AMD A8 APU or Intel Core i5 for PCBSD

[nissm]

I am looking to build another desktop to replace the one I have now. However, I am confused on what CPU to get that will work well with PCBSD. I like the OS because it challenges me to learn and allows me to customize my system to my likings with the only the programs I want.

I have been researching information about both processors, and I don't know which one to get. I don't do heavy gaming, but I watch movies every now and then. The system will mostly be used for everyday tasks (browsing, email, etc.). I will also use it to do some web development as well.

Does anyone have some good, sound information about either one of these processors and their performance with PCBSD? Also, would the AMD Phenom processor be a good option as well?

Thanks.

*I forgot to mention that I will be using PCBSD 9.0 latest release*

[Artchi]

Any CPU core should work because AMD and Intel are compatible to x86 and a64.

But the graphics core is critical! The new CPU/APUs have build in graphic chips.

The tip: don't buy a AMD APU! There is no up to date driver for Radeon HDs! There are only closed source binaries for Linux and not for FreeBSD.

But the FreeBSD Foundation is working on Intel graphics drivers. [1]

Another good option is a Nvidia graphics chip! Because Nvidia offers up to date drivers for FreeBSD.

Summary: Don't buy AMD for FreeBSD/PC-BSD.

[1] http://www.freebsdfoundation.org/pro...s.shtml#Kostik

[adamk]

The tip: don't buy a AMD APU! There is no up to date driver for Radeon HDs! There are only closed source binaries for Linux and not for FreeBSD.

That's not entirely true. There are quite capable open source drivers for Linux. It's just that no one cares enough to port radeon KMS/TTM to FreeBSD.

Adam

[nissm]

Adam,

How hard would that process be?

[nissm]

artchi,

It's hard to imagine that FreeBSD would restrict a computer system to using only the latest intel CPU. Since you are against AMD chips, could you tell me some more reasons besides lack of graphic drivers? I used BSD on a tower with an AMD Athlon and it works great.

[adamk]

Adam,

How hard would that process be?

That's really beyond my knowledge. You should check out some of the threads on the freebsd-x11 mailing list regarding the work that was necessary to port intel KMS/GEM to FreeBSD. There were also some discussions about porting the radeon code over.

Adam

[Artchi]

artchi,

It's hard to imagine that FreeBSD would restrict a computer system to using only the latest intel CPU. Since you are against AMD chips, could you tell me some more reasons besides lack of graphic drivers? I used BSD on a tower with an AMD Athlon and it works great.

I am not against AMD. Where did I wrote this?

I'm using at home Athlon64 X2 with an Radeon X1550 card. It works. But not all features: 3D and Stand-by (suspend to RAM) and Hibernate (suspend to disk) don't work! Why? Because no special/complete drivers in FreeBSD for Radeon! Thats reality! No idiology.

And a AMD-APU has build-in Radeon HD chips. Thats fact!

If you want a FreeBSD optimized system, you must buy hardware about facts and not about idiology. It's fact that AMD don't publish specifications about Radeons. And its fact, that they don't support FreeBSD with a (binary) driver (in contrast to Nvidia). Don't blame me, do blame AMD!

[adamk]

Actually, it's a fact that AMD does release specifications. It's also a fact that AMD pays developers (both AMD employees and others) to work on open source drivers, and has contributed large chunks of code to the open source driver stack. Again, the problem is just that no one cares enough to port radeon KMS/TTM to FreeBSD.

[Artchi]

OK, I didn't know that AMD publish specifications for driver development. My mistake.

Anyway, AMD-APUs are not recommendable for FreeBSD because of missing drivers.

Is it possible to switch off the Radeon in AMD-APU and replace it with a Nvidia card? Then it's recommendable.