Debian User Forums

New to Linux.

Need some advises on buying hardware for CLI server, no desktop, 24/7, aim for highest uptime hence I go for Debian,

Samsung 990 PRO PCIe Gen4, 4 lanes SSD. 32GB RAM

1. Intel CPU, should I go for slightly older generation? 11, 12, 13 or 14 generation? Should I choose TDP around 45 to 65 watts to avoid the recent chip issue on high end, high TDP chip?

2. Core 3 or Core 5

3. I plan for ASUS motherboard, mini ATX casing. Which Intel motherboard chip set?
Alder lake H610
Raptor lake B760 and Z790
Arrow lake Z890

4. Is these mainstream PC Intel Motherboard well supported by Debian drivers? I use CLI, no graphic needed. In old old time, early red hat Linux need 'matching' video card.

It depends what do you want.
You can find basic information about device support in linux-hardware.org.
But for most of computers you need non-free drivers and firmware.
When you want fully libre software and firmware, you can look for libre hardware like systems supported by LibreBoot (or other libre version of CoreBoot) or computers based on IBM POWER9 (e.g. Talos II).

ruwolf wrote: 2024-12-30 04:25 It depends what do you want.
But for most of computers you need non-free drivers and firmware.

Many thanks. Below is my wish list. Wonder if you may advise further along the line.

I have recently brought raspberry pi 5, 8GB RAM, NVMe SSD Samsung 980 PRO SSD, still learning Linux. Would like to buy a bigger RAM computer and a bit faster (says four time faster)

I want to go out and buy hardware kit that will (likely) work without incomparable issues. CLI may be easier without advanced GPU

I want to stay with reasonably recent hardware, may be 2 years from release, so that they are fair price and easy/useful and have "lower" risk of something buggy.

Not perfect non ideal as now, but lots better than past and future will be great, but I can tolerate non-free firmware/driver if they are the "needed evil"

1. I can see my intended ASUS motherboard in the database,linux-hardware.org so, good news

2. Is it correct that there is 'no firmware driver' for RAM? If the motherboard is DDR4 (or DDR5) and I just need to buy RAM that are DDR4, right?

RAM may have frequency rating, 2000MHz or something like that. The motherboard will auto adjust by reading the ID chip on RAM module, right?

3. For NVMe SSD, the example in database is not the same as my intended Samsung 990 PRO.

Does linux driver/firmware need to match specific brand and model or I only need to match PCIe gen 4 or 5. The Samsung is four lanes. It will work with mother board with four or smaller number of lanes, right?

Yes, DDR4 uses open standards (eg from JEDEC) which should all be supported by the current Linux kernel.
Accordingly, check in the manual of the motherboard or official sources of the manufacturer which modules are supported by it.
Because DDR4 may or may not use ECC and may or may not be buffered/registered etc.

PCIe and NVMe are open standards, too, so the brands are also irrelevant. But they are still evolving, new versions and features are still added.
You should check the Linux kernel version of the current stable Debian to see if your SSD is fully supported by that kernel version...

ruwolf wrote: 2024-12-31 12:25 You should check the Linux kernel version of the current stable Debian to see if your SSD is fully supported by that kernel version...

Thanks for the info. I have Samsung 980 PRO running on RPi5. It is specifically on the RPi NVMe SSD compatable list.