Hi list!

I'm thinking about building a new media PC and wanted to use an ASUS
M4A88T-M/USB3 mainboard (link: [1]). Any objections to this?

I'm a bit worried about the LAN chipset Realtek 8111E (which seems to be
also known as RTL-8168E). This chipset seems to be extremely common on
AM3 boards but I've found mixed results when looking for its Linux
compatibility. There seems to be a driver but it is not included into
the vanilla sources. There are also bug reports like [2].

On the other hand, there have been commits which indicate support for
some sub types (but not the "E" type) through the r8169 driver as far
back as 2.6.28 ([3-6]).

Long story short: Can anyone confirm that it works or doesn't work with
standard gentoo-sources or some other sources? Does someone have
experiences with the Realtek drivers from their website?

Somehow I find it hard to believe that nowadays Linux lacks support for
like 80% of all Micro-ATX AMD boards.

Thanks in advance!
Florian Philipp

[1] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131660
[2] https://partner-bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=592141
[3]
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commit;h=197ff761dbf9fa5de9a4684a51ee5cb 534cbb852
[4]
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commit;h=ef3386f00fcd18a40343047329ec7ed 2eb98bbe8
[5]
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commit;h=5b538df9dedb3469b688b93ffab2a7e fb64c88e3
[6]
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commit;h=7f3e3d3a69da262016db6eec8038816 03c61ddf6

Florian Philipp wrote:

Hi list!

I'm thinking about building a new media PC and wanted to use an ASUS
M4A88T-M/USB3 mainboard (link: [1]). Any objections to this?

I'm a bit worried about the LAN chipset Realtek 8111E (which seems to be
also known as RTL-8168E). This chipset seems to be extremely common on
AM3 boards but I've found mixed results when looking for its Linux
compatibility. There seems to be a driver but it is not included into
the vanilla sources. There are also bug reports like [2].

On the other hand, there have been commits which indicate support for
some sub types (but not the "E" type) through the r8169 driver as far
back as 2.6.28 ([3-6]).

Long story short: Can anyone confirm that it works or doesn't work with
standard gentoo-sources or some other sources? Does someone have
experiences with the Realtek drivers from their website?

Somehow I find it hard to believe that nowadays Linux lacks support for
like 80% of all Micro-ATX AMD boards.

Thanks in advance!
Florian Philipp

[1] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131660
[2] https://partner-bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=592141
[3]
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commit;h=197ff761dbf9fa5de9a4684a51ee5cb 534cbb852
[4]
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commit;h=ef3386f00fcd18a40343047329ec7ed 2eb98bbe8
[5]
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commit;h=5b538df9dedb3469b688b93ffab2a7e fb64c88e3
[6]
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commit;h=7f3e3d3a69da262016db6eec8038816 03c61ddf6




I have this according to lspci:

03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 03)


Mine uses the driver r8169 and it works fine. I'm not sure about the
"E" part tho. If it is not some huge change, it may work fine.


If you are not wanting or needing to stick with ASUS, why not try this
Gigabyte mobo?


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128431

I just built my rig with that mobo and it works fine. If you want to
use that, I can email you my kernel config and make life easier on you.
That mobo does not have built in video but I think there is one that
does tho.


If you want to look up mobos and such for compatibility, try this site
and look on the left.


http://kmuto.jp/debian/hcl/

They are not always listed in there but if you can find one with the
same chipset and such, at least you can decide whether to try it or not.


Hope this helps.

Dale

:-) :-)

On Saturday 29 January 2011 13:29:53 Florian Philipp wrote:
> Hi list!
>
> I'm thinking about building a new media PC and wanted to use an ASUS
> M4A88T-M/USB3 mainboard (link: [1]). Any objections to this?
>

I wouldn't buy an Asus board at the moment, thanks to their crappyness.

I bought a GA-880GA-UD3H 4 weeks ago. It works.

rtl8111d/e lan chip
usb3

lots of pcie slots.

note: you don't have to care about the realtek suffices. 8111d/e/whatever...
they just work

Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:

On Saturday 29 January 2011 13:29:53 Florian Philipp wrote:


Hi list!

I'm thinking about building a new media PC and wanted to use an ASUS
M4A88T-M/USB3 mainboard (link: [1]). Any objections to this?



I wouldn't buy an Asus board at the moment, thanks to their crappyness.

I bought a GA-880GA-UD3H 4 weeks ago. It works.

rtl8111d/e lan chip
usb3

lots of pcie slots.

note: you don't have to care about the realtek suffices. 8111d/e/whatever...
they just work





That mobo is a nice one. Lots of good stuff. If I recall correctly it
has the latest SATA too. The 6Gbs speed that is. Mine has 3Gbs.


I read somewhere that the current line up of Gigabyte mobos are the
highest rated. It used to be Abit and ASUS but we all know how these
things change. There was another one that was highly rated a good long
while back, especially with Linux users, but I can't recall the brand
now. ASRock or something? Maybe?


I looked into ASUS before my build and switched to Gigabyte after some
research. About the only thing I was settled on when I started was a
Nvidia based video card. The rest was open to changes. I do wish I had
got the 6 core CPU now tho. That is my only regret. Still happy tho.
This new rig is easily 7 or 8 times faster all the way around.


Dale

:-) :-)

Am 29.01.2011 17:07, schrieb Dale:
> Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
>> On Saturday 29 January 2011 13:29:53 Florian Philipp wrote:
>>
>>> Hi list!
>>>
>>> I'm thinking about building a new media PC and wanted to use an ASUS
>>> M4A88T-M/USB3 mainboard (link: [1]). Any objections to this?
>>>
>>>
>> I wouldn't buy an Asus board at the moment, thanks to their crappyness.
>>
>> I bought a GA-880GA-UD3H 4 weeks ago. It works.
>>
>> rtl8111d/e lan chip
>> usb3
>>
>> lots of pcie slots.
>>
>> note: you don't have to care about the realtek suffices.
>> 8111d/e/whatever...
>> they just work
>
> That mobo is a nice one. Lots of good stuff. If I recall correctly it
> has the latest SATA too. The 6Gbs speed that is. Mine has 3Gbs.
>
> I read somewhere that the current line up of Gigabyte mobos are the
> highest rated. It used to be Abit and ASUS but we all know how these
> things change. There was another one that was highly rated a good long
> while back, especially with Linux users, but I can't recall the brand
> now. ASRock or something? Maybe?
>
> I looked into ASUS before my build and switched to Gigabyte after some
> research. About the only thing I was settled on when I started was a
> Nvidia based video card. The rest was open to changes. I do wish I had
> got the 6 core CPU now tho. That is my only regret. Still happy tho.
> This new rig is easily 7 or 8 times faster all the way around.
>

Thanks for all the input, Dale and Volker!

I think I settle for a GA-880GMA-UD2H ([1]). Basically, it's the little
brother of what Volker proposed. I need a Micro-ATX board. Originally, I
ruled out all Asrock and Gigabyte boards because because they usually
come with 2 PCI slots, 1 PCIe x16 and 1 PCIe x1. I rather want another
PCIe 1x instead of the second PCI slot. Asus, Foxconn and MSI offer that.

This particular Gigabyte board, however, offers a second PCIe 4x (in a
physical x16 slot). I guess that's even better. Although the arrangement
on the board will make it dificult to use two larger extension cards in
both big PCIe slots.

Regards,
Florian Philipp

[1]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128445&Tpk=GA-880GMA-UD2H

Florian Philipp wrote:

Thanks for all the input, Dale and Volker!

I think I settle for a GA-880GMA-UD2H ([1]). Basically, it's the little
brother of what Volker proposed. I need a Micro-ATX board. Originally, I
ruled out all Asrock and Gigabyte boards because because they usually
come with 2 PCI slots, 1 PCIe x16 and 1 PCIe x1. I rather want another
PCIe 1x instead of the second PCI slot. Asus, Foxconn and MSI offer that.

This particular Gigabyte board, however, offers a second PCIe 4x (in a
physical x16 slot). I guess that's even better. Although the arrangement
on the board will make it dificult to use two larger extension cards in
both big PCIe slots.

Regards,
Florian Philipp

[1]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128445&Tpk=GA-880GMA-UD2H




When you get ready to build your kernel, check out this link.

http://kmuto.jp/debian/hcl/Giga-byte/GA-880GMA-UD2H+rev2.0

That should tell you what drivers it needs and save you some headaches
trying to figure them out.


Nice mobo too. ;-)

Dale

:-) :-)

On Sunday 30 January 2011 09:58:21 Dale wrote:
> Florian Philipp wrote:
> > Thanks for all the input, Dale and Volker!
> >
> > I think I settle for a GA-880GMA-UD2H ([1]). Basically, it's the little
> > brother of what Volker proposed. I need a Micro-ATX board. Originally, I
> > ruled out all Asrock and Gigabyte boards because because they usually
> > come with 2 PCI slots, 1 PCIe x16 and 1 PCIe x1. I rather want another
> > PCIe 1x instead of the second PCI slot. Asus, Foxconn and MSI offer
> > that.
> >
> > This particular Gigabyte board, however, offers a second PCIe 4x (in a
> > physical x16 slot). I guess that's even better. Although the arrangement
> > on the board will make it dificult to use two larger extension cards in
> > both big PCIe slots.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Florian Philipp
> >
> > [1]
> > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128445&Tpk=GA-8
> > 80GMA-UD2H
>
> When you get ready to build your kernel, check out this link.
>
> http://kmuto.jp/debian/hcl/Giga-byte/GA-880GMA-UD2H+rev2.0
>
> That should tell you what drivers it needs and save you some headaches
> trying to figure them out.
>
> Nice mobo too. ;-)
>
> Dale
>
> :-) :-)

that side is - of course - wrong.

The jmicron controller works fine with the ahci driver.

05:00.0 SATA controller: JMicron Technology Corp. JMB362/JMB363 Serial ATA
Controller (rev 02)
Subsystem: Giga-byte Technology GA-EP45-DS5 Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: ahci

On Sat, Jan 29, 2011 at 7:12 AM, Volker Armin Hemmann
<volkerarmin@googlemail.com> wrote:
> On Saturday 29 January 2011 13:29:53 Florian Philipp wrote:
>> Hi list!
>>
>> I'm thinking about building a new media PC and wanted to use an ASUS
>> M4A88T-M/USB3 mainboard (link: [1]). Any objections to this?
>>
>
> I wouldn't buy an Asus board at the moment, thanks to their crappyness.
>
> I bought a GA-880GA-UD3H 4 weeks ago. It works.
>
> rtl8111d/e lan chip
> usb3
>
> lots of pcie slots.
>
> note: you don't have to care about the realtek suffices. 8111d/e/whatever...
> they just work
>
>
Nice looking MB, good price.

Only caveat I see is the same problem I had with an Intel MB where 90
degree SATA outputs didn't work well for me in a tight HTPC case I did
recently. In a standard case no problems.

- Mark

Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:

On Sunday 30 January 2011 09:58:21 Dale wrote:


Florian Philipp wrote:

When you get ready to build your kernel, check out this link.


http://kmuto.jp/debian/hcl/Giga-byte/GA-880GMA-UD2H+rev2.0

That should tell you what drivers it needs and save you some headaches
trying to figure them out.

Nice mobo too. ;-)

Dale

:-) :-)


that side is - of course - wrong.

The jmicron controller works fine with the ahci driver.

05:00.0 SATA controller: JMicron Technology Corp. JMB362/JMB363 Serial ATA
Controller (rev 02)
Subsystem: Giga-byte Technology GA-EP45-DS5 Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: ahci




If you have the mobo and can give the updated info, you can send it to
them so that it can be updated. I sent them the info on mine too.
After all, things change and someone has to send those changes in.


Dale

:-) :-)

On Sunday 30 January 2011 10:24:17 Mark Knecht wrote:
> On Sat, Jan 29, 2011 at 7:12 AM, Volker Armin Hemmann
>
> <volkerarmin@googlemail.com> wrote:
> > On Saturday 29 January 2011 13:29:53 Florian Philipp wrote:
> >> Hi list!
> >>
> >> I'm thinking about building a new media PC and wanted to use an ASUS
> >> M4A88T-M/USB3 mainboard (link: [1]). Any objections to this?
> >
> > I wouldn't buy an Asus board at the moment, thanks to their crappyness.
> >
> > I bought a GA-880GA-UD3H 4 weeks ago. It works.
> >
> > rtl8111d/e lan chip
> > usb3
> >
> > lots of pcie slots.
> >
> > note: you don't have to care about the realtek suffices.
> > 8111d/e/whatever... they just work
>
> Nice looking MB, good price.
>
> Only caveat I see is the same problem I had with an Intel MB where 90
> degree SATA outputs didn't work well for me in a tight HTPC case I did
> recently. In a standard case no problems.
>
> - Mark

my case is 'plus' size so no problems there

After the Asus disaster I needed a board that:
has lots of sata ports
has lots of usb
has at least 2 pci ports
is f*cking stable.

Gigabyte delivered. It might be slower - I can't feel or see a difference but
it is stable. Stability trumps speed. Every time.