100% linux/Ubuntu compatible hardware?

[KinKiac]

Okay, so Im new to ubuntu and linux. I tried installing ubuntu on my home PC but it seemed very slow and Im not sure if all of my hardware is supported. What i want to do is build a new PC from scratch, with 100% linux compatible hardware. Any suggestions as to what would be the best motherboard, videocard, wirless adapter, etc to get?

[Tom--d]

A Nivida Graphics Card since there support is great :)

[KinKiac]

what about motherboards?

[jespdj]

Look around and search in the forums for specific hardware parts. Search for the names of hardware manufacturers.

nVidia and Intel graphics chips work best. Intel WiFi works well (at least the 4965; some people with an older 3945 card report problems). Most HP printers work well.

Some manufacturers don't want to support Linux. Avoid Lexmark printers, and as far as I know Creative sound cards do not work well. Also avoid WiFi cards with a Broadcomm chipset.

See https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Hardware

[Half-Left]

Your safe enough now days with linux to build any machine and it should just work, Linux has the best support for hardware out the box than any other OS.

[Spr0k3t]

How far are you wanting to go with linux compatibility? Are you wanting completely open source everything or is binary drivers fine with you?

As for wireless, stay as far away from broadcom chipsets as you can. I've found the D-Link WDA-2320 uses a decent Atheros chipset and it's a card you can still find in the stores.

As for graphics, I'm going to recommend going with something nvidia. I'm not a fan of the binary drivers but they seem to be the best solution.

Last question I have to ask, what's your price limit? You could build the most insane system that not many could afford, or you could be frugal about your options.

[KinKiac]

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated. As for price, Im willing to spend enough to get an awesome system. I do not want to go out a buy a system that doesnt perform. Im wiling to spend about 1000 - 2000$ total for the system, not including a monitor, I already have that. So what Im looking at is buying the motherboard, ram, CPU/heatsink, power supply, video card, wireless card, and the box. Aesthetics is important to me as well as performance. I want something I can show off. Im prolly going to go with a UFO box, or maybe a torture rack. The whole thing is going to be running through a 32" LCD HDTV via HDMI, or I might hook it up with VGA, but Ive had trouble with the VGA in the past.

Also, I was wondering, how does linux work with dual core or quad core processors?

[oodledoodle]

Intel stuff usually works really well, my experience of both duel and quad core on linux has been without issue.

[Spr0k3t]

At 1-2K you've got some serious room to play around with. I would start with a GTX 260 or 280 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%20106792634&name=GeForce%20GTX%20200%20Series) and build from there. My personal favorites are the XFX or the BFG cards. The Intel based northbridge motherboards are very well supported. Also, the nForce northbridge motherboards are good as well. With the cases you are looking at, you may want to consider water cooling (primarily for looks) with the clear cases. For the power supply, I'd stick to 700W 80%+ modular... something with very good airflow (needed for the lack of regular air cooling). ThermalTake, Zalman, Corsair, CoolerMaster, they are all good just take your pick. The modular plugs will help keep the amount of cables down.

The memory I'm not going to recomend, same with motherboard outside of the chipset you go with. To me, motherboards and memory are personal preferences. You've already got some good recomendations for wireless, so I'll leave it at that and see where you go with it.

[Skripka]

For a box-get yourself a Lian Li. Easy to work on, looks nice, and great air flow.

There are some nice air-based HSFs by Thermaltake and Zalman that aren't quite as good as water-cooling, but darn close for much less coin.

[spcwingo]

what about motherboards?

I've had nothing but luck with ASUS boards. They seem to last forever. I still have a slot 1 p3b-f board that runs Puppy like a champ.

[mips]

Gigagbyte MB
Core 2 Quad or Core i7 CPU
nVidia GPU

All depends on how much money you are willing to throw at it.

Here is something I posted in another thread:

Here is multiple options for you based on price. All brands are excellent.

Core i7 CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128361
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128362

RAM:
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/MemorySupport/motherboard_memory_ga-ex58-ud5.pdf
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/MemorySupport/motherboard_memory_ga-ex58-extreme.pdf

GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150326
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2%2050001669%2040000048%20106792634&name=GeForce%20GTX%20200%20Series&SpeTabStoreType=1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2%2050001669%2040000048%20106792522%201067942536&name=GeForce%209800%20GT&SpeTabStoreType=1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2%2050001669%2040000048%20106792522%201067942261&name=GeForce%209800%20GTX%2b&SpeTabStoreType=1

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112168
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129025

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371017
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371018
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194027
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194020
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151030
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151031
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151028

HD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010150014%2050001305%201035424340%20103530113&name=400GB%20-%20750GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010150014%2050001306%201035915133%201035507776% 20103530113%201035424340&name=32MB

DVD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106280
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827131059

LCD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005109
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005112

Keyboard & Mouse:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126022&Tpk=Ultra-X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104076
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104079
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104178
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104136

Wireless LAN:
Probably something with Atheros, Ralink, Prism & Intel chipset, do proper research!!! The first 3 have completely open source drivers/firmware. Intel has an opensource driver but not the firmware. They should all work fine though. Please see link below:
https://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/net/wireless/cards.html