I’m considering picking up a cheapish laptop for development, with the intent of installing Linux on it. Typically it’ll be Java development or other stuff in docket containers. Is there a best chipset to pick for Linux or are they pretty much identical these days?
AMD has better hardware support because they are more active in contributing than intel. Also, they have overtaken intel in terms of efficiency (price per watt, price per Hz)
But AMD doesn’t update the microcode of their CPUs
Intel or AMD for the CPU, but AMD for the GPU if you need any graphical capabilities. AMD GPU’s are pretty solid as well. There’s definitely more choices available with Intel CPU’s but if you can find a good AMD chip then go for it.
I’ve always been an AMD fan and used those in my desktops, but for laptops it’s been harder to find something that pushes all the buttons for me.
On the flip side, if 3D graphics performance is not a priority then Intel graphics is incredibly well supported and is probably the most consistently reliable and bug-free graphics option.
Except for some stuff on the Atom processors, yup. Generally Intel’s video hardware has worked very reliably, if not powerfully. Their network cards (wireless and wired) also tend to be well-supported and perform well.
Regarding Atom, the x7-z8700 in my surface 3 caused problems for a while, and I’m not sure it’s still 100% in Linux, and it’s been out for ages.
Plus, if you’re planning on using Wayland with any wlroots compositor, Nvidia is essentially a non-starter.
AMD has served me well since I’ve started actively using Linux.
Best bang for your buck, AMD 100%. Im not really a Laptop person, but I suggest going to a Pawn Shop. They sell laptops cheap as F, as they are always overloaded with them…
Doesn’t really matter between brands across OSes at this point. AMD offers better performance per dollar though
I wonder the same, some time ago but for different reasons. If I have to buy a gaming laptop, what should I choose? Intel CPU and Nvidia was my best friend on Windows, but on Linux I’m totally unsure. I think AMD does a better job for gaming under Linux, but I have absolutely no idea if that’s true.
CPU brand choice doesn’t really matter a lot.
In general, I’d say go with AMD if you can afford it, but otherwise Intel is fine. Intel has caught up slightly the past couple of years, but AMD APUs are still at the top in terms of what you get for the money. If you can’t get an AMD laptop because of low stock/price or see an Intel laptop with more features you like, just go for that instead. I have an Intel laptop and the CPU worked fine on Linux (running Windows right now since driver support for other parts of the laptop like speakers and the display were a little shoddy because of how new it was).
I don’t know if this still remains true (if not, please correct me), but AMD will be marginally better for productivity and programming because of the multi core performance. They are also slightly more efficient than Intel in terms of power usage, although I’m sure any laptop besides a gaming laptop will give you solid battery life in 2023.
It’s easier to find Intel NICs/WNICs in Intel based laptops, and it’s easier to find refurbished Intel laptops.
Also, check and see if the laptop is supported by LVFS.
I’d say go for AMD because their APUs are excellent, but they will be expensive. You can find used/refurbished ThinkPads in really good condition for very cheap (~$200, see this thread where I learned about this), and most (all?) of them have Intel CPUs.
Anyway, right now Linux works perfectly well on both of them*.
*: If the kernel version is greater than 5.19.9 (issue first appeared with the 5.19.10) and less than 6.4, you’ll likely have an annoying keyboard issue with Linux on new AMD Ryzen laptops, as typing will be extremely slow. That has been corrected now and with an up-to-date kernel you shouldn’t have any keyboard issues on an AMD laptop.
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Neither one of them have any particular Linux specific problems. Just get whatever suits your needs best.
I never ever had even the slightest issue with any Intel chips or hardware. With AMD on the other hand I always had problems from slow performance to unreliable functionality to straight up not working devices.
