On Fri, 2007-08-17 at 11:50 -0400, Benjamin Ooghe-Tabanou wrote:
> Hi everybody.
> 
> I'm currently working on porting a software to 64bit machines using 
> Linux, so I'm planning to install Scientific Linux 5 on a new machine 
> for that, but before I purchase this new machine, I want to be sure I 
> can install SL5 successfully on it, and I'm not sure which 64-bit AMD 
> CPU are correctly handled by the x86_64 version of SL.
> 
> Dell proposes these CPU:
> for desktops: AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core 3800+ and faster
> and for laptops: AMD Turion^TM 64x2 Dual-Core Mobile technology TL-50 
> and bigger
> or AMD Turion^TM 64 Mobile technology MK-36 Processor
> 
> Did any of you successfully install SL on any of those processors? 
> Otherwise would you know any detail which would comfort me in choosing 
> one of these?
> 
> Thank you very much in advance.
> 
> Benjamin Ooghe
> Department of Physics & Astronomy
> The Johns Hopkins University
> 3400 North Charles Street
> Baltimore, MD 21218-2686 USA

I would suggest that you shop for a Ubuntu computer if you are
purchasing from Dell and are worried about compatibility.  The theory
being that Dell will already have checked that the system works with
Linux.  If it works with Ubuntu, it should work with SL.  

Link for Dell Ubuntu PC's
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

The Ubuntu machines appear to be all based on Intel Core 2 Duo
processors which also have 64 bit capability.  So you might want to
consider those processors unless AMD has a particular design that is
better for your application.  The x86_64 kernel should work with these.

After you zero in on a particular model, check the Dell Linux forums for
people having issues.  You should also do this if you go with a
non-Ubuntu PC.  You might post a query there about Linux compatibility
for a particular model. 

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/?~ck=mn

Chris Stevens
Part Time Applied Physics Student
Engineering and Applied Science Programs for Professionals
The Johns Hopkins University (APL Campus)