LinuxMusicians

I'm about to build a new PC for audio production (and general use as well).

Since I am on a budget, my CPU choice comes down to:

AMD Ryzen 3 3200G or Intel i3-9100 (or i3-8100)

I'll be running Ubuntu 20.04. Which one is preferable? Price difference is not really a factor, because while the Intel is a little more expensive, I would use slower/cheaper RAM with it, so the difference would be only 10 to 15 €.

So, what is more recommendable for audio production (realtime audio as well as virtual orchesta) both in terms of performance and in expected compatibility with Ubuntu 20.04:

AMD 3200G with 2933 RAM or Intel i3-8100/9100 with 2400 RAM?

For most Linux users visiting Phoronix would provide data to base a decision on. But for audio? As far as I know Phoronix doesn't have a test specific to audio. An audio machine doesn't fall neatly into one of the three main categories -- gaming, desktop or workstation. An audio machine has some elements of a gaming machine -- low latency, and some elements of a workstation -- stability and power.

I would think the Ryzen 3200G is a good choice.

merlyn wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2020 6:05 pm I would think the Ryzen 3200G is a good choice.

Indeed, that's why I put it on the shortlist.

But on the other hand I've read also not so nice things about it. Problems with the Vega 8 driver on the newer kernels, video encoding problems and the need to deactivate virtualization to make it run smoothly for example.

But as you wrote: There is nothing to be found about audio production use for those processors (except th3 i3-8100, it was chosen somewhere for a budget audio pc build.) But that's all Windows of course.

So, to anyone who has experience with those processors (regarding audio production and Linux use) or heard about it: Please let me know!

Well, while I am quite drawn to the Ryzen, it will become after all an Intel i3-9100.

It's just stronger in terms of single core performance and latencies and no longer that much more expensive than the 3200G as it was a while ago. That's what it comes down to.

Hmmm. I got one of the earlier 4 core Ryzen 5s, and currently run with 2mS latency. That's with Devuan, Rosegarden and Yoshimi, and occasionally Hydrogen. I don't get any Xruns, even with all 16 channels running and some of my heavy duty multi-layered instrument patches.

Thanks for tuning in, but I've already ordered in the meantime.

I can imagine though that in a few years when I want a new CPU I might go for an AMD. They seem to keep getting better and better (and cheaper anyway which is always nice).

ryzen 5 3600 user here.. with a nvidia gt 1030 video card - not the builtin amd vega thing..
i have had no problems whatsoever..
but i disabled the most aggressive overclocking/boosting stuff in the bios..
low cpu usage..
low latencies..
low temperatures..