Should I purchase a used computer with AMD RX550 video?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Thu, May 29, 2025 at 06:13:25PM +0000, Russell L. Harris wrote:

Should I purchase a used computer with AMD RX550 video?

I can't suggest what you should or shouldn't do but the GPU will
probably be supported reasonably in Debian.

With every good wish, as ever,

Andrew Cater
(amacater@debian.org)


--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Russell L. Harris wrote:

Should I purchase a used computer with AMD RX550 video?

I have a Debian desktop with one; it drives 2 4K monitors just fine.

I don't play games; that may factor into your decision.

-dsr-

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Thu, May 29, 2025 at 02:57:32PM -0400, Dan Ritter wrote:

Russell L. Harris wrote:

Should I purchase a used computer with AMD RX550 video?

I have a Debian desktop with one; it drives 2 4K monitors just fine.

I don't play games; that may factor into your decision.

Thanks, Dan & Andrew. I don't play games; I use the computer for
composition using emacs and latex.

Blair has a close-out sale on W10 machines, and it seemed a good
opportunity to pick up a replacement for this machine, which is
starting to give trouble. All of my machines are old hand-me-downs; I
install Debian on them, except for one Window$ machine which I need to
view the CHEWY website.

RLH

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 5/29/25 11:13, Russell L. Harris wrote:

Should I purchase a used computer with AMD RX550 video?

On 5/29/25 14:17, Russell L. Harris wrote:

<snip> Thanks, Dan & Andrew. I don't play games; I use the computer
for composition using emacs and latex.

Blair has a close-out sale on W10 machines, and it seemed a good
opportunity to pick up a replacement for this machine, which is
starting to give trouble. All of my machines are old hand-me-downs;
I install Debian on them, except for one Window$ machine which I
need to view the CHEWY website.

RLH

The only reliable method I have found for determining if a specific
version of a specific FOSS OS works on a specific computer with specific hardware is to test. Perhaps you could take Debian Live media to Blair
and test before purchase?


Back in the day, I had problems with FOSS OS's on computers with
discreet graphics and/or non-Intel integrated graphics. My solution
since then has been to buy computers with Intel processors and Intel
integrated graphics. This strategy works, so long as the hardware has
been out long enough for the Intel open-source reference code to be
included in Debian Stable.


I suggest getting a PC with ECC memory. Memory has become so large now
that the bit error rate is something to worry about. I consider ECC
memory to be required for ZFS.


My daily driver for several months last year was a Dell Precision 3630
with a Xeon E-2174G processor, integrated Intel UHD Graphics P630, 2 @
16 GB ECC memory modules, and 2.5" SATA SSD. The computer was very
responsive and had more than enough power for my needs.


However, the small tower cases used by Dell for their entry-level
workstations and servers have marginal cooling if you populate the
expansion slots and/or internal 3.5" drive bays. When I installed HDD's
in the two bottom drive bays of the Precision 3630, I also added a Dell
front fan and bracket. I do not see an obvious way to add cooling for
the one remaining drive bay (front).


If the computer is going to have graphic cards, sound cards, network
cards, PCIe drive cards, disk drives, etc., it would be better to start
with a full tower case, vibration isolated internal drive bays, sound
absorbing liner, big power supply, large fans, and suitable motherboard/
CPU/ memory. This is how I built my SOHO servers.


David

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Fri, May 30, 2025 at 02:18:06AM -0700, David Christensen wrote:

On 5/29/25 11:13, Russell L. Harris wrote:

Should I purchase a used computer with AMD RX550 video?

The only reliable method I have found for determining if a specific
version of a specific FOSS OS works on a specific computer with
specific hardware is to test. Perhaps you could take Debian Live
media to Blair and test before purchase?

Regrettably, no. Blair is in Kentucky; I am in Texas.

Back in the day, I had problems with FOSS OS's on computers with
discreet graphics and/or non-Intel integrated graphics. My solution
since then has been to buy computers with Intel processors and Intel >integrated graphics. This strategy works, so long as the hardware has
been out long enough for the Intel open-source reference code to be
included in Debian Stable.

I suggest getting a PC with ECC memory. Memory has become so large
now that the bit error rate is something to worry about. I consider
ECC memory to be required for ZFS.

My daily driver for several months last year was a Dell Precision 3630
with a Xeon E-2174G processor, integrated Intel UHD Graphics P630, 2 @
16 GB ECC memory modules, and 2.5" SATA SSD. The computer was very >responsive and had more than enough power for my needs.

However, the small tower cases used by Dell for their entry-level >workstations and servers have marginal cooling if you populate the
expansion slots and/or internal 3.5" drive bays. When I installed
HDD's in the two bottom drive bays of the Precision 3630, I also added
a Dell front fan and bracket. I do not see an obvious way to add
cooling for the one remaining drive bay (front).

If the computer is going to have graphic cards, sound cards, network
cards, PCIe drive cards, disk drives, etc., it would be better to
start with a full tower case, vibration isolated internal drive bays,
sound absorbing liner, big power supply, large fans, and suitable >motherboard/ CPU/ memory. This is how I built my SOHO servers.

David

Thanks, David, but way beyond my budget.

I ended up ordering from Blair a HP tower. Under $250 (free
shipping), but it is newer and likely much better than anything I
currently am running (Several hand-me-down Dell machines; some
very reliable, others troublesome).

EMacs & LaTeX with Debian do not require much, so my only real concern
is reliability.

https://blairtech.com/hp-z420-workstation-pc-intel-xeon-e5-1650-6-core-3-2-ghz-nvidia-quadro-k2000-16gb-ddr3-ram-256gb-ssd-1tb-hdd-windows-10-professional-wifi-bluetooth/

RLH

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 5/30/25 10:20, Russell L. Harris wrote:

On Fri, May 30, 2025 at 02:18:06AM -0700, David Christensen wrote:

Perhaps you could take Debian Live
media to Blair and test before purchase?

Regrettably, no.  Blair is in Kentucky; I am in Texas.

Okay. Reading ahead, Debian should work fine on an HP Z420 workstation.

If the computer is going to have graphic cards, sound cards, network
cards, PCIe drive cards, disk drives, etc., it would be better to
start with a full tower case, vibration isolated internal drive bays,
sound absorbing liner, big power supply, large fans, and suitable
motherboard/ CPU/ memory.  This is how I built my SOHO servers.

Thanks, David, but way beyond my budget.

Yes, a new case and PSU alone can cost more than an entire used or
refurbished workstation or server. These are what I use for my SOHO
file and backup servers:

https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/define/define-r5/black/

https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/define/define-r5/black/

I ended up ordering from Blair a HP tower.  Under $250 (free
shipping), but it is newer and likely much better than anything I
currently am running (Several hand-me-down Dell machines; some
very reliable, others troublesome).

EMacs & LaTeX with Debian do not require much, so my only real concern
is reliability. https://blairtech.com/hp-z420-workstation-pc-intel-xeon-e5-1650-6- core-3-2-ghz-nvidia-quadro-k2000-16gb-ddr3-ram-256gb-ssd-1tb-hdd- windows-10-professional-wifi-bluetooth/

That workstation should be plenty fast. The video card does not match
your OP, but I expect Debian will support the NVIDIA Quadro K2000.


My only concern is that the workstation does not appear to have ECC memory.


I suggest that you remove the 2.5" SATA SSD and 3.5" SATA HDD, install a
3.5" to 5.25" Front Bay Mounting Bracket, install a 2 Drive 2.5in
Trayless Hot Swap SATA Mobile Rack Backplane, install a Black Aluminum
5.25in Rugged SATA Hard Drive Mobile Rack Drawer, connect the dual 2.5"
mobile rack to the first and second motherboard HBA ports, connect the
3.5" mobile rack to the third motherboard HBA port, insert a wiped 2.5"
SSD into the rack connected to the first HBA port, and do a fresh
install of Debian:

https://www.startech.com/en-us/hdd/bracketfdbk

https://www.startech.com/en-us/hdd/hsb220sat25b

https://www.startech.com/en-us/hdd/drw150satbk


You can run either Windows or Debian by powering down, swapping SSD's,
and booting.


Assuming the HDD has NTFS, Debian may complain that the filesystem was
not properly closed by Windows. One work-around is to format the HDD
with FAT32 or exFAT. I prefer to keep my bulk data on a file server,
and would use the HDD for something else (OS drive images). If you
really need fast local storage, get a PCIe SSD.


David

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)