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Choosing Hardware for Linux


raymac46

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I thought I might start this thread for new Linux users who might visit us. Most of the regulars know this stuff but if you can add to it please do so.

 

These days in most cases you still have to build or buy something and install Linux yourself. It would be nice if I could recommend a particular brand or model of PC for Linux but really it's the hardware in the box that will make or break your experience. Some research is necessary.

In the case of wifi even the maker of the wifi adapter is often not enough. You have to drill down to the chipset level and even then you have to be careful.

That said here are some basic principles to help you out.

 

The short answer. Intel all the way.

In 10 years I have had two almost ideal Linux machines - a Thinkpad I got recently and a Dell Dimension 4100 I started out with in 2007. Both were Intel based - processor, video, wifi in the case of the Thinkpad and processor, motherboard in the Dell. Recent Intel wifi might need some firmware but you can be sure the Ethernet, video and processor will work fine right out of the box. The only disadvantage is that Intel video is rather lame. OK for YouTube and web surfing but gaming...nah.

 

Graphics - Nvidia is king.

Nvidia graphics cards are still the way to go especially if you want to do some 3D gaming. I love AMD when it works - but sometimes it doesn't.

 

Wifi - can't beat Atheros

Atheros based wifi cards have always worked for me - their modules are baked right into the kernel and are free and open source so any distro works with them. Second choice here is Realtek but some of their USB solutions don't work at all. Broadcom used to be a nightmare but it's come a long way. Intel usually just works but you don't see a lot of their solutions in the desktop realm or on USB adapters. If you have a choice - choose Atheros (you often don't get to choose.)

 

Printers - go for HP if you can.

I always choose HP because of HPLIP - the Linux package that will get just about any HP printer/scanner going. Other printers like Canon and Epson can be made to work. I'm not a big Lexmark fan though. Again avoid the hassle and go HP.

 

Avoid Dual Graphics.

Some laptops (like certain Thinkpads) come with dual Intel and Nvidia graphics. Intel is used unless you need hard core 3D and then Nvidia takes over, These setups are hard to get going in Linux. Stick with a model that has basic Intel or Nvidia graphics only.

 

Go trailing edge.

Linux is great for older hardware so choose an off lease laptop from 2013 or so, or build with last generation Intel (Skylake or Haswell would work great.) Linux always works best if you give the hardware time to mature. I learned this the hard way with AMD.

 

Do as I say, not as I do.

If building today I'd look for an Intel Skylake processor, Intel compatible motherboard, Nvidia graphics card, Atheros wifi. So howcum my own bulid has an AMD APU, mobo and video card? Lets just say I learned from experience. :bangin:

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Hedon James

Good stuff Ray!

 

I might suggest a slight modification of the Graphics - GPU paragraph. I would preface your comments with a recommendation that new users stick with the open-source video drivers unless there is a compelling reason to use the proprietary drivers.

 

I have been using the open-source drivers since circa 2009 when I completely converted to Linux. Over the years, I have used the open-source drivers on nVidia, AMD/ATI, and currently on Intel GPUs. Some were dedicated GPUs, some were APUs. Didn't matter....open-source performed adequately (for me) on all brands and form factors. The ONLY time I had a problem was with a proprietary driver; ironically nVidia. Learned a lot about GPU and Xorg troubleshooting, but determined that the perceived increase in Graphic capability wasn't really noticeable in my use case, and certainly not worth the potential for breakage. JMO... Full disclaimer though...I don't game...and I can certainly understand why gamers and some other specific use cases would be interested in the proprietary graphics drivers. In those cases, Ray's advice is solid!

 

Good call on printers. I believe HP is the most linux-friendly hardware company out there. Kudos to HP! However, I have also found that Epson and Brother are pretty good about providing Linux drivers for their machines, especially the AIO printer/copier/scanner machines. You have to install their drivers manually, and sometimes it's a little convoluted, but they're solid and reliable. For new users, HP is definitely the way to go...plug the new device in and watch Linux do the rest. Take THAT Windows!

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@HJ my concern was more with hardware so I didn't get into drivers much. That said if I have an Nvidia card I am still going to rip out the FOSS graphics stack and go proprietary. I have found that Nouveau is sadly lacking in performance except on the most archaic cards. Even with a GTX650 (no spring chicken as graphics cards go) I got some black screens with Nouveau and Linux Mint 18.

AMD is great in FOSS if you can get it to work. I had trouble with the FOSS driver in Linux Mint 17 but it's working fine now in LM 18. Since you can't use AMD proprietary drivers any more in LM 18 the point is moot.

Intel is strictly FOSS anyway.

If Nouveau looks good in a Live preview I would have no hesitation to use it. But with Steam coming to Linux I'd lean toward the proprietary driver.

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securitybreach

While I agree with most of your suggestions, most of the new hardware does work just fine. I test out new HP hardware all the time at work and besides some broadcom nics, most everything works out of the box without any interaction.

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Things are getting better. I have a couple of TP-Link Nano wireless N adapters that progressed from not working at all, to working if you built and installed the module, to working out of the box with the latest release of Linux Mint. This is with a Realtek chipset.

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securitybreach

Things are getting better. I have a couple of TP-Link Nano wireless N adapters that progressed from not working at all, to working if you built and installed the module, to working out of the box with the latest release of Linux Mint. This is with a Realtek chipset.

 

Nice :thumbsup:

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The short answer. Intel all the way.

Except BayTrail. KabyLake is still work in progress so you need 4.12 kernel or later.

Avoid Dual Graphics.

Some laptops (like certain Thinkpads) come with dual Intel and Nvidia graphics. Intel is used unless you need hard core 3D and then Nvidia takes over, These setups are hard to get going in Linux. Stick with a model that has basic Intel or Nvidia graphics only.

+1. FDN is deluged with people grappling to get dual graphics working. It can work. Stevo at MX has a new Skylake dual graphics laptop which is working fine, but he's a dev, not your average user. Suggest you try MX if you have dual graphics.

Go trailing edge.

Linux is great for older hardware so choose an off lease laptop from 2013 or so, or build with last generation Intel (Skylake or Haswell would work great.) Linux always works best if you give the hardware time to mature. I learned this the hard way with AMD.

As above, Kabylake is close.

Do as I say, not as I do.

If building today I'd look for an Intel Skylake processor, Intel compatible motherboard, Nvidia graphics card, Atheros wifi.

Exactly what I have! :thumbsup: B)

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Looks like some of the Bay Trail issues will get fixed in the latest kernel so that is encouraging. OTOH some of the Ryzen processors can give segfaults if you push them too hard in Linux. More reasons to hang back a bit in technology.

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V.T. Eric Layton

Yes, the days of gnashing teeth and pleading with the driver gods is pretty much over with two exceptions...

 

Broadcom Wifi

 

and

 

FAX (using hyla-FAX) in Linux.

 

The first I can achieve Nirvana relatively easily because I've done it numerous times over the years. The second I've never been able to accomplish even with Bruno's assistance.

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Hello,

 

Interesting reading. Any thoughts about mass storage controllers (SATA, SAS) and drives? Or all these broadly supported under Linux these days? What about sound cards?

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

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My ancient M-Audio Audiophile 2496 works out of the box in Linux. It was a pita to get working in Win 10 as there is no driver. Eventually I found the Win 8.1 driver works, but the Win 8 one doesn't. Class compliant USB soundcards such as Presonus and Focusrite routinely work well, and RME is pretty good. There are recent reports on Linux Audio Users of new MOTU cards like 624AVB working nicely now, whereas they used to be almost Mac only.

Pretty sure mass storage controllers are well supported and some SANs run Linux, but I don't have first hand experience. M2 drives reportedly work now too.

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securitybreach

Yes, the days of gnashing teeth and pleading with the driver gods is pretty much over with two exceptions...

 

Broadcom Wifi

 

and

 

FAX (using hyla-FAX) in Linux.

 

The first I can achieve Nirvana relatively easily because I've done it numerous times over the years. The second I've never been able to accomplish even with Bruno's assistance.

 

There are web-based fax websites out there that allow you to send a fax via the browser. Most of the time, it is completely free unless you're doing a lot. Here is one of them: https://faxzero.com/

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Hello,

 

Interesting reading. Any thoughts about mass storage controllers (SATA, SAS) and drives? Or all these broadly supported under Linux these days? What about sound cards?

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

 

My NVME Samsung 951 works out of the box with linux and so has every ssd I have tried.

 

I never had a problem with AMD graphics cards but never did any gaming on them. Playing films on monitor or tv both looked great, I think I ran the free drivers.

 

My Skylake has Intel graphics which I have never used. I use a Nvidia GTX 1070 which seems to work with no set up or running problems with the proprietary drivers.

 

Apart from a sound card that was a tad hard to get running on linux I have had no hardware problems with any of the linux's I have tried on any of the kit I have used.

 

:breakfast:

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In keeping with my KISS trailing edge approach I just use SATA 3 storage and I've had no trouble with either SSD or HDD setups in Linux. As far as sound cards go I haven't tried one in 10 years. I just use the onboard audio which on my Gigabyte mobo is a Realtek chip that works just fine.

Edited by raymac46
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A few more comments about video:

 

AMD

With an older card and a recent Linux release you'll be stuck running the Radeon FOSS driver. This is an excellent solution if you don't want to game and in fact this is what I do with my AMD Linux rig.

With a newer card you might be able to run the AMDGPU FOSS driver and its proprietary cousin AMDGPU-PRO for gaming.

 

Intel

All Intel drivers are FOSS. They work well for general use and you know not to use them for gaming. Nuff said.

 

Nvidia

The FOSS Nouveau driver gets better all the time but it can still be glitchy. Nvidia supports more of the older technology with proprietary drivers - you might not get the latest features but there is a legacy proprietary driver set that will likely work for you. The Nvidia proprietary driver strips out the classic Linux driver stack and replaces it with a binary blob - but it does the job. Still the way to go if you intend to game on Linux.

 

There are exceptions and workarounds to the above but as a general rule of thumb that's the situation as of today. Check the excellent Linux site Phoronix for the latest info.

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