HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS IN LINUX

Motherboard and CPU Requirements

›~Linux currently supports systems with an Intel 80386, 80486, Pentium, Pentium Pro, Pentium II, and Pentium III CPU.

›~This includes all variations on this CPU type, such as the 386SX, 486SX, 486DX, and 486DX2. Non-Intel "clones," such as AMD and Cyrix processors, work with Linux as well.

Memory Requirements

~Linux requires very little memory to run.

~›You should have at the very least 8 MB of RAM

~›The more memory you have, the faster the system will run.

~›it will utilize all of your RAM automatically. Amounts of RAM greater than 64 MB need a boot-time parameter.

Hard Drive Controller Requirements

~Linux support all MFM, RLL, and IDE controllers.

~›The general rule for non-SCSI hard drive and floppy controllers is that if you can access the drive from Windows or another operating system, you should be able to access it from Linux.

~›Linux also supports a number of popular SCSI drive controllers, although support for SCSI is more limited because of the wide range of controller interface standards. 

Hard Drive Space Requirements

~›Linux is relatively small as Unix implementations go; you could run a complete system in 10 to 20 MB of space on your drive.

~However, if you want to have room for expansion, and for larger packages, such as the X Window System, you need more space.

Monitor and Video Adapter Requirements

~›Linux supports all standard Hercules, CGA, EGA, VGA, IBM monochrome, and Super VGA video cards and monitors for the default text-based interface.

~if the video card and monitor coupling works under another operating system such as Windows, it should work fine with Linux.

Mice and other pointing devices

~›Linux supports all standard serial mice, including Logitech, MM series, Mouseman, Microsoft (two-button), and Mouse Systems (three-button). Linux also supports Microsoft, Logitech, and ATIXL busmice. The PS/2 mouse interface is supported as well.

~All other pointing devices, such as trackballs, which emulate the mice just listed, should work as well.

›CD -ROM and DVD-ROM storage

~›Most CD-ROM drives sold today use the near-universal IDE/ATAPI CD-ROM standard, which is fully supported under Linux.

Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet Cards

~Linux supports nearly every Ethernet and Fast Ethernet card available for the PC platform, and those that are not supported are more than likely being worked on as this is being written.