A new way of searching for compatible components for upgrading a computer is available using the telemetry client hw-probe and a database of supported hardware from the project Linux-Hardware.org . The idea is quite simple – different users of the same computer model (or motherboard) can use different individual components for different reasons: a difference in configurations, an upgrade or repair performed, the installation of additional equipment. Accordingly, if at least two people sent telemetry to the same computer model, then each of them can be offered a list of components of the second one as options for the upgrade.
This method does not require knowledge of computer specifications and special knowledge of the compatibility of individual components – you just select those components that have already been installed and tested by other users or a vendor on the same computer.
A “Find compatible parts for upgrade” button has been added to the sample page of each computer in the database to find compatible hardware. Thus, in order to search for compatible components for your computer, it is enough to create a sample of it in the most suitable way. At the same time, the participant helps not only himself, but also other users in upgrading the equipment, who will subsequently look for components. When using operating systems other than Linux, you can find the required computer model in the search or make a sample using any Linux Live USB. Hw-probe is available today on most Linux distributions, as well as most BSD systems.
Upgrading a computer or laptop traditionally causes difficulties and errors for various reasons: architectural incompatibility (difference in chipset generations, differences in the set and generations of slots for equipment, etc.), “vendor locks” (vendor-specific), incompatibility some components from different manufacturers (for example, Samsung SSD drives with AMD AM2 / AM3 motherboards), etc.