Mandrake Linux 9.0 requires:
Pentium processor or compatible
CDROM drive
At least 32 MB RAM (64MB recommended for graphical installation)
Mandrake Linux 9.0 can be installed a number of ways to meet your needs. The two most common (and recommended) installation methods are to:

Boot directly from the Installation CD, or
Create a boot floppy if your computer will not boot from the CD
Several other methods are available in addition to a traditional CD-based installation. Alternative methods include:

Network installations -- FTP, HTTP, and NFS installations require the Installation files be located on another networked machine
Hard drive installation -- (handy for machines that don't have a CD-ROM drive)
Hard drive installations don't require a network connection; all of the Installation files can be located on the computer's hard drive
PCMCIA Installation -- Primarily for laptops, a PCMCIA installation enables the use of PCMCIA devices (such as a PC-card CD-ROM drive or network adapter)
All of the alternative methods require a special boot floppy. See the file "install.htm" located on the Installation CD for details.