Advice on KDE for a suitable graphics card ?
 

Hi,

I want to Dual boot Linux KDE Plasma 5 and Windows 7 or 10. Linux will be the main day to day Desktop, but there may be a few things I need Windows for.

I am going to use a 1600 AF CPU and 16GB ram. Motherboard = Gigabyte B450M-DS3H

This is going to be used for Home Office type work, Krita, Spreadsheets, Word and a few times a year, video editing for 1080P, but NO Games.

I have tried to find out what Graphics Card I need, but it is very confusing. AMD or NVIDIA ?

As it seems KDE is a bit more fussy over the cards used, I want it to work without any problems on KDE Plasma and to be smooth and reliable ?

Please give me suggestions of a card to use and your opinions on AMD and NVIDIA ? Like I said NO GAMES so I am guessing the card would not be a very expensive one ? 2GB or 4GB ?

Thanks

Unless you have a compelling need for a super-muscular graphics card, I'd recommend Intel.

The computers I've purchased from vendors selling native Linux machines generally have Intel inside.

Teh problem with that is that the 1600AF doesn't have an IGP, and Intel doesn't yet market add-in video cards.

My suggestion would be a RX550. It's 50-watt so doesn't require external power and runs pretty cool. It's Polaris so is supported by older (read, 4.19LTS) kernels. It also can be found <$100.

AS an aside, for a budget chip right now, the 1600AF is absolutely AMAZING. Sub $100 for 12 threads and Zen+!!!! Cannot believe they're not just flying out of stock everywhere.

How much money are you willing to put into it?
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews...rchy,4388.html

Hi guys

Thanks for your comments, all are useful as I want to make the right decision.

I am wondering is there a site, that has a definitive setup, that works with KDE Plasma 5 ?

OR someone on here that is using KDE Plasma 5 with a graphics card, and has no problems at all ?

My budget for the card is up to $100.

Thanks guys, stay safe !

I have a RX580 w/ plasma on Debian 10. I also have 2 Vega8 IGP's w/ Plasma (1 on Arch Linux and 1 on Debian 10).

Plasma isn't what's going to determine if it works with a card or not...your kernel and mesa versions will.

Nivdia cards will require the proprietary drivers to work adequately. The open source drivers may work, but will be missing features and won't have any form of power control. This is why AMD is the better choice for Linux. To get a TRUE idea of if your system would work well with the card, you'd need to tell us your distro, or preferably the EXACT version of the kernel and mesa that you currently have.

At $100, you're pretty much limited to old cards, or the GT1030 and RX550. Given the proprietary drivers needed for Nvidia, that's a no brainer IMO. RX550.

Hi Timothy

Thanks for that information, the Linux world can be so confusing :)

This will be a new build and will run KDE Plasma 5

If I choose an RX550, would the correct drivers etc, be already in the above desktop/kernel ?

I think from what you said you have 2 PC's running Ryzen 3 3200G
Do these work perfectly on KDE Plasma 5 ?

I have a very OLD PC at the moment and i get tearing on screen with Kubuntu 32 bit
I did solve that problem, but get strange artifacts on the menu text !

That is why I want I am being careful about selecting the right graphics, either integrated or a separate graphics card.


Thanks

Gaz

Given that you haven't said anything about what distro & version you want to use, what kernel you're running, or what version of mesa you have installed, then the only answer to those questions is:

Who knows. You need to provide the information requested for those answers. Given that *buntu no longer supports the 32-bit installs, I assume your Kubuntu install is quite dated, and would hope you're not going to attempt to run the same thing on a 3200G...

Again, plasma 5 IS NOT a distro. It's a desktop environement. It literally has NOTHING to do with if your system will work with your graphics card or not...We need to know what DISTRIBUTION you plan on running, or if building your own, what KERNEL and version of mesa you will be running...

Hi Timothy,

Sorry for not understanding the difference about distribution and desktops.
I will be using either KDE neon or Kubuntu the latest 64 bit versions.

New build, so using Gigabyte B450M-DS3H motherboard and 16gb ram.

CPU = Ryzen 1600 AF ( with RX550 ) or perhaps 3200g with it's integrated GPU.

Once again sorry for the confusion.

Thanks

Gaz

So I know Neon, so I'll speak to that. I won't touch *buntu other than LTS, but I'll say I assume either the 1600AF + RX550 or 3200G will work fine with the latest 19.10.

Neon will work 100% with the RX550 out of the box. With the Vega IGP of the 3200G, it will require one of the backported kernels to work with it properly.

I'd rather have the 1600AF + RX550 than the 3200G. 6 core/12 thread Zen+ vs. 4 core/4 thread Zen+. Yes, the IGP of the 3200G is more modern than the RX550, and it's actually slightly more powerful, but you're giving up a LOT of processing power for a very minor gain in GPU power. And you could always get a RX5500 a year down the road to pair with the 1600AF if you needed more graphics oomph, and that would be more modern AND more powerful than the Vega8 IGP.

Thanks Timothy

You have been a great help, Neon was always my preferred Distro and also RX550 was on my shopping list ( as I researched as much as i could )

But now that you have confirmed it, I feel I can carry on with my build !

thanks for all your help and patience.

For 25 years I have been a Windows user, NOW Linux will be my day to day main PC.

Gaz

For the description of planned use, I don't so much understand the desire for a max HP CPU. Just how much video editing is planned? A few times a year sounds like not so much.

I built an Asus ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING with 3200G for someone 6-7 weeks ago. It worked very well, though with the installed OSes it did need a recent kernel. 5.3.18 was the one used, with openSUSE Leap 15.2 Alpha.

HI mrmazda

I am trying to future proof my PC, the one I am using is 12 years old and I built this one.

But it's time for a new one !

I do lots of things on my PC, Video editing, Imagery, Arduino coding, PCB design.
all could be done with 3200g, but for 30 or 40 dollars more i get more advantages with the 1600 AF.

And I am still learning about Linux and it's hardware requirements :)

Thanks for your help

Is the up front cost really only $30-$40 more? Shopping Newegg, 1600 AF $100 + RX550 $85, for $185 total, vs $95 3200G, a difference of $90. To get more CPU oomph AMD shopping, I personally would opt for the 65W 6 core Ryzen 5 3600G currently blitz dealing for $165 with promo code, which is about $45 more than I've ever paid for a CPU to date.

Also consider the non-monetary differences. A discrete GPU can be added later simply if an IGP proves inadequate, while it's not as simple to upgrade a CPU to one that does include video, since a desired future CPU upgrade might not even be available without a motherboard and/or RAM to go with it.

Other cost factors are not up front, energy consumption, and heat generation. A CPU with IGP will use measurably less electricity to run than a bare CPU plus a discrete GPU and its additional (not so easy to replace when it wears out) cooling fan(s). The desktop PC I'm running to type this and many other things is using TDP for CPU with IGP totaling only 35W (i3-4150T). Ryzen 1600 AF is 65W plus RX550 50W for 115W total. TDP for the 3200G is 65W including IGP. The extra watts aren't just more periodic outlay, they're also more heat, which may be nice if you live where heating is required more than air conditioning, not so much where A/C is more often needed than heating.

Hi mrmazda

Thanks for that info, I forgot about the cost of the GPU had to be added to total cost !

That's the great thing about designing your own PC, I have choices.

I will consider what you have said, as I have not yet finalized the design.
All of the words in this thread are valuable and will help me to make my final decision.

Incidentally may I ask what PC specs and Distro you are using on the 3200g.

I live in the UK, so we need heat for 6 months of the year ... lol

Take care

Gaz