Best hardware support

[JuszR]

I'm planning on to buy a new computer and the question is which computer hardware is best supported?

Processor: 32 or 64 bits? AMD or Intel?
Network: Atheros? Realtek?...

Graphics i heard that the best is Intel.

[Jaglover]

[Logicien]

I would make a search for all critical components of a computer for it's quality and it's degree of support by Linux. I like to boot a Linux live-cd before to buy. It is often after you have it that you can see how good a computer is with time.
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Paul

[smartass]

Unless you need to run some older proprietary application with ugly library dependencies, 64 bit should be fine and possibly a bit faster on most hardware.

Most intel wireless chips that I've come by had quite shitty support in Linux and required proprietary firmware to be downloaded. IMHO Atheros is about the best for wireless, has a full driver in the kernel and works well even with aircrack without patching (usually).
As for ethernet, I haven't had any trouble with any brand. Just my Atheros based ethernet card stopped working on my notebook after 2 years (two weeks after the warranty expired, of course), but that was most likely due to it being right under the heat sink.

Intel graphics are plug and play, but may not deliver enough performance (although the are fine for day-to-day stuff). Nvidia is a little harder to setup (but there are enough guides around) but more powerful and you can use VDPAU with it.

[Jaglover]

For ethernet performance, in particular with low power CPUs, there is nothing but Intel. People have forgotten all other cards are "software" solutions.
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