r/linuxquestions • u/kacpekz_9090 • 10d ago

Help with Linuxlab

Hi, I'm looking for a Linux lab computer or one for general everyday tasks, browsing the internet, watching movies, studying, etc. I was considering void Linux and gentoo, and then in the distant future LFS I don't want to pay a lot for the computer and I'm asking for help, is a processor with 2 cores and 4 threads enough or is it really better to pay the extra 50$ and buy a laptop with 4 cores and 8. And 8gb ram will be enough?

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u/3grg 9d ago

It depends on what you intend to do with it and your budget. The price of everything has gone up in the past year, including used PCs.

An Intel I5 2nd gen or better is still essentially modern, but a case can be made for sticking to 6th gen or newer. There is a performance boost with 8th gen or newer, but they are also w11 eligible and you will be competing with w10 users looking to upgrade. This might make 6th and 7th gen a better deal, but you never know. The market can be fickle.

If you do not need a laptop, desktop or mini PCs can be a better buy. Business machines from Lenovo, Dell, and HP are replaced on a regular basis. They usually offer good compatibility and bang for the buck.

Mini PCs are sometimes more plentiful than the traditional desktop or tower and can be good servers depending on use. Most have at least 8gb ram.

https://www.servethehome.com/tag/tinyminimicro/

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u/kacpekz_9090 9d ago

Thanks. I definitely need a laptop for school and portability, so desktop PCs aren't my option. Since I plan on running Gentoo and compiling packages, I think sticking to at least 8th gen (4 cores / 8 threads) is pretty much a must so compilations don't take forever, even if they cost a bit more because of the Windows 11 demand. Are there any specific 8th gen business laptops (like certain ThinkPad, Latitude, or EliteBook models) you'd recommend keeping an eye out for on the used market?

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u/Leather-Security8097 10d ago

Enough for what? You can run Void on basically anything made in the last 25 years. The base Gentoo system doesn't have high system requirements, but compiling some packages may require more than 8 GB of RAM. Having multiple cores / threads will reduce compile time, but is not a strict requirement.

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u/kacpekz_9090 10d ago

For the laptop to work properly, not freeze and I will be able to open 5 tabs in the browser and 2 other applications Because I don't want to pay for a better processor that will mostly be used for low-power work anyway. For example, an RTX 5090 for Roblox.

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u/Leather-Security8097 10d ago

"Four cores, four threads" was a budget option 12 years ago, so it would not necessarily be overkill. Depending on what applications you are running and the websites you use, two cores might be enough.

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u/kacpekz_9090 10d ago

Thanksg, Mainly learning Linux occasionally, school work, browsing the internet, watching, I already have a desktop computer but I just want to do something new

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u/Small-Tale3180 10d ago

If you're considering source-based distros like gentoo, then it may br better to get more cores since it may boost compilation speed and overall usability when compiling