The addition of folders with Linux and a Sony Playstation has sure made it hard to guess what it takes to advance.
How fast a system are you looking at? We just brought an AMD 3800+ X2 on line, but there seems to be a problem with Ubuntu and the AMD chip/motherboard drivers.
My son and I have been experimenting with Linux on other systems and will soon convert another of our systems over to Linux for good. We run with a Live CD and like the results so far.
I’m just repurposing an old laptop, nothing fancy.
Though I remain an advocate of Windows over LINUX. I like being a paid programmer!