I'm heading to college this month and need a new laptop since my old one is on its last legs. I'm considering a few options: 1. HP Omen with a Ryzen 7 7840HS, RTX 4060, 8GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and either 16 or 32GB DDR5; 2. HP Victus with a Ryzen 9 8945HS, same specs otherwise; 3. Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5 with Ryzen 7 8845HS, RTX 4050, and 6GB VRAM. I've heard that there might be driver issues with the HP Omen on Linux and I'm curious how significant those are. Also, I've heard that HP Victus has a poorer display compared to the others but may have better Linux compatibility. The IdeaPad Pro is more expensive, and I'm not sure how Linux would run on it despite its better battery life. I don't plan on heavy gaming, but I want a GPU for local AI projects and prefer staying with Linux instead of going back to Windows. Which laptop should I choose, or do you have other suggestions?
5 Answers
Go with the HP Victus if performance is your priority; it has a strong CPU. Just be cautious with the Nvidia on Wayland as it can cause issues. However, I'm not a fan of Victus's display quality; I've heard mixed reviews about color accuracy and screen wobbling, so you might want to test it out.
I've had a decent experience with Dell laptops and they tend to support Linux well. I got a budget-friendly one with 32GB RAM and it's working great for college tasks. You probably don't need a dedicated gaming GPU unless you're into heavy graphics work. Battery life isn't crucial since you can usually charge up in class.
I'm doing computer science, so a solid computer is a must. I do want a GPU for some AI projects, but a desktop isn't an option since I'd need to carry it around.
You're right about the desktop; going portable is a better move for college!
If you're set on running Linux, I suggest looking at laptops from System76, Slimbook, or Framework, even though they can be pricey. Business laptops without dedicated GPUs are often solid choices too. Remember to research " Linux support" to see what issues users have encountered. The most common problem tends to be with WiFi cards which might not be well-supported. Intel cards usually work best for Linux.
I was looking at Framework too but they don't ship to my location easily. I'll keep Slimbook in mind!
Yep! And make sure to check your laptop's specs against Linux support resources to avoid issues.
Your main concern will be the Nvidia GPU and getting compatible drivers for Linux. Consider going for a laptop with an AMD GPU that has more VRAM. And, of course, at least 16GB of RAM will serve you well!
I wouldn't recommend an Nvidia GPU for a Linux setup. It's easier to deal with compatibility issues using AMD GPUs, especially for budget-friendly options. As for your choices, HP Victus might give you the best performance for Linux, but check the display quality to ensure it meets your needs. Any color issues could be a deal-breaker if you plan to do visual work.
Good to know! I've heard similar things about the Victus. I just hope those issues aren’t a dealbreaker for my usage.