I'm planning to buy a new laptop for college in a few months. Should I completely avoid NVIDIA GPUs and AI-integrated processors due to potential issues with proprietary drivers, especially on Linux-based systems? How reliable is AMD of Intel's driver support in comparison?
I'm particularly curious about the emerging trend of AI-integrated processors (like those featuring NPUs—Neural Processing Units). While they promise better efficiency for on-device AI tasks, I'm unsure about their real-world benefits and compatibility, especially when it comes to driver support on Linux environments. Is it too early to try it on linux?
I have a GMKtek NUCbox K8+ which I was surprised had a processor with AI support. I ran a version of Nobara Linux on that without trouble, though I can't say for certain that the AI support was operational. CPU drivers are, to the best of my knowledge, completely in the kernel. This means that while an LTS distribution may not do anything with an NPU, it would be possible for you to replace the kernel to get that support.
As for AMD vs. Nvidia, I'm an Nvidia user and have been for 20+ years (since AMD's GPUs weren't part of AMD, and were ATI) because of the gap in performance. In a laptop, however, unless you're VERY interested in using frame generation, I don't think the hit's going to be worth the potential trouble of Nvidia on Linux, and would advise an AMD system.
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Because of Graphics: The good Point of AMD Graphics is, that the Driver comes with the Kernel. So, You don't have to ''play'' with Driver Version and Installation. There are separate AMD Drivers, but they shouldn't be neccessary. If You have a relatively new AMD Graphics Card, it could be that You would need here on Zorin a newer Kernel.
Because of this AI-Stuff: There would be the Question if You actively use this. If not, You don't have to Care about. then it would be only neccessary that the Kernel supports Your CPU/GPU.
I for one, am so happy that I have a Nvidia RTX 16GB 3080. It came before the AI boom thats spells our futures doom. (Terminator) It was literally the last GPU that Nvidia made, before they became hyper focused on AI.
No Jenson Whong, I don't want 4 elephants in a room with 1 GPU, they will destroy my house. I miss when Nvidia used to be a make sense GPU manufacturer.
Now they make GPU's with melting plugs, they write garbage GPU drivers, and now only care about AI, cause they learned its the quickest easiest way, to mine our data, so they can make huge profits.
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I think NVIDIA also seems supportive towards scalpers. I guess they partner with them and receive extra profits from them.
It's common sense that NVIDIA (and other companies too) should find different ways of selling GPUs (even CPUs nowadays lol), but they hesitate 
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