Hello Comrades,

Thanks for all your advice about setting up Linux. It was a success. The problem is that I’m now I’m intrigued and I’d like to play around a bit more.

I’m thinking of building a cheap-ish computer but I have a few questions. I’ll split them into separate posts to make things easier. Note: I won’t be installing anything that I can’t get to work on Linux.

Should I prioritise RAM or the processor? My budget is limited so I will have to make a choice between RAM and the processor. Would it be better to go for e.g. 32GB RAM and a slower processor, or 8GB RAM and a faster processor? Or is balance better? Say, 16GB RAM and a ‘medium’ processor (that’s ‘medium’ between the ‘slower’ and the ‘faster’ option within my budget, not ‘medium’ for the market).

Intel or AMD?

  • jkpeq@lemmygrad.ml
    3·
    1 year ago

    I think if you go with a slower processor it will limit you on options to upgrade RAM later, if needed to. If you don’t actually do some hardcore stuff on your computer, I would go with medium option and 16GB of RAM. 32GB sounds excessive to me (well, considering you don’t do the suff that needs too much RAM).

    Intel and AMD both work really well under Linux, but I would go for Intel.

    • redtea@lemmygrad.mlOP
      1·
      1 year ago

      Thanks for the advice. Do Intel processors play nicely with AMD GPUs if I decide to add one? And/or are Intel GPUs any good?

      • pigginz@lemmygrad.ml
        2·
        1 year ago

        You can mix and match CPU and GPU brands without worry. I wouldn’t recommend an Intel dedicated GPU for a Linux machine right now, they’re still pretty new and driver support is dodgy even on Windows. Integrated graphics should work fine, but even fairly recent Intel integrated graphics have issues with Vulkan that can make 3D gaming on them especially difficult compared to Windows.

    • Prologue7642@lemmygrad.ml
      1·
      1 year ago

      It depends on what is meant by slower CPU. If you can, I would go with current gen staff anyway, and then it doesn’t matter. You can upgrade no matter which CPU you choose. The only factor is a number of channels your CPU have (which will almost always be 2), what generation of DDR it supports (current gen is DDR5 but if you go for older it will be cheaper DDR4) and how many DIMM slots your motherboard have.

      Also, AMD is almost always better value with lower power consumption, with some exception in some rare use cases.