Semi-New Linux User - Performance / Compatability Q

[XScorpion2]

Well, for starters I am a semi-new linux user, have only been messing around with linux for about a year now. I'm not too much of a stranger to getting into the details and messing around with the features of the Os as long as the instructions are somewhat clear.

I have to say, I've been reading a lot into Sabayon and personally I am really excited. Just waiting for my proc and mobo to come in for my new system before installing it.

Mostly wanted to ask a few questions and get some advice before I perform the install on a few more detailed features that I have not messed with.

First off I was reading about using certain options and settings for your processor and hardware and recompiling the operating system to get better performance out of the newer systems. I personally have never done this before. So, anyone mind giving me a few pointers as to what I should look for or do on this? I will be using an Intel E6600 Core 2 Due when it comes in with an ABit AB9 motherboard.

The main thing is that I want to get the best performance and compatibility that I can out of this system. I am going to be using Cedega and Wine to get my windows pc games that I play working on Linux again. I have already gotten them working on previously used distros so I am already set on that.

[Dio]

you can set your own CFLAGS in make.conf to optimize your system. Check out the GCC manual for a complete listing of CFLAGS:

http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc-4.1.1/gcc/

[cvill64]

Be careful with those also Don't touch your chost. Also, if you're gonna have a decent video card, then boot with "xmp xgl res=resxres" replace resxres with something like 1280x1024, at the very least and you'll have a pretty beastly system to start off with

[XScorpion2]

Quote*************************************
you can set your own CFLAGS in make.conf to optimize your system. Check out the GCC manual for a complete listing of CFLAGS:

http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc-4.1.1/gcc/
******************************************

Before I install and go messing around, I just want to make sure I am not completly off my rocker here.

Ok, from what I have been able to find and figure out, I would want to use the -march=nocona which currently supports 64-bit extensions, MMX, SSE, SSE2 and SSE3. Does not support SSE4 and I am assuming the 64-bit extensions is reffering to EM64T intel extentions.

After putting those CFLAGS in the make.conf (located /etc/make.conf) I would then need to run

emerge -e system && emerge -e world && emerge --sync && emerge -uD world

I don't have my Unix book with me right now so I can't look this part up, but assuming I just do a normal boot into Sabayon and X, to do this I would then need to drop out of X and into a single user run level. I think run level 1? I might not be reffering to the correct term.

Now for compatability with Cedega, wine, and the various games I will probably stick with the x86 Sabayon, granted I am going to try out x86-64 first.



After doing this, the kernel and everything else currently installed would have been recompiled with the optimized settings and then when ever I goto install a new application and use emerge <application> it would compile and install that application using the optimized settings.

This correct or am I off somewhere and goign to blow something up?

Edit: "xmp xgl res=resxres" ... I am going to be using a GeForce 7900 GT DDR2 256mb PCI-E 16x video card. So where exactly would I want to put this?

[cvill64]

emerge -e system && emerge -e world && emerge --sync && emerge -uD world

I would highly suggest against doing it that way

First of all, to install with the correct stuff, you'll need to get the 64 stable and then boot with, at the isolinux Boot: prompt, "sabayon xgl res=1280x1024 opengl=nvidia" at the very least, you can change the resolution there to w/e you want. Also, take away the quotes. The sabayon tells the cd to boot the sabayon kernel (smp only) the xgl will set it up to install and the res changes the default res and the opengl will force the cd to load the nvidia drives. We'll have xorg 7.1 and nvidia 8776 so your card should hopefully be fully supported. Note, this is why I'm suggesting waiting for stable to wait for these things.

Then after you install, yes, change your make.conf to the above settings, those look about right. Make sure you're compiler 4.1.1 is in the x86_64 mode (gcc -v) which it is by default and then the first thing you'll want to do is recompile your kernel and change those settings (such as set it for EMT64, not generic64) and your specific arch) and a few others if you know what you'd like.

Then after that, boot into your knew kernel, and do an "emerge --sync && emerge system" and leave it like that. That will take long enough and you shouldn't try a wolrd until you actually need to upgrade those programs (imo)

Let me know if you need more help or come on the irc

[Dio]

you can double check which extentions your CPU supports in kinfocenter

when you do recompile your system, don't go down to runlevel 1, when you do that, it disables your network support. you should be just fine running everything from runlevel 3

[cvill64]

You can recompile at run level 5 just fine Dio

[Dio]

i know, but quoting XScorpion2:

I just do a normal boot into Sabayon and X, to (recompile the system) I would then need to drop out of X and into a single user run level. I think run level 1?

so he'd want to be in runlevel 3, 4 or 5 to run an emerge command

[XScorpion2]

Ya, like I said, i am semi new to linux in general. I pick up pieces of it fast, but never messed with the kernel.

At any rait, I am iching to mess around with Sabayon, just everything I read about it makes me want to use it more and more. Now if only my new processor and motherboard would get here!

EDIT: cvill64, I just noticed you live in VA, where bouts?

[cvill64]

I am currently a Senior at Virginia Tech, though permanent is on the coast line