Linux compatability of proposed machine

WalterDnes

This is a combined software+hardware question, but it’s linux-compatibility-specific so I’m posting here. My current desktop machine is having some problems, and I’m looking at getting a replacement. I’m looking at a “Dell Optiplex Small Form Factor” with a few options. https://www.dell.com/en-ca/shop/dell-desktops-workstations/optiplex-small-form-factor-plus/spd/optiplex-7020-plus-small-ff/gctoo7020sffpca_vp

Intel Core i5, 14 cores, 20 threads
Ubuntu 22.04
32 GB: 1 × 32 GB. For an extra $42.30 I can get it as either 2 × 16 or 4 × 8. Comments?
1 TB, M.2 2230, PCIe NVMe, SSD, Class 25. I’ve never dealt with SSD drives before. Will it show up as /dev/sda or something different?
Intel graphics. Don’t stray from the beaten path. The hardest I intend to push it is 1080P on Youtube. General use; not a bleeding-edge gaming rig.
Optional HDMI port. I’ve got two monitors. One handles HDMI natively. The other has a VGA cable for which I’ve bought a cheap adapter doo-hickey to plug into a computer with an HDMI port. Neither monitor handles “displayport”.
Firmware TPM only (No discrete TPM)

linux compatibility is 100% necessary; the Ubuntu option looks very promising, Will I be able to “nuke and re-pave” the OS, or is there some signing/certificate garbage to worry about.

px_eliezer_

WalterDnes

Ubuntu seems to certify some similar Dell models.
https://ubuntu.com/certified?q=7020&category=Laptop&category=Desktop&limit=20

This also may be useful.
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000131655/how-to-install-ubuntu-linux-on-your-dell-pc

Donoreo

WalterDnes I’ve never dealt with SSD drives before.

It’s 2025 and you have never used an SSD?!? Yes, it will show up the same way.

Somewhat-Reticent

WalterDnes linux compatibility is 100% necessary

ThinkPenguin - since you didn’t specify which distro(s).
( Of course, it’s Best_Practice™ to start by listing tasks you need/want to do … )
( + and for those, which tools/apps may serve; … )
( + and for those, which Operating System(s) may serve; … )
( + and for those, which hardware may serve … )

danf

WalterDnes

NVME drives show up differently.

They show up as /dev/nvme0n1p1. They will not show up as /dev/sda1.

I do believe the breakdown is similar to the below:

[controller][port][partition]

so in the example above

[nvme0][n1][p1].

WalterDnes

px_eliezer_ Ubuntu seems to certify some similar Dell models.

Since Ubuntu 22.04 is one of the OS’s offered on this machine’s option list, I think Dell believes it’ll run.

This also may be useful.

Thank you very much. The Ubuntu install instructions in your second link are very similar to how I’ve installed Gentoo on Dells in the past. My main concern was whether the “Disable secure boot” option is still available. Call me paranoid.

toolman1990

px_eliezer_

px_eliezer_ Ubuntu seems to certify some similar Dell models.
https://ubuntu.com/certified?q=7020&category=Laptop&category=Desktop&limit=20

This also may be useful.
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000131655/how-to-install-ubuntu-linux-on-your-dell-pc

The only downside to Ubuntu is SNAPS they take a noticeably longer time to launch compared to flatpak.

GadgetsRme

WalterDnes I use a System 76 laptop with Ubuntu 24.04. They also make desktop with Ubuntu installed.
See link:
https://system76.com/desktops/

WalterDnes

Donoreo It’s 2025 and you have never used an SSD?!?

Let’s just say that Dell machines last quite a long time for me. That’s why I’m looking at getting another one.

WalterDnes

GadgetsRme I use a System 76 laptop with Ubuntu 24.04.

The prices on the System76 website, are they in Canadian or US dollars?

Donoreo

WalterDnes Let’s just say that Dell machines last quite a long time for me. That’s why I’m looking at getting another one.

My old machine was a Mac Mini from 2012, it had an SSD in it.

WalterDnes

Somewhat-Reticent ( Of course, it’s Best_Practice™ to start by listing tasks you need/want to do … )

Home desktop, mostly email and Youtube and streaming. Occasional compiling that doesn’t really push the system.

GadgetsRme

WalterDnes The product is made in the US so I’d say that it is US Dollars.
I bought my laptop in the last half of 2020 and haven’t had any issues. I did activate Livepatch for updates and it has taken me from Ubuntu 18 to 24 without any issues.

Donoreo

WalterDnes Those are US, Ask @taraf about a Canadian company, the name escapes me at the moment.

WalterDnes

Donoreo My old machine was a Mac Mini from 2012, it had an SSD in it.

I think SSDs were available when I made my previous purchase. But back then one terabyte SSDs were very expensive, and SSDs were short-lived, and linux forums had horror stories about compatibility issues, or SSDs simply not being detected.

Since then the tech has matured, as have linux drivers. Today is a different story.

taraf

Donoreo Tuxedo. But they’re German, not Canadian.

Both my current and my last laptop were from them. The after-sales service is top notch, and I’m really happy with the quality of the product.

edit: this is the updated version of what I have. I’ve got the last generation, with an i5 1240P. But bc Tuxedo primarily sells Linux (with their in-house developed distribution, Tuxedo OS) you can be confident that Linux will work. They contribute their drivers and code upstream to the kernel and make it widely available - I have no issues running Arch on my laptop. Everything’s supported out of the box, and there’s an aur package for their control center which gives me control of the RGB keyboard lights & an easy front end to CPU profiles & bios integrations to disable/enable stuff like the webcam without rebooting.
https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/TUXEDO-InfinityBook-S-17-Gen8.tuxedo

Somewhat-Reticent

Try Before You Buy ( bring a Live test distro )
or at least check reviews matching your “use case”.
Of course, new kit may mean same problems, but on different hardware.
And perhaps new problems.
ThinkPenguin offers distro(s) installation, which may save time and trouble.

Donoreo

WalterDnes and SSDs were short-lived,

?? Not sure what you mean by that. My Mini came with a 2.5 inch HDD, but I upgraded to a 1 TB SSD when they became economical (2.5 inch). I cloned the internal HDD. The speed difference was huge and that was why I was still able to use such an old machine until November last year.

WalterDnes

Up til now, I’ve had no linux-compatibility problems with Dells. I was checking if anything has changed recently (Call me paranoid). As @px_eliezer_ has pointed out, Dell offers Ubuntu on their machines, so it looks like things are still OK.

WalterDnes

Donoreo I upgraded to a 1 TB SSD when they became economical

SSD technology has matured, with falling prices being one sign. Check out this article from winter of 2018 https://uwaterloo.ca/arts-computing-newsletter/winter-2018/feature/everything-you-need-know-about-solid-state-drives-ssd It lists advantages and disadvantages. Back then…

The price of SSDs are substantially higher compared to the price of hard drives. Most SSD drives sold today have much smaller capacities than comparable hard drives. However, as the SSD technology improves and the prices continue to fall, it is likely that solid-state drives will begin to replace hard disks.

Current SSDs in the market have limited storage capacity. Computers or devices with an SSD storage system usually have a base storage capacity of 128GB. Higher storage capacities contribute to the overall price or a computer or device. Although there are solid-state drives with a capacity of TB, they are expensive and rare.

WalterDnes

I’ve ordered the Dell. Turns out that I can specify “no OS” saving me a few bucks. Estimated delivery date is March 31. My reason for posting here was my paranoid side wondering if there was any anti-linux lock on the latest Dells. With that being denied, I went ahead. My previous Dells lasted a long while, and they’ve got bog-standard hardware, enabling easy linux compatibility.

Donoreo

On the Dell side of things….I have just arranged a repair for one of my daughters. Hinge broke on her Dell Laptop 🙁