It has a COM port?!?
It’s still 2015, right?
Edit: Just seen a different image (on the same page under the “Stainless Steel Back I/O” link)
That image has an HDMI port 
I think that’s a generic image just showing off the stainless steel … not this motherboard at all.
The spec only lists VGA:
https://www.asus.com/uk/Motherboards/H81PLUS/specifications/
the H81MPLUS is actually cheaper than the H81PLUS
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus-h81m-plus-intel-h81-s-1150-ddr3-sata-iii-6gb-s-pcie-20-(x16)-d-sub-dvi-d-hdmi-micro-atx
and
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus-h81-plus-intel-h81-s-1150-ddr3-sata-iii-6gb-s-pcie-20-(x16)-d-sub-dvi-d-atx
Yep, the specs sheet confirms that. Can’t believe you can buy a motherboard with an LPT port in 2015. Crazy stuff! :o
I guess there’s someone out there who needs COM and LPT :o
Thanks once again for the replies and links chemicalfan and Mark. I think with your help I’m beginning to understand some of this.
The ASUS H81 Plus motherboard does only have a VGA output (and a COM port!?).
The ASUS H81M Plus however does have a HDMI output.
Both the above motherboards are on the PC co. website with the M version cheaper ?.
My best guess is by asking for the Antec case the H81 was suggested. The H81M is a smaller board which will leave a lot a space in the case. The suggestion was a smaller case, but I think I will stick with my preferred Antec case.
I’m not aware I need or will need any expansion slots. The only things plugged into the back are the monitor, router, speakers and the printer.
So if the H81M Plus is as suitable for Linux as the H81 Plus, which I suspect it will be, I think the specification is about finalised.
From a previous reply.
As for the IDE (PATA) drive … you could get one of these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/CiT-3-5-inch-SATA-Enclosure/dp/B00647A4KY
The old/old IDE(PATA) drive is just used for backup of the current SATA drive. There’s nothing on it that’s not already on the SATA.
The plan is the current SATA will be backup for the new PCs SSD drive. I’ve always tried to put the previous hard drive in a new PC for continuity. This time though it will be a different operating system which should be fun!
From a previous reply.
I’m pretty sure you can get a VGA-DVI converter, but it’s not as clear cut as VGA is an analog signal, and DVI-I can be both (it may depend on what the monitor is expecting).
For reference. When turned on the monitor displays in the top left corner
HDMI for 3 secs then Digital for 3 secs then Analog for 3 secs. Cycles 3 times then goes to sleep if no input is found. I suspect it would have taken the Analog signal via a converter but if I have the H81M board it now seems irrelevant.
Thanks both for all the help.
omicron
Scan have both boards but I don’t know if your local PC shop has … you’ll have to ask for (or demand) the M board.
Thanks for the reply Mark. The local PC co. does have both boards, ref: the start of para 2 in previous post.
They are quite good, helpful etc. with reasonable prices. I’ve been using them since I bought my first BBC model B micro with a Massive 32K. I suspect some of the confusion is me not knowing, fully understanding what I wanted or needed. I’m sure they can build one with the H81M board
All this stuff has been very useful, enlightening for me.
Thanks again for the effort.
Next is the flavour of Linux to use. I’ve only just started on that!
omicron
I’d recommend Linux Mint 17 on that, go for the 64 bit build with Cinnamon (try MATE as well, and see which you like best).
What is your Linux experience like?
Peppermint 6 64bit, of course 
.
Thanks for the replies chemicalfan and Mark, the new PC is on order. Understand the recommend Mark. I’ve spent some time clicking about and think I have a preference for Mint. You could add mindreading to your CV chemicalfan! My Linux experience is equal to Zero.
As best as I understand it the Mint distros (means distribution I think) includes amongst other things, Libre Office, web browser (firefox), email (thundermail). I’m hoping that should cover my initial basic needs.
So far I have downloaded linuxmint-17.2-cinnamon-64bit.iso and save it to the HDD. Right clicked on it (Windross vista) and opened it with Nero Burning ROM. That showed:-
Info size of image:- 1,556 MB (Duration 177:02.44)
image file C\U…\linuxmint-17.2-cinnamon-64bit.iso
Track No. kind of Track size of track
1 Data (mode 1) 1,556 MB (1,593,088 KB)
Burnt the image to a DVD.
When the DVD is inserted into Drive and opened it shows the following folders:-
.disk boot casper dists EFI isolinux pool preseed
also MD5SUMS README.diskdefines
Is that right so far ? Any comments, recommendations, warnings would be appreciated.
To quote Baldrick; I have a cunning plan when I get the new PC.
Connect the k/board, mouse, monitor, router, speakers and printer.
Turn the PC on, insert DVD (above) and then turn the PC off again.
Turn the PC on JOB DONE !!!
But seriously, I expect I’m going to need quite a bit of help here.
I hope I’m not being too much of a pain with all this.
omicron
You have to boot the disk, not starting it from within windows.
When the DVD is inserted into Drive and opened it shows the following folders:-
.disk boot casper dists EFI isolinux pool preseed
also MD5SUMS README.diskdefines
The above are what are on the disk to make it load and work, you see these when you just open the disk. restart the pc with the disk in and it will load automatically.
As ou do not have to deal with Windows on your new PC you would have a choice:
a) Let the installer partition the hard drive automatically
By default Mint installer wll probably create 2 partitions:
- one primary partition for operating system and home (user) folders
- one primary partition for swap
or
b) You decide what partitions are created:
My sugestion would be to create three partitions:
- one primary partition for operating system (mounted as / ) min 20 GiB in size
- one primary partition for swap (equal or up to twice your ram)
- one primary prtition for home (user) folders (mounted as /home rest of the HDD
The advantage of the separate home partition would be that should you need to reinstall your OS the home partition would be reused (unless explicitly formatted) and your user files will still be there.
Your cunning plan sounds about right to me … turn on the PC with the DVD inserted, and follow the instructions … simple as that, in fact you’ll be amazed how easy installing an Ubuntu based distro is
For what it’s worth, I’d endorse “Ubuntu/Unity stinks”, however (!) you might consider “xUbuntu”.
This is an ubuntu base with xfce as the default desktop.
Much smaller memory footprint than Gnome, more stable, and a decent User interface without all the graphical composition stuff that looks great but that nobody really wants to use. I used to use Ubuntu with Gnome3 in place of Unity, but I’ve switched all my machines to xUbuntu now … as a “once upon a time” windows user, I’d be inclined to think the User Interface is far more “windows like” than say Unity and a much easier switch.
(XFCE 4.12 could do itself some favours with better screenshots on it’s home page, it “looks” much better in practice)
Thanks for the replies all. By way of explanation wishbone, I had realised I need to restart the PC with the disc in. I opened it to list and post the contents on the forum and ask for comments.
Although I don’t know much about partitions, I do like your idea SeZo. If it means one bit (partition) cannot be affected/corrupted by another That’s good. Can I query the last sentence. The advantage of the separate home partition would be that should you need to reinstall your OS the home partition would be reused ? (unless explicitly formatted) and your user files will still be there.
omicron
Personally I’m not a fan of a separate /home partition for these reasons
a) a new user may not know how much to set aside
b) Unless you’re going to distrohop there’s little point … and if you are going to distrohop, some of the configs contained in your /home partition may cause you probles … in either case (c) seems a better idea
c) I use a separate /data partition, then symlink the user directories (Documents/Picturess/Music/etc.) from my /home/user directory to corresponding directories in the /data partition … it just neatly separates user storage from configs and allows you to clean install and/or distrohop at will … it also has the benefit that it’s easy to share the /data partition and its contents across multiple distros in a multiboot environment (as long as you’re careful with UID’s).
Just to add onto Mark’s C) point, instead of a separate /data partition, if you’re dual-booting with Windows, you can do this onto the Windows “Library” directories. The advantage being, if you dual-boot, you can access the files from both OS’s without having to have an extra NTFS partition or multiple copies. You can’t hibernate the systems safely (as I understand it), but that’s true of dual-boots even without the sharing of files via symlink.
I had thought my plan was good but I seem to have some Problems. To try out and experiment with Mint I downloaded the 32bit version. (current processor for reference):-
Processor: Intel(R) Core™2 CPU 6400 @ 2.13 GHz 2.13 GHz
Memory (RAM): 3.00 GB
System Type: 32-bit Operating System
and then followed the same burn procedure as the 64bit. Below is the 32bit version:-
Info size of image:- 1,430 MB (Duration 162:14.10)
image file C\U…\linuxmint-17.2-cinnamon-32bit.iso
Track No. kind of Track size of track
1 Data (mode 1) 1,430 MB (1,464,320 KB)
On the DVD is:-
.disk boot casper dists isolinux pool preseed this time NO EFI folder ??
also MD5SUMS README.diskdefines
When turning the PC with the 32bit disc in it did not work. Some Very brief windows in top corner with fail messages:-
-
[ 7.836018] nouveau E[ Display] [0000:01:00.01] 01:0130: func 08 lookup failed, - 2 -
[ 7.846939] nouveau E[ Display] [0000:01:00.01] 01:0130: func 08 lookup failed, - 2 -
[ 7.846939] nouveau E[ Display] [0000:01:00.01] 01:0130: func 08 lookup failed, - 2 -
Welcome to Linux Mint 17.2 Rafaela (GNU/Linux 3.16.0-38-generic i686) -
Welcome to Linux Mint -
*Documentation: http://www.linuxmint.com -
mint@mint ~ $
Got to the login page but that needed a user name and password. Then Nothing?
I have since been told to press a key during the first countdown to get the menu, that worked, then choose compatibility mode; That worked. After screens full of stuff I didn’t understand I got to the login screen and it logged in automatically to a Live Session. There was a warning “Running in software rendering mode” but at least I got to have a look/play with it.
For reference the graphics card is:-
GeForce 7300 GS PCI-E 256MB DDR2 TV-OUT DVI nVidia Chipset
Driver vers 9.18.13.783
With reference to the partitions, I’ve no intention to distro hop and intend to use just the linux OS on the new PC so I think I’ll leave it on the default settings for now.
Apologies if this is all a bit ‘wordy’ and Newbie, but I would like to understand how to get a proper Live “Live” version running as a 32bit before I try the same thing with the 64bit version on the new PC.
Any suggestions Anybody ?
Thanks
omicron
Hi Omicron,
I may be wrong here, does your PC have uefi. If it has, I don`t think the 32bit works with uefi.
I think it only works with bios, but as I say, I might be wrong.
Regards
Tony
Have you tried applying the nomodeset kernel boot parameter ?
Might be worth just installing it in compatibility mode … then we’ll deal with any graphics problems post install.