown

Note of Interest -- I think FAH uses MPI for SMP Threads and not PThreads

 

[mrapoc]

Wondering...im on the live cd now, formatted my drive as windows wasnt really letting me resize partition. What percent of my 320gb drive should i give to linux? Games primarily for Windows. Browsing, msn etc. for Linux. All photos, music etc. will go on a seperate hdd.

Im guessing i set it as "Primary" too, plus which would be better? Start or end of hdd? Would it be best for windows (with my games) at the start of the hdd? "Use as ext3" correct?

 

[mrapoc]

Any ideas? Im getting bored of the Linux games, they beat me everytime!!!

 

[Joe]

Wondering...im on the live cd now, formatted my drive as windows wasnt really letting me resize partition. What percent of my 320gb drive should i give to linux? Games primarily for Windows. Browsing, msn etc. for Linux. All photos, music etc. will go on a seperate hdd.

Im guessing i set it as "Primary" too, plus which would be better? Start or end of hdd? Would it be best for windows (with my games) at the start of the hdd? "Use as ext3" correct?

Primary yea (but it doesnt mean what u think)

Linux ~30 Gb as u r gettin started

EXt3 -- Journaled ext3 Defo go for a Journaled system its more error resistant Reiser Fs is journaled and some test show its faster (esp with smaller files)

A Linux Game thats new and fun ET:Quake Wars just dont go near the chess games etc on the average linux system if u r not a decent /experienced player;

free games include super tux and supertux racer < al good

check ubuntuforums.com they will have a list of gr8 games

 

[mrapoc]

Cheers ill go for Reiserfs then, does beginning/end play any role in performance especially if i want my windows partition to be the main gaming OS.

 

[Joe]

Cheers ill go for Reiserfs then, does beginning/end play any role in performance especially if i want my windows partition to be the main gaming OS.

No, put em whereva u wish .. back in the day there was a non-boot issue but thankfully grub is a great lil boot loader

 

[mrapoc]

Ok i got 29997mb for the partition. How much swap should i partition from the rest of the space left off my windows partition (soon to be)

 

[Joe]

Ok i got 29997mb for the partition. How much swap should i partition from the rest of the space left off my windows partition (soon to be)

swap == same size as ur RAM

 

[mrapoc]

Is this primary as well?

*Thought swap is twice your amount of ram?*

cheers

edit: did 2048 ram, primary, swap

and did 30gb partition for me "/" root thingy. All ready to goooo?

 

[Joe]

Is this primary as well?

*Thought swap is twice your amount of ram?*

cheers

edit: did 2048 ram, primary, swap

and did 30gb partition for me "/" root thingy. All ready to goooo?

With modern Ram Abundant machines this figure is the same amount as RAM

in the 256 days yes double would have been adequate

(there is some debate if SWAP is even needed ne more)

gogo captin

 

[mrapoc]

Im up!

Ok, so, i downloaded the linux ati driver for my system...how the hell does it work? lol

 

[Joe]

Open a terminal

and type

TIP :: Shift + INSERT to paste into a Gnome-Terminal

sudo apt-get install module-assistant build-essential libstdc++5 linux-headers-generic

These are some essential tools needed for the driver to interface w/ the Kernel (when asked for a password use ur user pass)

------------------

then Navigate to the location of the driver using the CD command .. ill assume this driver is on ur Desktop (note linux File Systems are Case Sensitive so De is De not de)

TIP :: to save typing time, type the first 3 letters of a directory/file and press tab to autocomplete

cd ~/Desktop

You are now in the Desktop folder (~ signifies your home aka /home/username)

------------------

Now enable the Driver for execution

sudo chmod +x *ATI DRIVERNAME*

*ATI DRIVERNAME* is the name of your driver just type the first 3 letters and tab autocomplete the name

TIP :: to get a list of files in a directory issue the ls command

------------------

Now type

 sudo ./*ATI DRIVERNAME*

where *ATI DRIVERNAME* is the name of the file u downloaded

./ means execute the following file

------------------

Then Type :

sudo aticonfig --initial

then

sudo aticonfig --overlay-type=Xv

This Sets up the Driver

Reboot (or Ctrl , ALT + Backspace for a sneaky quick not everything will b perfect restart -- this restarts the X11 subsystem and reloads all elements associated with it -- SAVE NE WORK FIRST)

DONE

 

[Hyper]

Joe, you are a man of so much knowledge.

I hope your on one good wage packet!

 

[mrapoc]

thats pretty cool man How do i become super user btw?

nvm...

did this " ./*ATI DRIVERNAME*" part and a GUI interface popped up and i just pressed continue etc. and its installed

Was that correct?

thhhhannks dude repppps

way to check installation?

 

[Joe]

Joe, you are a man of so much knowledge.

I hope your on one good wage packet!

Thanks man *Is Embarrassed*

and no i work in a cafe, im a student

did this " ./*ATI DRIVERNAME*" part and a GUI interface popped up and i just pressed continue etc. and its installed

Was that correct?

thhhhannks dude repppps

yayay

Reps are always good -- thanks man

just follow the aticonfig steps and reboot it --- and im sure u want compiz , if so post and ill gets some insts up

 

[mrapoc]

ooo ooo ooo yes please

Keeps asking me to install flash...^ Ive done it once!!! lol

edit: Think ive grasped basic installation now

Now...creative x fi drivers?

 

[mrapoc]

Am i right in thinking there are NO creative x fi drivers for 32bit? Great...no sound

 

[equk]

Ubuntu ATI Drivers are easy

http://blog.equk.co.uk/2007/05/07/ubuntu-feisty-restricted-drivers-manager/

Installing the ATI and NVIDIA drivers for 3D acceleration is even easier than before on ubuntu feisty. All you need to to is use the new Restricted Drivers Manager.

Just go to System > Administration > Restricted Drivers Manager

You will get a dialog showing whichever card you have or any restricted drivers you might need and it's as easy as selecting which one you want and restarting the machine.

also - https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI

I think there is a beta 64-bit X-FI driver not sure about 32bit

There is some discussion on the gentoo forums about a driver - http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-p-4286426.html

 

[Joe]

Ubuntu ATI Drivers are easy

http://blog.equk.co.uk/2007/05/07/ubuntu-feisty-restricted-drivers-manager/

also - https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI

I think there is a beta 64-bit X-FI driver not sure about 32bit

There is some discussion on the gentoo forums about a driver - http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-p-4286426.html

--- the easy way installs the ancient no performance/AIGLX driver

just dont do it

ill check the X-Fi l8r (in Class @tm)

edit X-Fi here http://opensource.creative.com/soundcard.html

ill post AIGLX/COMPIZ l8r when i get this uni project outta way