Re: Putting together a computer from old components

On 29 Nov 2021 at 18:46:48 GMT, "Spiros Bousbouras" <[email protected]>
wrote:

> On 29 Nov 2021 15:16:44 GMT
> Jaimie Vandenbergh <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On 29 Nov 2021 at 14:30:41 GMT, "Anssi Saari" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> 
>>> So, it really depends what you intend to do with your computer. Light
>>> use, a little web browsing on simple web pages, email, simple stuff
>>> probably not a problem. Heavy web browsing on heavy pages, editing
>>> complex documents or video, encoding video... Might need a lot of
>>> patience.
>> 
>> Definitely put as much RAM in the machine as it can take, in order to
>> keep it even vaguely viable. Use SSDs as well - give the old thing every
>> possible advantage.
> 
> As I say in  <[email protected]> , 2 gigabytes RAM work fine at
> present and I don't expect that my computing needs will go up.

You don't use the modern web much, I take it - that forces higher specs
on you otherwise, or your view of the Internet will slowly constrict.

>  But if it's
> easy to add more , I will add more. I also don't see why SSD vs hard disk
> would matter to me because my current hard disk doesn't get much work.

Swap.

>> What I'd actually suggest is a Pi4 or CM4/8gig though. It'll almost
>> certainly be quicker than an Athlon for most things and has a lot more
>> Linux support (don't use PiOS for your desktop though, it still has the
>> horrific laggy mouse). You can even pull out a PCIe x1 slot, easier on a
>> CM4 carrier board.
> 
> Several questions here :
> 
> - Do ARM processors have anything analogous to the Intel management engine ?
> If not then yes , that's a plus in my book. Plus I want to learn some ARM
> assembly so having an ARM processor would be a bonus.

I am fairly sure (but not 100%) that they do not. Raspberry have solid
documentation, and I've not found an extra controller inside but also
they don't make a statement that there isn't (I mean why would they
think to?)
https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/processors.html#bcm2835

> - Can a Raspberry Pi offer a usual desktop experience ? For example can I
> expect the applications on Linux repositories to work ?

Yes. Full Ubuntu, Fedora, Manjaro, Kali distros/repos and more are
available.

> - Why would Linux be better supported on a Raspberry Pi than an AMD processor ?
> As far as I know , Linux works equally well on all mainstream processors.

I was thinking modern well-defined fixed Pi hardware would be more
likely to have current support than random 2005 Athlon boards, but it
could be comparable. AMD were very second-string back then and some
stuff never made it into mainstream Linux support - more could have
fallen out by now. Check the video, audio and network on your board of
choice are supported before purchasing.

    Cheers - Jaimie
-- 
None of this will matter in 20 billion years.