Powerful and Stable PC Configuration for Linux (Fedora)

[Igor Zhidkov]

Dear Guru's.

Please help me in the choice of the PC computer configuration for work 
under Linux (I intend to instal Fedora on it).

On this computer there will be a complicated scientific calculations  
performed: user-written programs, mostly C/C++, which run from several days to several weeks.
User's will mostly use KDE or Gnome, with many shell windows opened.


The critical demands for chosen hardware are:
-productivness
-stable and robust work during high (close to or equal 100%) load


For now I've chosen the following configuration:

CPU:  PENTIUM IV 2.8 GHZ 512CACHE 800 MHz HT
MotherBoard: ASUS P4P800 i865PE/DUAL DDR400/LAN
Memory : 2 X 512 MB DDR 400 MHz
Video Card: 128 MB ATI RADEON 9200 TVOUT AGP X8
HDD: WD 120GB/7200/8MB CACHE
DVD-ROM: ASUS
FDD 1.44": PANASONIC/SONY
Case: CASE for PENTIUM IV 2FANS


Please suggest me any changes which can increase stability of the the 
configuration during long-time 100% load. Or give an examples of PC 
configurations you've purchased recently.

Is Asus P4P800 motherboard good for long-time lasting hard use? Or it 
can be overheated, because it was not initially designed to give maximal 
stableness, but to provide a best production for limited time periods ?

My another thought is to buy the same configuration, but assembled by 
some of "brands" like HP - i.e. to order HP brand computer with the same 
configuration as shown above. As I know, brand name assembled PC 
computers usually are more stable - isn't it ?

The ideal case is to buy non-PC (SGI, Alpha, Sun) computer,  but we're 
rather limited in money for such computers.


Thank you very much in advance for your suggestions, All !!!


Igor.