I need to get a new computer, I'll need to use it for coding, c++ with vim. I'll also probably be putting Arch on the computer, I'll also probably put LFS. I'll need to use virtualization, and also I'll need to dual boot it with windows. Anyone got any ideas as to what desktop I should use.

Mackyboy123,

There is a load of choice out there and you do not need to spend a fortune.

I would look for a desktop PC with something like an Intel i5 CPU (onboard UHD graphics) with 16GB of RAM plus Windows 10 64-bit.

It will probably have a 1TB SSD as standard.

HP and Lenovo etc are obvious regular brands.

Just see what is on offer at the time.

you may want to check the hardware compatibility, but in general [almost] all of them should work.

A luxury you can build into it is one disk for GNU/Linux and one for Windows, as oppose to partitions. That makes is easier. And perhaps even a third sharedrive.

I guess also a motherboard with an Intel GPU can be helpful to avoid having to install proprietary nvidia/amd stuff and any issues that might or might not come with that. You can always add another GPU later.

I guess most comes with UEFI now, and I don't know the current restrictions, but one that allows legacy BIOS mode could be helpful too.

Most modern CPU's if not all comes with good virtualization options in the CPU. But you can always check what kind of virtualization it has by looking at the CPU specifications.

I'd second zeebra - make sure the CPU supports virtualization features (and that the motherboard will let you actually enable them), or performance will take a hit. If you're wanting to do any sort of IO passthru (like SR-IOV) you probably need a Xeon, Opteron, or EPYC platform on a server/workstation-oriented motherboard (or complete system) to ensure everything works. If you're just going to run VMs in VirtualBox or similar that's less yucky.

@zeebra: I agree with avoiding nVidia for the proprietary drivers, because they can be a pain in distros that don't have tidy installers, but I've had no issues with the open source AMD drivers (radeon and amdgpu) across a range of distros on a range of machines, so I wouldn't shy away from newer AMD cards (the flip side is, their drivers can be wildly hit and miss on Windows from what I remember - although its been some years since I used Windows with an AMD GPU).

I actually go the other way around.
Worse comes to worst you can always use the 'nouveau' driver.
By the way the distros I use as hosts (antiX, MX and Bionicpup) support Nvidia GPU without problem.

I am fortunate enough to be able to purchase native linux computers. Invariably, they are Intel inside.

In the past, I've had good luck with Dells and Asus. Many of the members of my LUG swear by Lenovos (except for the Yogas); of course, they're not desktops.

Original version:

Wikipedia has an article entitled List of Linux-supported computer architectures which may be helpful. (After looking at it, not so much.)

I wouldn't worry too much about Windows driver support, as desktop PC manufacturers don't really have any choice but to support Windows. It's Linux driver support you'll need to confirm for whatever hardware you're looking at.

Although that said, Linux driver support nowadays is much better than it used to be. It's really for non-standard hardware like TV tuners/cards and alike that you still need to be really careful about.

Any modern Intel or AMD processor should have the virtualization features you need.

You'll just have to research whatever hardware you're looking at for Linux driver support, unless you buy a pre-built machine from a Linux-friendly PC manufacturer.

I would caution on this claim - basic VT-x support is (at least on paper) pretty consistent on higher end CPUs (I'm not sure if Athlons/Pentiums/etc ship with it enabled), but more advanced virtualization support like SR-IOV, IOMMU, etc relies both on CPU support and (proper) motherboard implementation, and is usually segmented to server/workstation SKUs (or perhaps put another way: is usually only really tested on such). It's not at all uncommon to find complaints from folks even on 'HEDT' platforms where, while IOMMU is supported, all expansion slots are in a single group, or weird comingling of onboard devices with expansion slots is present, or so on - which can lead to headaches depending on what kind of setup you're after. Depending on what kind of virtualization the system needs to do, it is advisable to spend a half hour doing some preliminary directed searching about the specific hardware you're looking at + any known interactions with the VM configuration you'd like to use, as it may save you days/weeks of headaches trying to 'hack' a solution together or finding there's some 'gotcha.'

I agree on the driver support point except for my previous comment on AMD graphics drivers under Windows, but for all I know they're back in a period of 'good drivers' (over the last 20-some years ATi/AMD has been hit-and-miss with Windows driver quality).

Which driver would "the 'nouveau' driver" be?This blog post might better answer those uninitiated.

Better yet, use the latest X driver technology, the modesetting DIX. It works on AMD and Intel GPUs too. It's no fuss, requires no "installation" or configuration files. It works on all 6 NVidia GPUs I have, should work on all non-ancients that are not bleeding edge models. e.g.:In over 20 years with Gnu/Linux, I've yet to encounter PC hardware that won't run any distro I've tried. Currently I have 29 operational 64-bit PCs running multiple distros each in multiboot. The primary problems anyone has are:

• dual graphics laptop models, for which acceptable solutions usually are available, though are not necessarily without hassle to apply
• too new hardware, for which some waiting is required for support patches to become available to enable full use

what kind of budget u have ? and do you want to build your own box ?

on this site we could help you to pick up parts for your new box : https://pcpartpicker.com
i use sites like those when building my computer.

@mrmazda
A nightmare for a newbie (me, even with dozen years of Linux) is a booted computer with a black screen- don't know even how to ask for help, let alone debug it.
The only time Nvidia created problem for Linux was the day they market that silly Optimus card. Maybe they learnt the lesson now.
I came back to Linux after 5 years of absence. I install MX and use the 'nouveau' for a month or so, then bang, one day I found out that MX has an option in the menu just to install Nvidia.

I would suggest separate hard drives for Windows and Linux(es). Don't touch default Windows boot loader. Linux as well can boot from second drive. In case bootloader fails with update. Or Windows brakes Linux bootloader. Having them both on the same drive may always cause problems - and data loses. In case of Linux - assuming backup - there is no problem - just reinstall system - restore backup. In case of OEM Windows - in bad luck - you will have to pay for new instance.

Edit: But if you will be using Linux as desktop only - spare yourself dual boot - just install in VM. It is common practice nowadays - I would say standard solution. Host system for hypervisors and hybrid virtualization - VM's, containers. It is really much more fun than dual boot. You are not limited. Last time - before personal earthquake - I ran 4 VM's in parallel - 3 Centos'es and OpenBSD. In VirtualBox on rather common hardware. Say 32 GB RAM - more better - and good processor support for virtualization - and you can do whatever you want. With all safety. Have fun! (This is a quotation). If you are game player - the sure run Windows as host.
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