Best computer (laptop or desktop) for Arch

A Future Pilot · 2010-03-19 22:56:45

The title basically says it...what are some computers, either laptops or desktops, that everything works straight out of the box with Archlinux? I'm talking 3D support and everything. Thanks!! (Looking at the hardware compatibility list, it looks like the Dell Latitude D620 completely works :-)

lifeafter2am · 2010-03-19 23:01:13

My little EeePC 1005HA works completely. So does my custom built desktop, but thats not what your looking for.

I also had a Dell Studio XPS 1340 that worked completely out of the box. Just needed to use AUR to get the wireless drivers.

Last edited by lifeafter2am (2010-03-19 23:02:07)

pickboy87 · 2010-03-19 23:38:47

Are you looking for custom parts or a fully assembled desktop?

ataraxia · 2010-03-19 23:49:42

Currently, for best 3D support, buy nvidia and use the proprietary drivers. That'll likely change later on as free drivers for all 3 big GPU makers move along.

Misfit138 · 2010-03-20 00:56:22

Thinkpads work very well. Anything with the Centrino designation, manufactured before December 2009 should be quite good OOTB.
(Centrino no longer means that the PC contains Intel chipsets.)

EDIT:Maybe we should all wait for one of these!!

Last edited by Misfit138 (2010-03-20 01:43:54)

A Future Pilot · 2010-03-20 02:54:48

OK, thanks! I'll look into those...and either fully assembled or custom, whatever's the cheapest that works good! :-)

A Future Pilot · 2010-03-20 02:59:15

Oh, I forgot to say, I meant out of the box as in, you can get it to work...I'm not expecting to NOT have to tinker with it and stuff...I like doing that! Just so long as I'll be able to eventually get 3D support and everything! :-)

cpslanet · 2010-03-20 10:59:33

My experience is that pretty much everything works painlessly with linux these days. The only thing you might have to look out for include 1) Soundcard, if you want higher fidelity than some onboard chip. Check alsa status when in doubt. 2) Any other "exotic" hardware such as raid controllers and the like, a quick google should tell you wether a driver exists for the hardware in question. 3) As someone pointed out the proprietary nvidia driver is by far the best at the moment, so better go with that. It should support pretty much any nvidia card out there.

Choosing arch should mean that even more hardware should be supported since packages are near bleeding edge.

cool · 2010-03-20 15:32:14

How is the support for ATI ?

onboard 4200 series?

splittercode · 2010-03-24 15:33:26

lifeafter2am wrote:

My little EeePC 1005HA works completely.

I'll second that, I had absolutely no problems at all installing arch w/ xfce on mine.

cjazz · 2010-03-26 15:14:55

This might sound ridiculous, given the company's reputation for cut-rate parts, but ...

I just paid a ridiculously low price for a refurbished emachines ET1331G, with AMD Athlon II X2 dual-core processor and NVIDIA chipset, and of course the first thing I did was wipe Windows off the hard drive and install 64-bit Arch ... and everything seemed to just work. I realize it's risky to extrapolate from one anecdotal experience, but I suspect this illustrates how far GNU/Linux has come, not only in hardware detection and support but also in acceptance.

Last edited by cjazz (2010-03-26 15:16:11)

reuben · 2010-03-26 15:49:39

cpslanet wrote:

My experience is that pretty much everything works painlessly with linux these days. The only thing you might have to look out for include 1) Soundcard, if you want higher fidelity than some onboard chip. Check alsa status when in doubt. 2) Any other "exotic" hardware such as raid controllers and the like, a quick google should tell you wether a driver exists for the hardware in question. 3) As someone pointed out the proprietary nvidia driver is by far the best at the moment, so better go with that. It should support pretty much any nvidia card out there.
Choosing arch should mean that even more hardware should be supported since packages are near bleeding edge.

Pretty much. For some parts you might have to taint your kernel, for example nvidia cards and broadcom wireless chipsets.

DeletedUser201201 · 2010-03-26 16:05:06

I would go with a Lenovo if you eventually choose a laptop. It's not about Gnu/Linux, everything seems to work nowadays, rather for the good build and the history of the Thinkpads.

Bestiapeluda · 2010-03-26 17:58:14

Don't buy anything with hybrid graphics !!!

thayer · 2010-03-26 18:38:06

The question is too broad. Thousands of desktop/laptop/netbook configurations will work just fine.

As for graphics, Intel is the only vendor to provide supported, fully open-source drivers with 3D acceleration. They may not provide the best hardware for heavy gaming, but without a doubt they provide the best support and their performance is fine for light-to-moderate gaming.

mdicotomia · 2010-03-26 19:12:55

[quote=splittercode
]lifeafter2am wrote:
My little EeePC 1005HA works completely.

I'll second that, I had absolutely no problems at all installing arch w/ xfce on mine.

dcc24 · 2010-03-26 19:43:36

I'd also suggest a ThinkPad. You simply cannot get anything better for Linux compatibility. Thinkpad_acpi is very stable and actively developed, support is added for new models etc. My model selection would be, from cheapest to most expensive, T410 - T510 - W510.

sDoky · 2010-03-27 10:49:30

I've got Lenovo ThinkPad R400 and it works just fine, I everything works in linux, except fingerprint reader, but is is scheduled to be released this year, I don not use it, though (turned off from BIOS). Great performance and battery life.

reuben · 2010-03-27 14:19:03

I concur on the thinkpad. Besides for some really bulky rugged laptop, you won't find a tougher laptop.

ctarwater · 2010-03-27 14:28:42

Bestiapeluda wrote:

Don't buy anything with hybrid graphics !!!

Ha ha! Too late! But they are making progress https://lists.launchpad.net/hybrid-graphics-linux/

Arch Linux

#1 2010-03-19 22:56:45

Best computer (laptop or desktop) for Arch

#2 2010-03-19 23:01:13

Re: Best computer (laptop or desktop) for Arch

#3 2010-03-19 23:38:47

Re: Best computer (laptop or desktop) for Arch

#4 2010-03-19 23:49:42

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#5 2010-03-20 00:56:22

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#6 2010-03-20 02:54:48

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#7 2010-03-20 02:59:15

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#8 2010-03-20 10:59:33

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#10 2010-03-24 15:33:26

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#11 2010-03-26 15:14:55

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#12 2010-03-26 15:49:39

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