Hello Comrades,
Thanks for all your advice about setting up Linux. It was a success. The problem is that I’m now I’m intrigued and I’d like to play around a bit more.
I’m thinking of building a cheap-ish computer but I have a few questions. I’ll split them into separate posts to make things easier. Note: I won’t be installing anything that I can’t get to work on Linux.
Do I need a dedicated graphics card? I'd like to run an HD display as a minimum. (I don't have a 4k monitor at but I wouldn't mind upgrading later if I can save up for one.) Mostly, I'll be streaming or playing videos.
I wouldn't mind playing some games but is a dedicated GPU needed?
If I should look into a GPU (I can always add it in later), what should I look for? (I'm not really interested in the latest AAA games). I wouldn't mind playing HOI4 or Victoria 3 as I hear so much about them.
What are your thoughts on second-hand GPUs? This will obviously cut costs but is there anything to watch out for?
For regular desktop use (and graphically lightweight games) you don’t need a dedicated GPU (assuming your CPU has something built-in).
If you want to play games with heavier graphics than you need a dedicated GPU.
Generally speaking: AMD GPUs are preferred, since Nvidia GPUs are harder to get working due to extra drivers. Though I’ve heard it’s definitely possible.
Edit: second hand is usually fine, but watch out for stuff that’s been used for cryptocurrency mining; those have been worn down a lot more.
For what it's worth, I've used Nvidia cards for at least a decade without any major issues. Mostly on Arch, though I do vaguely recall needing to fiddle with it more on really old Ubuntu releases.