I am looking to build a Linux gaming computer with a budget around $500.00 to $600.00 dollars. This will be my first build and like a lot of the other people on here I am confused by all of the different parts. I was thinking about going with something similar to Logans $550.00 build but I'm not sure what is compatible with Linux. I have a monitor and I have a 500gb hybrid drive that I put in my laptop about a year ago. The laptop is dead so I wanted to use that hdd if at all possible and maybe add in a SSD for the system to be installed on. I know Nvidia cards are more compatible with Linux than the ATI cards (or at least that's what I've heard) so some guidance on that would be appreciated. If someone could give me some ideas for a complete build that would be great! Thank you!
My number one suggestion would be to get Windows instead. Games are just starting to be brought to Linux, but the vast majority of them aren't going to be compatible or optimized for quite a while. In the future, Linux will become a platform that is much more suited for gaming, but, for right now, Linux is in its infancy when it comes to gaming. There are going to be inherent glitches and problems with it until they figure out all the bugs and until drivers start becoming more optimized.
I am aware of that and I will probably dual boot but I really prefer to use Linux as my main os as I'm not a huge windows fan, I just want to make sure all of the hardware is compatible. I will also be using this for multimedia such as movies and such. As far as gaming goes I play Minecraft (I know that doesn't need much in the way of hardware). I trying to move away from my console and back to gaming on the computer.
I think AMD actually has better driver support for Linux right now than Nvidia does, but I'm not entirely sure. I'm not exactly experienced with Linux either, so I don't know if other parts like the motherboard and CPU really make a difference.
Sorry you are wrong, Nvidia currently has way better drivers for Linux. Graphics cards that are comparable in Windows between the two are massivly different under Linux. nVidia are anthing up to twice as fast as AMD right now. This may change in the future but as of right now nvidia is the way to go for Linux and Linux gaming.
Yeah AMD/ATI is still buggy as hell in linux, everytime they do a new release I get it and spend hours trying everyhing out then end up using X.Org again. Works ok for me since I don't play FX intensive games in linux.
To be honest a $500 rig for Windows will be just fine for Linux. Good strong quad core with good single thread performance. nVidia graphics card, somthing like the 560 Ti, An SSD might be nice but you can get away with something real small (30GB) will do. A 500GB or 1TB HDD for data (/home) So a 30GB SSD for root (/) and the HDD for home (/home). For RAM 4GB will be enough but make it as quick as the motherboard/CPU can handle, give yourself the option of getting some more if needed. It may be quite some time before you need any more. Other wise normal rules apply, don't cheap out on the PSU, make sure the case can breath so stuff dosn't over heat.
Here are three screen shots from my Ubuntu gaming rig. You can see how much RAM is in use, it's less than half of Windows on the same PC. The drive usage you can see I have / on an SSD and it's useing very very little and this is the OS and all of the software! The HDD is larger, movies and music, you know regular type of stuff. One small point to be aware of is I think Steam installs it's games within user space to my Steam games are on the HDD. You hybrid drive will give you an advantage here.
Ok, I've looked over everything and changed out the case for one that has 2 2.5 inch bays so I can use my hybrid drive. The ram is $10.00 more for 8gigs vs 4 gigs so I will stick with that. I also added a 30gig ssd. As far as cooling what will I need? Let me know what you think of this. Thank you for your help!
Huh, I guess Nvidia really upped their driver support for it after they got criticized for not supporting linux, because I remember someone who was pretty high up there in the Linux community taking shots at Nvidia...unless I'm remembering it wrong and they were taking shots at AMD.
Are you taking the "...twice as fast as AMD..." from the article? It's not that I doubt the driver part, but they are using an 6870 vs. an 680.. for me atleast.. it's hard to compare the brands when they are not using hardware that performs simlar.
Thank you! I've adjusted my build according to what you recommend. Are you suggesting dropping the ssd altogether? I have another laptop drive that I could use in its place but it's just a standard drive not a hybrid or anything.
Ok, I have a 160 gig that I pulled from my wife's netbook that I could use for the os. It's a little overkill size wise but it will keep me from having to buy another drive for now.