Choose between AMD and Intel for your Linux setup.
Choose between AMD and Intel for your Linux setup.
They both back open source projects on Linux well. AMD seems a bit more focused, though I’d mainly care about performance rather than brand. For a CPU around 12.6 GHz, the main issue is that most Linux schedulers aren’t optimized for mixed architectures yet—support is improving but still not fully there. Still, it should get better soon, so it shouldn’t be a big deal right now. As long as you’re okay with some quirks for a while, it should work fine. With GPUs matters too because Nvidia’s drivers are not great (hope they fix this with partial openness), and AMD is the top choice. It helps to remember that Linus Torvalds used Intel CPUs before focusing on GPUs, since he preferred using the built-in graphics card instead of buying a separate one.
CPU performance isn't the main concern. I've used an Intel CPU for my previous project and am now running on AMD with no problems in Linux. However, as @RONOTHAN## noted, the upcoming architecture with P- and E-cores will likely take some time for Linux to fully utilize it. From a GPU perspective, I've stayed with AMD since their drivers are open source and integrated into the kernel, simplifying setup. We should watch how Nvidia's new open-source initiatives develop. DDR5 doesn't seem worth the upgrade right now, in my opinion. Once higher-speed, lower-latency options arrive, you might need a different CPU or board to get the most out of it. DDR4 should still be fine too.
Thanks for the response. I purchased a DDR5 module with 2x16GB, clocked at 5600Mhz and featuring CAS40. It was about 35% pricier than the DDR4 3200Mhz model with CAS16. The Intel 13th Gen supported it, and the motherboard I received matched the MSI Tomahawk B570 price. That’s why I chose Intel over AMD—AM4 is already saturated. A few months delay for better P and E core support isn’t a big deal; I’m okay waiting a year as long as things function well overall. Before fully switching to Linux, I need to learn the OS from scratch and test running WoW. I wanted to confirm whether 12th Gen Intel CPUs will continue to work under Linux/Pop_OS, or if this architecture (especially the P and E cores) is still viable and if Intel’s Linux support is solid.
They operate smoothly with no problems. The scheduler functions correctly, though it isn't perfectly refined yet, causing some minor issues here and there. I wouldn't hesitate to give it a try if you're willing, as most people won't notice any problems—just occasionally certain tasks might run on the wrong thread.
I've worked with CPU upgrades before. When a processor becomes too slow, moving to the next generation isn't always worthwhile unless you're replacing an entire board. With AMD AM4, it's possible to skip several generations, but with Intel you usually can't go beyond the 13th. That's why I was able to buy a B550+5900x to replace my 3570K, even though AM4 is no longer supported. The speed of DDR5 5600 in that board is definitely faster than the 3200 in the previous one. In terms of latency, the CL40 at 5600 MT/s is about 50% faster than the CL16 at 3200 MT/s. However, you'd need to run specific benchmarks—like WoW—to see if it really makes a difference. Intel drivers tend to be reliable, possibly even better than AMD for Linux. Most CPUs don't rely heavily on drivers. The scheduler part isn't fully optimized yet; it can't evenly distribute tasks across cores. This often leads to suboptimal performance or higher power use than necessary, but it's unlikely to be a big issue. WoW: No personal experience, though online games can be unpredictable—sometimes tools like Proton or Wine cause anti-cheat problems. Speaking of, there were also compatibility issues with the new Intel architecture on Windows, where some DRM systems mistook it for suspicious activity because of the different core types. I'd check the current status of WoW on Linux before trying it out, especially with the new architecture.
Hello, I suggest you don’t completely give up Windows. The free software scene is quite fascinating (besides Warcraft). You can run Linux on an external SATA disk while Windows stays on the internal one. You might also partition the internal storage or use a live USB created with Windows and the etcher tool – available at https://www.balena.io/etcher/. For gaming, Steam is a good option. Since you already own the hardware, compatibility issues with Linux distributions are manageable by switching back to Windows. For guidance, consult official or community documentation such as Debian https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i...al.en.html, Fedora https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/fed...all-guide/, Manjaro https://manjaro.org/support/firststeps/, Mint https://linuxmint-installation-guide.rea...en/latest/, or Ubuntu https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/install-ubu...1-overview. Good luck!
For gaming, NVIDIA clearly leads over AMD. I remember none of the 6000 series cards running on my Linux machine, but once I installed the proprietary driver for an RTX 3070, everything worked perfectly. It faces criticism mainly because the open-source community tends to reject it on ideological grounds. Other factors might include challenges for developers building for Wayland, though otherwise the setup is solid.
AMD covers everything RN. In a few years Nvidia will open source its platform, but for now it remains AMD's domain.