The Linux Convert - moving from closed to Open Source

Memory - Space to work in

This is the easiest of the stages in building our Linux PC and is totally dependant on how much money you are willing to spend on the system.

Linux has makes very, very efficient use of Swap Partitions so in theory you can easily run a functional installation of Linux with an X server running windows, webservers etc in a mere 16Mb of RAM. This is one of the reasons Linux has found a new niche in "old" systems that would other wise have been consigned for the scap heap. Imagine trying to get Windows ME or XP running on an old Pentium 200MMX with 16Mb RAM - not a chance. Linux will turn this into a perfectly good local nework server or firewall. In fact, "Toms Root and Boot" provides a version of Linux that will run quite happily from a 1.44mb floppy drive with 640 kb RAM.

That said, we aren't here to resuse old kit. We want a workstation that will let us play games, create documents, surf the net, share the home internet connection and allow us to create digital content. This will need some heavy memory. At current prices we can get our hands on 512 mb for around £40 - 54. Places worth investigating are Ebuyer, Dabs.com or your local computer fair (check out www.computerfairs.co.uk for one closest to you).

One point to note, the norm for Linux systems used to be for the Swap File (virtual memory) to be double the physical RAM present. While this really isn't needed any more it will help. When we move on to the Hard Disks we will try to make sure we retain at least 1024 mb (1 Gb) of space for the swap file.

Investigating what is available now - it looks like Ebuyer's own brand 512MB DDR PC2100 266MHz RAM is best for our needs and it comes in at £40.92. This leaves us with £609.08 to spend on the rest of the system.

If you envisage building a more powerfull system, then RAM should be the first thing you look at upgrading - if we have money left over at the end of the project we will increase our RAM with whatever is left.