Posted on 04/15/2022 5:45:53 AM PDT by ShadowAce
Oftentimes you will receive a recommendation to install Linux on an older PC. Doing that can certainly revive those old computers and make them usable today. However, Linux also works extremely well on new and modern hardware.
Knowing that, this article aims to walk you through the process of building a new PC for Linux. This includes all you need to know about hardware support and the different distributions that you can install. Further, this article also aims to provide an all-purpose setup that you can build now and use with Linux.
For the most part, Linux has excellent hardware compatibility. However, just because the kernel can recognize the hardware, does not mean that there is a driver for it.
This can be especially obvious if you are using exotic and rare equipment, such as proprietary interface cards and hardware. Despite that, any sufficiently common hardware should work right out of the box.
Generally, modern processors and storage devices work very well in Linux. This is because the intricate controls dealing with modern motherboards are already provided through the firmware.
However, for graphics cards, networking cards, and peripherals, you may need to check first whether they are already supported by the kernel.
For graphics cards, you can either use the integrated graphics chip that comes with your processor or a dedicated graphics card. In general, the integrated graphics in both Intel and AMD processors are well-supported in Linux. You do not need to do anything else to make sure that your graphics chip works properly.
On the other hand, dedicated graphics cards can be a hit or miss. Due to the lack of proper vendor support, nVidia graphics cards can be difficult to work with under Linux.
Because of that, Linux is often behind in supporting the newest nVidia cards. If you intend on using nVidia for your new PC, you may need to use a card that is at least a generation behind.
In contrast to that, AMD graphics cards are well-supported in Linux. This is mostly because AMD actively develops an open source driver with the kernel developers.
As a result, AMD cards are tightly integrated and highly optimized for use with Linux. If you are looking to play the latest games, you may want to consider getting an AMD graphics card.
For the most part, you should not have any problem with wired networking. Almost all modern Ethernet hardware already has an open source implementation and is fully supported by Linux. This includes the built-in Ethernet port in motherboards as well as external Ethernet cards.
On the other hand, wireless networking has been one of the biggest pain points in using Linux. Most modern wireless cards either have poor support from their manufacturer or do not have any at all.
As such, you need to make sure that you are using either an Atheros or Intel-based card if you want to use wireless on your PC. These are the two most common wireless cards that Linux supports. Between the two, however, Atheros is the chipset that receives the most support.
In general, Linux has good device support for various hardware peripherals. As described above, this support will largely depend on the kind of device you want to use. Knowing that, hardware peripheral support in Linux can be split into three general categories:
At its core, a distribution is an operating system that uses the Linux kernel to drive the devices of the computer. While a simple distribution like Ubuntu may appear different to an advanced distribution such as Arch, the internal machine that drives them is the same. Because of that, hardware compatibility is largely consistent between different distributions.
However, one key difference between Ubuntu and Arch, for example, is that Ubuntu is usually behind in kernel updates. This ultimately means that support for newer devices takes longer to arrive in Ubuntu than in Arch.
Finding the right distribution becomes a trade-off between two things: ease of use and frequency of kernel updates.
The most accessible Linux distribution that you can get today is Ubuntu. This is a Debian-based distribution that focuses on simplicity and usability. Ubuntu is a great distribution if you are still learning the ropes with Linux.
Other than that, Pop!_OS is also a great beginner-friendly Linux distribution. It is based on Ubuntu and, as such, benefits from its focus on ease of use and accessibility. Further, Pop!_OS is optimized for multimedia. This makes it highly attractive to users who want to use their new PC to do video editing and gaming.
On the other hand, one of the most updated Linux distributions available today is Arch Linux. It is a rolling-release distribution that focuses on advanced Linux users and bleeding edge software, so you will get the latest version of the Linux kernel whenever you update and receive immediate support for the newest hardware.
Another great rolling-release distribution is Manjaro. It is based on Arch Linux, so you will also get immediate support for the latest hardware. Unlike Arch, however, Manjaro is built for regular Linux users, making it significantly easy to install and maintain compared to Arch Linux.
Knowing all of that, a modern, all-around PC setup that is fully compatible with Linux could look something like this:
Note: All prices are in US dollars as of April 2022 and may vary depending on when and where you are buying your parts.
This setup should be able to run any program in Linux without any issues. You can use this build for any computer activity, such as browsing the Web, editing documents and watching HD videos.
Not only that, but this machine can also be an affordable media workhorse that can both render video and play video games on high settings.
This all-around setup can also be a good starting point for future upgrades. Both the socket AM4 and LGA 1700 are some of the latest chipsets in the market today. Any CPU upgrade within the next few years will just be a drop-in replacement for this build.
However, one important thing of note is that if you decide to not use the Radeon 6600XT graphics card, you need to instead use the Core i5 12500, as the Ryzen 5 5600 does not include an integrated graphics chip by default.
A computer setup would not be complete without external peripherals. To use your new PC, you need to interact with it through a monitor, keyboard and mouse. For example, a basic set that you can use with the setup above can look something like this:
Congratulations! You now know the process behind building a new computer for Linux and a decent, all-around build that will work with Linux out of the box.
If all this talk made you interested in learning more about other Linux distributions, you can check out some of the best Arch Linux-based distributions today.
The nVidia cards similar to the 6600XT are the RTX 3060 and RTX 2060 Super. For the former, you need to make sure that you are using, at the very least, version 5.8 of the Linux kernel. Further, you also need to make sure that you are using the proprietary nVidia drivers for Linux.
For the latter, you need to use version 5.3 of the Linux kernel as well as the proprietary nVidia drivers.
Yes. It is relatively easy to use Bluetooth under Linux. Common brands such as TP-LINK often offer a decent Linux-compatible Bluetooth USB receiver. For example, the TP-LINK UB400 is a small plug-and-play solution that immediately works out of the box in Linux.
One of the most common issues you may encounter is program incompatibility, mostly because programs in a rolling-release closely track their source versions. Any programs in your system that are lagging behind in updates can quickly be unusable in your system.
Another issue with rolling-release is with critical software bugs. Tracking a development version of a program always carries the risk of it not being tested enough. This can be a problem if you want to use your new PC for critical work.
. Ya it works. I have a GeForce GT 630, and it works fine, but even with the proprietary blob driver, I don't think you get the full benefit of the GPUs.
And it is policed EXREMELY well. The Linux community is right on top of shutting down any submissions such as apps with malicious coding before it ever gets any further or available. This preview of code would not be possible without it being opensource.
Boot time is a red herring IMO. I really don't care how long it takes for my desktop to boot, since a reboot only happens about once a quarter, or often longer than that. On this computer, I keep the kernel pretty current, since it is my main box, hence the quarterly reboots. My media player, though, will run for hundreds of days without rebooting, because that box is fairly isolated from a network perspective. What do I care if it takes 5 minutes(it is considerably less) if it's something I only have to worry about once or twice a year?
Very good explanation. The executable situation is huge.
“Boot time is a red herring IMO. I really don’t care how long it takes for my desktop to boot”
Same here, but I have never had a Linux box take as long as a Windows box to boot. I just go get another up of coffee while my box boots and it is ready when I get back.
No need to wait.. Multitask...
Exactly correct!! My 12+ year old AMD FX-8350 is running the latest version of Ubuntu Linux with Linux Kernel 5.17 installed.
An older SSD drive for the OS, WiFi, Bluetooth and an NVIDIA Graphics card that's at least 5 years old for video.
In short: it screams. It has 32Gb of memory and 10TB of storage attached to it that I used for backups from my other machines.
Old hardware with Linux is typically just fine!
Forgot to add to my last post:
My old Webcam that Windows no longer supports? Works fine on Linux.
My Lexmark Wireless Printer that stopped working with Windows 10? My Ubuntu Linux picked it up wirelessly and works with it just fine too!
It's funny how all the devices that no longer worked with Windows 10 I had laying around work just fine with Linux and all I had to do was plug them in and turn them on. Go figure!
Oh! My NAS Storage? Linux picked that up too and just started using it without much effort by me at all. My Windows 10 VM? BLEEEHHHHH! Refused to work with it.
Unless you *have* to run Windows for work, Linux for home is the way to go. Don't have to worry about viruses, malware, any of that crap.
Easier to install than Windows too!
Back in the Windows95 days, Microsoft made the incomprehensibly daft decision that the “Active Desktop” would be a good idea. In and of itself, it wasn’t such a bad plan, but it was the way it was done. It was partly because Gates wanted to destroy Netscape, so MS integrated Internet Explorer on Windows’ desktop - EVERYTHING ran through IE. And the way MS made that happen was by merging the shell with Internet Explorer. The abominable mshtml.dll (and a couple of other pieces of kit) was born, with the resulting graphical shell. Windows can NEVER be made as secure as Linux since Windows’ is permanently crippled with its graphical shell.
Linux has always kept the shell separate with the X-windows (or whichever) system being an “add-on”, which means Linux can be run headless without any graphical component. 100% pure CLI.
Hence, the design of Linux is inherently more secure out-of-the-box than Windows can be made, no matter how much anti-virus/malware/etc. kit you cobble onto it.
“I wonder how many Twitter employees had to drive their Tesla to work this morning?”
You means the ones who didn’t stay home and work remotely through their Starlink connection?
I use Ubuntu. Try to stay away from the exotic distributions since I am familiar with Ubuntu and it seems to be well supported for both the desktop and server.
Ubuntu is now running on the Raspberry Pi (sort of). It is still a little clunky but I am expecting that it will be more reliable in the future.
1. I am using it right now in a Windows VM as I post this this message. It is secure and private and is safe from prying eyes. Remember that big tech collect your personal information. Also, it is easy to kill the installation and then reinstall it in the virtual software.
2. I have installed it on two computers as music servers that run 24/7 to our home network. Any device on my network can play our music library.
3. I have created an email server that is designed for family and friends communication if/when big tech starts censor my speech. It works really well and is free other than the hours I spent getting it running. It is encrypted from prying eyes. We have learned in recent years that big tech and big government was to regulate speech and it will only get worse.
I think that they still offer a 32bit version for really old computers. I installed it on 15 year old laptop and it ran fine until the laptop finally gave up the ghost.
Lastly, I think that I am due to make a donation. I have certainly benefited from “free” Linux.
Is Linux perfect? No. And Android is not foolproof because it is a bastardized version. But iOS is worse... because it is very closed.
This guy is a good resource. He has a lot to say about privacy and security.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYVU6rModlGxvJbszCclGGw/videos
And as Big Tech obseletes your hardware forcing you to buy new every three years, you can still have a functional computer that is more secure.
My work issued laptop is Windows 10. Hate it. Hate everything about it. I'd designed and engineered a Cloud VPN solution using Microsoft Azure and included Active Directory w/Ubuntu integration. So I can login to our brand spanking new Azure Cloud VPN implementation using my own Ubuntu desktop, authenticate with Active Direcotory and 2FA and do my work now. I use Outlook Web Access for email, O365 Web Based for work and when I have to create engineering diagrams I use Draw.IO
I'd like to send my work laptop back but they won't let me. LOL!
I agree that Ubuntu is the best supported and most reliable version available, I don't think I care that I'm not always on the latest and greatest Kernel. I'm ok being -1 on the Kernel and am willing to sacrifice for stability.
I have a Raspberry Pi 4 that I've been wanting to get Ubuntu onto. It's sitting within arms reach as I type, I'll probably get to that this week ... then I've been saying that for about a year or so now, so time to do it.
I have a mid-2011 MacBook Pro that Apple has long since stopped supporting.
It’s so old that it doesn’t do Airdrop well, nor will it connect with more than one HomePod at a time.
I’ve used a back-door patch to upgrade the OS to Catalina, but even that isn’t perfect.
I’m *this close * to turning that MacBook into a Linux mint box. All indications are that critical functions are supported.
Don’t forget to add a Turbo button.
I still like having a server running on a local machine since I control it versus some mega company who may decide to shut it down.
Ubuntu on a Raspberry Pi... Everything seemed to install okay then when I tried to do a Dovecot update it failed. I didn't have time to debug it and ran out of time. I believe that it is still very new so maybe in a few months it will work. Also, the RP hardware is not the most stable -- the micro SD card. Plus the SD card has to be formatted for FAT32. Not really a problem I guess and there are work arounds. I wonder if they make a version with the flash memory soldered to the board? Anyway, the Raspberry Pi is probably more suited for the hobbyist but the possibility of being able to install a fully functional OS on a small device like it is pretty cool.
“You means the ones who didn’t stay home and work remotely through their Starlink connection? “
:)
And the confident and enthusiastic board of Directors who hold an impressive 77 shares of Twitter in total!
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