LinuxDellFilter: How well does Linux run on the lower-end Dell Dimension series?

April 11, 2007 9:36 AM

LinuxDellFilter: How well does Linux run on the lowest-end Dell Dimension C521?

I'm looking to set up a cheap LAMP machine for local web development, and figured it would be easier to just grab a cheap pre-built machine than build one myself. I'm not looking for anything with GUI or major power, just a small, quiet box running LAMP that I can stick in my closet for my own personal development.

I know that Linux is now an option for some models of the Dell Dimension series, but what about the lowest-end C521? It is not listed as an option for getting the machine without Windows pre-installed. I also wonder if the C521 hardware is compatible with Linux.

This leads me to a second question: If I purchase a machine with Windows pre-installed, and I wipe it to install Linux, can the copy of Windows be installed on another machine? Or does it come pre-validated to the Dell?

posted by afx114 to computers & internet (9 comments total)

The answers to your two questions are "depends" and "depends."

1. Linux: given a new enough distro, it may have drivers for Dell's onboard video and network. Failing that, the drivers should be available on the internet, but that complicates installation. Failing THAT, you could install a PCI NIC for which there are known drivers.

2. Windows: Dell offers several options for the OS--some include the Windoze install CD, and some don't. Either way, in my experience, the Windows activation key on the sticker stuck to the Dell is just a standard key (with all the caveats that such keys have, i.e. only one copy should be running on a network, and the first time it runs it might contact MS over the internet, etc.)
posted by markhu at 9:50 AM on April 11, 2007

Just to clarify, the C521 is available from Dell with a blank disk, but they seem to charge you a premium with an upgraded CPU and hard drive. $649 as opposed to the base $349 for the C521. I'm not about to spend $200 for the luxury of installing Linux myself, and want the cheapo $349. I guess what I'm asking is if the base $349 C521 is just as compatible as the $649 "Open-Source" version.
posted by afx114 at 9:59 AM on April 11, 2007

The E521 is a much more popular choice, and may give better Google results, and better compatibility if they don't use the same parts.

You also might want to check out the Dell Outlet if you just want something cheap that works.
posted by smackfu at 9:59 AM on April 11, 2007

I haven't purchased from Dell before but do they offer any terms for returning the product for a full refund? Even 15 or 30 days would be enough to determine if it will suit your needs or not. If it doesn't, return it. No harm no foul.
posted by genial at 11:20 AM on April 11, 2007

Well, what you need to do is findout what chipsets they use in pretty much all their drivers, including the motherboard, and google to see if there are linux drivers for them. And how well they work. Or just google "linux and c521" Here's one of the top results

repeat USB mouse / keyboard freezing is hitting Dell and HP boxes
with n430 chipset. Affects ubuntu, fedora core, gentoo, ... versions
of linux. Dell released an urgent update for the SMBus driver to deal
with this problem. When the affected USB mouse/keyboard is
disconnected/reconnected the system recovers. So far the only fix
is to provide a powered hub. This is pointing to a power-control issue
with the USB bus.

Now we know they use Nvidia's n430 chipset. You can google for that + linux and to see what comes up too.
posted by damn dirty ape at 11:46 AM on April 11, 2007

all their devices
posted by damn dirty ape at 11:47 AM on April 11, 2007

It'll run fine. I have Linux on MUCH slower boxes and it's just fine. My desktop Linux box here is a Dell Dimension XPS T550.. a much slower box.

model name : Pentium III (Katmai)
stepping : 3
cpu MHz : 548.739

And I have Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 on it. I do web browsing and some compilations on it. Adding RAM is what helps out a lot.

As for Windows, if they give you media, it's going to be a Dell OEM CD. It'll install on other Dell boxes just fine but you're going to have a hell of a time getting it to work on j-random desktop. That's not what they give you the CDs for. :)
posted by drstein at 12:20 PM on April 11, 2007

I have the E521 and Ubuntu works fine on mine.

HOWEVER, there was one major hiccup. I had to update the bios before usb devices would work correctly. Before I updated I fought with a random USB freeze error for weeks, posting bug reports, recompiling kernels, ahhhh the frustration. Turns out it was an outdated BIOS causing all the problem. It looks like the C521 has a similar motherboard so make sure you update that BIOS when you get it.

The issue as some others have stated will NOT be speed, but rather drivers. For your purposes (using the machine as a server), everything should be peachy.

That is because most of the driver problems have to do with graphics and user input in my experience. Connecting to your machine via SSH to do some LAMP stuff should be just fine, as all you really need then are working mobo, hdd, and ethernet.

I would say that you'll be fine, and if you stick to a popular distro of Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, Suse, Debian), you'll be able to get lots and lots of support. If I were you, I would go with one of the distros which has a slow release cycle (Debian is a good choice here), as that's the best situation for a server machine. You don't need the latest whiz-bang software on a server.

Good luck man, you're getting into a neat aspect of open-source, the ability to learn what used to be a very exclusive skill with a machine in your closet.
posted by zhivota at 12:32 PM on April 11, 2007

Oh shoot it looks like others have that same problem as me on preview of damn dirty ape's google results. Maybe I should tell them...
posted by zhivota at 12:33 PM on April 11, 2007