Need advanced advice: stage 1, Flags, Kernels, Bootsplashes

[routerguy]

I have performed stage 1, 2, and 3 installs before so I do not need help with the acutall process. I just need some advice on some of the options.

I want to use a 2.6.x kernel if possible. Please tell me if it is still not suitible for everyday use. If I go with a 2.6.x kernel, which one should I use?

• develpment sources
  gentoo-dev-sources
  hardened-dev-sources

If I go with a 2.4.x kernel, which on should I use?

• vanilla-sources
  gentoo-sources
  gaming-sources
  hardened-sources

I would like to use a bootsplash. Which kernels have bootsplash built in? I would like 2.6.x if possible. I could always dual-boot.

Second. Is the following make.conf acceptable for my Pentium 4 2.6 GHz w/ HT?

Code: Select all

CHOST="i686-pc-linux-gnu"
CFLAGS="-march=pentium4 -O3 -pipe -fomit-frame-pointer"
CXXFLAGS=""-march=pentium4 -O3 -pipe -fomit-frame-pointer"
USE="-kde -qt gkt2 flac firebird gtkhtml"

Are there any important flags that I am missing? Is it acceptable to put -qt if I would like to use gtk2 if possilbe? Is it safe to -mozilla if I will be using firebird only? Are any of my flags extraneous?

Another question about the kernels. Which version of 2.6.x / 2.4.x would I use? Which one's are stable, and what does "r3" or "r6" mean? I see some really new versions that are not hardmasked.

Thanks!

[Belaird]

I saw a forum item that for a P4 and 2.4+ kernels you should use mcpu=pentium4 inplace of march=...

[madchaz]

your make.conf looks good, even if you should try and not hard set CXXFLAGS

Personaly, I am happy running 2.6 with gentoo-dev-sources
it works quite well and is more responsive then 2.4

you should be able to get the bootsplash using the 2.6 series as well

personaly I didn't use it so I can't tell you how well that works.

as for the comment of the -march is bad for P4, it might be worth looking into or testing. Personaly, I've never heard of it

[routerguy]

If it doesn't break when I compile it, it isn't going to have problems later? Or break right before it finishes compiling?

How do I properly set my CXXFLAGS?

And what does "2.6.4r3" mean?

[yngwin]

I don't know about P4 flags, as I use AthlonXP.

How do I properly set my CXXFLAGS?

CXXFLAGS="${CFLAGS}"

And what does "2.6.4r3" mean?

2.6.4 revision 3, which basically means the 3rd revision of the ebuild, not a new version of the actual source-code. It may have a new fix, or a new patch or something like that.

I would recommend you to go for the gentoo-dev-sources, these have the bootsplash patch.

[Convex]

I would like to know what the best cflags settings are as well. I have read too many conflicting things about them that I can not make a decision. What are the best cflags settings for Pentium 4?