Hardware Recommendations

Hardware compatibility with Linux is sometimes tricky. You can not buy just anything and expect it to work. Some manufacturers don't support Linux at all, and sometimes the support is not good.

This page aims to make buying recommendations for problematic hardware categories.

PLEASE NOTE: Regarding specific recommendations. Old or unavailable hardware is to be removed, and the list should be short. Best case would be one device that is good, cheap, and available in all countries. If this doesn't exist, there may be different recommendations for different countries and/or different price categories. Every price is to be provided with a timestamp in the form YYYY-MM. Mentioned devices should have great out-of-the-box experience. If there are no devices with great out-of-the-box experience available, there might also be devices mentioned that require as little tweaking as possible. Tweaking steps are to be mentioned in these cases. Feel free to add categories to further distinguish between different features.

You may find a more extensive list of hardware that is known to work here.

Problematic Hardware

You should be wary not to buy the wrong stuff. If you buy wrong, you might end up with completely incompatible hardware.

WiFi Sticks

Many models provide no drivers, and will probably never work.

The important thing in the sticks is the chip. Manufacturers sometimes have the same model with different chips. Chips that often work, are Qualcomm Atheros, and Intel.

Bluetooth Sticks

Many models provide no drivers, and will probably never work.

Printer/Scanner

Many models provide no drivers, and will probably never work.

Less problematic Hardware

Your chance of picking a device that straight up doesn't work, is much lower. However, you might face some jank, some features might not work, and stuff might not be flawless.

GPUs

This topic is subject of discussion. If you want to read more about it, you might find something in this reddit post. AMD and Nvidia both work, and you'll probably be fine with either. However:

• If you want as little problems as possible, buy an AMD GPU that is at least a couple months old. The drivers typically take a bit of time to mature.
  • If you want FOSS drivers, AMD is your only option. There are FOSS drivers for Nvidia (Nouveau), but they are no option for gaming.
  • If you want long support, AMD is the way to go, as support is essentially never dropped.
• Nvidia provides proprietary day one drivers with full functionality, however they are not well integrated, due to not being FOSS. There might be some delayed features, or some bugs. But as said, you're probably going to be fine. If you're not, blame Nvidia.
  • If you want DLSS, Nvidia is your only option. However, AMD (and Nvidia) support FSR, which works in a similar way, but doesn't look as good.
• If you buy a very old GPU, make sure that it has Vulkan support.

Gaming Laptops

If you don't want to do gaming on your laptop, many devices should be ok, the problem is basically just WiFi and Bluetooth, and even those often work. You might face problems if you have a device with two GPUs (should be solvable), or other special components (fingerprint reader, etc - might not be solvable).

• Manufacturers with good support. You can't do anything wrong if you buy one of those (as long as the performance is good enough for you):
  • System 76
  • Tuxedo
• Specific recommendations for a gaming laptop:

Bluetooth Headphones

Most (if not all) Bluetooth headphones should be fine. But anyways, here are a couple recommendations:

Noise Cancelling

• Over Ear
  • Premium: Sony WH-1000XM4 | EU | 250€ | 2022-03

Non Noise Cancelling

• Headsets
  • Premium: Logitech G933 | EU | 290€ | 2022-03

Mainboard

Mainboards should do their job for the core functionality. However, features like fan control, Bluetooth, WiFi, or RGB may not be supported out of the box. If you don't need any of this, just buy whatever you want.

Since Mainboards usually just work, recommended devices should have special features that are working. Please mention all features that you tested.

AMD

• AM4
  • MSI Tomahawk Arctic B350

USB Digital/Audio converter

• Good value: Sharkoon Gaming DAC Pro S V2 | EU | 30€ | 2022-03 | Small form factor | Problems: Slight hissing when playing no audio

USB microphones

• Good value: Samson Meteor Mic | EU | 45€ | 2022-03

Mice

If you just want something that works, and you are ok with booting Windows once to change the settings (and you don't need to change them all the time), buy whatever you want. This section is for mice that have native Linux support for settings, including RGB. All mice are required to have a flawless sensor (there is no advantage in being able to change settings if you don't hit anything, right?).

Keyboards

If you just want a standard keyboard, buy whatever you want. Everything will work. Problematic features are just stuff like special makro buttons, or RGB.

Hardware with RGB support

Hardware in this category is unproblematic, other than for RGB support. If you don't care for that, just buy whatever you want.

• RAM
• Fan

Generally unproblematic hardware categories

• Monitors
• Headphones/Speaker with audio jack
• CPUs