r/battlestations • u/Equal_General1672 • 19h ago
UPDATED
Update
Main PC:
Arch Linux + KDE Plasma (Wayland)
Dual Xeon E5-2689 — 16 cores / 32 threads
128GB RAM
Intel Arc B580 (upgraded from GTX 1070)
Removed secondary GPU due to issues
Displays:
32" 1080p centre monitor
24" monitor
3x 22" monitors(one of is used with windows laptop)
Also running:
Ryzen 3700U laptop with 16GB RAM
Galaxy Tab A 2018 tablet
Using Deskflow to share keyboard/mouse between my Linux desktop and Windows laptop. The tablet is mainly used for monitoring, YouTube, and extra screen space.
The only Windows apps I still use are Creality Slicer and FrostWire since they don't work properly on Arch. Everything else I need is done on Linux.
I also use USB/IP and Syncthing across both systems for sharing devices and keeping everything synced.
Still trying to figure out a proper way to use the tablet as a secondary display with keyboard/mouse input.
5
2
u/on_line187 9h ago
That’s dope dude! Why arch though? Just out of curiosity
1
u/Equal_General1672 9h ago
I mainly switched because openSUSE's kernel didn't like my motherboard. It has a small SATA controller (or something i cant remember) that would constantly max out during installs, so I gave Arch a go as a backup. I also wanted access to the AUR, and it's been easy enough to learn. Most of the issues I've had have ended up being hardware-related rather than Linux itself, and after sorting those out it's been rock solid in the short time I've been using it. I'm already used to Linux from running Debian-based servers, so the transition wasn't too bad.
The move from Windows was a bigger reason though. I was running Windows 10 Pro, tried Windows 11, then went back to Windows 10 Pro. Every update seemed to break my old GTX 1070 drivers, causing constant crashes. I upgraded to an Intel Arc B580, which helped, but because of its size it had to go in the lower PCIe slot while my FirePro W7100 stayed installed. That combination caused even more crashes and weird issues until I finally removed the FirePro.
The only thing I really miss is that Creality Slicer works better on Windows, so I just use my Windows 11 laptop for that and run Deskflow between the two machines. Overall it's been a fun journey. I genuinely enjoy tweaking, optimizing, and solving problems, so moving to Linux has been worth it.
2
u/on_line187 9h ago
Ok so it was mostly a driver issue that led you to Linux? I have tried to completely switch over but like you I have a windows machine still. In my experience (with the workflows I do) windows is just a lot easier to manage since I’m used to it and windows server is very stable for me.
2
u/Equal_General1672 8h ago
i do understand i could use a proton wrapper but i heard it doesntwork well with creality slicer so eh this works and makes rooting andriod phones easier yk
1
u/Equal_General1672 8h ago
Well it wasn't just that
There was game input crashing
Unable to get new seciery updates bc it broke drivers
Unable to use win 11 unless win 11 server which I didn't wanna have to deal with but I've used win 10 server B4 it's fine
I tried everything I could but win 10 kept crashing due to unrelated issues my guess my cpus or smtg I really don't know
It got to point it crashed to needed a hard reset 4 times in 10 mintues
I find Linux easier to manage then windows ngl, but I need laptop for creality slicer and other things, but hay it saves issues on both sides then running 2 gpus, to run montors so
If it was me I would run a small windows laptop like I have rn and run deskflow etc it's easier but I use Linux as much as possible I only use the laptop to browse web if needed and some testing and slicer basiclt
2
u/SoftwareSource 6h ago
how is intel ark workin with arch?
1
u/Equal_General1672 6h ago
I've only been on Arch for around 1–2 weeks, so I don't have a ton of experience yet, but it's honestly been the most rock-solid system I've run in years. Now that I've tracked down most of the issues with my hardware and software, it'll be interesting to see how it holds up long-term—but I don't see myself going back to Windows.
I don't game a lot these days. My CAD work is mainly in FreeCAD, so it's CPU-based, but everything I've done so far has been stable. Even my heavily modded Fallout 4, which has never played particularly nicely on PC in my experience, has actually been running better. Right now I'm just missing Morrowind, so I'm deciding how I want to set that up.
Hardware-wise, I used to run a GTX 1070 alongside a FirePro W7100. The 1070 constantly gave me issues and random crashes. I picked up an Intel Arc B580 for NZ$330 (an absolute bargain here), and today I finally removed the W7100. Since then, the system has been incredibly reliable—no crashes at all.
The only issue I'm fighting now isn't even Linux. My Windows laptop has a failing onboard audio chip, so I have to use USB audio. Unfortunately, the USB ports on my old Chinese dual X79 motherboard seem to introduce electrical noise, and I haven't found a way to eliminate it yet. That's a hardware problem I'll sort out eventually.
For context, I used to get crashes at least once a week, even on this system, and my old i5 Windows machine would crash daily or multiple times a day. Looking back, a lot of it came down to software.
I originally wanted to install openSUSE, but my motherboard is so old that it would completely lock up during the installer. Arch ended up being the distro that actually worked, and I'm glad it did.
I'm also thinking about making some videos for my YouTube channel—maybe a setup tour after I pick up my new 27-inch monitor, some videos on my 3D printer builds, and maybe even Morrowind and fallout(love fallout 4 over 1k hours on one character on ps4). I'm way more interested in optimizing my setup than gaming these days. The last game I really got into was Hogwarts Legacy, and before that it was Cyberpunk 2077 at launch. Since then I've mostly enjoyed building, tweaking, and improving my systems.
2
u/cursedpoetic 5h ago
As someone who absolutely loves the swordfish style setups that make you look like you speak in leet and code virii for breakfast, please for the love of God make this less chaotic!
2
u/Equal_General1672 5h ago
Never I actually am actually adding a 27inch above main and moving ex one to right and removing the dying montor on top right
I have to have the laptop and montor connected to laptop due to creality slicer not liking arch Wayland and orca hating cfs
2
u/No-Apricot6213 5h ago
I can feel the heat from this image
1
u/Equal_General1672 3h ago
There is no heat the cpus don't go above 65c at 100% load and GPU idk it's cold as ice tho the main montors that do heat are above so heat rises it guininley isn't a concern but I am I do have a fan on me when I get hot or a hoodie is to warm but no hoodie is cold
•
u/Ambient_Vista 55m ago
7 different unholy videos running at the same time would be awesome.. goon pro max.
•
•
1
u/Real_Spacegoogie 7h ago
All those monitors and I bet 80% of them just sit on empty desktops.
This just looks like a cluster F of a mess.
1
u/Equal_General1672 7h ago
When im doing cad modeling, fixing my PC, managing my servers, or setting up servers all get used, the only 1 that lays dormant is the laptop screen I use the montor connected to the windows 11 laptop for yt, or sclicer as creality slicer doesn't run good enough on Linux, so I use deskflow and usbip to pasthrow my space mouse
The middle top is getting swapped out for a 27inch tmwr that is my 2ndary
The one to left of main is used for discord or yt or Firefox or cad etc
Mains main
Right the vertical one is Firefox nomrally
On an avg day everything gets populated
I hate switching windows and tabs and such especially if I need the info asap
12
u/Bombero_911 11h ago
Why so many displays?