Chipset recommendation for Linux & USB

scottws

Senior member
Oct 29, 2002
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I want to build an AMD CPU-based system that is going to be compatible with Linux, and I'm looking for a recommended chipset.

The Linux communtiy seems to advise everyone to stay away from boards with the nVidia chipsets because of Linux driver issues. I'm guessing an ATi chipset is a really bad idea considering how poor they are with Linux driver support for their videocards; it can't possibly be better with their relatively new motherboard chipsets.

VIA seems like it could be an option, but I've recently discovered that VIA's USB chipset controllers are basically total crap. A huge amount of problems with USB scanners and webcams and other high-power, high-bandwidth devices are attributed to VIA's USB implementation. Basically VIA's USB chipsets can't handle it when a device needs a lot of power or bandwidth, and it will either lock up the device, lock up the system, or the device simply won't work.

ALi and SiS also have their share of problems with USB, similar to VIA but not as bad.

Intel and NEC USB chipsets are recommended. The problem of course is that Intel doesn't make chipsets for AMD CPUs and I've never heard of an NEC chipset on a motherboard, even just for USB.

What does that leave for an AMD CPU-based system? The AMD chipset? Are those any good?

Any help you could give me on this issue would be great.