For those looking to splash out a bit on a new desktop, the Linux hardware vendor Entroware have unleashed Hades, a powerful new desktop computer with Linux pre-loaded.
This is their first AMD Ryzen powered desktop with multiple choices between the CPU and GPU, although they're still only providing NVIDIA GPUs with the Hades. For those looking at the ultimate performance, they've gone with the AMD Threadripper so it really is a bit of a beast.
- CPU Options: Ryzen TR 1900x up to Ryzen TR 2990WX
- GPU Options: NVIDIA® GT 1030, RTX 2070, RTX 2080 or RTX 2080 Ti Graphics
- RAM: 16GB DDR4 2933MHz up to 128GB DDR4 (with 2400MHz ECC options)
- Front Ports: 2 x USB Hi-Speed 2.0, 2 x USB SuperSpeed 3.0, 1 x USB SuperSpeed 3.0 Type-C, 1 x Headphone Jack, 1 x Microphone Jack
- Rear Ports: 1 x PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Combo, 8 x USB SuperSpeed 3.1, 1 x USB SuperSpeed 3.1 10Gbps, 1 x USB SuperSpeed 3.1 10Gbps Type-C, 5 x Audio Jacks (Line In, Line Out, Mic In, Rear Speaker Out, Centre Speaker Out), 2 x RJ-45 Ethernet, 2 x WiFi Antenna Connector, 1 x Power Connector
It also comes with Bluetooth support built-in as well, so that's sweet.
Operating system choices are somewhat limited, with Entroware focusing on Ubuntu and Ubuntu MATE either 18.04 LTS (Long-term support) or 18.10. The more options they add in though, the more time consuming it would be so it's not a major issue. Anyone using other distributions likely know exactly what they're doing anyway.
You will need to dig deep though, since the price starts at £1,599.99. You can't pay for a top unit on the cheap though, it pays to future-proof yourself as much as possible of course. Still, it's quite high.
For shipping, they're currently available to people in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
I personally tested a laptop Entroware sent over back in 2015 and I was very impressed with them. For those outside the US they seem like a pretty decent company to go with for Linux hardware. While I usually build desktops myself from parts, for a laptop Entroware will absolutely be my go-to company. Even so, the Hades is an impressive unit.
Find out more about Hades on the Entroware site.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
FutureSuture Jan 14, 2019
Quoting: GuestLooks really good. But...if i would buy one i would want an AMD GPU sooo. Remind me when they offer AMD and not only Nvidia.
If you just want the case, it's definitely a Fractal Design one. With those dimensions, I'd say probably the Fractal Define C.
Quoting: brokkrIf you just want the case, it's definitely a Fractal Design one. With those dimensions, I'd say probably the Fractal Define C.
Actually it looks like Fractal Define R6, check the side of the front doors, there is space to put your fingers in, Defince C does not have front doors. The front I/O also looks different. This is definitely R6.
I thought everyone had long since moved on to USB for these things.
wvstolzing Jan 14, 2019
Quoting: Kristian" 1 x PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Combo"
I thought everyone had long since moved on to USB for these things.
PS/2 keyboards are supposed to have lower latency. A more tangible reason, though, is that USB keyboards are sometimes late to get recognized by the system during bootup, so you can't hit the key that's supposed to take you to the BIOS. My USB keyboard (Unicomp Model M clone) often doesn't even 'turn on' on the grub boot selection screen, which can get really frustrating.
Quoting: wvstolzingQuoting: Kristian" 1 x PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Combo"
I thought everyone had long since moved on to USB for these things.
PS/2 keyboards are supposed to have lower latency. A more tangible reason, though, is that USB keyboards are sometimes late to get recognized by the system during bootup, so you can't hit the key that's supposed to take you to the BIOS. My USB keyboard (Unicomp Model M clone) often doesn't even 'turn on' on the grub boot selection screen, which can get really frustrating.
That's definitely an issue even on newer computers with PS/2 ports. However, I've found that motherboards/computers lacking PS/2 ports work fine in firmware with USB keyboards (because they have to). Before USB 2, USB keyboards and mice definitely used more than their share of system resources, but that hasn't really been the case for quite a while now.
Last edited by CFWhitman on 14 January 2019 at 3:42 pm UTC
Quoting: GuestThreadripper CPUs are for servers and overkill for a gaming PC: best gaming cpus
This article is written from a Windows-centric viewpoint (understandably so from a mainstream site). Vulkan graphics benefit more from extra threads. However, the biggest reason to consider AMD CPUs is that they are better bang for the buck processors, and that benefit is pretty much erased if you are going to buy from a computer vendor that charges a premium like Entroware.
wintermute Jan 14, 2019
Quoting: TuxeeWith a 500GB SSD and a GTX2070 (and an otherwise minimal configuration) you end up around 2,500 Euros. An absurd price.
I did an equivalent spec machine on PC Specialist and, even with some 'expensive' components like Samsung SSDs, PC Specialist came out £300 cheaper. I don't mind paying a bit extra to support Linux and Open Source, but if that's their angle they really should offer AMD graphics cards as an option.
Also, converted to euro's it seems like I might use it somewhere in the middle of the year. My PC is from 2012 so it is due for a upgrade, although my GTX 1080 still performs perfectly even in 4K resolutions (with settings tweaked off course).
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