Choosing hardware to run Linux

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Eadwine Rose
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Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2006 2:10 am

Re: Choosing hardware to run Linux

#11 Post by Eadwine Rose »

Thank you for that link Rich.. I no longer have my dear mate around to help build a system, but since this is some 10 years old (maybe less, but OLD it is) I have been very slowly thinking of building a new one. I can use all the works well with linux info I can get :)
MX-23.2_x64 July 31 2023 * 6.1.0-18-amd64 ext4 Xfce 4.18.1 * 8core AMD Ryzen 7 2700
Asus TUF B450-Plus Gaming UEFI * Asus GTX 1050 Ti Nvidia 525.147.05 * 2x16Gb DDR4 2666 Kingston HyperX Predator
Samsung 860EVO * Samsung S24D330 & P2250 * HP Envy 5030

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manyroads
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Re: Choosing hardware to run Linux

#12 Post by manyroads »

@richb.... I sure wish there was a way to "thumbs up" a post here (not to mention get @richb to work) Anyway I like your link/ post. ;)
Pax vobiscum,
Mark Rabideau - ManyRoads Genealogy -or- eirenicon llc. (geeky stuff)
i3wm, bspwm, hlwm, dwm, spectrwm ~ Linux #449130
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong." -- H. L. Mencken

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wulf
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Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 9:56 am

Re: Choosing hardware to run Linux

#13 Post by wulf »

I'd certainly encourage anyone who has the time and/or inclination, to give self building a go. By shopping around, it's possible to find top quality components and come-in considerably under budget when compared to the cost of a similar spec machine from well known brands. As richb stated, the two key components are the motherboard and the processor. If the processor can be considered to be the "brain" of the machine, then the motherboard is most certainly the "heart" of the system, and due diligence in it's selection will deliver a smooth and trouble free experience when compatible ram, hard drives, graphics etc, are connected.

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Stevo
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Re: Choosing hardware to run Linux

#14 Post by Stevo »

If you have a choice, the consensus seems to be to avoid Broadcom and Ralink networking hardware. Some Realtek wi-fi can also be a real pain in the tukus.

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piperdan
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2018 5:11 pm

Re: Choosing hardware to run Linux

#15 Post by piperdan »

I personally like the idea of saving older machines from the scrap heap. And with MX, my refurbished Dell Latitude runs fast and trouble-free.

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manyroads
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Re: Choosing hardware to run Linux

#16 Post by manyroads »

I, also, like saving old Laptop clunkers! I especially like seeing if I can use inexpensive parts to beef them up (soup them up?!?!) .
Pax vobiscum,
Mark Rabideau - ManyRoads Genealogy -or- eirenicon llc. (geeky stuff)
i3wm, bspwm, hlwm, dwm, spectrwm ~ Linux #449130
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong." -- H. L. Mencken

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entropyfoe
Posts: 590
Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2007 11:42 am

Re: Choosing hardware to run Linux

#17 Post by entropyfoe »

Saving old laptops, that's great, since I can't build a laptop.

For workstation (desktops) parts, go to newegg for the part, then in the review section there is a search function. I try debian, linux, ubuntu, mint as search terms, and usually if there a re lots of reviews, you will get actual user experience.

If hardware works with ubuntu or any debian based system, usually MX will have no trouble. That is my limited experience.
Asus PRIME X470-PRO
AMD Ryzen 3600X (12 threads @ 3.8 GHz)
32 Gig DDR4 3600 (Crucial CL 16)
Nvidia GeForce GT 710
Samsung 970 NVMe nvme0n1 P1-3=MX-23, P4=testing
Samsung 980 NVMe =1TB Data, plus 2TB WD =backups
on-board ethernet & sound

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entropyfoe
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Re: Choosing hardware to run Linux

#18 Post by entropyfoe »

yes, manyroads, it is souping them up.

To windows, a useless cast-off, but maybe double the RAM from 1 to 2G, or put in a cheap SSD, especially with antiX, and you have a useful system for cheap.
Asus PRIME X470-PRO
AMD Ryzen 3600X (12 threads @ 3.8 GHz)
32 Gig DDR4 3600 (Crucial CL 16)
Nvidia GeForce GT 710
Samsung 970 NVMe nvme0n1 P1-3=MX-23, P4=testing
Samsung 980 NVMe =1TB Data, plus 2TB WD =backups
on-board ethernet & sound

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Gordon Cooper
Posts: 965
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:50 pm

Re: Choosing hardware to run Linux

#19 Post by Gordon Cooper »

That is exactly what I have done to a couple for family members - upgrade the RAM if necessary and replaced the HD with an SSD. Had to fit a new DVD drive on one, daughter preferred disks to USB's. They all worked well with MX. Using a recovered Dell desktop myself. There was a spare SATA 3 outlet on the mobo, so managed to squeeze in a 120GB SSD, leaving the resident spinning HD powered down most of the time. Dell do not provide much empty space for such additions but it works.
Backup: Dell9010, MX-19_B2, Win7, 120 SSD, WD 232GIB HD, 4GB RAM
Primary :Homebrew64 bit Intel duo core 2 GB RAM, 120 GB Kingston SSD, Seagate1TB.
MX-18.2 64bit. Also MX17, Kubuntu14.04 & Puppy 6.3.

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manyroads
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Re: Choosing hardware to run Linux

#20 Post by manyroads »

The big problem is that it gets dicey & pricey to upgrade the 'screen' .... and I do love HiDPI screens. ;)
Pax vobiscum,
Mark Rabideau - ManyRoads Genealogy -or- eirenicon llc. (geeky stuff)
i3wm, bspwm, hlwm, dwm, spectrwm ~ Linux #449130
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong." -- H. L. Mencken

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