Here you will find some help on using Igor Web's low-tech machine configurator
Some help for the low-tech configurator !
Use this guide to know what each options means, and determine what is best suited for your needs in designing a low-tech computer !
Help guide for the low tech configurator.
Click on the sections to expand them.
Computer type
- Desktop computer : your typical rectangular desktop computer...
- Laptop : your typical laptop...
- Mini PC : very small form factor computer, around 4"*4" (10cm by 10cm), ideal to use as media centers, game consoles or home automation servers. Can also be used as a regular computer.
- Embedded, Raspberry Pi : even smaller than the mini PC, it consists of a single circuit board. Used a lot in IoT and robotics projects, can also be used as retro game consoles, light media center, home automation hub or very low-power servers.
- Headless : a computer without a "head", meaning no display and no input. Management is done remotely via SSH or other secure connection. Used overwhelmingly for server usage, but some creative uses are possible.
Desired usage
- Everyday simle computing : mostly web browsing, emailing, broswing your pictures and the ocasional photo editing.
- Studying : same as simple computing, but a little more power and storage to write lots of essays, save classes, prepare presentations and the occasional video.
- Retrogaming (up to 2004) : why 2004 ? Because from the Xbox360/PS3 generation, it become harder to emulate games without a dedicated GPU. Before that even basic Intel integrated graphics can run 3D games without stuttering.
- Light modern gaming : gaming that can be done with a low-power GPU, allowing to play most games at moderate quality without breaking the bank.
- Light server usage : basic services such as network attached storage, some home automation applications, torrenting.
- Moderate server usage : when you start to add many virtual machines and containers, and need more processing power to handle simultaneous operatings.
- File server : depending on the number of simultaneous requests, this can be very light, and run even on a single board computer, consuming only few watts of power throug the day.
- Light to moderate media center : handle your music, movies, TV shows and stream collections. CPU (and even GPU) depends on the quality of your media, a mini PC will handle high resolution movies fine, but for very heavy 4K or more you might need to get a higher-power computer.
- Photo and moderate video editing : needs RAM and, in some cases, a good GPU. Efficient free and open source software such as GIMP and Krita can do most jobs.
Operating system
- Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Linux Mint : these OSes can do almost everything out of the box, with minimal configuration required and a very stable in the long run, making them a good choice for all types of usage.
- Xubuntu, Ubuntu MATE : same as above, but with a focus on low-power systems, as they have much less bells and whistles than other OSes. They are adapted to weaker CPUs or older computers.
- Debian : very stable, boring (in a good way). Needs a little configuration initially then it can go on forever. (Not the latest up to date software however.
- openSUSE : similar to Debian, but focused on enterprise users. A very strong security orientation so it is often used in businesses.
- Ubuntu Server : all the functionnalities of Ubuntu, without a graphical user interface
- Pi OS : only for the Raspberry Pi single board computer. It is a very lightweight fork of Debian, specially developped for the ARM family platforms powering Raspberyr Pi computers. General usage of tiny computers is possible.
- Yocto : Linux distributions tailored for robotics and embedded systems. Each Yocto distribution is unique, and includes support for different kind of sensors directly in the kernel. A specialist's system for IoT.
- Bazzite, Nobara, Pop!_OS : for the gamers, these distributions are very popular and a new one comes under the limelight every few months... They are optimized to run Windows-native games by sing a compatibility layer
- Batocera : turn your computer into a retro game console ! Browse hundred of emulators with a gamepad. If you only plan to play retro games, this is the perfect choice.
- Slackware : it's its own thing... for real Linux enthusiasts, the closest thing that comes to the original UNIX system. Its stability is legendary...
