Shock among tech enthusiasts over tech expert's outdated graphics card reveal
In the tech world, where the latest and greatest hardware often takes centre stage, Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, stands out for his preference for practicality and long-term stability. This year, he continues to use an AMD Radeon RX 580 graphics card, a 2017 release, on his desktop machine.
The RX 580, a dual-slot PCI-Express 3.0 x16 device with two fans and 8GB of VRAM, has proven to be a reliable performer. It comfortably drives a modern 5K ASUS ProArt monitor, a testament to its capabilities. Torvalds's choice is driven by the RX 580's strong Linux support and mature, robust open-source drivers, which align with his preference for stability over the latest hardware[1][2].
Torvalds's decision to stick with the RX 580, despite its age, is a testament to its performance. The RX 580's ability to handle high-resolution displays demonstrates that older hardware can remain very capable, especially when combined with well-maintained software drivers[1][4].
Interestingly, at least one commenter named "David 132" this year uses the same RX 580. Some responses to "David 132" suggest that a modern graphics card could be up to twice as fast as the RX 580[3]. However, for Torvalds, the priority is avoiding unnecessary complexity and upgrades when his current setup meets his needs effectively.
In contrast, the use of ancient NVIDIA GPUs has caused significant driver-related issues this year[5]. This issue is not unique to Linux, as running two different versions of NVIDIA drivers at once is not possible on either Linux or Windows[6]. Old NVIDIA cards often fall out of driver support while they're still useful for mainly 2D operation[7].
AMD kit is preferred for its open-source drivers that can cover a wider range of GPUs than NVIDIA ones[8]. This preference is reflected in the main Linux testbeds, which run on ancient NVIDIA GPUs[9]. Work is currently progressing on the Linux 6.17 kernel[10].
Linus Torvalds earns approximately $1.5M per year from the Linux Foundation[11]. Despite his earnings, Torvalds prioritizes practicality and stability over the latest hardware, a philosophy that resonates with many tech enthusiasts.
[1] https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Linus-RX-580-GPU [2] https://www.techradar.com/news/linus-torvalds-on-why-he-still-uses-a-rx-580-graphics-card [3] https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/xx6b98/comment/ir5jl3j/ [4] https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=rx-580-linux-490&num=1 [5] https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=nvidia-linux-620-driver-issue [6] https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=nvidia-linux-470-driver-issue [7] https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=nvidia-linux-460-driver-issue [8] https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=linux-419-open-source-drivers [9] https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=linux-419-test-results [10] https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=linux-6.17-kernel [11] https://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2018/08/01/linus-torvalds-linux-foundation-salary-2017/?sh=6981418c759d
- Linus Torvalds's preference for stability over the latest hardware extends to his smart-home devices and gadgets, as he prefers systems that have well-maintained software and open-source drivers, ensuring longevity and reliability.
- In the realm of AI and tech, Torvalds's philosophy aligns with the development of AI software that prioritizes practicality over the pursuit of artificial intelligence in the newest smart-home devices, emphasizing the importance of robust and stable software.
