I have found that intel/AMD hybrid laptop combinations are a real pita to work with and get all of your hardware running. I have found very little in the way of server hardware that will run from Dell. I used to have issues with HP but I am a fair distance from that time having not used HP servers in about a decade.

Intel has embraced Linux pretty well of late so aside from hybrid soft raid it all works. Most people use Linux on older computers because it tends to bring them a second wind. And hardware waste kind of bugs us all. 

Depending on budget and need you can find some great deals on refurbished servers from Newegg. 

On Mon, May 21, 2018, 7:55 PM Todd Cole <toddc@azloco.com> wrote:
Hi Mike
  bigger question is what will Linux not run on.  Broadcom wifi can be a bit of a problem but i have not had issues with that in a while
consider going to the installfest 1st and 3rd Saturdays at UAT 48th and baseline  Tempe 10-4PM we have had very few that we could not get working correctly,
usually due to lack if time to sort out any bugs( showing up at 3pm works if there are no bugs)but....
we have even installed to apple G3.  Brand new (less that 1 yr old) CPU or MB models may have drivers/microcode that have not been added to linux yet so that may be the only thing to stay away from or trial and error
Linux  is smaller and faster than windows but avoid too old say a Pentium4 64 bit would work but you would still have by todays standards a slow computer
Todd


On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 7:30 PM, mike enriquez <mylinux@cox.net> wrote:
I am planing to build a Linux computer.  I have Ubuntu 16.0 on an old Dell XPS. I will be using it as my research computer.   So "I will be going where where others do not dare to go."  I want a VPN on it because I have not been able to install a VPN on the computer I now have. I want a 64bit OS.

I know that most people say to use and old computer to run Linux.  I need ideas on Hardware to avoid and use.  What would you do if you had to build your own Linux computer from scratch?

Thanks for your input.

Mike Enriquez

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Todd Cole
Ubuntu Arizona Team
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