Ubuntu

Wanting to change OS from Windows to Ubuntu but...

Asked by the sage

Hello everyone!
  I am getting really serious about my computing experience and so tired of Wind-blows Vista without a view (Windows Vista).Well, just really tired of Windows. My really high end computer, I personally built, feels like it is walking in mud with Vista. Can Ubuntu "unleash" the raw power from my PC and have the devices supported by the Linux community?

The specs are listed below

Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1
*Asus Striker II Extreme Motherboard*
Intel Core 2 Duo CPU E8400 3.00GHz (2 CPUs), ~3.0GHz
ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2
SoundMAX Integrated Digital HD Audio
Corsair Dominator DDR3 (4) 1GB Ram
WD 160GB SATAII HDD
Lite On DVD x20 + - R/RW drive
Pioneer DVD drive
Axxer External case w/ WD 1TB storage drive

* Motherboard Specs

**CPU
LGA775 socket for Intel Core 2 Quad / Core 2 Extreme / Core 2 Duo / Pentium Extreme / Pentium D / Pentium 4 processors
Supports Intel next-generation 45nm multi-core CPU's
Compatible with Intel 06/05B/05A processors

Chipset
Striker II Extreme: NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra SLI
Striker II NSE: NVIDIA nForce 790i SLI

System Bus
Dual-channel memory architecture supports NVIDIA SLI ready memory technology
- 4x 240-pin DIMM sockets support unbuffered non-ECC DDR3 2000 (O.C)/1800(O.C)/1600(O.C)/1333/1066/800 memory modules (Striker II Extreme)
- 4x 240-pin DIMM sockets support unbuffered non-ECC DDR3 1600(O.C)/1333/1066/800 memory modules (Striker II NSE)
- Supports up to 8gb system memory.

Expansion Slots
2x PCIe 2.0 x16 slots (support NVIDIA SLI technology: blue @ x16, x16 speed)
1x PCIe x16 slot (white @ x16 speed)
2x PCIe x1 slots (PCIEX1_1 (black) is compatible with the audio slot)
2x PCI 2.2 slots

Scalable Link Interface
Supports NVIDIA 3-way SLI graphics cards (triple at x16 mode)

Storage
Southbridge supports:
- 1x UltraDMA 133/100/66/33
- 6x SATA 3.0 Gb/s
- NVIDIA MediaShield RAID supports RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5 and JBOD configuration across SATA drives
JMIcron JMB363 SATA controller
- 2x External SATA 3.0 Gb/s port

LAN
Dual Gigabit LAN, both featuring AI NET 2
Supports Teaming Technology

High Definition Audio
SupremeFX II Audio Card
- ADI 1988B 8-channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- Noise Filter
Coaxial / Optical SPDIF Out ports at back I/O

IEEE 1394
2x IEEE 1394a ports

USB
10x USB 2.0 ports (4 ports at midboard, 6 ports at back panel)

** information sited from
http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews.php?/cpu_mainboard/asus_striker_ii_extreme_790i_ddr3_motherboard/1

Well, thanks for any help and/or suggestions!
Peace

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the sage
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Revision history for this message
Lawrence H. Bulk (lhbcomm) said : 		#1

Why not download the Live CD and try out Ubuntu? The Live CD's first option is to try it on your computer without changing anything in any way.

If all seems good (everything works), after BACKING UP EVERYTHING (your data as well as your Windows configuration), you may want to try either a dual-boot installation, or a clean Ubuntu installation. If you choose the latter, I recommend that you "wipe" your computer with DBAN or similar and then do the clean Ubuntu installation.

If you encounter some difficulties (you shouldn't, based on your specs), or even if you decide ultimately that you don't like Ubuntu (I think that this possibility is VERY remote!), you can always reinstall your Windows program just as it is now.

I think it's worth a try. This is what I did a year ago (with an Acer Extensa laptop which came with Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 preinstalled) and today, running Ubuntu v.8.10, I am very with my computer. As you've discovered, Windows Vista (whatever version) is a poorly designed and implemented operating system.

Ubuntu is VERY fast and offers an amazing array of programs, and the icing on the cake is that they are all free. It WILL take you some time to learn how to use Ubuntu to best advantage (after a year, I'm still learning - I would characterize myself as a slightly advanced beginner), but, for basic uses (e-mail, creating documents, listening to music, watching videos, etc., etc., etc.) you will find that you can operate it easily almost immediately. It is only the more esoteric processes and programs that take time to learn. The Ubuntu forums, as you are already discovering, are an invaluable resource even if you yourself never contribute to them.

I wish you the very best of luck as you "jump in" to Ubuntu Linux.

Revision history for this message
Lawrence H. Bulk (lhbcomm) said : 		#2

In the third paragraph from the end in my previous reply, the sentence should read " ... I am very happy with my computer."

Revision history for this message
Anthony Hook (anthonyhook) said : 		#3

At a glance, it appears that your hardware will be fully supported.

Lawrence said it correctly, make sure that you make proper backups of your Windows installation in the remote event you decide Ubuntu isn't the correct choice for you.

There is a LiveCD that you can download and burn (http://ubuntu.com/) and you can also use some different tools to make a USB drive bootable (http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/) and try/install the latest release 8.10 Intrepid Ibex. Boot your computer from whichever medium you choose, give it a try.

When you do install, it is not necessary to use DBAN's Boot and Nuke, the the LiveCD/USB will help you partition appropriately and will reformat your existing partition(s).

If you do have any problems once you get it, there is a ton of help available online. Feel free to ask questions, answer questions that you have perhaps run into, etc.

http://www.ubuntu.com/support/community/chatirc
http://www.ubuntu.com/support/community/webforums
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Intrepid

Take care, and I hope this information helps.

Revision history for this message
the sage (th3s4g3) said : 		#4

Thank You Very Much!!

I appreciate the rapid response to my question. I do have Norton's Ghost and a 1TB external drive for these kinds of moments. I can mirror my C: and proceed. I knew about the over-writing of the NTFS partition when installing Linux. So, all of the advice is awesome! Thanks! Now is the daunting task of downloading some of the needed programs and drivers. That way it is easier to prepare everything. I will post on this forum page on the progress.

Thanks again for all of the help!

Best Wishes,
Scott