Why I ditched Windows and then macOS for Linux

It’s been a while since I got my hands dirty with hard drives, power supplies, and other peripherals. Back in 2017, I ditched Windows, and with it, the traditional PC form factor died.

Why ditch Windows?

Do I really need to explain this? I had enough of Windows updates, potential viruses attacking from all angles, and the cumbersome relationship with Microsoft—license fees, random shutdowns, and big noisy machines. Like many, I initially selected Windows by default because it was the go-to operating system (OS). But that’s no longer the case.

You don’t have to use Microsoft! Yes, Apple has offered a credible alternative for years, but guess what? You don’t have to choose Apple either! However, at the time (2017), I was offered a cheap iMac, so it was an easy decision to move.

“As far as I’m concerned, Microsoft is a pain and Apple is overpriced!”

What did I select after Windows?

So, I opted for an iMac (hypocrite?) in my office and a Chromebox in my study. Apple needs no introduction, but not many people understand why a Chromebox (or Chromebook) can replace a Windows PC. Well, it definitely can. For anyone that uses a computer for ‘normal duties’ (internet, emails, document creation), it’s a refreshing change, and you don’t have to haul a server around with you!

Fast forward to late 2019: My iMac’s really slow, and I can’t stand it! It works, yes, and I don’t have the same issues that I had with Windows, but the file manager (Finder) is rubbish! The screen isn’t big enough for me, and I don’t want an additional monitor on my minimalist desk. Plus, my GPU had failed twice, so it was time to go.

What type of operating system (OS) did I need?

I needed a new machine for work. As a web designer and business owner, I required a decent computer. Fortunately, web design is extremely light in terms of software requirements, so I didn’t need a workstation-style beast. But being a techie, I couldn’t settle for something standard!

I knew I was ditching Apple (hooray!). I wasn’t about to buy a new iMac. Don’t get me wrong, Apple lovers—they are great machines, look cutting-edge, and have serious desirability. But they cost too much, and I don’t like the Apple ecosystem that you are forced into.

The solution? Linux, of course.

I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before. Linux is free, available in many distributions (distros) to suit your needs, ultra-light so you don’t need expensive upgrades to keep up with OS updates, and stable, especially from a security point of view. I could go on, but trust me—Linux is a great choice (for me).

And no, you don’t have to be a command-line guru to work with Linux. Some Linux distros do everything for you, just like Apple or Windows, so you don’t need to use the command line. Chrome is an excellent example—I can’t recommend it enough for normal computer users.

The machine

Let’s move on… Linux is great, but I needed a machine to run Linux and to be my new daily driver. Here’s a list of what I wanted:

• Linux PC
• More screen real estate to improve efficiency
• A quality display (props to Apple for their display quality)
• A fast processing machine for image editing, etc.
• Small form factor (more on this later)
• Aesthetically pleasing, like the iMac

There are more, but to summarize, these will do. My main objective was to get something cutting-edge that looked equally good in my office (impressions are important!). But I struggled with the concept of having a big desktop in my office. That’s where Apple has to be given credit—their stuff looks the business.

How did I select my components?

First of all, I was shocked at how much things had moved forward since my PC days. I had to really read up and understand the difference between NVMe’s and AIO’s—it was a minefield.

The basics that you need to understand when building your own machine are quite straightforward:

• Monitor(s)
• CPU
• Motherboard
• Hard drive
• RAM
• GPU
• Case
• Cooling
• Power supply

The monitor

The display was easy. I looked at the Apple copycats on the Windows platform, the all-in-one machines, and considered running Linux on those. But I wasn’t happy with the traditional-looking monitors—they scream cheap plastic and are drab. I wanted cutting edge! Then I saw the 49” Ultra-Wide Samsung Odyssey G9 Gaming Monitor and thought, “Great Scott!”

Yes, it was for gamers, but it ticked my boxes too: 1. It looked amazing, 2. It gave me more real estate (a lot), and 3. The display itself was amazing! When you spend the time I do in front of a screen, looking at pixels and assessing colours/designs, a top-quality display is essential.

The machine

The next step was the machine. I knew I wanted a small form factor, and I certainly did not want a behemoth PC sounding like Darth Vader under my desk. I had in mind something ultra-small like my Asus Chromebox, but they weren’t powerful enough for what I wanted. So, I decided on a mini-ITX form factor. I then realized that they are all the rage as of 2020 anyway—happy days!

All I had to do was decide what went into my ITX case (including the case itself!). I then spent hours upon hours reading and watching YouTube. It’s worth noting that most of the content you will find is related to gaming or video editing—quite frustrating if you’re not looking for those. I did a tonne of research into the difference between gaming machines and workstations, but I found that the latter were well over spec’d for what I needed.

AMD or Intel?

It’s been 10 years of Intel reigning as the champion over AMD, but to save you a whole load of research, AMD is back on top. It’s not a close ‘picture finish’ either—AMD is smashing it with their Ryzen chipset. Intel does have competitive single-core CPUs, but like Apple, they are overpriced.

My CPU of choice was the AMD Ryzen 3950X, which was definitely overkill for what I needed, but hey, it was my money and I wanted the best without going too crazy. Plus, you don’t use Bose speakers with a Goodmans CD player, right? So my monitor needed an equal, and it all centered around a great CPU.

Motherboard

There were a few options, but it was between a B450 and an X570 ITX, the latter being in a different league and providing a plethora of features and capabilities that made the decision fairly straightforward. The ITX king at the time was an Asus X570 Strix, but I felt that I didn’t need to spend over £300 just on a motherboard, so I opted for a very capable mid-range Gigabyte Aorus Pro WIFI X570.

Memory

Here’s the most important point that I realized: there was a new hard disk called an NVMe. If you don’t know about it, it’s a game-changer, people! Say goodbye to the traditional bulky hard disk and say hello to speedy, robust digital memory. Not a traditional SSD either—I’m talking about a new hard drive, which is digital like an SSD but is in the form factor of RAM memory. The Samsung Evo 970 Pro was king, but I opted for a much cheaper and equally as good NVMe from Seagate called the Firecuda 520.

RAM had also moved on too. Now RAM memory looks like it’s from an episode of Robot Wars—its bulky heatsinks have RGB LEDs lit up like a Christmas tree (if you’re into that sort of thing). I selected Corsair Vengeance LPX (16x2GB) DDR4 3600Mhz, as the AMD Ryzen 3960X recommends 3600Mhz speed. I could have opted for 16GB or more speeds quite easily, but hey, the rest was overkill, so why stop!

The graphics card (GPU)

Technically, I didn’t need one as I could have easily worked with the onboard graphics, so I opted for a card that would give me the ability to make use of the 4K capabilities of my monitor. Also, I had an older GTX 1060 GPU lying around, so I thought, “Why not?” as the 30 series had just been released and the 10 series had bottomed out in price, meaning I could have sold it for a profit. But I didn’t—I kept it. I won’t bore you with the details as my rationale here was purely financial.

Power supply

With an ITX, you need to be careful of the amount of power you need to run your setup. If your power supply is too weak, you may experience your machine switching off randomly or a catastrophic failure (not good!). My advice is to over-spec here, as your PSU isn’t going to use all of its power—it will only use what it needs. I opted for a 750W PSU from Corsair, an 80 Plus Titanium-rated PSU, ensuring efficiency and stability.

Cooling

AMD chips run very hot. Unlike Intel chips that can have huge heat sinks or even water cooling, this is more difficult with ITX builds. There’s less space, so you need to be savvy and select components that work well together. I went for a Noctua NH-D15 Chromax black air cooler as it was the best at the time (and still is). My decision was helped by Linus Tech Tips, but please remember that the NH-D15 is HUGE. If you want to install something like this in an ITX case, check that it will fit first!

Case

Lastly, the case. I didn’t want something plasticky or traditionally looking like the ones you can see in most offices. I wanted something modern, clean, and cutting edge, like the iMac, which was sleek, elegant, and desired.

I went with the Lian Li TU150 Mini ITX chassis. It’s a beautiful little case, not too bulky, but with a very sleek, brushed aluminum finish that complements the aesthetics of the iMac. It also came with a very handy carrying handle, which I thought was pretty cool!

Final thoughts

I hope this provides some insight into my journey of ditching Windows and macOS for Linux. It’s been a refreshing change, and my custom Linux setup has been a dream for web design. I encourage anyone tired of the traditional OS options to give Linux a try—you might be surprised at how well it fits your needs.