Hardware Recommendations

This page aims to make buying recommendations for problematic hardware.

PLEASE NOTE: 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 date in the form YYYY-MM-DD. 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.

WiFi Sticks

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

Bluetooth Sticks

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

Printer/Scanner

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

GPUs

• If you can choose, buy AMD. Nvidia provides drivers, but they don't work out of the box, and are known to make problems. However, Nvidia is not overly problematic, you're probably fine if you can get a cheap one. Just don't blame Linux if you get problems.
  • If you want FOSS drivers, AMD is your only option. Nouveau is no option for gaming.
• Don't buy the newest AMD GPU right after it launched (that's also a good idea if you want to save money). You won't get good drivers on day one. (Nvidia provides day one drivers)
• If you buy very old GPUs, look for 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. But it gets messy if they have two GPUs, or other special components.

• 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:
  • Premium:
  • Good value:
  • Cheap:

Less problematic Hardware

You're probably good with just buying anything, and your chance of picking a device that straight up doesn't work, is low. But you might want to have a look at our recommendations, just to be sure, especially if you want special features, like RGB, or a mainboard with WiFi, etc.

Bluetooth Headphones

Most Bluetooth headphones should be fine. But there are incompatible models.

Noise Cancelling

• Over Ear
  • Premium: Sony WH-1000XM4 | EU | 250€ | 2022-03-10
    • Features: Great noise cancelling, great audio quality. Good latency when connected via audio jack. No battery charge required when not using ANC, and connected via audio jack.
    • Problems: High latency when connected via Bluetooth. No Bluetooth/ANC possible while charging. No sound via USB. Hissing while charging (possibly because bad charger).
  • Good value:
  • Cheap:

• In-Ear
• Headsets

Non Noise Cancelling

• Over-Ear
• In-Ear
• Headsets
  • Premium: Logitech G933 | EU | 290€ | 2022-03-10
  • Good value:
  • Cheap:

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

• AM3
• AM4
  • MSI Tomahawk Arctic B350

Intel

• Sandy Bridge

USB Digital/Audio converter

• Good value: Sharkoon Gaming DAC Pro S V2 | EU | 30€ | 2022-03-10 | Small form factor | Problems: Slight hissing when playing no audio

USB microphones

• Good value: Samson Meteor Mic | EU | 45€ | 2022-03-10

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?).

• Big size:
• Medium size:
• Small size:
• Many buttons:

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:

• DDR3:
• DDR4:
• DDR5:

Fan:

Generally unproblematic hardware categories

• Monitors
• Headphones/Speaker with audio jack
• CPUs